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Chapter 19
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Cain stood at the door wearing a navy blue frock coat. Marcella was surprised by Cain’s sudden appearance and released her grip on Lariana’s chin.

“C-Cain,” Marcella said, approaching her stepson.

Her eyes quickly became moist.

She had been fierce and threatening, as if she could devour Lariana at any moment. However, she seemed pitiful now, as if she could collapse at any moment.

“How could you decide to marry this woman without saying a single word to your mother? Do you think it’s acceptable for me to learn about your marriage through the newspaper?” Marcella exclaimed, her anger escalating.

Observing Marcella’s transformation, Lariana sensed that this marriage would not be smooth. She struggled to suppress the growing anxiety in her chest.

“My son, I have spared no effort for you, even risking my life. And yet, you… how could you!”

Marcella’s voice trembled as she scolded Cain. For generations, there had been many who envied the Delacroix family. As the noblest family of Martessen and the protectors of the Empire, they had many enemies, even in other kingdoms. As a result, the heads and heirs of the Delacroix family were always under threat, constantly exposed to danger.

However, that wasn’t all. Cain’s father, the previous Duke Delacroix, had many siblings. In Martessen, only the eldest son could inherit the title. Therefore, he had to be constantly vigilant.

The younger brother of the current Duke Delacroix, who served as the treasurer, had shown the most greed. He had relentlessly tormented his siblings and in-laws. Despite killing the nobles being forbidden, he sent assassins multiple times without remorse.

Marcella had dedicated herself to protect the young Cain. Her act of shielding him with her own body to save him from an assassination attempt had become a legendary tale in the high society.

“Marrying a girl who can’t even answer whether she loves you? What’s so great about her that you make such a choice?” Marcella exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration.

“I don’t need to seek your permission. As Duke Delacroix, I am informing you,” Cain replied, his voice strained from his efforts to remain composed. As he brushed his tousled bangs aside, his fierce gaze became visible. Marcella trembled at the intensity in her stepson’s eyes.

“Lariana is sick, so let’s stop here for today.”

“Cain!”

“Hanson, escort Mother to the annex.”

Marcella desperately called out to her stepson, whose towering figure she could no longer reach. However, Cain did not even look back at his stepmother. His gaze was fixed solely on Lariana.

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The bedroom fell silent after Marcella left.

Cain cautiously approached Lariana, who stood there at a loss. He gently touched her chin. Startled, she fled to the sofa and sat down, forcing a bitter smile. Cain followed her, his steps deliberate.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s something I have to endure. But… I thought your mother had given her permission.”

“Due to the sudden engagement, there was no other choice. Mother has been living with our relatives during these few months. She must have rushed over upon hearing the news.”

“Even though the Duchess opposes it so strongly, are you sure it’s okay?”

“I’m sure.”

On the opposite sofa, Cain sat with his legs crossed, holding Lariana’s hand. Despite trying to act nonchalant, Cain was also troubled by the issue of marriage. He had thought that Marcella would not be pleased with Lariana, but he didn’t anticipate such strong opposition.

He was indebted toward Marcella, his stepmother. However, that didn’t mean he was willing to give up on Lariana.

“Duke, may I ask…”

Lariana was about to ask about Marcella, but Cain interrupted her.

“Why did the Count Beckdel come?”

Lariana hesitated for a moment, then replied, “They want to ask for a favor.”

“Oh, really? If you wish for it…” Cain trailed off, leaving the decision up to Lariana. Even though he didn’t feel inclined to fulfill the requests of the incompetent and greedy Count Beckdel, he was willing to do so if his lovely Lariana wanted it.

“I don’t want to.”

“Understood. By the way, I heard that your stuff in Count Beckdel’s mansion are here.”

“Huh, how come?”

“I’ll just throw them away. It would be better to buy everything new.”

“What? Throw away all those things?”

Lariana was surprised.

“Considering the things you have, there might be many gifts from Lejandro…” Cain trailed off, feeling embarrassed.

Seeing his hesitant and embarrassed expression, Lariana was even more surprised. She raised her head and asked directly, “Are you jealous?”

“Yes, I want to monopolize you.”

Realizing what he said, he quickly closed his mouth as those words accidently blurt out of him.

When he was with Lariana, he couldn’t control himself.

D*mn his impulsive tongue for occasionally voicing such unreasonable thoughts.

