Why the Northern Duke Wanders the Snowfields - Chapter 48

The three of them moved to another room.

“You mean Aubrianna?”

Eloise asked as she sat on a chair in front of the fireplace in the drawing room. Then she soon ran her hand over the chair and called Harrick.

“Doesn’t this chair feel a bit damp?”

“Pardon? I’m sorry. We cleaned it, but it seems it hasn’t dried completely. I’ll bring another chair.”

While Harrick went to fetch another chair, Eloise moved to a long satin settee and took a seat.

Cedric, the one who had dirtied the chair, cleared his throat a couple of times and sat at the center table, idly handling a set of cards.

Soon, Harrick had the servants bring a new chair.

With a natural expression, Kaeloc sat in that chair and told them to bring a cigar.

“Habits are frightening. You always used to smoke a few puffs of a cigar after dinner.”

“Really?”

After cutting the tip and lighting it, Kaeloc smiled as he drew in the smoke and exhaled it. A heavy woody scent settled low before leaving behind a sweet yet bitter trace.

“First, I thought I would need some education to recover my memory.”

“Yes, education. Education is important.”

Eloise, who poured herself another glass of richly sweet wine, continued while hiding her impatience.

“But what does that have to do with Aubrianna?”

“Ah! It seems you didn’t know. Aubrianna once passed the entrance exam for Regatta Girls’ School in Alandor.”

“Regatta?”

It was a school Eloise also knew about. It hadn’t been established for long, but it was known for its strong academic focus, and one needed high scores to be admitted.

“So it’s true they accept commoners.”

In the first place, noble ladies didn’t need to attend school, as they were taught by private tutors at home.

If a noble young lady enrolled in Regatta Girls’ School, it was usually because she had money but low status and wanted to make high-born friends, while for commoners, it was to enter a noble household as a tutor after graduation.

“I confirmed that her admission score was high. Since I don’t have my memory, I thought even if I hired a good tutor, I wouldn’t learn well, so it might be better to learn from Aubrianna instead.”

Kaeloc’s words made sense.

“Well, do as you please.”

Thinking that a woman who had been merely a maid couldn’t possibly teach that well, Eloise told him to do as he liked and took a bite of a chocolate-coated biscuit.

“Then I’ll take that as your permission.”

Beaming, Kaeloc suddenly said he was tired and stretched broadly.

“Maybe it’s because I lived as a hunter, but I get sleepy as soon as the sun sets. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Very well. You must be tired, so go and rest.”

With a faint smile, Kaeloc rose to his feet, then suddenly bowed with perfect posture before swiftly turning and leaving the drawing room.

Eloise, who had watched that sight with a blank expression, called out to Cedric.

“Has he regained his memory?”

“I don’t know.”

Cedric, who felt hurt that Eloise hadn’t acknowledged him at all throughout the meal, decided not to say anything further.

‘Hmph. You should try experiencing Kaeloc for yourself.’

***

Theo had not forgotten his mother.

“My goodness, a baby who used to play so well without crying even once….”

Agnes, looking at Theo shedding tears like beads, gently patted his small hand as if both amazed and pitiful.

“He must have felt very lonely.”

Tears welled up in Agnes’s eyes as well.

‘I came back to see you, but I’m sorry for leaving you alone.’

After asking Agnes for understanding, she stayed alone in an empty room and let Theo nurse.

As the blocked pressure in her breasts eased, she let out a soft groan and patted the baby.

As if he had been starving, Theo drank his fill from both breasts and soon fell asleep.

“Babies like this are truly rare.”

As Agnes showered Theo with praise, saying he ate well, slept well, and was calm and didn’t fuss even with strangers, Aubrianna’s face flushed as if she herself had been praised. In the end, she covered her reddened cheeks, feeling shy.

“I feel like I should pay more attention, but because he’s such a good baby, I keep becoming careless.”

Agnes nodded. “Kaeloc was like that.”

“Really?”

It was hard to believe he had been that gentle as a child.

“You must have heard that Kaeloc’s mother was my closest friend and that she died right after giving birth to him.”

Aubrianna nodded.

“I was overcome with grief and came here to take care of Kaeloc.”

Kaeloc’s father, Arc Tennant, was busy, indifferent, and cold. He had married Cecilia in a political arrangement and barely even saw her because he was occupied with guarding the border. Before any affection could grow, he lost his wife.

