I’m the Future Crazy Male Lead’s Mother – Chapter 65

Author: isuzuuy

“……Hmph.”

Miya and Karlin continued their back-and-forth for quite a while, and it was only when I was yawning from boredom that they finally fell silent.

As their rather pointless exchange continued, the nobles began to lose interest in us, gathering in small groups and creating worlds of their own.

“It was a pleasure meeting you today. Lady Cilia, Lady Miya. I have some business to attend to, so I should be going now.”

Karlin, who was clearly an attention seeker, spoke coyly as she gently waved her fan.

Miya also waved her fan elegantly and gave a slight nod.

“I enjoyed it as well, Lady Karlin. Didn’t you, Cilia?”

“Ah, yes. Me too.”

I answered absentmindedly while patting Axion’s back. He had started to doze off, perhaps just as bored as I was.

Karlin’s eyebrow seemed to twitch, but I didn’t really care.

After she and her followers all filed away, the surroundings became very quiet.

‘Could there be some kind of bad luck attached to this place? Why does something keep happening here?’

This was supposed to be a corner where I could hide away and find some peace, but perhaps the spot itself was unlucky.

As I pondered this with a serious expression, Miya whispered cautiously.

“Um, I-I’m sorry, Lady Evanroar. I interfered when I shouldn’t have, didn’t I……?”

“Huh?”

Where had the bold woman who had fearlessly confronted Karlin earlier gone? Miya shrank her shoulders, looking timid.

“I just couldn’t stand by and watch. You’re the person who gave me such a meaningful realization……”

Had I really given her something that profound?

Feeling a little burdened by that, I quickly shook my head.

“No, it’s nothing. And I’m really not bothered by it. Rather, I’m grateful. Thank you for helping me like that.”

“R-Really……?”

Miya smiled shyly and lowered her head slightly.

Her cheeks had turned pink like peaches, perhaps from embarrassment.

“Of course. Thank you, Lady Miya.”

“N-No, it was only natural. It was something I should have done.”

Miya shook her head while fidgeting with both hands.

Then she subtly pointed at Axion.

“The child is so cute. May I take a closer look?”

“Ah. Yes. He’s asleep right now, so you probably won’t be able to see him very well.”

Miya clasped her hands together and leaned forward to look at Axion, then let out a tiny squeal.

“He’s so cute and adorable. Look at those chubby cheeks.”

Axion’s glutinous-rice-cake-like cheeks really were one of his most charming features.

After that, Miya chattered away, showering Axion with compliments. As I smiled proudly like a mother, puffing up with pride, she suddenly said,

“But I had no idea Lady Evanroar had such a story behind her.”

“……What?”

“So that’s why you said those things to me earlier.”

Miya suddenly lowered her head.

Her voice and shoulders were trembling, as if she were going through some kind of intense emotional turmoil.

Why was she suddenly turning me into some tragic woman with a complicated past?

Well, I suppose the existence of a son even the head of the family didn’t know about could easily lead someone to think that.

“Where is this child’s father……?”

Miya asked, then suddenly seemed to realize that the question might be rude and waved her hands.

“Ah. Never mind. You don’t have to answer.”

“I don’t know either.”

“……What?”

I shrugged.

I didn’t particularly think her question was rude.

“I mean Axion’s father. I don’t know where he is either.”

“……Gasp.”

I had no idea what button my answer had pushed, but Miya covered her mouth with one hand and hurriedly turned her head away.

Had I just seen moisture glimmering in her eyes?

Or was I imagining it?

“I-I see.”

“Yes.”

“You really are a strong person, Lady Evanroar.”

Hmm.

I looked down at the proud iron arm and iron leg that had hurt Miya earlier.

It was certainly a strong body.

When I obediently nodded, Miya spoke cautiously.

“Would it be all right if I sent you a letter privately sometime? And if I get the chance, I’d like to meet you somewhere more comfortable than a place like this.”

“Uh…….”

Was this a signal?

A signal that she wanted to become friends with me?

I felt a little happy and nodded without hesitation.

“Sure.”

“Really? Thank you so much. Then, I’ll go see my father for a moment. He’s been worried about me for a while now……”

“Yes. Take care, Lady Miya.”

Miya shyly nodded, then stopped just as she was about to turn away.

“Um, I’m sorry for calling you by your name earlier. I was so focused on dealing with Lady Karlin that I just……”

Ah. It was nothing worth apologizing for.

