Obviously, It’s My Child

Chapter 58

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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“Ugh, Auntie already went home with Uncle?”

Elliot tilted his head when he heard the story.

“That’s what I heard. What should we do?”

“Since I’m not with Auntie, we might miss each other. Let’s just stay home and wait.”

Elliot replied. Because that was how he was taught.

His anger had already subsided. Roger had listened to all the unfair stories and kept saying that Uncle was bad.

Besides, Roger gave him a ride on the back of a tall horse, not in a carriage as usual. In fact, Elliot was excited and had already forgotten why he was angry in the first place.

Roger grinned.

“Then it’s too unfair, Young Master. Let’s make your Auntie worry this time.”

“Umm…”

‘Can I?’ Elliot tilted his head to the side.

“Let’s go play. I know a place that sells amazing soda, let’s go get some.”

“Really?”

Elliot exclaimed excitedly. He was seldom allowed to have that drink because he’s told that syrup was bad for his health.

“I wanna go!”

“You have to keep it a secret from your aunt though. Just tell her that we went to drink only milk.”

“Okay! Hurry, hurry!”

Elliot bounced up and down.

Roger laughed like a mischievous uncle and urged the horse to walk briskly. Elliot giggled excitedly.

* * *

“The lemon soda you ordered.”

An attendant came out of the curtained seat, took the tray from the waiter, and went inside. The waiter took a glance and stepped back.

At first glance, through the curtain, he saw a middle-aged woman in a beautiful dress. She looked like a noble.

This beverage store, which had been in business for ten years now, was once famous enough that people were waiting in line. But it couldn’t be said that this place had the dignity of a teahouse or a coffee shop.

It means that this is not a place for nobles to come into. The real nobility didn’t drink fake soda, but real bottled sparkling water from a mineral spring that was sealed with a cork.

But the person behind the curtain seemed to have a higher status than the middle-aged woman. Even the curtains covering the seats were not originally something the store had placed, but were brought by the attendants in advance.

The waiter glanced, but he had no idea who was inside.

“…….”

The broad-shouldered escort knight looked at the employee. The waiter left in a hurry.

The specially made curtain was made so the outside could not see from inside, but it was quite clear from the inside.

Sitting there was the old Grand Prince of Arren, and while pulling a glass of lemon soda towards him, he spoke.

“Do you think I am stupid?”

“Anyone would. Didn’t you come all the way to this place, knowing that many people would be in trouble?”

Duke Amelia Moore said in a grave voice. She was the daughter of the previous Duke of Moore, who was the Grand Prince’s cousin.

“Arren’s subjects are all concerned about you, Your Highness.”

It was a dangerous remark. After the merger of Rommel and Arren, the Royal Family of Arren was recognized as a ruling household of Rommel, but they were not on the same standing as the imperial family.

It was the Emperor who had the right to rule, not the Royal Family. Any mention of such could be interpreted as Arren harboring rebellious intent.

No, the terrible Empress Margot would purposely interpret it that way and attack the Royal Family.

However, neither the escorts nor the attendants stepped forward to stop them. Not only were they not in a position to interrupt the two’s conversation, but everyone also sympathized with Duke Moore’s words.

The grand prince said slowly, stroking the glass of cold soda.

“I had a dream about Jared last night.”

“Your Highness…”

“He was five years old, but he came holding a girl’s hand and was clamoring to marry her. I haven’t had a dream of him for a long time.”

Then, the grand prince lifted the soda glass and took a sip.

The drink made with vinegar and soda in sweetened water with lemon syrup and more sugar smelled cheap.

But the grandson he loved so much was so fond of coming to this store.

He even said it with his own mouth sometimes. Wearing simple clothes and going to the market with friends. Drinking soda, buying glass accessories and presenting them to a girl as a gift.

[ This is a secret, but I actually met my girlfriend at that soda shop. ]

[ Hoo. ]

[ She was so pretty that I was entranced by her at first sight. Grandpa, I just know that you’ll like her too. ]

Jared laughed as he said so.

Jared was the lovely grandson left from his only daughter. He was a child he so dearly loved.

When he lost his daughter, all hope in the world seemed to be extinguished. But that child lit up the world again like a beacon of light. He never thought that the day would come again when he could live with such a pleasant smile.

And he never thought he’d lose a loved one again.

“That’s why people talk about love marriages everywhere. If only he’s still alive, he would have been married by now, too.”

“Your Highness…”

“He would have brought a baby who looks like him to see me. I fall asleep thinking about that many times, and it seems that I had a dream about that in the end.”

Ever since the Crown Prince’s death, Grand Prince Arren felt like he was no longer living.

Every day when he opened his eyes, he wondered what would be the point of still staying alive as he was already this old. He was not able to protect that child, and he was not able to get revenge either.

“It is not something that Your Highness should grieve alone.”

Duke Moore whispered softly.

“There was nothing that Your Highness could have done. Even the Emperor couldn’t protect him.”

“Yes. Because if I’m going to stop this, I should have opposed Henrietta from becoming Empress.”

However, Duke Moore could not easily answer that question.

The Rommel-Arren Succession Act, the marriage contract promised between the Rommel Imperial Family and the Arren Royal Family, was a special law that took precedence over any other laws and was for the Arren people.

This would ensure that the Princess of Arren would keep her last name and become Empress Rommel, while her children would also keep the surname as such. 

If they didn’t do that, it was clear that Arren would be devoured by Rommel before long, so the previous Queen of Arren at the time requested this as the first condition for the marriage annexation.

As such, any daughter of marriageable age within the Arren Principality was meant to marry into the Imperial Family, and Duke Moore herself would be the first to be criticized.