The ducal castle, without its mistress, was desolate and bleak. The young baby, perhaps sensing the atmosphere, rarely cried and clung to Agnes, whom he had just met, as if starved for affection.

“After he came of age, Kaeloc became just like his father. Cold and indifferent.”

Agnes took Aubrianna’s hand and urged her. “That isn’t his true nature. I hope you understand that.”

After looking at Theo, who had fallen asleep, Aubrianna nodded.

***

The next day.

Agnes gave up the study in the villa and looked at him with a baffled expression.

“I said you could visit, but I didn’t expect you to come this soon.”

“They say studying helps with recovering lost memories.”

With a composed expression, Kaeloc spread out the books he had brought across the wide desk.

Mathematics, geography, and history. Even at a glance, they were dull subjects, yet Kaeloc turned to Agnes with a face full of enthusiasm.

“Where is Aubrianna?”

“The weather is nice, so she went out to the garden with Theo.”

Refusing Agnes’s offer to send a maid, Kaeloc decided to go find her himself.

Aubrianna, taking a quiet walk in the garden thanks to Agnes’s consideration, held the baby in her arms and looked around.

Winter had only just retreated, yet the vitality of nature was almost frightening.

“Theo, look at this. Little flowers have bloomed.”

Although the villa also had a greenhouse where various flowers could be seen, Aubrianna wanted to show Theo the plants that signaled the first spring.

Theo began to giggle and flail his hands.

“Ah, no, Theo. If you do that, I might drop you— Kaeloc!”

Kaeloc lightly caught Theo, who had almost slipped from her grasp, and pulled Aubrianna into his other arm.

“How, how did you get here?”

At the sight of the lovely woman’s lips, her eyes reddening with delight, Kaeloc pushed his lips against hers first.

He gently bit her lower lip, sucking on it and teasing it with his tongue, and Aubrianna began to giggle.

At that adorable laughter, Kaeloc felt his emotions surge once more, and this time he rubbed his lips against Theo’s cheek, tickling him.

The baby’s bright laughter rang clearly through the garden.

Watching the three of them from a distance, Agnes smiled warmly and quietly left to give them space.

“You want me to teach you? Me?”

A short while later, after hearing the reason for Kaeloc’s visit, Aubrianna tilted her head slightly.

“How am I supposed to teach you, Kaeloc?”

“You passed the entrance exam for Regatta Girls’ School with high scores. You can do it.”

“How did you… know that…?”

Her questioning eyes stared straight at him.

Kaeloc smiled leisurely and said, “Sion told me.”

Ah.

Aubrianna stared at Kaeloc for a moment, then nodded. “That’s right. I did.”

It felt like she’d taken that exam just yesterday, yet also like something from a very distant past.

“I’m not sure I’ll do well. I’ve forgotten a lot.”

“Not as much as I have.”

When Kaeloc teased her, saying she was acting superior in front of someone who had lost all his memories, Aubrianna waved her hands.

Seeing the bright smile filling her small, pale face, Kaeloc thought to himself.

It really was a sight to behold. He regretted not noticing and cherishing such beauty before.

“Wait.”

Kaeloc’s face lowered again.

“Abudadda.”

Just as their lips were about to meet, Theo, in his arms, babbled something again and squirmed.

“He must be uncomfortable.”

“….”

“Kaeloc?”

Aubrianna called his name, finding his blank expression strange.

“Did you hear that just now?”

“Hear what?”

“He just said ‘Dad.’”

“What?”

It did sound similar.

Aubrianna shook her head.

“He’s not even a year old yet. It’s not time for him to speak…”

“Then Theo must be a genius. He’s not even one yet, and he’s already talking.”

Muttering with a voice full of emotion, Kaeloc held Theo properly and faced him as he spoke.

“Now, Theo. Say it again. Dad!”

“Abudaddaa.”

“You heard that, right? That was even clearer this time!”

“It does sound similar, but…”

“Aubrianna.”

Kaeloc suddenly spoke in a strict tone.

“I understand how you feel, but Theo’s first word was definitely ‘Dad.’”

Letting out a small laugh, Aubrianna watched the handsome man’s face shine with joy.

It was as if the spring sunlight had settled on his face. His handsome lips parted, revealing even, white teeth as he smiled brightly.

She wanted to ask.

‘Are you happy right now?’

Swallowing the question, Aubrianna met the man’s gaze and smiled.