* * *
After the commotion passed, the bedroom became quiet.
Joel, sitting there with a dazed expression, looked up at Robert.
“Bobby… what on earth happened…?”
“Shh, calm down. It will be alright.”
Robert consoled the tearful Joel, stopped the bleeding of the reopened wound, and applied a fresh bandage.
While the treatment continued, Joel was able to hear a more detailed account of the situation from Robert: that not only were his father’s tenants involved in the attack last night, but that all the attackers were his father’s tenants, and that the preacher John had escaped, but his father and the tenants were still strongly brainwashed by him.
“Oh my God, what do I do…”
Considering the circumstances, it was a situation where Abe was justified in concluding that he was the culprit.
However, Joel was truly innocent this time, and he felt extreme fear at the possibility that his biological father might be involved in the Crown Prince’s disappearance.
Robert, comforting the crying and distraught Joel, thought it best to tell Joel that the Crown Prince had noticed the pregnancy later.
Since Joel was already in a state of severe shock, there was no need to give him another unnecessary worry. Having collected his thoughts, he spoke to Joel in a calm and composed tone.
“Joel, I understand that this is hard and scary, but you must think about the Imperial Grandchild in your belly. If you get any more agitated, the baby will be in danger. Now, stop crying.”
“Huk, h-huk, okay…”
All he could do now was protect his child. Joel, who had been sobbing miserably, obediently nodded his head.
While Joel tried to stop crying, Robert held a white towel under Joel’s nose and wiped his snot away, saying, “There, blow.”
When Joel’s crying had completely subsided, Robert took Joel’s hand and spoke with a serious look.
“Joel, even if the whole world turns its back on you, I will forever be on your side. You believe me, right?”
“Yes…”
In this situation, Robert was virtually his only ally.
The pressure of four pairs of eyes glaring at him.
If Robert hadn’t defended him, he would have surely fainted right there.
Joel looked up at Robert gratefully.
“So, please be honest only with me. Joel, do you know anything about this incident? Anything at all, even something very small.”
But in the very next moment, when he saw the faint spark of suspicion deep within Robert’s kind gray eyes, Joel instinctively realized that no one—not even Robert—believed him.
Perhaps even the missing Crown Prince thought he was the culprit.
Although all of this was ultimately a consequence of his persistent pursuit and harassment of the Crown Prince over the past three years.
Nevertheless, this loneliness caused by his friend’s suspicion was incredibly hard for Joel to bear.
He felt as if he was the only one left in the world.
Robert, having soothed and questioned Joel, finally concluded that Joel truly didn’t know anything.
Robert, who had watched Joel since childhood, was confident he knew him well, and truthfully, Joel had no reason at all to put the Crown Prince in danger.
He already carried the Imperial Grandchild, and he was no longer obsessed with the Crown Prince.
On the contrary, the one who was desperate and obsessed in their relationship now was the Crown Prince.
However, the 4th Knights, who were unaware of Joel’s pregnancy, naturally had no choice but to suspect Joel.
Robert was only extremely frustrated by the reality that he could not carelessly disclose the fact of Joel’s premarital pregnancy because of Joel’s reputation and the honor of the Imperial Family.
Having finished the brief interrogation, Robert brought Joel some soup.
Joel tried to skip the meal and set out to find the Crown Prince, worried about him, but upon being reminded that he had to protect the child in his belly, he obediently picked up the spoon.
That was all Joel could do right now.
After the meal, Robert advised Joel to rest.
Even though there were no immediate dangerous signs like bleeding, his pulse was unstable, so he needed to rest.
However, Joel, having learned of the Crown Prince’s disappearance, could not easily fall asleep due to anxiety.
Robert, who was reluctant to give sleeping pills to a pregnant Joel, handed Joel the Crown Prince’s outer coat.
Clutching the outer coat, which still held the Crown Prince’s scent, Joel fortunately fell asleep quickly.
It seemed the pheromones emanating from the coat somehow helped him compose himself.
Confirming that Joel was breathing calmly and peacefully, Robert cautiously slipped out of the bedroom.
“So, did you find anything out?”
As soon as he stepped out of the bedroom door, Abe, who had been waiting quietly, questioned him with fierce eyes.
“Lord Joel truly seemed to know nothing. As a doctor, I can guarantee that he had only recently regained consciousness. He absolutely was not pretending to be unconscious, as the Sir suspects. Therefore, please stop your suspicion. Lord Joel needs complete rest right now.”
“The Doctor knows best that I cannot do that. I gave you a chance because you earnestly asked to interrogate Lord Joel yourself, but if you continue like this, I will have no choice but to suspect you too. I will interrogate Lord Joel again tomorrow, so be aware of that.”
“Sir!”
Even with an earnest plea, Knight Commander Abe still distrusted Joel.
He was the Crown Prince’s loyal servant, and by no means a man who would be swayed by personal pity.
He could drag Joel to the torture rack at any time if necessary.
If Joel were to miscarry during a harsh interrogation…
A frantic Robert finally had no choice but to tell him about Joel’s pregnancy.
“I understand a hundred, a thousand times why the Sir suspects Lord Joel. But Lord Joel no longer needs to commit an act like kidnapping to possess His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince. Because, because he is already pregnant.”
‘Pregnant?’
Knight Commander Abe frowned.
Puzzled by what that meant, his face soon turned to one of disbelief.
“Then. Is Lord Joel carrying His Imperial Highness’s…?”
“Shh, please watch your words. This is still top-secret for the honor of Lord Joel and the Imperial Family.”
Fearing that someone might overhear, Robert hastily stopped Abe from speaking further.
Though it was hard to believe, contrary to Robert’s expectation, Abe surprisingly accepted it easily.
In fact, there had been more than a few strange things about the Crown Prince lately—for instance, his sudden willingness to handle Baron Bennet’s affair, his unusual obsession with Joel during the journey, and his anxiety while guarding the unconscious Joel—and if all that was because Joel was pregnant, it felt quite plausible.
Abe turned pale when he realized that he had been harshly interrogating an Omega carrying the Imperial Grandchild.
Regardless of the reason, this was a great sin, comparable to kidnapping the Crown Prince.
Especially at a time when the Crown Prince’s life or death was uncertain.
“…I apologize for the misunderstanding.”
“It is alright. I believe it was a situation where the Sir was justified in his suspicion. However, since His Imperial Highness has not yet publicly announced Lord Joel’s pregnancy, please be careful not to let word spread.”
It was fortunate that the misunderstanding was easily resolved.
Robert barely managed to dissuade Abe, who was about to go and apologize to Joel.
Joel was exhausted from the long journey in the early stage of his pregnancy, severely injured, and highly anxious from the continuous chain of events, including his spouse’s disappearance.
Abe, accepting Robert’s persuasion, conveyed his intention to apologize when Joel woke up and hurried to search for the Crown Prince.
Joel, who was in a deep sleep, suddenly felt his body being shaken.
“Joel, Joel.”
It was not a delusion in a dream, but someone was actually shaking his body.
Forcing his eyes open, Joel’s mind snapped awake when he saw a pair of familiar blue eyes right in front of his nose.
“Ah, Father…?”
The last time he had spoken to Robert was around 3 PM, but outside the window was already dark.
Furthermore, this was the first time he had faced his father since arriving at the estate.
Before Joel could look around and take stock of the situation, Baron Bennet covered Joel’s mouth and demanded he be quiet, saying, “Shh.”
“My child, there is something I must show you. Follow me.”
Baron Bennet, whispering in a low voice, had a seriousness on his face unlike ever before.
Joel, who was dazed after just waking up, left the bedroom led by his biological father without any particular suspicion.
* * *
