I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 44 Part 1

Despite forgetting her promise to him, his mother was making a lot of time for him indeed.

Sometimes they played together.

Other times they just read a book.

When his classes were over, she would often call him for tea.

Instead of his classes, she asked about his dreams, places he wanted to visit or books he wanted to read.

Faced with the unfamiliar questions, Jonas gave no answers.

Whenever an awkward silence fell upon them, she would then randomly talk about herself.

Perhaps hoping to make him feel more comfortable around her.

As she did so, Jonas learned new things about her every time.

His mother liked painting.

She enjoyed hosting tea parties, and she also took dancing classes when she was around his age.

One time, she mentioned that she liked the sea, and suggested taking a trip there together.

Unfamiliar with her behaviour, Jonas once asked for the reason she changed.

The reason why his mother, who had no interest in him so far, started spending more time with him.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

‘..Not that I know of. What makes you think so?’

‘If not, then why does mother keep calling for me?’

Perhaps what the maids had been saying was true.

His mother’s position as the Duchess was at risk because of her strained relationship with the Duke.

And she, who lost contact with her family, was hoping to get her son the next Duke’s favor, in order to keep her status.

When he first heard such murmurs, rather than sadness, Jonas was engulfed by anger.

Anger towards the maids who dared to speak so openly of his mother, the Duchess, and disrespect her by saying such things.

His father had always told him that disrespecting anyone of them, was the same as disrespecting their entire family, which was why all family disputes were meant to only exist behind closed doors, and never to be spoken of to strangers.

But despite knowing that, Jonas couldn’t bring himself to scold the maids.

It was not because his nanny, who taught him the value of respect, was among them.

But sadly, because somewhere in his heart, the young child had thought the same thing as them.

His mother was only using him.

Why else would she suddenly change?

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As though she had read into his thoughts, Erna seemed sadder than surprised by his question.

She then affectionately brushed his cheek with a smile.

“I wanted to give you happy memories.”

A smile that was as bright as a spring flower.

Seeing it, Jonas recalled a memory.

On his 5th birthday, which his mother couldn’t celebrate with him under the pretext of being ill, Jonas had a dream.

His cold mother embraced him warmly.

She wished him a happy birthday, wearing a beautiful smile.

Very similar to how she was smiling at him now.

Unsure of how to respond to her, Jonas nodded shyly at her words.

When Erna noticed that his ears grew slightly red, she added with more confidence,

“And besides, the most important component to be able to grow into a great adult is to have a healthy childhood.”

At the time, Jonas wondered,

‘What kind of childhood did mother have?’

Since his mother never talked about her family, Jonas had no idea what her life was like before.