“Have a safe trip, Duke.”

The servants bid Lucian farewell.

“Honey…”

As Rachel appeared from behind them, he quickly went over to support her.

“Why did you come out?”

“I had to see you off… It’s because of me that you’re going.”

“It’s okay. Go back inside and rest.”

He reassured Rachel, then called for Amber.

“Please take the Madam inside.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“Then, take care.”

“Okay, Ray.”

After kissing her forehead and cheek, Lucian mounted his horse. The separation, even brief, weighed on his mind.

He watched Rachel go back inside with Amber, and then he started his journey.

As soon as he left the estate, he spurred his horse into a gallop. The knights following him were taken aback but hurried to catch up. Lucian didn’t care whether they were startled or not. All he could think about was Rachel.

Since learning of her pregnancy, Rachel has started experiencing morning sickness. The day before, she had been eating well, but now she could barely drink water, which shocked him.

He tried everything to find something she could eat, but nothing worked. Only when he served her lemons chopped with ice did she manage to eat a few spoonfuls. Yet, that was hardly enough for her nutritional needs.

Lucian remembered how, in the past, young Rachel used to follow him around, insisting he eat fruits when he wouldn’t eat properly.

Had his wife felt just like this? Just watching her unable to eat made his mouth dry. He felt like she was going to die like this, so in desperation, he promised, “Tell me what you want to eat, and I will find it, no matter what.”

The difficult word that Rachel managed to utter was ‘peach.’ She said she couldn’t stand the smell of anything else, but strangely, she kept thinking about peaches.

Peaches in the middle of winter.

Fortunately, a few peaches were left in the storage. It was the only peaches that remained that Amber had saved as a treat for the children.

When he immediately brought out a peach for her, Rachel ate it with relish. However, her expression was somewhat unsatisfactory, so when he asked again, she said she wanted a ‘big, round peach,’ not a flat one.

Lucian, having made a promise to his wife and was planning to keep it, impulsively decided to head to his parents’ villa. If he couldn’t find what he was looking for there, he planned to visit every noble house in the vicinity.

Racing through the streets swept by a biting wind, he managed to reach his parents’ place before sunset.

“Is that the Duke?”

“Yes, open the gate.”

“Ah? Yes!”

The gatekeeper, startled by the unexpected visit, seemed too slow to Lucian. As soon as a gap appeared, he rushed inside. Dismounting at the entrance, he was immediately met by the butler, who was surprised by his arrival without notice.

“Duke? Why have you come without prior notice?”

“Where is my mother?”

“She’s currently in the kitchen.”

“Lead the way.”

Following the butler, Lucian’s father, Pedro came down from his office upon noticing him.

“Lucian, what brings you here so suddenly?”

“Father.”

“What has happened?”

Pedro was still on edge due to the ongoing threats from factions claiming to be from the imperial household.

“It’s not about that. I need to see mother right now. Please excuse me.”

Pedro became anxious, realizing that only Rachel could cause his son such distress if it wasn’t business-related.

“Is something wrong with Rachel?”

“It’s not that. Well, there is something.”

“What?”

The startled Pedro quickly followed him.

“Lucian, you must explain properly what is going on.”

“…Just a moment, I’ll explain later.”

Entering the kitchen, they found Camilla directing the staff. She had been deeply involved in her hobbies lately.

“Should I make jam out of this?”

“Yes, Madam. Those raspberries are perfect for jam. It also keeps better.”

“I see. Then, I shall make jam out of it tomorrow.”

“The blueberry jam you made today turned out delicious, too.”

“Did it? Hmm… I’ll send some to the children… Lucian?”

Camilla, who had been talking with the chef, only noticed her son and husband after a while. Lucian, momentarily forgetting his urgent business, watched his mother smiling brightly as she talked.

“Mother.”

“What brings you here so suddenly without a call? Is something wrong?”

It was a consistent question, as always, from both his father and mother.

“I came to ask for something.”

“Go ahead, ask.”

“Do you have any peaches?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Both Camilla and Pedro were surprised by Lucian’s question.

“Not the flat kind. I’m looking for round, large peaches.”

After a moment, they responded.

