334: Mothers and sons (part 1)

Mothers and sons (part 1)

The Lanark landscape was one of autumnal beauty with amber leaves descending from the trees to form a carpet of gold and crimson across the forest floor. The cool air was filled with the scents Adelaide loved – earthy and leafy, mingling with Egon's own scent of pine and musk.2

Egon had mounted Xavier and offered Adela the front seat on the saddle upon the request she made to share a horse, citing exhaustion and the urgency of finding Leopold as reasons. Secretly, she worried about riding separately and wanted to take extra precautions to safeguard her body just in case she might be sharing it with another life.

...Could I be carrying Egon's baby?

As they rode together, she was hyper-aware of the warmth of her husband's embrace, further steadying her against the stable rhythm of the horse's gait, finally finding a sense of ease she hadn't experienced since returning from Varinthia.

They swayed gently, moving through the countryside of the Archduchy in tranquil silence. Her head rested against his chest, appreciating the regular beat of his strong heart, a sound that was accompanied only by the soft clopping of Xavier's hooves on the path.

He's pretty crafty when he wants to be...

Adela had sensed Egon's intentions for some time now, but she finally decided to address his playful charade. 

"You're not really taking me to find your uncle, are you?" she inquired.

Egon leaned in, his voice a soft whisper in Adela's ear. "I'll locate my uncle for you, my love, but for now, let's breathe freely and enjoy each other's company. Who knows? We might encounter him along the way."

Adela gazed up at him, her eyes silently conveying that she expected honesty.

"Don't worry," Egon continued, his tone sincere. "I just want some time alone with you and create new memories in new places. Isn't that what you desire as well?"

Adela couldn't deny that she longed for that, but they couldn't neglect their responsibilities. It wasn't an option. Her primary concern was to ascertain Egon's plans regarding leaving Lanark again, allowing her to adjust her own schedule accordingly.

"…Regarding the artifact," she began.

"I can return it whenever you like."

"It's not mine, it's yours, Egon."

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his expression. "It's not truly mine either."

"…Weren't you the 'fruit' mentioned in that letter?"

"I most likely was, but that individual… They could have been someone who remained in the shadows during our upbringing, and they might not have been watching. There's no certain way for me to know. Much like Andreas, no one can compel him to do something he doesn't want to do. No one can locate him unless he desires to be found."

Yes, she had heard that one before.

"When you took the artifact, I thought you were setting out to find him." She confessed. 

"No, I simply didn't wish to part with something I had searched for for so long and had finally found."

Once again, Egon's explanation appeared straightforward and simple, while she had a tendency to overcomplicate her thoughts about him. Despite his aloof demeanor, her husband continuously proved that he wasn't as complicated as she often perceived him to be, only as cold and distant as he showed her he could be all along.

"If only you were the size of that artifact," he muttered in a low tone.

"…Excuse me?" Adela replied, puzzled by his comment.

Egon mumbled something about fitting her in his pocket, but she couldn't quite make out his words. Her mind wasn't entirely focused on the moment; she knew that this peaceful interlude was fleeting, and it would be wise to use it purposefully rather than drifting along with the direction he was leading them. 

"Adelaide," Egon's tone was suddenly serious.

"Yes?"

"Can we be completely honest with each other?" 

Had he finally decided to discuss what happened in Varinthia? If so, she was prepared for that conversation, having nothing to hide nor be ashamed of.

"Let's be honest with each other, yes," she agreed.

He nodded, "I'll need more time for my part, so you go first."

She frowned.

"Tell me anything. Tell me something I don't know."

"Alright, I'll start," she began, choosing the first thing that came to her mind, something he was unaware of, "I'm going to Destan."

She expected a barrage of questions, and when she received none, she braced herself, knowing that Egon was at his most composed when he was in his darkest states.

"We can go together, so long as you spend the day with me, we can do that," he suggested.

She clenched her teeth, not because she didn't want to spend time with Egon, but because she was in a hurry. In fact, she should have already found Leopold and discussed Sasha's proposal with him.

"We're here," Egon suddenly announced, disrupting her train of thought.

Here? Where?

She glanced around, but there was nothing particularly noteworthy about their surroundings, except that they were on one of the most challenging paths that no sane rider would take. However, Egon and Xavier were exceptions.

Egon dismounted and extended an arm to help her down, but instead of taking his hand, she reached out with both arms, silently indicating that she wanted him to carry her down. He didn't seem to mind or suspect anything, wearing a peaceful expression that hinted at plans he had made before this unexpected outing.

"Thank you," she said as her feet touched the ground.

As he strode toward the nearest tree, Adela observed him closely, taking in every detail from his tousled hair to his broad shoulders, his trim waist, and down to his black boots. Her heart fluttered at the thought that she might carry a piece of him within her. Would she give birth to a brave daughter who inherited his striking Kolhisan features, or perhaps a son who grew as tall and strong as his father?

But was she even pregnant?

A wave of distress washed over her at the idea that she might not be, and then she furrowed her brow, wondering how and when she had become so attached to a life that may or may not exist within her.

"I have something to show you," Egon announced suddenly.

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