Chapter 49

Thus began the cold war between Cynthia and Massera.

With the chilly tension between them, there was no way the people at the residence could miss it.

“They fought, didn’t they?”

“Definitely fought.”

The servants exchanged wary glances and nodded.

“Newlyweds do tend to fight often.”

The elderly butler, Milchenko, looked at the two with a sympathetic gaze.

The two didn’t speak to one another nor did they dine together. They were distant, like strangers living under the same roof.

Massera had assumed Cynthia would, as always, cheerfully chatter as if nothing happened, but she treated him like he was invisible.

That radiant smile of hers was shown to everyone except Massera.

‘I admit I was harsh, but I didn’t say anything wrong.’

Massera glanced out the window at Cynthia, who was building a snowman with Eugene.

The image of her pained expression from that day kept flashing through his mind, gnawing at his guilt.

“But even so, your words were too harsh. You don’t even know me.”

He had truly thought he knew everything.

Then he saw Cynthia smiling brightly and waving at someone.

It was Major Isaac Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, the thorn in his side, had been frequently approaching Cynthia these days.

And that rabbit brooch he always wore on his uniform—wasn’t that the one Cynthia bought during their honeymoon?

‘A soldier, walking around with something like that…’

He couldn’t hear their conversation, but judging by their expressions and gestures, it seemed like the three of them were planning to go out together.

“What is he scheming?”

As the direct subordinate of Brigadier General Steve, who always challenged him, Rodriguez was someone Massera couldn’t trust. It definitely wasn’t for any other reason—just this one thing that rubbed him the wrong way.

Cynthia had a habit of making big gestures when she was excited, and from what he had observed so far, it seemed she was saying she needed to buy materials to build a cat house.

After all, she had already tried to build it herself twice and failed both times.

Soon after, Cynthia went inside the residence and came back out with Eugene tightly bundled up. The sight of him walking with heavy steps made him resemble a legendary dwarf gnome.

‘Is she sending him off to a battle in the snowy fields?’

Massera frowned deeply as he watched Cynthia and Eugene get into Major Rodriguez’s car.

“She doesn't even know what the Major could be up to. Why does she trust people so easily?”

A moment later, Diego entered after knocking, eyes wide with surprise.

“General, are you going somewhere?”

Massera was putting on his coat with a grim expression.

***

In the afternoon after the snow had stopped.

Cynthia headed out to the shopping district with Major Rodriguez and Eugene. Dahlia was with them as well.

Holding a parasol, Cynthia walked hand in hand with Eugene, stepping on the snow piled in the center of the road with crisp crunches.

Eugene was completely bundled up in a scarf, a bobble-knit hat, a thick coat, and teddy bear gloves. It was the exact opposite of Eugene’s usual taste for neat and plain gentlemanly attire.

In the past, he would’ve rejected such a colorful clown-like outfit, but today, he quietly wore whatever Cynthia put on him.

“Eugene, you know what? This snow was gathered just for people who love to step on snow.”

“...”

Crunch. Eugene stepped on the snow that had piled up with one foot. His cheeks and nose had turned red from the cold, making him look unbearably cute.

She didn’t know why Major Rodriguez looked so thrilled while stepping on the snow, though.

“The streets are beautiful, aren’t they? I really wanted to show you.”

Major Rodriguez, holding Eugene’s other hand, smiled kindly.

“You’re right. I haven’t gone out much lately, so I didn’t realize, but it’s really beautiful. Thank you, Major.”

Christmas existed here too, and the snow-covered streets were decorated in colorful holiday cheer.

“Both you and Eugene seemed down lately, Lady Cynthia. So I hoped this might cheer you up. I’ve even made a reservation at a nice restaurant.”

“Dahlia and I eat quite a bit—can you handle that?”

At Cynthia’s remark, the Major nodded reassuringly, as if telling her not to worry.

“I don’t really have anywhere else to spend my money. Please, eat as much as you like.”

