I Stole the Child of My War-Mad Husband

“Sweetheart, can Mom take this marble?”

The core of the forbidden magic is dangerous.

Leah shook her head. “No, I can’t see Nas without it.”

As expected, she’s grown attached to it.

I was at a loss as to how to convince my daughter.

I don’t want to show an attitude of taking it away just because it’s dangerous.

“Well… Oh, didn’t you pick this up in the garden, Leah?”

“Yes.”

“I know who the original owner of this marble is. I really want to give it back. Will it be okay?”

“…….”

Leah pouted, her lips like a duck’s.

‘Does she really think Nas is her new friend and not a ghost?’

“Can I see him again?”

I can’t lie about this.

“No…”

Eventually, a sad cry broke out.

“Uahhhh…”

I hugged her tightly and soothed her.

If there is no problem, it is okay to keep it. But this is related to forbidden magic.

“I’m really sorry, let’s say goodbye to Nas tomorrow. And I’ll return it to its owner, okay?”

Leah in my arms nodded. “I know… I’m sure the person who lost the marble must be sad too, right?”

“Right.”

“Well then, sob, I just want to say goodbye, sob…”

“…thanks, Leah.”

Like that, I hugged my daughter for a long time.

***

Leah sobbed so much I had tears in my eyes too. My eyes were slightly red when I came out.

‘When my daughter cries, it feels like my heart is torn.’

Little by little, I understood why my mother from my past life slapped me on the back, saying, ‘You will know everything when you give birth to a child!’

I made up my mind and went looking for Rupert. I found the core, so I have to let him know.

“Master is on the training ground.”

I heard the answer from the passing maid and headed straight for it.

As soon as I stepped onto the training ground, Rupert turned around.

Our eyes met. He came straight up this way.

“What happened?”

“Yes?”

“Your eyes are red.”

“Y-you notice it quickly.”

“Did someone say something?”

Thank you for your concern, but it’s a bit scary.

“Nothing happened. While trying to soothe Leah from crying, I also became sad…”

“Leah?”

“I have something to say about that, can we find somewhere to talk first?”

I could see the knights behind my husband focusing their attention here with curious gazes. I feel pressured.

“Let’s see.”

Rupert glanced back, and everyone scattered in an instant.

“Enough for now.”

Since the weather is nice, we decided to walk slowly through the garden and talk.

He opened his mouth with a troubled expression. “Why did Leah cry?”

Oh, are you thinking about your daughter first? It’s a good change.

“Ah, Leah wants to sleep with the three of us. Let’s do it tomorrow.”

My husband averted his eyes. I smiled. “Don’t think of running away.”

“…….”

“In front of Leah, don’t try to roll me in the blanket like you did last time. Or I won’t stick around and bug you in every way I can.”

Rupert seems to have nothing to say even if he has ten mouths.

“…okay.”

“You already answered, there is no turning back.”

I then rummaged through my pocket to take out the marble.

‘Come to think of it, if Mion really started the forbidden magic, what would be the punishment?’

“Rupert, what will happen if we catch the culprit behind this ghost case?”

“It will be the death penalty.”

‘No, wait, wait.’

I was eager to show him what was in my pocket, but-

“Is there no such thing as extenuating circumstances? Shouldn’t we hear the reason first?”

I can’t imagine sending a 10-year-old kid to death row.

“This is not what I decided. It has been determined by the laws of the empire since ancient times.”

“…….”

“Forbidden magic makes the impossible possible. Weakening the punishment makes people think they can use it freely and it will put more people at risk.”

It is. I can understand it in my head.

‘Mion just wanted to meet her parents.’

He would not have known what consequences would follow.

I couldn’t open my mouth easily because of hesitation.

“Noel, are you here to talk only about Leah?”

“Oh, that’s right. Well… you can’t run away!”

Looking around, I quietly fiddled with the marble in my pocket.

That day, in the end, I couldn’t say anything to Rupert.

***

The next morning, Rupert found his daughter sitting in the shade of a tree in the garden.

“Leah?”

As he got closer, he could see his daughter pouting.

She usually jumped up and said good morning, but today she didn’t budge.

I don’t know what she’s thinking, but she seems to have something upsetting.

‘It’s a rare thing.’

Interesting to see his daughter pretend not to see him. He could think about this peacefully because he was certain that the cause was not him.

Lately, he hasn’t done anything to make his daughter cry.

“Leah, why are you angry?”

“…….”

No answer again.

This is really the first time.

He poked her chubby cheek.

Then she immediately responded. “Father, don’t do that!”

She looked away. This time, wind escaped from her pouted mouth.

It was so cute, Rupert poked her cheek again to let the air out. He liked the soft feel of it.

-pooh.

Leah then glared at him, still pouted. It was a silent protest for him to stop what he was doing.

Her reactions are cute. Now I understand the feeling of parents making fun of their children.

Rupert smiled and said, “I don’t know if you don’t tell me.”

“…….”

“Why are you pouting in the morning?”

“…….”

“I guess I’ll have to do it again.”

“……it’s the day I break up with my friend.”

“Your friend?”

“Nas.”

‘Who is that?’

In fact, Rupert doesn’t know exactly how many friends his daughter has.

Leah noticed that belatedly and put on a dissatisfied expression.

“My father doesn’t even know who my friends are.”

“…….”

“Of course you don’t know who Nas is. Hmh.”

It was clear that he had dug his own grave by trying to make fun of his daughter.

“If you tell me now, I will remember everything.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Then Leah’s expression brightened a little, and Rupert was relieved.

“Nas is a marble fairy.”

He couldn’t understand what it meant.

However, he was certain that she would pout if he asked again here, so he affirmed.

“Right.”

‘How does a friend come out of the marble?’

I know that young children often talk nonsense, so I decided not to think deeply.

“But he’ll be home today, and I won’t see him again.”

“You will meet him again someday.”

“I hope so.”

After answering sullenly, Leah suddenly rummaged through her bag next to her. It was a bag she usually carried around, so Rupert saw it often.

Leah pulled out a small shovel from inside. It was so unexpected.

Rupert asked, “What are you going to do?”

“Now I’m going to plant flower seeds again!”

Then she took out a dainty shovel and gave it to him too.

“…….”

The meaning of the handing over was clear, so he had no choice but to sit down next to her and dig a small hole together.

‘I can’t predict what she’s thinking.’

She had been pouting since morning, and when he comforted her, she suddenly asked to plant flower seeds together.

Looking at the holes Rupert had dug, Leah admired, “Father is so fast!”

He replied nonchalantly, “I did it a lot when I was younger.”

Of course, at that time it was not such a dainty shovel, but a much larger and heavier one.

“Did you plant seeds too, Father?”

“I did.”