Chapter 08
Ah, I can hear it. The sound of the atmosphere growing colder…
But regardless of that, Luka clung to my waist, crying as if the world were about to end.
“Sniff… sniff…”
Rüdiger cleared his throat and stepped in, as if he had sorted out some of his complicated thoughts.
“Lady, didn’t you say you’re Luka’s aunt?”
As expected, Rüdiger also seemed completely convinced that I was Luka’s mother.
I muttered indignantly to myself.
“I am his aunt, though…”
“Mom! Mom!”
No sooner had I mentioned “aunt” than Luka, like a chirping baby bird, kept repeating “mom.”
If I kept denying it like this, I’d end up looking like a cruel mother who abandoned her child.
I tried to avoid being a cruel aunt, and the reward was… being a cruel mother?
It’s not like I saved someone from drowning only to be asked for my bundle in return. Luka, how could you…!
I looked at Luka clinging to my waist, a mix of frustration and helplessness in my heart.
Then, Luka quietly looked up at me, and our eyes met. His blue eyes blazed with stubbornness and obsession.
Why… could it be that what Luka wants is… to claim me as his mother so we can go to Winterwald together…?
Ha! No way!
He was just throwing a tantrum after being startled by the sudden appearance of his uncle. If I explained it properly, Luka would understand.
What reason would Luka have to claim I’m his mom just to go to Winterwald with me?
It’s ridiculous, utterly ridiculous.
But the situation did not go as easily as I hoped.
Rüdiger looked at Luka and me with a reluctant expression and made a proposal.
“I don’t know the circumstances… but if you truly are Luka’s mother, madam—no, lady—you cannot take Luka alone. How could you separate mother and child? You should come to Winterwald together.”
No, no! Why would I go to a place where a revenge drama is about to unfold!
Even though my heart ached for Luka, I had not the slightest desire to follow him to Winterwald.
Going there would practically be signing my own death warrant. My compassion and pity only extended as far as Emden.
I desperately shook my head and hands.
“No, I like pastoral life…”
“But you said before that you wanted to live like a princess in a castle.”
Suddenly, Luka, who had been crying, changed tone and countered clearly. His eyes, like sparkling blue marbles, were audacious.
I ignored Luka’s rebuttal and hurriedly listed all the reasons I needed to stay in Emden.
“I enjoy this simple life.”
“You said you wanted to wear rings on all ten fingers.”
“You can’t eat rich foods because your stomach is weak.”
“You said you’d be satisfied just to try veal steak once.”
“….”
He kept countering one by one until I had no excuses left. Luka remembered every word Judith had said, even though I had completely forgotten.
Until now, I had wondered if Luka was really calling me “mom” on purpose, but by now, I had no doubt.
It was intentional! Obvious intention, whether seen from the front, the back, or even a hundred meters away!
At this rate, I would really be dragged to Winterwald.
I tried to persuade Luka sternly.
“Luka, of course I also want a prosperous life. But I’ve lived in Emden for twenty-seven years. All my friends are here. I don’t feel like going somewhere else now.”
Luka thought about running off to the capital instead of going to Winterwald, but no one knew that.
I lied shamelessly.
“You don’t have any friends, aunt—no, mom.”
Hey, Kim Luka… who told you to say something so cutting? Well, true, Judith doesn’t really have any real friends.
I looked at Luka indignantly, and he lifted his chin triumphantly.
“And if we count that way, I’ve lived here for ten years and have friends here, so I’ll stay in Emden too.”
But no sooner had he said that confidently than he switched back to crying and wailing.
“You’re trying to leave me behind to get married, right? You’re going to sell me to some suspicious stranger because I’m in the way. I know everything! I’m not going! I’m staying with Mom forever!”
He was a natural actor. Handsome and talented.
If this were the real world, he could have been a child actor shaking up Hollywood.
It was sad that I had discovered this new talent in my nephew, but couldn’t be entirely happy about it.
As desperate as I was, Luka was just as desperate. Two desperate forces clashing. But there was one more desperate person here.
Rüdiger, determined to take Luka to Winterwald.
The moment I said Luka would stay in Emden, Rüdiger’s gaze wavered.
Then, Luka and Rüdiger’s eyes met. In that brief moment, it seemed as if they made a secret agreement, exchanging glances without me noticing.
No, could you not conspicuously plot right in front of me?
Rüdiger cleared his throat and started.
“Well… if you’re thinking of remarrying, wouldn’t it be better to arrange a marriage through Winterwald rather than looking in Emden? It doesn’t seem like you need to marry urgently… and besides, the child is so anxious, so you should go together.”
At the word “arrange a marriage,” Luka’s face twisted, then lit up at the next words.
“Okay! That works! Mom’s happy, and I’m happy too!”
No, I’m not happy… But objectively, there was no reason for me to be unhappy.
It just looked like I was making a fuss. Anyone might assume I was trying to extort more money.
Feeling the looming death flag and despair, I pleaded to Luka in a tearful voice.
“What if I’m treated badly there? Huh? I’ll be the outsider, Luka. Think about it. I’m the sister of a woman who bore a dead man’s child—who would want to take in a woman like that?”
“Because she bore a dead man’s child, it should be fine, right?”
How long are you going to insist I’m your mom…?
By now, it was close to a battle of wills. Who would break first?
But everyone knew this was an unfair fight. We were outnumbered, lacked justification, and were at a disadvantage in reality.
My only reason not to go to Winterwald was knowing the future—and I couldn’t reveal that as evidence.
Another adversary, Rüdiger, spoke solemnly.
“Winterwald is rich enough to comfortably take care of one person.”
And quietly added, leaving me no room to counter.
“If you want a pastoral, simple environment, we can create that on the estate. If you want to live like a princess in a castle, that’s possible too. Rich foods, vegetarian, healthy diet—whatever you like. Winterwald can provide all that.”
The confidence that no excuse I made could overcome money!
Having nothing left to argue, I finally nodded, tears streaming, to their firm insistence.
Yes. I was going to Winterwald… sob sob.
