The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 31
Struggling with his thoughts, Aseph loosened his carefully tied cravat and unbuttoned a couple of buttons on his shirt, his hands trembling and missing the buttons several times.
If he couldn’t spark interest with other conditions, he thought of seducing her with his body once again.
Fortunately, it had worked once before.
“Bea.”
But no matter how much he knocked on her door, there was no answer from inside.
Strange. He was sure he had instructed the servants to guide her back properly.
He had even entrusted Homun to the butler with some snacks, with the excuse that he needed to talk to Bea alone.
“…Bea?”
Aseph cautiously opened the door and entered. The spacious laboratory seemed empty without its owner.
He couldn’t have received a false report.
Glancing around the laboratory, Aseph felt something was off and walked towards a corner storage room.
Upon opening the door, he found Bea crouched inside.
“Why are you in such a place?”
“…”
Bea looked up at Aseph with an expressionless face and then spoke.
“…You said I’m in custody here.”
“What? No, that’s ridiculous… I wouldn’t possibly lock you up like this. Please, get up.”
As Aseph pulled Bea out, he looked back at the storage several times. It was a large room, and Bea had lived in such a laboratory for a long time.
But still, in such a place… Was it because he was too forceful at the banquet?
It was possible. He had asked her to stay here for research, but it was not much different from a threat.
‘She must still misunderstand.’
Aseph led Bea to a bed he had prepared in a corner of the laboratory.
He had always been concerned about the flimsy foldable bed she used to sleep on in the old lab. He worried even about her napping.
Sitting on the soft bed, Bea turned around once and ran her hand over the smooth fabric. Seeing her reaction, Aseph noticed that she didn’t seem to dislike it, which was a relief.
“Bea, I want to clear up a misunderstanding.”
Aseph knelt in front of her, pleading.
It was a posture that would astonish any imperial magician who knew of House Vilkanos.
Where should he start?
About him hiding his identity before?
About him saying that he would return soon, but taking much too long?
About not finding her sooner and making her come to him?
There was so much that he needed to explain.
But this seemed the most important right now.
“I had no idea you had a child. How much have you suffered alone… I should have known earlier.”
“…”
“I know it’s nothing but excuses, but I wish you would hear me out.”
Even if he had known earlier, he couldn’t have called Bea to the battlefield. But that didn’t mean it was right to expect her to understand that as a given.
Aseph tried his best to show Bea the version of himself that she knew in the past – less mature, weaker, and desperately trying to win the affection of the person before him.
He thought that this attitude was the most appropriate to explain the situation he had been in.
“……Even though it was unavoidable, I fully understand why you are angry. From now on, I will make sure not to fall short in my efforts. Please don’t be angry anymore.”
He took Bea’s hand and kissed each of her fingers. He had explained everything he could.
Aseph was confident that he could turn things around from now on. He had spent years searching for Bea like a madman.
The stability he had built in Vilkanos was all for the purpose of bringing Bea to him.
But even after hearing all this, Bea just sighed.
“……As I’ve said several times, that child is not yours.”
Bea seemed to be fidgeting with her fingers, as if wanting to let go of his hand. Reluctantly, Aseph released her hand, and she pressed her forehead, seemingly in pain.
“It’s not my child either.”
“Ah…”
“And didn’t we use contraception?”
“Well, it might not have worked.”
“Are you suggesting that the potion I prepared was ineffective?”
“N-No! That’s not what I mean…”
Aseph sighed heavily.
“My body tends to be resistant to potions… I just meant that it’s a possibility. To doubt your skills, that would be ridiculous.”
“Did you check?”
“Check? What do you mean?”
Aseph was confused, but Bea explained further.
“Did you check whether contraceptives are effective on your body with other cases…?”
“No, Bea…!”
Aseph jumped up, agitated.
“Other women? That’s preposterous… I, I, I have been faithful. Bea, don’t you trust me?”
Typically, nobles have betrothed from a young age. Aseph, being a relatively young archduke, had not yet engaged or even shown interest in any woman, which was unusual for his status.
As the conversation seemingly went off track, Bea sighed heavily.
“Your Highness, it seems we are unable to communicate.“
“Bea, I…”
Aseph swallowed dryly, hesitated for a moment, and then continued.
“There’s no one else for me but you. It has to be you. I understand I’ve caused you distress, but why do you speak so harshly? I’ve met no one else, searched for only you for years. You’re the only one for me. If you have shaken me up, you have to take responsibility…”
Aseph’s voice was tinged with a sense of injustice, sounding like a man deeply in love, plaintively seeking affection.