It was the same with the letters he wrote to Lariana during the expedition, it was filled with nonsensical sentiments.

Lariana, with wide eyes, burst into laughter, revealing her amusement at his words.

“I’ve noticed it before, but you’re quite good at saying embarrassing things.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“It’s not a compliment! Duke, I won’t throw away a single item of mine. Even if I despise and hate both Lejandro and Count Beckdel, the possessions are innocent. They could be given to Jena when she gets married,” Lariana explained.

Cain who deeply in love, didn’t want to argue any further with her.

“Understood. However, I have one request for you.”

“What is it?”

Cain nervously wipe his face. Facing Lariana’s curious gaze, he spoke up, “Lariana, can you call me Cain?”

Looking urgent and pitiful, his words made Lariana’s lips tilt upwards.

“Hmm… I don’t want to.”

As if his lips were dry, Cain quickly moistened them with his tongue.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I went too far,” he apologized, looking desolate and pitiful.

Unable to playfully tease him anymore, Lariana didn’t continue to act mean.

Suddenly standing up, Lariana approached Cain’s side and sat down.

Leaning her body close to his, she whispered, “Cain.”

Her voice was clear and refined.

His lips formed a crescent moon, and his cheeks turned red, even spreading to his ears. Not wanting to be caught with a foolish smile, Cain lowered his head.

Cain’s gaze wandered to Lariana’s glossy blonde hair, and then toward the window. Despite his growing love, the moon outside seemed slightly smaller than the night before.

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The glass greenhouse in the annex of the Duke Delacroix’s mansion was Marcella’s favorite space. Inside the greenhouse, Marcella had decorated it with carefully selected flowers, and the entire space was filled with anemone flower. Marcella sat upright in the tight space filled with flowers.

After observing her stepson for a while, Marcella started the conversation.

“I cannot allow this marriage.”

Cain narrowed his forehead and tightly sealed his lips. It was his usual behavior when he was lost in thought. Marcella patiently waited for her stepson’s response, firmly believing that he would never betray her.

Marcella reminisced about the first time she visited the Duke Delacroix’s mansion. In a large, dim room, there was a small, skinny child all alone—it was Cain.

“I am Marcella. I will be your mother from now on,” she had said.

His body was covered in whip scars. Seeing that, she saw her past self reflected in young Cain. Born as the illegitimate child of the Duke Kaidel, she had been condemned her whole life. Unbeknownst to her, the fact that she was a nobleman’s illegitimate child had spread throughout the high society, and she couldn’t marry for several years even after reaching marriageable age.

Finally, she managed to secure a position as the second wife of the Duke Delacroix, who had a son.

It was the decision of her half-brother, Duke Kaidel. Unlike Duke Delacroix, who was a genuine noble, Duke Kaidel only held a title but was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Even though it was a marriage of convenience, she had her own ambitions. She was still young and wanted to bear a son to make him her successor.

But the moment she saw Cain, she realized that it was impossible for a child tainted with the impure blood of an illegitimate mother to surpass his perfect existence. Only a year after her remarriage, her husband passed away, and she had to protect the Delacroix family and Cain in his place.

The seven-year-old child would not have been able to protect the noble title without Marcella.

She may not have been a perfect mother, but she did her best as a strategist and advisor. She may not have had maternal love for him, but at least she thought well of him…

“After my marriage, I will continue to provide you with the appropriate living expenses, and I will double your pension. I will also build a new mansion in the city.”

Was her hearing impaired? Marcella nervously fiddled with her sapphire earrings. Meanwhile, Cain nonchalantly tapped the armrest of the sofa in rhythm.

“I, I risked my life to protect you. How could you…”

“Didn’t I always say that I’m grateful for that?” He retorted with dissatisfaction.

At first, he was genuinely moved and grateful for the stepmother who willingly sacrifice herself for someone who wasn’t even her own flesh and blood. However, because Marcella had always used that fact as a shield, he had gradually become immune to it. Eventually, Cain couldn’t help but express his discomfort.

“You did it to protect yourself as well, didn’t you? Because you could only protect yourself by protecting me?”

Marcella knew that no matter what she said, it would be futile. She expressed her willingness to surrender.

“I don’t need a new mansion. I’ll go to the annex. Don’t kick me out just because of a daughter-in-law. I don’t want to be rejected by my son because of her.” Read ahead here.