OPENED HER EYES WIDE

"I understand." Aunt Dayana agreed with a hint of sadness in her voice.

For a moment, it seemed as though aunt Dayana lost all the strength of her body. Her face turned pale white and a few tears threatened to escape her eyes.

I felt a bit pained when I saw Aunt Dayana's state. At the end of the day, she was my aunt, and I don't want to see her sad.

I continued hugging her patiently while she cried. I did not interrupt her and only waited until she calmed down.

Soon, she stood up and got a bottle of wine. Without asking for my opinion, she opened the bottle and filled two cups with

wine. "Come, Claus. Accompany me to drink."

I heaved a sigh but did not refuse. I knew that aunt struggled to take that decision, and she surely needed to vent with someone.

Before long, we emptied the bottle. Aunt Dayana was already drinking her fifth cup, but I was just in my second.

"... H-Hey, Claus. What will I do now?" She said a bit tipsily. "E- Even if he is like that, he is the father of my son. Am I supposed to separate my son from his father? People will point their fingers to us and say that we were abandoned." I could see the desolate expression on my aunt's eyes.

Marriage was something very sacred in this world, mainly for women. Normally, if a woman leaves her husband, she will receive heavy criticism regardless of the circumstances.

After all, the idea that women must be virtuous and always obey her husband had been heavily ingrained in the empire's culture.

Actually, if not because her husband betrayed us with the Riea family, I'm sure my aunt would have hesitated no matter how many mistakes her husband committees.

I sighed in pity. Holding my aunt in my arms, I whispered. "Don't worry, aunt. You are a very beautiful and successful woman. I'm sure that many men would kill to marry you. Besides, if someone dares to speak badly of you behind your back, I'll make sure that he pays!"

Aunt showed a forced smile. "You are so sweet, Claus. But things are not so simple. Nobody will want to be with a woman who has a son and left her husband."

"That is a lie." I said firmly. "Aunt, you are very charming. I'm sure that I would jump to the opportunity to be with you."

"You only said it because you are my nephew." Aunt Dayana shook her head self-deprecatingly. "With so many young maidens in the capital, nobody will turn an eye to an old and discarded woman like me."

I wrinkled my brows deeply. I then put a hand looked straight at her eyes. "Stop it, aunt. You deserve more than that man. If you fear that nobody will take care of your son, then I'll do it. I can be your husband also if you want!"

Aunt Dayana opened her eyes wide. Her eyes shook briefly and her expression turned a bit red, maybe due to the alcohol.

"Hehe, you are truly funny, Claus." She laughed awkwardly, but I stayed silent. Looking right into aunt Dayana's eyes, I spoke.

"It was not a joke."

Aunt Dayana's eyes shook even more.

Without giving her time to react, I approached my face slowly and kissed her lips.