Raised in Dungeon

Allen, Rachel, and Bedell met Lady Ayde. Inside her room, she was resting alongside her three-year-old son. Bedell immediately gives Ayde a letter he received from the Barony Barkaley.

"Fufufu... I see... that's good," she said.

Lady Ayde's initial expression showed apprehension when glancing at Allen. However, once she finished going through the letter, her countenance transformed into one of pure joy as she warmly greeted Allen with a radiant smile.

"Welcome back, Allen. I will be happy to receive you in this house."

"Th-thank you very much," Allen replied, trying to be formal.

"You've really changed; the old you would have been more sassy."

"I regret what I did in the past."

"That's okay! You can be more relaxed with me. After all, you are Felicia's knight. I hope you can continue to protect her in the future until the death depart you."

"Uhm... Lady Ayde, you should not speak like that… just… yet," Rachel said.

Realizing what she said, Ayde immediately covered her mouth in shock "Aaah of course I didn't mean to marry you off or anything like that. I mean, as a knight! To protect her as knight!

Rachel, Bedell, Allen, don't tell Reynold about this, okay? He'll be furious."

"I understand." Allen replied.

Allen removing his necklace from under his shirt. "Rachel said that if I have this, my status as Felicia's knight won't change."

"Of course, that is the symbol of House of Boldenville, if Felicia gave you that, that means she really trusts you as his knight."

"I see… I never thought she would think about me like that."

"Have you seen how Felicia's condition?" asked Ayde.

"Actually not yet..."

"Oh? I thought you would see her as soon as you arrived since three years ago you used to check on her daily. Why don't you take a look at her now? Though, she probably didn't change that much since three years ago."

As Allen nodded, the sleeping boy in Aude's arms woke up "Hmm? Mo-ther?"

"I forgot to introduce you to our son. His name, is Michael Ayde Boldenville; he is Felicia's younger brother. Would you like to hold him a second?" asked Ayde.

"No, he looks sleepy."

"That's okay, he's just taking a nap, and he's been asleep for two hours. I insist you"

Allen glanced at Rachel, her face hinting that he should carry him.

Rachel whispered to Allen, " Lady Ayde had long desired a baby boy. She eagerly sought out rumors and advice on how to ensure the birth of a son. She even conducted various experiments in hopes of having a boy. So when she finally gave birth to a son, Lady Ayde started believing in the rumors. There is a rumor that babies carried by great people will pass on their talents to the baby. She asked everyone in this residence to hold youngmaster once, and even she insisted the guest hold him as well."

"Is that so? Maybe I do not have talent, but I will hold him as requested." Allen gently scooped up the boy, causing the boy to instantly fully awaken. The boy had striking blue eyes and light brown hair, bearing a resemblance to Felicia. They gazed at Allen inquisitively before playfully tugging on his hair.

"Don't try to eat that, young master," Allen said to Michael, who seemed so interested in Allen's hair. Allen lowered his head slightly, letting Michael ruffle his hair.

Rachel and Ayde, who saw Allen, were once again surprised because the person in front of them was a different Allen from the one they had met before.

"Allen, you seem to be used to lifting children? Others usually lift them like they're lifting things," Ayde said.

"Yes, I once helped an acquaintance of mine give birth to a baby, and both of them weirdly were very attached to me."

"So you helped child labor?!" shouted Ayde in surprise. Rachel and Ayde looked at Bedell.

"Yes, there are twins named Hamnet and Judith in the Barkaley area, who are the same age as the young master. Every day they come to see Allen at the tavern. As I heard the story,Allen helped their mother give birth to them."

"Tavern?" Rachel asked Allen.

Allen replied, "For the past three years, I was picked up by the tavern master and worked there as a cook."

"Huh?!"

"Allen"

"as a cook?"

Lady Ayde opened Barony Barkaley's letter, saying, "Oh, it also says about you working as a cook, but I thought it was a joke. Don't tell me that you are also very good at cooking."

"Allen's cooking is delicious; you should try it once, my lady," said Bedell.

"Well, I'll try; I'm a little curious about Allen's cooking. Would you make it for me?"

"Of course," Allen replied.

"Ah sorry, you don't have to do it now; you can meet Felicia first in her room; after three years of separation, I am sure you want to see her face."

Allen's face immediately turned gloomy.

"Alright," Allen replied.

They then excused themselves from the room and started walking towards Felicia's room.

On the way to her room, Allen couldn't stop thinking about Felicia's face in his dream.

'I shouldn't show my face in front of Felicia,' Allen thought.

Allen, overwhelmed with guilt and remorse, could not summon the courage to confront Felicia after he tragically ended the life of her beloved fiancé, Waldo Barkaley. Haunted by vivid memories of Felicia's face that had plagued his dreams, Allen found himself unable to bear the thought of encountering her once more. Above all else, he dreaded the prospect of meeting her gaze, burdened by the fact that he was responsible for such a profound loss to her.

And after he thought about it further, Allen remembered how happy Felicia was whenever she started talking about Waldo, and that thought made his heart continue to sink to the bottom of his blood.

-CREAAK

"Come in," Rachel said after opening the room door.

But he couldn't move from there.

"What's wrong?" asked Rachel.

Allen found himself unable to move, rooted in front of the door. Moments later, he uttered a remorseful apology, "Sorry, I couldn't see her face this time. Maybe I'll see her next time."

The overpowering sense of guilt that consumed him prevented him from reuniting with Felicia and relishing the sight of her once more. It had been three long years since their last encounter, but Allen's thoughts always circled back to Felicia whom he failed to save. Then he always thought about how he has become the source of Felicia's problems.