If I Can’t Be Your Wife - Chapter 113

“It’s fine. Luci is asleep.”

Alexis said shamelessly whilst he carried Luci in his arms and headed for the bedroom in the main building. Kathleen was dumbfounded, but she followed him, wanting to see her child asleep for the first time in a long time.

He was now quite adept at washing the child, taking him out, and changing his clothes. There was no need for Kathleen or Emily to help.

Watching Luci, who was tended by his father, fall asleep on the bed, Kathleen felt her heart swell again.

“Luci’s just like you.”

“In my eyes, he takes after you more.”

“Anyone can see that he is the son of Grand Duke Walten.”

“It’s nice to hear. That he’s ‘my son’.”

Alexis whispered as he hugged Kathleen gently from behind.

“I am happy enough. My life is perfect, because I have you and Luci.”

“Yet you talk about having a second.”

Alexis chuckled as Kathleen lightly chided him.

“That was just a joke. You were pretty flustered every time I said that, so I kept wanting to tease you.”

Alexis said, turning her around and making eye contact with her.

“But, I am serious. My life is the most perfect right now.”

Alexis Walten has always been a loner. His father was hidden from him since birth, and he lost his mother when he was still a child. And even after he returned from the battlefield, he was alone for a long while.

For him, his family meant something special.

Kathleen said, stretching her arms toward the man who was still feeling loneliness inside.

“My life is the most perfect right now. Because of you.”

Even with her arms wide open, she couldn’t hold him all the way, but Alexis quickly locked her in his arms. Warmth welled up in her heart. For a while, Kathleen held her husband tightly like that.

***

‘It’s probably better to find out.’

She had been pondering for days, but she alone could not come to any conclusion. Kathleen called Dr. Cavel while Alexis was away for an imperial meeting.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, do you feel discomfort anywhere?”

Hearing that Kathleen was looking for him, Dr. Cavel came running in a panic.

“Calm down and sit.”

In the meantime, perhaps because Alexis was so particular about hers and Luci’s health, Dr. Cavel seemed anxious. Kathleen, quite embarrassed, gave him tea. It wasn’t until she assured Dr. Cavel that she was free of any apparent pain, that he began to drink tea with relief.

“It’s not because I’m sick, I called because I needed your opinion.”

“What are you curious about? Just tell me and I will help you.”

“Um… I was wondering if I could get pregnant again.”

In fact, it wasn’t that she hadn’t thought of having a second child. She had tasted the greatest joy in the world when she gave birth to and raised Luci, and she thought it would be nice if she could feel happiness like that again. She especially wanted to let Alexis experience the way she felt. Because he hadn’t seen Luci when he was born and growing up.

But in Kathleen’s case, having children was much more difficult than for the average woman.

When treating other parts of the body, ordinary medical knowledge is sufficient, but the parts related to gynecology often did not work. So she said that she had previously received through Joseph’s divine powers.

But now it would be quite difficult to ask him for help, and there weren’t many other priests who could perform healing powers. There was no guarantee that they could be trusted either. So, Kathleen studied divine powers on her own, but as she was not a priest, she could not fully interpret the scriptures. So she was thinking of taking advice from Dr. Cavel.

“If Priest Joseph said so then it shouldn’t be impossible.”

After listening to Kathleen, Dr. Cavel examined her and responded, choosing his words carefully.

“However, it is currently difficult to be certain about Your Highness’ medical condition. To err on the side of caution, but why don’t you ask Father Joseph for his opinion?”

“Are you saying we judge it based on divinity?”

“That’s right.”

Dr. Cavel explained with an embarrassed expression, but in summary he said that Kathleen’s currently seemed infertile, but that he could not be sure of his judgment.

Kathleen said, nodding her head with a slightly somber expression.

“Alright. I’ll have to think about that. Oh, please keep the fact that I asked this question a secret from His Highness.”

“Yes. Oh, just in case, I will send someone to the Usmund estate to see if there is any information about it.”

Dr. Cavel noticed that she reluctant in calling Joseph hence he quickly suggested another option. Kathleen didn’t expect much, but she gave her permission.

‘I can’t bring Joseph back because of this.’

It was rude to ask him to return to Meyer to ask him for personal business while he was busy in the South.

‘I’ll ask him at least once when we meet later.’

Kathleen tried to erase the regret left in a corner of her heart and began to move busily to prepare for the hunting competition, the first official event Luci would attend.

