TOOCM 81

Chapter 81

Kaiden recalled Aiden storming out of the drawing room.

“I just want my daughter to live a little more freely.”

It had been a long time since his younger brother had opened up about his feelings.

Thinking of how Aiden must have suffered in silence beside his clumsy older brother, Kaiden felt a pang of guilt.

He had only meant to protect him. Unbeknownst to him, cracks had already formed.

What would happen if Aiden learned that not only his wife but also his daughter was suffering?

Kaiden worried that his brother might collapse helplessly.

“I should go see Aiden first.”

He couldn’t sit still, regretting how harshly he had acted.

As Kaiden stood up abruptly, Reina cheered him on.

“Do your best and come back.”

* * *

Returning to his laboratory, Aiden immediately ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

“He must have heard everything, right?”

The way Kaiden had awkwardly turned his head made it clear he had overheard.

Aiden knew full well that he was emotional.

Unlike his brother, he often ruined things by dwelling on the smallest matters.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we just didn’t have a child at all?”

“Ha, you idiot.”

In truth, he had no right to be angry with his brother.

It was something they had discussed from the very beginning.

Yet now, by changing his stance, he had put Kaiden in a difficult position.

It felt as though he had added an extra burden to his brother, who was already fighting on the front lines for the North. The discomfort gnawed at him.

Just then, Kaiden’s voice came from outside the laboratory.

“Aiden.”

“…….”

“You’re in there, aren’t you?”

His voice was unusually cautious.

Aiden froze, not expecting his brother to make a gesture of reconciliation so quickly.

An awkward silence stretched on until Aiden quietly opened the laboratory door.

“…….”

“…….”

For a while, the brothers sat in silence. As their tea grew cold, Kaiden and Aiden spoke at the same time.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, hyung.”

Having said the same thing, the two let out awkward coughs.

In moments like these, it truly felt like they were brothers born from the same womb.

Sensing the softened atmosphere, Kaiden spoke.

“I didn’t realize you and Dahlia were feeling that much pressure. I’m sorry for letting you struggle alone.”

“…….”

“Dahlia is still young. She probably doesn’t fully understand what it means to be the next duke. So let’s let Dahlia choose when she comes of age. If she doesn’t want this position even then, I won’t force her anymore.”

“……Really?”

Aiden asked in surprise. He hadn’t expected his brother to give up his stubbornness so easily.

“From the start, wanting to give that position to my niece was partly my own greed. As you said, I was avoiding my duty.”

“Hyung, that’s…….”

Aiden regretted the harsh words he had spat out. He had said them knowing they would hurt his brother.

“Aiden, just give me a little more time. I won’t avoid it any longer.”

Kaiden had been holding back from fully opening his heart to Reina with various excuses.

Aiden, who knew this well, could sense what his brother had resolved to do.

“Now you’re acting like my hyung.”

“I never thought I’d fall for someone this deeply.”

“Will she really become my sister-in-law when you return?”

When Aiden teased playfully, Kaiden washed his face with his hands.

The large man hung his head, visibly nervous.

Aiden patted his broad back heartily and said cheerfully.

“Good luck.”

Some time later, as feared, an accident occurred.

During aura training, Dahlia’s aura had attacked Aiden.

Fortunately, he had defended himself in time, so there was no major damage, but the shock to Dahlia was immense.

After that day, Dahlia refused to leave her room.

Naturally, aura training was suspended, and Aiden spent more time in his laboratory than before.

Time passed, and the day to depart for the capital drew near.

Reina visited Dahlia’s room one last time to see her.

Seeing the still firmly locked door, Reina spoke softly.

“Dahlia, it’s me.”

“…….”

“I want to see your face before leaving for the capital. Can you open the door?”

At her voice, the door that had remained silent finally slid open.

Then, Dahlia, with swollen eyes, threw herself into Reina’s arms.

“Reinaaa.”

She had been told Dahlia was eating properly, yet in just a few days, her face had become gaunt.

“Let me see your face.”

Reina examined Dahlia’s body this way and that.

Fortunately, her aura was stable, but emotionally, she seemed extremely unstable.

“Daddy almost got hurt because of me.”

“It’s okay, Dahlia. They said things like that happen often during aura training.”

“But what if I hurt someone else again?”

Dahlia seemed afraid of her own power.

Knowing full well how burdensome it was to bear such overwhelming strength, Reina hugged Dahlia gently.

“Then your grand-uncle and daddy will help you. You have the strongest family in the world, Dahlia.”

After comforting her for a while, Dahlia gradually calmed down.

Taking the opportunity, Reina gently broached the subject.

“Dahlia, don’t you miss Daddy?”

“I do.”

“Shall we go see Daddy?”

“……Okay.”

Reina took Dahlia’s hand and headed to the laboratory.

Along the way, Dahlia kept hesitating, clearly feeling guilty toward her father.

Dahlia knocked on the laboratory door.

“Daddy.”

“Daddy, it’s me, Dahlia! I know you’re in there!”

When no sound came from inside, Dahlia knocked several more times.

After a moment, a commotion was heard, and then Aiden flung the door open.

“Dahlia!”

His face looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

Reina looked at the haggard Aiden with concern.

“Are you okay? Have you been sleeping at all?”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine, my foot! Daddy’s face looks ugly now!”

Dahlia kneaded Aiden’s sunken face like clay.

This was a complete contrast to how hesitant she had been on the way here.

Aiden grinned widely.

“Daddy’s perfectly fine! Didn’t you say you didn’t want to show your face to Daddy? Are you okay now?”

Dahlia nodded, then shyly buried herself in his arms.

As he lovingly watched her adorable sulking, he brought up the matter.

“I was just about to go see hyungnim’s wife.”

“Me?”

“Please come in first.”

“Daddy, can I come in too?”

“Of course. But you can’t touch just anything, okay?”

“Okay!”

Dahlia answered energetically and went inside.

While Dahlia played with toys in one corner, Aiden brought tea.

After taking a few sips, Aiden spoke seriously.

“There was something I needed to confirm before you leave.”

“Confirm?”

When Reina looked puzzled, Aiden held something out.

“This is…….”

“The item you commissioned.”

“I never thought you’d make it this quickly. Even when I commissioned it, you said it was a difficult process and would take time…….”

Reina herself didn’t know the method to create that magical tool.

It had been a design that existed only in Aiden’s mind before her regression.

So she was amazed that he had completed it in such a short time.

Aiden scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.

“I pushed myself a bit.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been living in the laboratory all this time because of this?”

“Once I learned what it would be used for, I couldn’t help but feel urgency.”

From his eyes, it seemed he had already guessed why Reina had commissioned it.

“Hyungnim’s wife, I know this is presumptuous, but could you check one more time if it’s safe to use? Of course, you’ve already checked everything, but I’m asking for one more confirmation.”