Scene 2

7 years later.

The snow that had piled up through winter had melted. The time the sun stayed on the cliff was growing longer and longer, and as cold as it had been, lovely flowers were filling the garden.

“Mom!!”

Felix ran toward Adrian, who was sitting in the pavilion. His pale blond hair sparkled even more in the sunlight. Just as Sebastian had wished, their eldest son looked exactly like Adrian.

‘Blond hair… and even your fair skin, you look exactly like me.’

‘Yes…’

‘I hope you grow up like this.’

Seeing the child who had hatched from the egg, Adrian felt relieved. He looked like himself. If he had not looked like him, Sebastian would have killed the child without even thinking about it.

In fact, there had been several children after that, but when he saw they did not look like Adrian, he killed them without even hesitating. That was why Felix had become even more precious.

‘Have you thought of a name for the child?’

‘…Felix. How about Felix?’

‘If that is what you want, gladly.’

At those words, Adrian smiled faintly. He had wanted to give the child a name that meant happiness. His own life had not been like that, so he wanted at least the child to be different.

Adrian set down the teacup he had been drinking from and stood up from the chair, then crouched down in front of him. When he opened his arms, Felix burrowed into his embrace. The child held up a single red rose toward Adrian. It was a flower that did not bloom in the palace garden he was allowed to have.

“I picked it to give to Mom!”

“…Thank you. It’s pretty.”

“Yeah! Next time we go into the city, I’ll buy the book Mom said she wanted to read!”

“Okay. Thank you. You’re the only one I have, my son.”

Felix smiled brightly. Adrian patted his round head. Adrian looked at the ankle bracelet around his right ankle. As the number of walks increased, Sebastian had changed the shackles to a comfortable ankle bracelet, since the shackles would have been uncomfortable.

But he still could not go outside this castle. That was still an area Sebastian had not allowed. He had hoped that things might change if there were more children, but watching lives that vanished as quickly as snowflakes touching the ground, he had given up on that hope too.

It hurt less if he did not wish for anything from the beginning. He was happy if he lived content with what he had. In fact, under Sebastian’s protection, he was able to enjoy all kinds of delicacies and leisure. He decided to think only about that.

Thump, thump-

When he lifted his head at the sound of footsteps, a large figure appeared beyond the fluttering white cloth. It was Sebastian. He came into the pavilion and swept his gaze over the table. Dessert and tea were laid out there.

“Looks like you were having tea time.”

“Yes. Would you like to join us?”

“I will.”

Adrian asked a servant for another teacup and brewed the tea. In the meantime, Felix was also sitting in a chair, eating a piece of cake. That picture-like moment had become familiar now.

Sebastian tapped Adrian on the shoulder. Adrian turned his head and, as usual, smiled obediently and prettily. He lifted the corners of his mouth, looking satisfied, and kissed Adrian on the cheek.

“I’ll come by tonight.”

“…Yes.”

“Huh? Again? Dad is going to hog Mom all to himself? If you go like that, I won’t get to see Mom for a week!”

Felix puffed out his cheeks and complained. Adrian was startled and hurried to tell him he shouldn’t talk to Dad like that. But Sebastian burst out laughing as if he even found that amusing.

“Didn’t you say you wanted a younger sibling?”

“Huh? I’m getting a younger sibling??”

“If Mom does a good job.”

At those words, Adrian rubbed his stomach. Children he had not even given names to flickered through his mind. His eyes almost welled up with tears, but Sebastian was still looking at him.

“Rin, isn’t there something you should be saying around now?”

“I love you.”

The words came out without any hesitation. Adrian smiled brightly at him. He still did not understand that affection. But one thing, he had decided to accept. That this too was love.

It was the way the father he was loved his son and, now, his wife, Adrian.

The way a dad loves his son, complete.