Adrian stood on the balcony of his chambers, a glass of wine in hand as the cool evening breeze played with his hair. He stared out at the horizon, his mind drifting back to their last encounter at Micheal's workshop. Greta's silence since then had been deafening, and the single-word replies to his messages grated on his nerves. Greta was never one for hesitation.
He sipped his wine, the weight of his thoughts pulling him into a haze. His grandfather's words echoed in his mind: If you can take an action like an adult, then you must face the consequences like one too.With a deep sigh, Adrian turned back into the room, setting the glass down before pacing back and forth as the soft hum of the com-tab filled the air, waiting for the call to connect.
Adrian had seen the scars left by unspoken feelings. His older brother, Ethan, buried his love so deeply that it left him numb, incapable of expressing the depth of his emotions. Then there was Micheal, who had avoided his wife, for years until his emotions finally shattered him. Adrian refused to repeat those mistakes.
The com-tab finally connected. Greta's image appeared on the screen, her face partially obscured by her hair. The silence on her end was heavy, broken only by the faint sound of her breathing.
"Greta," Adrian began softly, forcing calm into his voice. "How are you?"
"Fine," she replied curtly, her eyes avoiding his.
He tried again, his tone patient. "Is the estate doing well?"
"Yes."
"I heard your mother acquired a new horse-less carriage."
"Yes."
"I heard your health hasn't been keeping well recently."
"Yes."
Adrian's patience frayed, and he leaned forward, his frustration slipping into his voice. "Greta, we can't keep doing this. We need to talk properly."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, he thought she might end the call. But she held on, she looked downcast, but there was a faint hope in her eyes that he couldn't ignore.
Summoning his courage, he blurted out the question that had been eating away at him. "Greta, am I the father of your child?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Greta's shoulders trembled, and when she finally looked at him, her eyes were filled with tears.
"What do you think, Adrian?" she asked, her voice breaking as she began to cry.
Adrian's heart sank.
"Greta... please... don't cry," he said, his voice softening as he reached out instinctively toward the screen. "Please, I didn't mean to upset you."
Greta's tears gave way to anger, her voice rising as she snapped, "Whose else child could it be? You're the only man I've ever been with! Do you think this is something I could take lightly?"
She paused, her anger mingling with frustration. "My mother raised me to focus on education and estate responsibilities. Romance was never a priority for me. I just don't know how to deal with all this."
Adrian swallowed hard, guilt washing over him. "I didn't mean to accuse you. I just... I feel lost. That night meant everything to me, but I didn't know how you felt."
Her voice softened, the fire in her eyes dimming. "That night opened something in me, Adrian. For once, I wasn't thinking about duty or responsibility. I gave myself to you because... because I wanted to."
Adrian closed his eyes, her words cutting through the haze of his own emotions. "Greta, if you choose to keep the child, I'll take full responsibility. You won't have to face this alone."
She looked away, her voice trembling. "I wanted to... I thought about ending it. But I couldn't bring myself to do it."
He leaned closer, his voice firm but pleading. "Then don't. Greta, please. Keep the child."
Her eyes met his again, filled with vulnerability. "Adrian, can you love me as Greta, the commoner, and not as the heir to Halvora Marquisate?"
Adrian's breath hitched as he leaned closer to the screen, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "Yes. Yes, Greta. Can you love Adrian, the soldier, and not the spare heir of Shelb?"
Greta paused for a moment, studying his face with quiet intensity. Then, her lips quirked into a faint smile, her tears still glistening. "You idiot. I've always loved you. Always."
Her voice was soft yet filled with an undeniable conviction.
"Even when you chose your father over me, and I chose my mother over you." She added quietly.
Adrian let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over him like a tide. "Greta... you don't know how much that means to me," he murmured.
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Greta's smile faded slightly, her gaze dropping. "I didn't know how. I thought... I thought you'd see me as just another responsibility. And I didn't want that."
Adrian shook his head, his voice firm. "You've never been just a responsibility to me. You're... Letting you go was my biggest regret, Greta. Please believe that."
Her gaze softened, and she nodded. "I believe you, Adrian. And I want you to believe me too when I say that this child, no matter how scared I was at first, is ours."
Adrian's chest tightened as he whispered, "Thank you, Greta. For trusting me. For everything."
He paused for a moment. "Greta... how are you feeling?"
Greta looked shocked for a moment, as if she was caught unaware. "What do you mean? As miserable as a disgraced noble daughter could be."
Adrian realized his unintentional foully. He changed his words sheepishly. "I don't know much about women. I was raised with men. But I remembered that my mother struggled a lot when she had Micheal. I... I hope the child isn't causing you much trouble."
Even in her moment of misery Greta laughed. So typical of Adrian . Always worried about the wrong things at the right time, why don't just let me blame you in peace?
"No." She said, smiling through the tears. "It is just like its father. Never hurting anyone, just existing quietly."
"That's good, really good...," Adrian replied with a small smile. The idea of fatherhood had never crossed him till this call. But now it seems more real than ever.
As the call ended, Adrian leaned back in his chair, his resolve hardening. He had avoided his feelings long enough.
Now, he would face his parents and fight for Greta and their child. Whatever it took, he would protect them both.