***

“Mom, Dad, look at this!”

Finally, the morning of the hunting competition.

Luci jumped up and down in front of Kathleen, showing off his new riding clothes.

“Really cool, right? When I grow up, I want to ride a horse like my Dad. Right now I can only ride ponies!”

“Indeed. Our Luci will definitely be like that.”

Kathleen smiled as she kissed her son on the cheek. He was even wearing a cute hat.

“You look a lot faster, Luci.”

Alexis also patted him on the shoulder, seemingly proud of his son.

“It’s not possible today, but let’s go hunting together when we get better at horseback riding practice.”

“Nice!”

Luci couldn’t hide his joy at his father’s promise. As he did so, he tried to follow Alexis as he rode the horse, his eyes shining with anticipation. Kathleen grabbed the child by the hand and put him in the carriage.

“You haven’t forgotten, no? You must keep the promise you made with His Majesty.”

“Yes.”

Luci looked at Alexis, who had continued leading the way, as if it was a shame, but he calmly endured it. Normally, he would have run around in the carriage due to impatience, but today she was proud to see him sitting upright.

‘If Alec grew up as a precious prince, this is what he would’ve looked like.’

Kathleen remembered the resemblance between the two men she loved, and as she pictured this and that, she felt proud. While she was talking to Luci, they had arrived at the western hunting grounds before she knew it.

The carriage door opened, and Alexis, who had been waiting as an escort, came over and took her hand.

“Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

Alexis kissed her on the back of her hand and pulled her down by the waist. Several nobles who were waiting for the arrival of the Walten couple at the entrance of the hunting grounds widened their eyes when they saw it.

“Oh my God, is that really His Highness the Grand Duke?”

“Madam, you must have been down in your manor for too long? That shouldn’t have been a surprise.”

“Yes. Even in my estate, I’d hear rumors from time to time about the Grand Duke Walten having become a fool for his wife, but I didn’t expect it to be to that extent.”

“You will see it often now.”

Since this hunting event was the beginning of the founding festival, even non-nobles could attend. So most of the nobles who spent a lot of their time in their provincial domains were surprised because they were only familiar with the reputation of the Grand Duke of Walten on the battlefield.

Kathleen’s cheeks got a little hot from the intrigued gazes, but Alexis didn’t care and linked their arms. Luci, who got off the carriage, was also excited and held her hand tightly.

The sight of Kathleen with the Walten family by her side sparked admiration again among the noble ladies.

Kathleen, escorted by Alexis, sat in the seat reserved for the Grand Duchess of Walten. As Luci sat by her side, Alexis brought two glasses of juice from the table next to her, kissed Kathleen on the forehead, and joined the hunting competition.

“Today, the young heir is also present. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Your Highness the Grand Duchess, and I was able to meet an unexpected guest as well.”

Soon after, with curious eyes sparkling, noble ladies approached and greeted her.

“Yes, that’s how it happened. It’s been a while, Countess Astren.”

Kathleen softly responded then looked at her son who did not answer.

Luci’s eyes were already fixed on the horses ridden by Alexis and the other male nobles. It was as if he didn’t care at all about the eyes of noble ladies who showed interest in him.

“Luci.”

When Kathleen called, Luci finally came to his senses. And, as he had been taught, greeted the ladies politely.

“Well done. Let’s go closer when His Majesty comes later.”

“Really?”

Luci was mesmerized and envious when he saw the many dignified horses, unlike the ponies he always rode. However, since he agreed to stay quietly in a safe place, he was sitting there holding back his regret. However when his mother said so, his eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Yes.”

Kathleen replied with a smile. The original promise was to watch from afar, but seeing Luci yearning for horseback riding and hunting weakened her heart.

‘I think it would be okay if I had him learn swordsmanship when he turns eight.’

Parents may become overprotective if they don’t let their child do such things because they’re worried. She was already making plans to talk to Alexis about finding a suitable swordsmanship teacher.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

The chamberlain announced the arrival of the emperor. Kathleen took Luci’s hand and rose from her seat. When the emperor appeared and announced the start of the founding festival, the hunting competition began.

‘But he came later than expected.’

It was Peter who always thought how important it was to be punctual, but today, for some reason, he was a little later than the original start.

And the moment she approached Peter, wondering if it was due to an urgent matter, Kathleen’s eyes widened when she saw the man trailing behind Peter as he dismounted from the horse.

‘Viscount Schenberg?’