I waved my hand to show that I didn’t mind.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

“You really are broad-minded, Lady Evanroar!”

I wasn’t sure what was so moving about that, but Miya left with a deeply touched expression.

“…….”

Phew. Now I finally felt like I was alone.

With people constantly coming and going, even though I was sitting in a corner, it felt like I was right in the middle of the ballroom.

“Axion has really been through a lot.”

He had been peacefully playing with Carl in a quiet place, only to be brought all the way to somewhere this noisy.

It was all because of his useless mother, I thought.

I stroked Axion’s soft hair as I sat down on one of the chairs prepared to the side.

After that little storm had passed, I was starting to get hungry.

“The sandwiches are really small.”

I quickly grabbed some finger food from the table and stuffed it into my mouth at an impressive speed.

Then I suddenly felt someone’s gaze and looked up.

Far away, Dazar was staring at me with a sullen expression.

‘What? Why?’

‘Nothing. Just.’

I made the same sullen face and mouthed the words, and he shrugged in response.

‘Just thinking you really eat well.’

He mouthed that addition before chuckling.

He was still as irritating as ever.

That guy, seriously.

Just then, another noble approached him, and his attention shifted from me to them.

‘Hmph.’

I had been about to thank him for looking after me earlier, but I no longer felt like it.

I pouted and continued inhaling sandwiches.

Fwoooooo—!

A trumpet sounded throughout the ballroom, and the attendants who had been waiting began moving all at once.

‘Huh?’

An attendant approached me as well and spoke politely.

“Excuse me. Your Majesty the Emperor will be entering shortly. Before that, the young master must return to the nursery for a moment.”

“Ah…….”

So it was almost Leticia’s turn to come out.

Remembering the schedule Cedric had given me, I nodded and carefully handed Axion over to the attendant.

“I will remain by the young master’s side so that he may sleep peacefully in the nursery.”

“Thank you. My butler will be coming over there shortly.”

“Understood.”

Once Axion was gone, I was truly alone.

A little lonely……

‘Ohhh.’

No, not really.

Rather, my heart fluttered at the thought that I was about to see Leticia’s true form.

Was this what it felt like to have an amazing female friend?

As I watched the nobles straighten their clothes and tidy themselves up, I unconsciously straightened my shoulders and giggled.

“His Majesty will be entering soon.”

And right at that moment—

I was startled by a voice coming from directly beside me.

What the heck? When did he come over here?

When I stared at him with wide eyes, he gave me that angelic smile of his.

“It’s been a while, Cilia.”

“Uh…… Morocanil?”

“Yes.”

Bathed in the light of the light balls illuminating the ballroom, his golden hair sparkled brilliantly. Looking at him smiling so gently, I felt as if I had been transported to heaven.

“Where were you? I didn’t see you until just now.”

Instead of answering, Morocanil simply smiled.

“I wasn’t far away. I don’t particularly like drawing people’s attention.”

“Ah…….”

That made sense. Even now, the moment he appeared, every noble’s gaze had turned toward him.

‘Being handsome must be exhausting.’

Having to endure everyone staring at you like this.

If it were me, I’d probably hide away because it would be unbearable.

While I shook my head back and forth, Morocanil whispered softly.

“A lot happened today. You must be tired.”

“Uh…… I’m fine. This much is nothing.”

“Cilia, you’re strong.”

I unconsciously looked down at my iron arm again.

So everyone really did know how strong I was.

When I awkwardly nodded, Morocanil let out a soft chuckle and added,

“About the stone I left behind last time.”

Ah. That stone?

“I really wanted to thank you for returning it.”

So he had finally found it.

“You don’t have to thank me. I just returned it to its owner. Come to think of it, if I’d simply left it there, I think you would have found it yourself anyway, Morocanil. I feel like I went through all that trouble for nothing.”

After all, I’d heard that Morocanil was the only person who had a reservation at that shop, so he would have come back to retrieve it eventually.

In a way, I had only created unnecessary trouble.

Morocanil shook his head.

“No. Thanks to you, I no longer have to go to that shop.”

“What?”

Huh? What did he mean by that?

Had he perhaps gotten into an argument with the shop owner because of me……?

While I looked at him anxiously, a loud trumpet blast rang out, followed by a cry.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering—!”

All the nobles bowed their heads, and I heard the doors leading to the dais open.

I lowered my head along with everyone else, and Morocanil whispered beside me.

“Do you know that after His Majesty gives the opening address for the ‘Hall of Rest,’ the ball will begin?”