The Baby Isn’t Yours

While waiting for Kalia outside, Simon briefly left his place.

Allen entered the room to inform Kalia about various things after finishing breastfeeding, and the two started a conversation.

“Yeah. Come in, Simon.”

When Kalia allowed Simon to enter, his gaze fell first on Allen, who was already inside. Simon’s evenly defined forehead seemed to crumple instantly, as if it was sculpted from porcelain.

With one eyebrow raised in apparent irritation, Simon asked in a gruff voice:

“Why is the doctor here…? Is something wrong, Kalia?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong. Allen said he had things to tell me.”

Kalia replied as if it was nothing special, and she smiled slightly as if to convey her gratitude when handing Sasha over to Allen.

Allen also smiled at Kalia and held Sasha in his arms, meeting the baby’s eyes. Observing this interaction, Simon’s chest surged with intense emotions.

Why does this make me so uncomfortable? Despite not showing any vulgar looks or actions toward Kalia, Simon was wary of Allen.

“It seems like Sasha is asleep again, so I’ll take him to the baby room.”

With Sasha gently wrapped in a swaddle, Allen smiled affectionately at the baby.

At the moment when Simon saw the look in Allen’s eyes, so full of adoration for Sasha, he realized why he felt uneasy.

‘I should be the one in his place.’

Simon’s eyes narrowed.

It was his role to stay by Kalia’s side, take care of her when she gave birth, and show such loving eyes towards the baby she gave birth to.

A spark flashed in Simon’s eyes.

Even if Simon acted openly and displayed his emotions, it was impossible to understand the depths of his mind. Thus, she felt even more frustrated, even more conscious of him.

After restraining his jealousy and his foolish anger for a while, Simon decided to put on a more charming smile for Kalia.

“Kalia, are you feeling okay?”

“Perfectly fine.”

Simon approached with his long legs, and his fingers, so slender, extended to brush away a wet strand of hair sticking to Kalia’s cheek.

“That’s a relief. As long as you’re not in pain, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Kalia was a little embarrassed.

It was because Simon treated her so friendly, speaking in a voice dripping with honey, something he had never done before.

And every time their eyes met and he smiled sweetly enough to drive her crazy, Kalia was confused.

‘…Isn’t he angry? I thought he would be very angry about my sudden disappearance. Why doesn’t he say a word about my pregnancy?’

Kalia was confused and puzzled, observing Simon’s reactions closely, but she couldn’t read his thoughts.

She wasn’t sure if it was intentional, but when he was determined to put on a blank expression, there was no way to know what he was thinking.

That made her feel more frustrated, and perhaps that was why she became more conscious of him.

An old friend she hadn’t seen in a while smiled sweeter and gave off a more dangerous vibe.

“Simon, unless it’s urgent, I think Kalia should get some more rest.”

It was Allen who broke that dangerous atmosphere.

Allen gave advice to Simon in a quiet and polite voice.

Just as Simon viewed Allen with disdain, Allen also didn’t view Simon very favorably.

‘Childhood friend… And all this time Kalia couldn’t even tell him that she was pregnant.’

He had heard through rumors how self-indulgent and cold-hearted Simon Terroan was.

When he was in the capital, he often read articles about Simon blowing up imperial palaces and mansions, so he felt even worse.

Of course, there was no point in believing baseless rumors, but he couldn’t help but think that Simon was the main reason that brought Kalia to this place.

How important was the father’s role throughout pregnancy…?

Allen didn’t even have the title or qualifications to ‘replace’ him, so unfortunately he could only help with small things.

So, he felt even more sorry for him.

Buzzz.

Sparks flew in the air as the two men looked at each other.

Simon smiled coldly.

“Do I need to ask permission from you to meet Kalia?”

“That’s not what I meant, I’m just speaking as her doctor.”

“Well, I think I’m more qualified to stay here than the doctor…”

Pausing for a moment, Simon looked at Kalia and asked:

“Isn’t that right, Kalia?”

His head dropped slightly, and the somewhat disheveled hair fell from his forehead.

“Or… Should I leave, Kalia?”

What kind of atmosphere is this?

Kalia’s confusion deepened, wondering what exactly was going on. The atmosphere was strange, but she couldn’t figure out why.

Why were these two men, who just met each other, glaring at each other like that?

Kalia decided that someone needed to leave to clear up this chaotic atmosphere.

“Allen.”

“Yes, Kalia.”

‘…Should I not go out? Should I somehow try to drive out that evil magician?’

