When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married

Chapter 97

The wagon Ian, Laritte, and Olivia traveled in was rented in Nikarkol Village. It was not splendidly decorated with luxurious gold and silver designs like the Duke’s, and the ordinary leather sofa was not very comfortable to sit on.

Nevertheless, Olivia felt that this was not simply an old carriage when she saw Ian and Laritte sitting on the other side. Ian and Laritte—who slept on Ian’s shoulders—were seen as a 300-year-old piece of artwork hung in the Capital’s castle. Ian and Laritte were a quite strong couple. Olivia smiled faintly at the fact.

‘I wouldn’t have been able to sleep in this situation, but she looks very comfortable.’

Meanwhile, Ian was worried that Laritte, who slept against him, might be cold. Even though the window was foggy because of the temperature difference due to the oil lights left on in the wagon. Should he put more oil in the lamp? Should he cover her with clothes? Or should he hold her until they arrive home?

“It’s not like I’m going to hug you forever!”

Ian murmured, pouting. Of course, reason prevailed, and Ian covered Laritte’s lap with his large clothes. Laritte was lost in her dream world, snoring like a newborn cat. The jacket was not heavy at all for Ian, who was full of muscles, but not light for Laritte. It was heavy…..

In the dream, Laritte was in the greenhouse under the warm sun between the crocuses. The white cat, Lavigenice von Alexandria Anges, was seated on her lap.

“Nabi, you’re so cute.”

As she felt something heavier on her body in reality, Nabi in her dream was suddenly growing huge. Laritte was laid under the cat that was as large as a house, struggling to get out of the cat’s plump left hind leg.

“Haa!”

‘If you didn’t like the word cute, you should’ve told me.’

But even if Nabi was heavy, she was lovely. On the other hand, Ian was oblivious that Laritte was suffering in her dream as he looked at her face on his shoulder lovingly. Then he asked Olivia,

“What shall we do now?”

Originally, Ian thought that Olivia had come to benefit from Laritte without shame, and was supposed to kick her out three days after as he promised Laritte.

But in fact, Olivia was found to have come to see if Laritte was well. Of course, for Ian, Laritte’s opinion was the most important, but he also wanted to know what Olivia thought. Olivia had already decided on an answer.

“I’m leaving. I’ll wander aimlessly from place to place like I always did.”

She never intended to stay at the Duke’s mansion. Ian felt awkward at Olivia’s gentle manner.

‘Was it all because you were worried about her that you kept following me around or asking me about Laritte or taking a bite of Laritte’s food?’ His eyes did narrow a single bit.

“Isn’t it too shameful for me to be here?”

Ian felt as if he had to apologize to Olivia. How much he cursed Olivia inside, knowing that she was being mean to Laritte. In his mind, the angel and the demon aimed weapons at each other and fought.

When the angel shouted, “Of course you should apologize for misunderstanding her!” the devil countered, “She was the first to persecute Laritte in the past!” Meanwhile, Ian said something else while biting his lips.

“At least I’ll be relieved when you leave. But no one can touch Laritte.” He was joking, but the situation became more awkward. Both of them averted their gaze elsewhere. The old picturesque smell of the interior of the carriage harmonized with the awkwardness.

“…”

“…”

Olivia managed to come up with another question. In fact, I was most curious.

“Then how did Laritte get all the wounds? Had she been clumsy?”

To talk about that, Ian had to tell Olivia about fate and mana. Ian and Laritte were originally unlikely to meet. “…So it was because of us being together like this that it’s against the magic that makes up the flow of the world, and that the magic continues to finish one of us. Unfortunately, since I repel magic, only Laritte got hurt.”

Olivia, who had no knowledge of magic, felt Ian’s words as a joke, but she kept silent. How could there be such nonsense in the world? After a while, Olivia decided to believe what the other person said. Then she came to wonder why they were together right now.

‘It’s a tragedy to hear that my daughter is going to die!’ Ian read Olivia’s thoughts in her blue eyes.

He kept stroking Laritte’s sleeping head. Her silvery hair, which was close to white, fell into Ian’s rough and large hands like silk and then disappeared as he ran his fingers.

“But if I don’t find a final solution…. I’ll leave again, so don’t worry.” He couldn’t find Seta anywhere in the kingdom and the empire even after he searched one by one. Adrian, who can distinguish dragon remains, was looking for very old dragon objects, but someday the limit will come. So Ian had a favor to ask, “If I have to leave, I need someone to stay with her.”

Ian still didn’t favor Olivia. He couldn’t understand why she used to hit Laritte in the past. However, if Laritte allowed, he thought it would be okay for Olivia to live with her, whether she asked for forgiveness or took care of Laritte in return.

“Biological parents don’t allow their children to do anything. But if it weren’t for me, you would be the only family left.”

“….”

“Well, if the mansion was uncomfortable, I’d find you a little house within the Duchy, so why don’t you live there? I’ll have to get in touch to find you later.”

Olivia nodded after a silence, “I’ll think about it.” When she confirmed that Laritte was living well, she was planning to live a life of a bum while looking at the mountains and rivers as she had done so far. However, if there was anything left to help Laritte, she should think about extending her life.

Meanwhile, the wagon stopped with a rattle. Through the window, they could see the main gate of the Duke’s house. Ian gave Olivia his last word.

“Don’t tell Laritte what I just said. Laritte thinks I’ll be there for her, even if she’s on her way to death.” His low voice sounded lonely. “I can never see Laritte’s death with my eyes,” he carefully hugged Laritte and stepped out of the carriage.

It was only then that Laritte, who had just opened her eyes, yawned in Ian’s arms. Her head was all fuzzy. She muttered as she blinked drowsily, “Have we arrived?”

Ian patted her shoulders, “You may sleep longer.” Glad to hear that, Laritte buried her head on Ian’s shoulder and went back to sleep.

When the Duke and his wife returned, the servants welcomed them barefoot. They smiled as he saw Ian carrying Laritte. Maintaining his usual poker face, Ian uttered irritatingly. “Don’t laugh, go inside and do your jobs. You, wipe your face. Why did you come out when you were cleaning the chimney?”

Olivia was following Ian toward the Duke’s residence. She shook her head excitedly as she watched Ian and Laritte.

‘They are a perfectly sweet couple, by all accounts.’

Olivia’s fierce eyes clearly spotted Ian’s ears, though they were dark, were red now. She was a madman to think that Laritte might be ignored here after seeing Ian get so flustered. Olivia could understand Ian. Though it was her child, Laritte was lovely in her own way.

“Isn’t Laritte pretty like me?”

Olivia teasingly patted Ian on the thick shoulder before she walked past him. Ian flushed red when he thought he was finally calm. He felt like he completely caught up with what he was thinking. That’s why adults go through all sorts of hardships!