“…Wait a moment. Chef, do we have any peaches in storage?”

“I’ll check right away.”

Camilla asked as the chef hurried out the back door of the kitchen, “Why are you looking for peaches all of a sudden?”

“Does Ray want them?”

They remembered that Lucian had come without Rachel.

“Where is Ray?”

“Why didn’t Ray come with you?”

Observing his parents’ who had changed so much from before, Lucian slightly smirked.

“My wife couldn’t come.”

At his words, they both fell silent. Curiosity was written all over their faces, but they waited for him to continue.

“My wife is over three months pregnant. She’s been having severe morning sickness and can’t eat anything.”

“…What?”

“Pregnant…?!”

Not only Camilla and Pedro but also the servants around them began to offer their congratulations.

“Congratulations, Duke!”

“Former Duke, Former Duchess, congratulations! You’re going to have a grandchild!”

“Congratulations!”

The couple was momentarily stunned, then was overjoyed more than anyone else.

“A child!”

“Over three months?”

“Yes.”

“Peaches, peaches… Wasn’t there some jam made from peaches?”

“Madam, I’ll go check.”

“Yes, yes. Bring all the jams, and…”

Camilla, though utterly scattered, was ecstatic. A new family member was indeed a cause for celebration!

“No, I should go check myself.”

She headed to the storage herself with a servant. Watching her, Lucian felt an indescribable sentiment. Pedro then laid a hand on Lucian’s shoulder, gave it a couple of pats, and then walked away. Lucian blinked and watched him go.

“Congratulations, Lucian.”

He gazed earnestly at his father. The man standing before him seemed older than ever, no longer the father who had tormented him in the past.

“…Thank you.”

“…Yes.”

The two were silent for a moment. They each had their thoughts, but what they thought of the past would be the same.

“There are peaches!”

The chef returned from the storage with a large box in his hands, filled with still-fresh round peaches.

“Madam recently upgraded to a storeroom with magic devices. Maybe she foresaw this need. Thankfully, they’re still fresh.”

The peaches appeared as if they had just been picked.

“A magic device…”

“Yes, sometimes they appear at auctions, and Madam was fortunate to win one recently.”

“Haha, I see. That makes sense.”

Lucian was pleased to be able to take the peaches that Rachel had so desired.

His laughter filled the room, and those around him watched quietly, especially Pedro, who couldn’t take his eyes off him. He felt grateful towards Rachel. She had given Lucian something they couldn’t, making her almost a savior in their eyes.

“Well, Lucian. Take some peach jam as well… I’ll pack a variety of jams. Let Rachel taste them, and if she likes any particular one, just send a letter.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“And take some cookies I baked today. Didn’t Rachel like the nut cookies?”

He recalled how Rachel once sent cookies she made to Camilla. Lucian smiled as he saw the small box of nut cookies.

“Mother, it’s actually me who likes the nut cookies.”

“Really?”

“Ray made them because I like them.”

“…Oh. I see. I don’t even know that as a mother.”

Camilla’s cheerful expression faded a bit at her misunderstanding. Seeing that, Lucian held it lightly and then released her hand.

“Let’s remember that together from now on.”

At her son’s words, Camilla was moved to tears but suppressed it. She resolved never to show tears in front of her son again.

She would always present a happy and bright look.

“…Alright. I’ll make more varieties of cookies and send them whenever I do. Just tell me which ones you enjoyed the most, and I’ll make those again.”

“Thank you… I’m looking forward to it.”

“Alright, alright.”

Lucian, along with the knights who had accompanied him, distributed the load among themselves. He was planning to return home on the same day, so he hurried.

Before leaving, he spoke to his parents one last time.

“Ah, don’t send the cookies by mail. Please bring them yourself next time. My wife would love to see you.”

“…Alright, we will.”

“I’m off then.”

“Go safely.”

Pedro simply nodded silently.

After Lucian had left and was out of sight, the two parents found themselves unable to leave their spot for a long while. Eventually, they leaned on each other and went back into the house. From behind the closed doors of their room, sounds of weeping leaked out, but the servants didn’t worry.

These were no longer tears of sorrow.

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