With a meaningful glance, Allen sent a signal. The problem was that Kalia, clueless as ever, couldn’t interpret Allen’s eyes.

She reached out her hand toward Simon while not understanding his signals, saying:

“Now, go. And give me Sasha.”

“…Yes?”

‘Why? Why am I leaving while that wicked magician stays? What’s he going to do to the precious, small, delicate Sasha…?’

Seeing the wariness in Allen’s eyes, Kalia cheerfully said:

“It’s fine. Simon won’t eat him or anything. No matter how monstrous he may seem, he’s still a kind of human… Right?”

Simon’s eyebrows rose as if he was being treated like some kind of crazy monster.

As if to say, ‘Just look at this,’ Kalia shrugged her shoulders.

Her naivety was so endearing that Allen felt like tearing up.

‘Kalia… No matter how you look at it, the Duke’s eyes look like a complete madman, why does only Kalia not seem to realize it? Don’t you see the look he’s giving you right now!’

Though Allen silently screamed within himself, he refrained from saying anything out loud.

“Anyway… Give me Sasha. I want Simon to officially greet him.”

Kalia said this, and what right did Allen have to stop her?

“…Alright, I understand.”

If there was a 99% chance that the man was Sasha’s father, what could he say?

Smirk.

When their eyes met, Simon gave a triumphant smile.

Was this the renowned archmage of the Empire? So petty.

With an exasperated look, Allen glanced at him and slowly closed the door as he left the room.

Thud.

The door closed, leaving Kalia and Simon inside.

Simon looked at Sasha, who had fallen asleep in Kalia’s arms, and licked his lips.

“Sasha?”

“Yeah, that’s the name. I’m still thinking about what to name him.”

Kalia’s face, holding Sasha, looked gentle and pure. The way she gazed at the baby appeared more peaceful than ever.

Staring at Kalia and the baby she held, Simon muttered softly.

“When I was young, someone used to call me that.”

Suddenly, Kalia’s laughter froze in place for a moment.

“I seem to have completely forgotten who it was.”

‘…No way?’

“Didn’t you call me that sometimes when we went back to the mansion to play during breaks from the Academy?”

“…Me?”

“Then who else could it be?”

‘Me? Really? Why don’t I remember?’

Calia was embarrassed and stared at Simon.

Simon watched her, wordlessly scrutinizing her, then lowered his gaze to look at Sasha. He inclined his head slightly and greeted Sasha.

“Hello, Sasha. Nice to meet you.”

In a soft, whispered voice, he greeted the sleeping baby.

As one of his long and white fingers lightly touched the baby’s cheek, Sasha shivered and moved his lips.

“Are you having a dream about eating? Why are you smacking your lips like that?”

Despite his grumbling voice, his touch was gentle as he brushed the baby’s soft skin.

While poking the baby’s bulging cheek, he secretly caressed the baby’s skin with his fingertips, savoring its softness.

Somehow, the touch seemed to be filled with affection, which made Kalia feel strange.

‘I thought Simon didn’t like children…?’

It was Simon who pulled her towards him with a frown on his face when Kalia looked at the children passing by. The sound of crying babies and even children’s laughter had annoyed him greatly.

‘But what’s with the look in his eyes?’

The corners of his eyes were slightly curved.

The baby she gave birth to and the baby’s father looking at the baby.

That unfamiliar sight tickled Kalia’s heart.

As she looked at the two people’s faces shining in the sunlight in the room, her heart pounded violently.

Can’t blood be deceived?

Simon had silver hair that reflected the sunlight, and Sasha had black hair like the night, the complete opposite of his father, but the two were undeniably similar.

‘Strange. This is really strange. This feeling… is really very strange.’

As Kalia looked at their child and Simon in fascination, Simon raised his head and looked at Kalia.

With beautiful golden eyes captivating Kalia, Simon suddenly asked:

“Why did you do that?”

Here it is.

Kalia’s heart dropped without warning, but she looked at Simon with an expressionless face.

Simon continued to scrutinize Kalia’s expression and spoke as if he didn’t care.

“Why did you come all the way here and have a baby without telling me?”

“Well… I wanted to rest. I was planning to retire.”

Kalia answered, maintaining her composure and even giving a faint smile.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. I was worried you might object.”

“…Retire, you say?”

Simon chuckled as if it were an absurd joke.

Then, with a somewhat agitated tone, he said to her:

“Don’t lie, Kalia.”