Sardine knew this well.
He knew that noble women would never give their heart to a slave.
However, he was happy to know that she trusted him and included him in her plans.
Even if they are not lovers, he can be part of her future.
'And I can never forgive you for making my lady cry.'
That's why Sardin hoped Cornelia's plan would go smoothly.
‘But if the Duke realizes his feelings, surely my lady will be shaken?’
So Sardin decided to remain silent and ignore Eric's perceived feelings.
“I see.
Then I will go attend to other tasks.”
“Other tasks?”
“Yes, I have a message to deliver to Lady Janet.”
As Sardine was about to turn around, a sudden question stopped him in his tracks.
“Is that all you want to tell me?”
'Could it be that the Duke has discovered something?'
If it was just a matter of hiding the mask a moment ago, he could get away with saying he didn't want to draw attention.
But what if he discovered something else?
This might disrupt Cornelia's plan.
'Even if I have to bear the consequences alone, I have to make sure.'
Sardine turned and looked at Eric, who was watching him with the murderous eyes of a detective.
Sardine answered calmly,
“Is there anything else you need from me?”
With this response, Eric furrowed his eyebrows before speaking.
“No, go then.”
As Sardine turned away again, Eric watched his retreating shadow with a cold stare.
'As I expected, it ended like this.'
The senses of the transcendent were more developed than the criminals realized.
That's why Eric would often check the bedroom to make sure Cornelia was safe, and he knew that Sardine had been wearing a mask and heading somewhere lately.
However, he did not intervene because of the agreement he had with Cornelia.
In exchange for not interfering in each other's affairs, they will remain married and not divorce.
'Well, I guess that's better.'
Cornelia was supposed to marry his older brother, so Eric kept his distance from her.
But no matter how many times he pushed her away, she would come back to him, obsessed with him, chasing him relentlessly.
She thought he was the real Eric.
But when she said she would leave first, he thought, Could there be something better?
So after that day, he decided to respect her wishes and never enter the bedroom they shared.
Avoid being alone with her as much as possible.
He thought this was the best way to save their marriage.
But from that day on, he began to suffer from insomnia and have strange dreams.
[I am pregnant with your child.]
In the dream, Cornelia was shyly covering her stomach with her hands.
If this situation were real, he would definitely be sinful, but at that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of dread and relief.
The feeling he felt was indescribable, but he couldn't express it for fear that the eldest lady would find out.
Then the scene changed.
This was shortly after the baby was born.
[Daddy!]
Spending time with the golden-haired boy, calling him “Daddy,” and Cornelia, who looked at him with loving eyes, was like heaven.
It was a dream he never wanted to wake up from.
But the harsh reality was always knocking on his door as soon as he opened his eyes.
In fact, Cornelia no longer loves him.
As the gap between reality and dreams widened, his anxiety increased.
Exasperatedly, Eric sighed before his eyes lit up.
'Now that I have a good excuse to see her...'
Maybe, just maybe, he could improve his relationship with her now.
'If I do well now, maybe...'
[Dear!]
[Daddy!]
Maybe he could spend time with her and the baby, just like in his dreams.
Eric headed towards the greenhouse.
His steps were as graceful as usual, but his hard gaze revealed an unusual turmoil.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
I furrowed my eyebrows at the sudden intruder.
'What brings you to my room?'
Since the day I confessed my true feelings to Eric, he hasn't come into my room even once, as if he was deliberately avoiding it.
Even though I gave him a skeptical look, Eric simply handed me a bouquet of roses.
'What about the package now?'
However, I couldn't reject his gesture outright, especially since I had something to ask him.
'Well, I can ask him to reassign Landon as long as I have the chance.'
While a maid was called to bring a vase of flowers, Eric spoke.
“Were you okay?”
I almost smiled involuntarily.
‘Such a greeting in a house, between a couple.’
But soon, I won't have to see that smug face anymore.
With this thought in mind, I answered frankly.
“You see, thanks to your generosity, I was comfortable doing nothing as usual.”
For a moment, Eric's expression frowned, and I realized I might have responded with too much sarcasm.
I quickly corrected myself.
“I mean, incredibly comfortable!”
"Is this correct?"
“Yes, thanks to Landon's excellent service, I was well fed and comfortable.”
“Landon?”
“Yes, so I hope you bring him back as our servant now.”
Eric nodded slowly at that.
“Well, since you say so, I will bring him back as a servant.”
Finally, I had paid my debt to Landon.
'Now I can leave in peace.'
While I was silently laughing to myself, Eric asked in a soft tone, “How is the baby?”
Honestly, it was unexpected.
I thought he wouldn't care about the child's well-being at all.
But seeing him really worried about the kid reminded me of his behavior before his retreat, and my heart sank.
'At that time, I thought you were really… happy to have a child.'
But the truth was that he was just pretending to deceive me.
'I won't be fooled anymore.
I know you're the type of person who pretends to care even about a child that's not yours, just to save face.'
Or maybe you pretend to care so much because you secretly wish this baby away.
She stared at him and said, “It's not your baby.
There's no need to worry.”
Eric's face hardened at my words.
"I have clearly stated that I will take responsibility for the child.
This means that I accept the child as part of the Brant family."
I boiled internally at his obvious hypocrisy.
'How ridiculous.
'You tell lies about taking responsibility for the child when you didn't even take care of your own child?'
While I was shaking with rage, he continued, “Therefore, the child is my responsibility as a father.”
Although I tried to appear calm, with every word he spoke, my mood deteriorated.
'But I must endure.'
Even though it was a made-up excuse, being the adulterous wife that I was, I ignored his words as best I could.
In the end, I thought I wouldn't have to see his face for a long time, and I was afraid he would get revenge on me if I caused trouble.
However, no matter how hard I tried to endure, I couldn't help but feel angry.
“Shut up, Eric.”
I had warned him many times, yet it was Eric Lennon Brant who crossed the line first.
“Frankly, your behavior is not just annoying; it is disgusting.”
Whether it was my clumsy manner or not, Eric furrowed his eyebrows.
“Why are you so angry all of a sudden?”
His voice sounded frustrated, and I couldn't help but smile wryly.
“Yes, why am I angry?”
Memories of the past rushed to the surface of my mind, like buoys on water.
I would have sacrificed my true self just to gain your favor.
I thought that if I became a better wife, she might show me affection.
But all those days I clung to you and begged for love were in vain.
Eric Lennon Brant never loved me, let alone considered me family.
'That's why he wanted to kill me and my child, who stood in his way.'
At that time, Eric must have felt that my imperial status was a burden because of the rebellious nobles.
I was the Emperor's daughter, and naturally, the rebels would demand my extradition to use as a bargaining chip.
So I understood why he abandoned me.
In the end, noble marriages were merely superficial relationships where one spit out what one did not like and swallowed what one did like.
But…
'At least, you shouldn't have abandoned Damian.'