"Actually, I'm having a baby."
What she'd thought was his willingness to listen to anything turned white for a moment before his eyes. Valquiterre instantly felt a flame of devastation engulf him from head to toe. It was an intense and maddening feeling as if the blood in his entire body was rushing and heat was rising from the top of his head.
When he didn't react in any way even after hearing the shocking news, Claudel watched him carefully.
"Bark?"
"I can't believe something like that happened. It's something to celebrate."
Because Valquiterre was a man who'd changed his soul to fit the throne of the King, he was able to answer and act as if he was completely normal on the outside even when his insides were twisted.
"...It's something to celebrate, right?"
The woman who answered his words was hesitant. Valquiterre, who'd finally collected himself, asked.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I haven't told Kaian yet."
Claudel forced a smile with a bitter face.
"The child's father still doesn't know that an heir will be born in Temnes?"
"It's because of me."
She said in her defense.
"You know I had consumption, right? It's true that you told the Duke of Vermont he might provide some help after I get married and die."
When she'd verified it by confronting him in the royal castle, Valquiterre had readily admitted he'd said so. Once the food problem was resolved, the King would help the Duke of Vermont when he attacked Temnes.
"You're right. You knew it well."
"Because problems may arise due to the aftereffects. I tried to wait to speak."
Claudel placed her hand on her still unmarked stomach.
"I'll talk to him soon."
She raised her head and asked Valquiterre.
"Will the old feud between Vermont and Temnes be buried when the baby is born?"
Both families were very stubborn and had always been angry at each other. If they went back through history, there were actually several people directly killed or injured in both families. Every time they saw bloodshed, their feelings of blaming the other person grew—the resentment intensifying as if fuel was poured on fire.
"Of course. Why are you so worried?"
"Because I am not a good enough bride for Kaian."
At Claudel's self-deprecating words, Valquiterre felt as if his heart was falling into pieces. Not a bride—that couldn't be true. She was whole and perfect.
"You're not inadequate. Don't say that."
"Bark, you said it too. Kaian gained nothing from this marriage."
Valquiterre well remembered the words he'd spoken out of his frozen heart because he'd been angry that Claudel had been connected to Kaian by his own hands.
"But you will soon have a successor, so what could be better than that?"
"I suppose so."
Claudel laughed bitterly.
"So, because I was unwell, I neglected welcoming guests."
"I see."
She added quietly.
"It may be difficult for me to assist you until you return to the royal castle."
"You were worried about that? What kind of person am I? Did you think that if someone didn't take care of me, I'd get bored?"
So Claudel was drawing the line that it would be difficult to spend time with Valquiterre until he returned to the castle. The reason was because she was pregnant with Kaian's child.
Valquiterre realized that the woman who should have been his was taken away by Kaian, but he didn't reveal such desire and felt the last of his patience burning out and turning to ashes.
Nevertheless, when he calmly said he'd do as she pleased, Claudel's face brightened.
"I have been to Rowan Castle often and for a long time since I was young, so I know it as well as the royal castle."
Valquiterre reassured her.
"Even if you don't help me, I will rest comfortably and return home, so you don't have to worry too much."
"Thank you."
"A baby born between Vermont and Temnes? I'm already looking forward to it."
"The baby should grow up healthy and well."
"Both the mother and father are of unusual blood. The baby will be too."
"Is that so?"
Claudel's face brightened and she was very happy when she heard the encouraging words he gave her.
"When are you going to tell Kaian?"
"I told the doctor I wanted to wait until I reached a stable stage. Maybe in two or three weeks from now."
"There isn't much time left."
He nodded as if he'd just heard something important and answered as if he'd remember it.
"I feel encouraged because His Majesty is happy."
"Encouraged?"
"I keep worrying about what Kaian will say."
"Of course he'll be happy."
Claudel shook her head slightly.
"He said he couldn't trust me."
"That guy said that?"
"Yes. Because I'm from Vermont."
She had a sad face as if she had tears in her eyes.
"Kaian thinks of me like that, so will he be happy about the baby I gave birth to? I kept having those anxious thoughts."
"Let's stop thinking like that and only think about good things. Isn't there something called prenatal care?"
Wasn't it said that a child must see good things and experience good things for the child to grow up healthy and precious while its mother carried it?
After hearing Valquiterre's words, Claudel remembered something and laughed.
"Every time I see Kaian, prenatal care comes naturally."
