Lloyd sat on a small chair he had built himself, staring blankly at the sky.
Inside the hut, Yuliana was probably nursing Denian. Since she might feel uncomfortable, Lloyd often gave her space during those times.
As he gazed at the sky, fragments of the past flickered through his mind.
Denian's biological father was undeniably Kallion de Valdormer.
Lloyd had long suspected that Kallion was connected to Yuliana's past lives.
Not because Yuliana had ever said so—but because Lloyd himself had once met Kallion.
At Yuliana's funeral.
He still remembered the man who appeared suddenly, dazed and broken, clutching Yuliana's body. Even after Lloyd's sword had pierced his chest, his eyes had remained fixed only on her.
Back then, Lloyd had been consumed with anger—having just lost Yuliana—and utterly confused, since she had never seemed connected to Valdormer in any way.
Yuliana was not the kind of woman to secretly conspire with another man, least of all Kallion. Of course, Lloyd hadn't even wanted to imagine such a thing.
But after regressing and meeting Yuliana again, he began to notice it.
From the way she acted around Kallion…
There might be a past between them that he did not know.
One question nagged him.
Judging by Kallion's actions, he seemed to be a regressor too. But did Yuliana know this?
'No… probably not. If she knew, she would surely remember that desperate look in his eyes.'
And it seemed that now, Kallion had forgotten his past lives.
'That's actually a good thing. The way he looked at Yuliana at the funeral—it wasn't just devotion, it was close to madness.'
"Lloyd."
Lost in thought, Lloyd turned his head at the familiar voice.
Yuliana stood there, awkwardly smiling, cradling Denian in her arms after finishing the feeding.
"Come inside, it's time for dinner."
Perhaps because Lloyd had always been so devoted to her and Denian, Yuliana's guarded attitude seemed to be softening.
Since Denian's birth, she had been more thoughtful than before.
"I'll come in now," Lloyd answered.
He sensed that her feelings toward him were becoming more positive. At the very least, she no longer kept a wall between them.
Lloyd had no intention of missing this chance.
As soon as he stepped inside, he went straight to the bed and picked up Denian.
He rocked the baby gently, trying to lull him to sleep. Watching him, Yuliana looked guilty.
"You don't have to do all that…"
But Lloyd only gave her a warm smile.
"Go ahead and eat dinner first. I'll eat after I put Denian to sleep."
Yuliana realized that arguing would only waste energy, so she gave a small smile instead.
"…Thank you."
Turning to the kitchen, she glanced back.
Lloyd was completely focused on Denian, rocking him with such care.
Without him, she knew adapting to life in a strange land and raising her child would have been nearly impossible.
She wanted him to forget her and move on with his own life, yet it was hard to push away someone who treated her with such devotion.
Denian didn't dislike him either…
Her expression grew thoughtful as she quietly continued her meal.
Inside a moving carriage.
Kallion stared anxiously out the window.
He wanted to ride a horse and rush there himself. But since he intended to bring Yuliana back with him, he had chosen the carriage instead.
The journey to Marcellino would take four days by carriage.
To him, it felt endlessly long.
'Where is Yuliana?'
When he asked Layla this, she hadn't answered willingly.
He had expected that.
Across his past lives, he had faced this version of Layla countless times.
Only after he blackmailed her—using secrets he had uncovered about the Sorrento family in a past regression—did she finally open her mouth.
Now she was locked in a room that only he could open.
In previous regressions, as soon as he regained his memories, the first thing he had always done was deal with Layla.
From there, he had gone on to punish the vassal families, one by one.
But some vassal houses had already become puppets of the Imperial family.
Striking at them too soon would alert the Empire. This time, he had to be more cautious.
So, for now, Layla was left alive.
"Lord Kallion, we'll soon arrive at Sendaim," the coachman called.
At those words, Kallion's face tensed.
Sendaim was a village he had visited once before, in a life before he regained his memories.
Back then, he had not realized Yuliana was hiding there. In truth, it was probably fortunate he hadn't found her then.
This regression felt very different.
Until the 40th, things had always begun the same way:
A distant, awkward marriage.
A foolish, clumsy self who never understood her.
But Yuliana had always been the one to accept and heal him, so winning back her heart had not been too difficult.
Things had changed after the 40th regression—when he abandoned Denian.
After that, his regressions began starting in worlds where he and Yuliana were never married.
But this time was different again.
Unlike the last ten regressions, he was married to her once more.
When his memories returned, she had already slipped from his grasp.
He didn't understand why the starting point had shifted like this.
But one thing was certain:
Of all regressions so far, their relationship in this one was the worst.
And it was all because of the foolish, suspicious, selfish version of himself who had lived before his memories returned.
'Will she even accept me now?'
The closer they came to Sendaim, the more he tore at his own hair in frustration.
He couldn't stop recalling the unforgivable things he had done:
Accusing and doubting her constantly.
The discourteous way he had treated her on their wedding night.
All those nights he had used her only to satisfy himself, never once considering her heart.
'If I think about it, I could bite my tongue in shame.'
But still…
To protect her, he had to bring her back.
He had already learned in the 40th regression that extreme measures would not save her.
At least this time, Denian had not yet been born—so it might be easier to keep her safe.
Clinging to that hope, Kallion braced his trembling heart as the carriage drew nearer to Sendaim.
At a small hut deep in the forest where Yuliana was said to live.
Kallion stood hidden behind a massive tree trunk, staring at the hut.
'When I see her… what should I say first? How do I persuade her? If she refuses to forgive me, I'll drop to my knees if I must.'
But now that he was here, so close, his feet would not move.
He stood frozen, hesitating behind the tree.
Then, the door opened.
The sight of Yuliana's familiar golden hair made his heart pound wildly.
Overwhelmed with longing and fear, he nearly stepped forward.
But then—he froze.
In her arms was a tiny infant, its little hand reaching up to touch her face.
She adjusted her hold on the baby tenderly, sunlight spilling across its features as the cloth slipped.
Silver hair glimmered in the light.
Hair that reminded him of Lloyd.
Kallion's body went rigid.
At that moment, he heard a familiar voice.
"Yuliana."
Lloyd stepped out of the hut, his gaze full of affection. He draped a shawl across her shoulders.
"It's still cold outside."
Then he lifted the child into his arms—the child with hair identical to his own.
Yuliana smiled softly at Lloyd and the baby as she pulled the shawl tighter.
They looked exactly like a happy family.