Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 206
The coachman knocked on the carriage door and spoke. There was a bit of commotion outside before the door suddenly swung open.
“Kyaak!”
The lady-in-waiting screamed in surprise, and even Augusta inhaled sharply, getting up awkwardly inside the carriage.
As if nothing had happened, Linus calmly extended his feet into the carriage.
The lady-in-waiting, flustered, tried to retreat but, unsure of what to do in the cramped space, moved to sit beside Augusta.
“I’ll see the chief lady-in-waiting. You may go.”
Linus took control of the situation.
The servants, unable to defy the prince’s command, stepped back and closed the carriage door.
Soon, the carriage began to roll away. Augusta pressed her chest down. Her heart was pounding.
Linus was alive. Nothing was more important than that.
“You’re alive, Your Highness.”
She had come this far in search of the last glimmer of hope, but in truth, she had thought he was probably already dead.
This wasn’t the first time he’d attempted suicide.
The first few times didn’t seem like he truly intended to die, but this time it had looked real.
It was a relief to thank God.
However, despite Augusta’s trembling voice, Linus scoffed, not caring about her emotions.
“You recognize me, I see. I thought you might have been forgotten, seeing as my name is only on the list for my mother’s plan.”
“Is that why you didn’t send news?”
“…”
“That’s not the case. The Empress was deeply worried.”
“There’s no need for flattery. Do you think I don’t know who my mother is?”
Linus spoke with a frozen voice.
“Prince Linus…”
“And I know who you are, too.”
“Your Highness…”
“Anyway, the conclusion will be obvious. I accidentally slipped into the sea, and Claire rescued me. I couldn’t send news because I’ve been bedridden with pneumonia. Just accept it as such.”
Augusta was momentarily confused about who this Claire person was.
Not because she didn’t know the Duchess’s name, but because she never imagined the prince would refer to her by name.
She stared at Linus in shock, but he coldly asked, not hiding his displeasure.
“Is there a problem?”
“Is that the Prince’s intention, or is it truly just a coincidence?”
“Does it matter whether it’s my intention or not? The truth of the matter will be decided by Erich, and you and my mother will just have to accept it.”
“Even so, this is something the Empress must decide. The truth must be acknowledged as it is.”
“Unfortunately, that’s all there is to it. It seems even death isn’t something someone like me can wish for.”
Augusta silently watched the bitter smile on Linus’s face.
She then spoke carefully.
“Nothing is more important than the fact that Your Highness is safe.”
“…”
“Now, let’s return. I will arrange for you to take the earliest train back to the capital tomorrow morning. I will personally thank the Duke and Duchess tomorrow, and the Empress will also express her gratitude.”
“I don’t want to go back right now.”
“If you don’t wish to go to the capital, I will arrange another place for you to stay. You can’t stay here in Klausener any longer.”
“I’m twenty now, and I can’t even visit my cousin’s house and stay for a few days as I please?”
After hearing this, Augusta had no choice but to lower her head.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Then the matter is settled.”
Linus said curtly. Augusta looked at him with a complicated expression.
He probably wouldn’t listen to any talk about returning to the capital, reassuring the Empress, or how the Duke and Duchess Ernst were worried.
Nor would he care about the resources and effort spent searching for him.
At the same time, Augusta couldn’t ignore the political implications either. She knew Linus was much more sensitive to these matters and would surely despise them.
“I’ll send escorts and attendants. Even if you stay here, you must be accompanied by guards.”
“I don’t need them. Are you trying to show suspicion toward Erich?”
“Your Highness, you mustn’t speak carelessly.”
“Write a letter to my mother. I’m not going to sit idly by my whole life. I’ll stay here quietly like a child, but I will not die. When I return, I’ll greet her, so don’t bother me for now.”
Augusta only sighed inwardly.
No. Let’s reconsider. The prince was alive. That was enough, and it was worth coming all the way here.
Had she not appeared, he would have probably continued to remain missing.
“Please take care of your health. I’ll send a letter, so please be sure to receive it…”
“I said I’d stay quietly. I’ll send my regards to my mother along with the reply letter I’ll send to you.”
Linus said this and knocked loudly on the carriage door.
“Stop.”
When he shouted, the carriage came to a halt. Linus got out of the carriage himself.
Augusta felt the stir of Klausener’s servants and guards around the carriage.
‘Clearly, he’s not being held against his will.’
If the Duke had intended to imprison him, he would have sent him elsewhere by now.
Augusta leaned out the window to watch as Linus left.
The flustered lady-in-waiting didn’t know what to do and muttered.
“Lady Augusta, this…?”
“It’s a relief that he’s safe.”
But is this really okay?
What is happening here? Linus had a cynical and evasive personality. What he said was mostly denial and rejection.
Even that was rarely consistent.
But now, he was rejecting Augusta’s suggestion yet firmly holding to his own decision.
‘Has he become close enough to address the Duchess by name?’
A sense of foreboding rose in her heart, but she tried to suppress it.
When they finally arrived at the Ludendorff residence, Augusta’s eyes widened once again.
She had expected a quiet evening, but there were several carriages and horses in front of the main gate. The servants were causing a commotion.
“What’s going on here?”
Augusta asked loudly as she got out of the carriage.
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