"Ha, you're no longer holding back in front of me."
Valquiterre asked, looking at her.
"Claudel, do you love Kaian?"
She nodded her head to a question that implicitly wanted a clear answer.
"Yes. I love him."
The woman's face glowed as she was certain of her feelings.
After that, Valquiterre chatted with Claudel and then withdrew from her room.
As soon as he came out, a sharp pain pierced through his skull, as if an arrow had penetrated his head.
"A child."
A feeling more cruel and intense than jealousy took over him. Kaian monopolized God's favoritism. He would always naturally take the best of everything.
That's why he'd been attracted to Claudel, and when he'd found out she'd become Kaian's wife by order, he'd felt like his stomach was going to explode.
"How can you even love him?"
Even after hearing it with his own two ears, he didn't want to believe it.
Perhaps Valquiterre could have just looked at Claudel and returned to the castle. But not now.
The violent emotions running wild and clawing at his heart told him the moment of decision had come.
"Love."
What he didn't have, Kaian possessed. Kaian gained what he couldn't enjoy.
*Yes, I love him.*
Ironically, that was when Claudel clearly admitted her feelings for Kaian.
Valquiterre decided to push his desire to the end.
"I have to have her."
He decided to steal the noble soul of a woman whom even his enemies loved.
---
The doctor nagged me.
"How many times have I told you to leave the castle work to the Baron?"
"But..."
The doctor, who was backed by Kaian's full trust, cut me off.
"Is there anything more important than the safety of the baby?"
The anxiety I felt was something I kept to myself.
"How can I stay still when the King is visiting?"
"Yes."
The doctor made a troubled sound.
"Anyway, you really shouldn't overdo it. Your stomach shouldn't get hard this quickly."
When my lower abdomen was touched, there were times when something the size of a small fist could be felt. Was I carrying a growing baby?
I felt amazed and proud, and even though there was no particular pain, the doctor said it was my womb contracting. He said the womb surrounding the baby hardens, and if that condition persists, something could go wrong for the baby.
So I just lay in bed for several days. This was because he said it was important to relax my body and rest.
However, as I had to take care of some castle matters to welcome the King, I had to get up and go out for a while.
*Strangely, every time that happens, the doctor always comes to see me.*
As the doctor said, it didn't seem good to stand for long periods. It was clear that when I touched it, my lower abdomen was hard.
"Today you'll massage your legs and arms with this balm. It will help ease circulation in your body."
"All right. I will listen to you carefully, so don't be angry."
"Aren't I complying with my Lady's request to keep it a secret from my Lord?"
The doctor told his lies without even blinking, but there was no way for me to know.
"If something happens now, I'm dead. Please be aware."
"I'll be careful."
But as soon as the doctor was gone, I got out of bed and began to change my clothes.
"Would this be okay? Even the doctor says that."
Hannah said worriedly as she dressed me in a comfortable dress.
"What's not okay about it? Is it even far from here to the office?"
I hurried.
"Just show this to him quickly."
What I held in my hand was a newly prepared budget. Just when I was about to complete the work with the butler's help and receive the head of house's approval to cover the hostess's housekeeping needs, Valquiterre had suddenly come to visit, and a much larger amount of money was immediately needed.
"Let's go quickly."
Still, since Kaian had ordered me to take Hannah with me during Valquiterre's stay, I tried not to disobey his words.
But unfortunately, when we arrived at the office, Kaian was gone.
"I'll wait inside for a while. Hannah, you go back first."
"Yes? But the Lord told me to attend you."
"When I return, I'll have an escort and I'll call the butler. Don't stand here and wait."
At my words, Hannah eventually nodded her head and left.
"Whew."
I, who'd entered Kaian's space, sat down on the chair in front of his desk and then slowly stood up. I went around the desk and sat carefully in his seat.
"This is what it feels like."
From Kaian's seat, I was curious about the view he saw every day. Because it was striking that when I entered this room, he was looking down from above, even though I was standing and he was sitting.
"He probably doesn't mean to be angry at me."
He'd never treated me badly before. Even though his tone of voice might not be friendly, and there might be times when his attitude felt overbearing, I knew he always cared about me and looked out for me.
Why was I upset even though I knew that?
"At one point I was glad I could read his eyes."
I could say I was the only one who was able to notice the emotions of the man who always had a stern and cold face.
As I sighed and stood up, something caught my eye.
"This..."
---