Dahlia, just as proud of her appetite as Cynthia, grinned mischievously.

“Eugene, this is a gift.”

After stopping by a small shop, Cynthia handed Eugene a notebook and pen.

“It’s okay if it’s short, so write me a letter whenever you feel like it.”

Eugene stared blankly at the notebook for a moment, then scribbled something and handed it to her.

Cynthia leaned forward with an eager expression and looked at the notebook.

Grab what you need and let’s go home. I want to take off this clown outfit.

‘Still as prickly as ever.’

“Lady Cynthia, would you like to stop by and take a look over there?”

Dahlia was pointing to a store that sold baby goods.

Cynthia shook her head firmly when she saw Eugene’s expression harden. She had a hunch that the child she would have with Massera was a source of anxiety for Eugene.

Instead, she pointed to the toy store next door and said—

“Eugene, should we go look at toys?”

I’m not a kid.

“I’m buying something for myself, you know? I’m just planning on putting it in your room. You see, adults don’t like being teased, so they use kids as an excuse to buy things for themselves. That’s how everyone is.”

It was just as they were heading to the toy store together—

WHEEEEEE!

—that a siren that sounded just like an air raid warning suddenly blared through the street.

“What’s going on?”

The Major, following behind them, looked around in surprise.

Then he saw Cynthia standing still in a daze and sensed something was wrong. Her face was completely blank, as if her soul had left her body.

“Lady Cynthia?”

BOOM—!

A massive explosion thundered from a nearby factory. The shockwave was so strong that buildings and streetlights shook.

Since the war had ended only recently, screams erupted from those who had lived through the horrors of the bombings.

“Lady Cynthia! It’s dangerous!”

The Major shouted loudly as he was pushed back by the wave of people rushing in the opposite direction in panic. He tried to fight his way through the crowd that surged like a receding tide, but it wasn’t easy.

Meanwhile, Cynthia stood frozen, unable to hear Dahlia or the Major’s voices.

Beep—

The ringing in her ears came and went as her vision blurred, and then a wave of panic and hallucinations swept over her.

In an instant, the hallucinations transported her right into the heart of an air raid. Her body wouldn’t move, as if she were paralyzed while standing.

“…Where was the bomb shelter again?”

The image of fighter jets flying in formation above looked too vivid to be mere illusions.

Cynthia looked around the now monochrome world and spotted Eugene crouched down, covering his head amidst the fleeing crowd.

Eugene, also a survivor of an air raid, still carried deep fear from the sirens.

Cynthia recalled Massera’s voice from when she’d fallen into a panic during their honeymoon after hearing fireworks.

“You’re okay now.”

It’s okay. The war is over.

Trembling, Cynthia whispered to herself again and again, like a mantra.

“The war is over, the war is over, the air raid warning has been lifted…”

She struggled to shake off the roaring of fighter jets and the whistling sound of bombs pouring down like a meteor shower that filled her head.

Then she saw a sign, hit by debris from the factory explosion, about to fall.

And beneath it was Eugene, still crouched down.

“Eugene!”

Cynthia pushed through the crowd and ran, wrapping Eugene in her arms.

Eugene looked up at her as she held him tightly with a pale face.

In truth, she looked very much like his mother.

Hair that shone white, a face kind enough to bring tears, a warm embrace, and a sweet scent.

Tears welled up in the child’s light green eyes. In Cynthia, he saw the final image of his mother that etched itself deeply into his mind.

And behind her, Massera came running in urgency.

He wrapped his arms around the two of them, just like his father did back then.

“Our baby, you must live.”

Eugene’s parents had saved him by shielding him during the bombing, and then died on the spot.

CLANG—!

A metal sign fell dangerously close to the three and bounced away.

Eugene buried his face into Cynthia’s chest. His small lips trembled as he opened them.

“Mom, Dad…”

With a choking voice, Eugene tilted his head back and burst into tears.

“Mom, Dad, don’t leave me behind! Huaaah!”