Chapter 49

'If I just take care of her a little bit, she listens so well... Did I push her too hard for no reason?'

Of course, Hayden had his own reasons for neglecting Iona.

He generally had a brazen attitude toward women's problems, but when it came to taking in an illegitimate child, he had no choice but to be mindful of his wife's feelings.

Hayden had appeased his family's hearts by showing obvious favoritism toward the children his wife had given birth to over Iona.

He never particularly favored Iona, so it wasn't difficult to do.

He emphasized the humble background of the child's mother to the weakened child: 'Your mother was a wretched woman with no strength or wealth, and died during childbirth because her body was weak.'

Thanks to this, not only did other family members, but even Iona herself, had no particular curiosity about her mother.

Amid everyone's indifference, he buried the truth far out of reach.

That Iona's mother was never a woman of low status, and that Iona was not the fruit of infidelity during his marriage.

'Well, it's something I'll have to hide for the rest of my life.'

It was when Hayden licked his lips thinking about that, Iona's voice came from outside.

“I heard you called, Count.”

"Yes, come in."

When  Hayden allowed her entrance with a solemn voice, Iona opened the door and came in.

He momentarily remembered how the other person had broken down his door, but he suppressed the useless thoughts with a clearing of his throat.

"What's the matter?"

"Don't just stand there, come and sit down first."

Hayden waved his hand casually at Iona's question.

He had intended to ask Iona about what had happened today in more detail, but when he actually tried to bring it up, he became a little uneasy.

Although he had been unfaithful countless times, the deceased Countess was his wife.

He had never loved her passionately, but he had considered her a companion in life as a spouse and the mother of his children.

Even though he was a terrible husband, he couldn't just brush aside today's commotion as if it were nothing.

Hayden regained his appetite and brought up the matter.

“Fleur came to see me today.”

"Yes."

"I heard that you managed to send her away well. Thank you."

“Because someone had to do it.”

Iona answered calmly.

Hayden felt more at ease when she showed condescension and didn't ask for anything in return.

If it had been Yvonne, as soon as he had thanked her, she would have asked for something.

Not too long ago, she begged for a dress that was unnecessarily expensive, but she broke down and cried.

He murmured with a sigh.

“Why are all the people born as my children are like this… … .”

“… …”

"Oh, I wasn't talking to you, Iona."

Hayden corrected his misunderstanding a beat too late.

However, Iona, who seemed to be preoccupied with another issue, did not show any sign of being upset.

Iona opened her mouth with a thoughtful expression.

"Since we're talking about it, I hope you don't misunderstand what I'm about to say."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I'm worried about Miss Fleur's safety."

Hayden frowned at Iona's words.

Why she was worried about Fleur's safety?

Why worry unnecessarily about someone touching such an insignificant woman?

Hayden, who thought that far, recalled Iona's earlier comment about it being a good time to talk.

Until then, Hayden had been complaining about his children.

“Nils or Yvonne might try to retaliate against Miss Fleur.”

At Iona's warning, Hayden became silent. He tilted his head as if denying the suspicion stirring within him.

"Surely, they wouldn't go that far...."

“I, an imperial knight, was also targeted. A street woman would be easier to deal with.”

Hayden could no longer refute Iona's words, knowing that they were accurate.

In fact, he had been thinking exactly the same thing.

"Of course, the Count won't want to meet with the woman who caused such a disturbance again, but it's too much for the children to take matters into their own hands. It's best to keep an eye on her for a while. Sending her on a trip far away wouldn't be a bad idea either."

Iona added insignificantly.

Even if all these worries were unfounded, there was nothing wrong with being careful.

Despite her impudent arrogance, Fleur was the woman he was with.

Aside from being upset by her behavior, Hayden didn't want her to get hurt.

Hayden said after a short thought.

"Sending her away seems like the best option."

If he directly assign someone to protect her, there was a high possibility that Yvonne or Nils would be stimulated by that fact.

In that case, It seemed better to send her somewhere remote for a while.

Iona nodded as if agreeing.

"If you don't mind, I'll take care of it myself."

"You?"

“It’s not something that can be entrusted to others. Just give me a suitable excuse to leave the capital, and I will take you out of sight.”

"Hmm, it just happens to be the right time for me to go thank my vassals."

Hayden Modrov brushed his chin and muttered.

As Modrov's family worked for the royal family, all of their relatives were staying in the capital.

He left the management of his territory to his proxy and only occasionally visited to make sure everything was running smoothly.

In fact, that was pretty much the only plausible excuse Hayden had for sending Iona out of the capital.

Since traveling back and forth between the capital and the territory was quite tiring, Hayden decided to leave the burden to Iona.

At least Iona was a child who wouldn't cause him any trouble.

"Yes, let's have you go instead of me this year."

"I will take care of it without any problem."

Iona's unchanging attitude had a reassuring effect on people.

Hayden, whose mind was eased, even started to sound sentimental.

"I didn't know you would think of me this much. Haven't there been some unpleasant things between us? Of course, you must have had some hurt feelings too...."

Iona looked at Hayden with indifferent eyes as he began to make excuses disguised as admonishment.

Up until now, she had made a decision that was beneficial to her and courted him to some extent, but that was not to gain his recognition and officially become the successor.

It meant that she didn't need to try too hard to win his affection beyond what was necessary.

Iona cut off his words firmly.

“Count, I didn't protect Miss Fleur because of you. Nor have I forgotten everything you have done for me so far."

When Iona drew a line unexpectedly, Hayden was a little taken aback.

He asked, stammering.

"S-So why do you care so much about that woman's work?"

After thinking for a while, Iona replied cynically.

“Well, for some reason, Miss Fleur didn’t feel like a stranger. The government and the illegitimate child, isn't it a combination that goes well together? I may not have come out of her womb, but who knows?”

It was a very monotonous voice, and Hayden only realized after a while that there was a mockery of himself in it.

Hayden forgot to shout and opened his mouth in a daze.

Iona continued to speak while appreciating the appearance.

“This is fortunate for Miss Fleur. Before she gives birth to her child, she is able to part ways with the Count. If she had children, they would be like me.”

"You… … ! You are saying that because you don't know how much you've been indebted to me!”

Hayden regained his composure too late and lashed out at Ioana.

“I was the one who made you, who almost grew up on the street with your humble mother, register as a nobleman. The fact that you were able to join the Imperial Knights and that you were able to look good to His Highness early on is all thanks to me!”

“Thank you for letting me succeed, Count. I wonder why you didn't do that good thing for Nils and Yvonne.”

At Iona's remark, Hayden's face turned pale.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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