IHMEB - Chapter 41 < If He Doesn't Embrace You >
Having An Enemy's Baby
"... Are you sane?”
“Kaian? Are you gone yet?”
"Yes."
Usually, he got out of bed before I woke up.
I was taken aback because it was the first time I had seen him when I opened my eyes.
“What’s going on? Oh, don't look. It would be so messy.”
My head would be sticking out and I would wake up with a dirty face.
He looked at me who was embarrassed and casually gave me a light kiss on the lips.
“Don’t worry, it’s not as messed up as you think.”
... Even when I wake up, I can’t say I’m pretty or okay.
It was a time when I liked Claudel but also felt disappointed.
“I think I will have to vacate the castle for three days from today.”
"Yes?"
I was surprised.
“Are you saying you are leaving the Lord’s castle?”
“I have to go to the Prom Hunt because of the King’s order.”
“Promhunt?”
Kaian patted my back and smoothed out her tangled hair with the hand he had used.
“It’s a hunting ground to the north of the territory. The telegram sent yesterday said to meet in two days, so the King must have already left the capital three days ago. The telegram must have arrived halfway and then been sent when he felt like it.”
“It’s sudden.”
As I mumbled my words, Kaian hugged me tightly.
"Yes. It’s not like I can refuse, but it’s always like this.”
Kaian held the red hair that he had brushed neatly in one hand placed his lips on the nape of my neck and whispered.
“I guess I can find some persimmon to make a scarf for you this winter.”
“Rowen... Because it’s not cold even in winter. Don’t you need a scarf or something?”
“I want to see you wearing just that.”
“....”
When I resisted, as if I was going to pull my body out of his arms, Kaian quickly kissed me and traced the woman's body heat over my thin nightgown.
I, who was released from Kaian after a deep kiss, could not hide my disappointment.
“You should have told me last night. If you have to go today.”
“I was going to tell you, but I forgot.”
There are other things to forget.
Kaian came to the bedroom much later than usual yesterday.
'I'm busy with something that suddenly happened.'
Even though he felt sorry for me, he immediately hugged me and showered me with kisses.
Kissing is something we do every day!
How can you forget such an important thing?
I knew that Kaian did not expect much from me in my role as Duchess.
When I realized that fact, I wondered what the use of the hostess role I was learning so hard was all about.
He was silent for a moment as he looked at me, who had lost my energy.
“I guess I should get ready.”
"Yes."
“It’s okay if you don’t have to see me off. You fell asleep late and I woke you up. Get some rest.”
“Still...”
I hesitated and then I asked him.
“I think Irena will arrive soon.”
"Ah. Your sister.”
Kaian answered coolly.
“I heard you’ve been studying hard. When the Lord is away, the Lord's wife must take my place. I will inform the butler, so please make sure she is welcomed well so that she does not lack anything.”
"Yes."
“I have to vacate the position urgently by order of the King. I will return and we will hold a banquet to welcome the guests.”
"All right."
Kaian looked at me with a look in his eyes that gave me something to look forward to.
“Aren’t you sad that your husband will be away for three days?”
"Do not go."
He widened his eyes in surprise at my words.
“I know I can’t sleep without you. Do not go."
I spoke sullenly and then raised my eyes slightly. There was no sign of disappointment as before.
“That doesn’t mean you have to break the King’s order. You gave me a sudden notice and expected a lot from me. You want me to feel sorry.”
“I almost fooled you. It seemed like you were sincere.”
Kaian scolded me for the short and regretful time with his hard lips.
Holding me in his arms, he gently bit my sensitive spot for a long time until I was out of breath.
“Don’t get hurt.”
The man, who read the anxiety in my clear eyes, looked into my eyes for a moment.
“I won’t get hurt.”
"Still...”
Kaian noticed that I also remembered the incident from the crocodile hunt.
'As expected, it was a good decision not to take Claudel.'
He told me, swallowing his sigh inside.
“Tell Hannah to sleep here while I’m gone.”
"Yes? Really?”
Kaian decided to grant the servant who had sacrificed Temnes' soul the place where he lay.
Although it was customary for a maid to lie in the bed of the Lord and mistress - unless the Lord would make the maid his mistress - Kaian decided to take special measures to ensure Claudel's health.
“I can’t do anything for you.”
"Thank you."
“Instead, you should sleep well and welcome me back.”
Kaian was happy to see Claudel nodding her head.
His wife was well on her way.
Kaian left for the hunting ground early in the morning.
Not long after that, an advance party arrived at the castle, saying that Irena would arrive in half a day.
“Because it’s not even funny. Even on that rainy day, the Duke of Vermont said he couldn't provide any more escorts to you. What are you doing here on a sunny day like this?”
"Quiet. Hannah. Who should listen?”
“What if someone hears it? I am a servant of Temnes.”
On the way to Rowen, heavy rain poured down, making the carriageway broken in places and dangerous.
The party asked Valmonde in the middle city to provide more escorts, even by hiring mercenaries, but the Duke of Vermont only sent a short reply telling them to just go.
It was after that that water started leaking from the roof of the carriage, which was forced to run on a road that had potholes and rocks exposed here and there. It was almost impossible that the carriage wheels broke down as soon as they reached the castle.
“Still, we’ll all look funny together. Temnes will only think of us as Vermont.”
Even if Irena's lack of hospitality was not Temnes' fault, it would be the Vermont woman's fault.
'I'm sure the butler won't act laxly even after receiving Kaian's request.'
Claudel was nervous because she had never done anything as the Lord's wife in this castle before.
Soon, a gorgeous carriage arrived at Rowen Castle, accompanied by escorts on horses wearing golden tabards.
The door with the familiar Vermont family crest opened and Irena got out from inside.
Her luscious red hair fluttered in the wind, like flower blossoms swaying in the light breeze.
The dazzling beauty smiled brightly and opened her arms towards Claudel.
“Claudel! My little sister!"
Kaian didn't know that no matter how many times he reread it, the wrinkles around his eyes would smooth out.
[ Brother. I want to go hunting. I heard that the fox fur caught at Prom Hunt these days is of good quality. As you know, old fox is also the nickname of the Duke of Vermont, so I believe the Duke's attitude toward fox hunting is more serious than ever. Oh, now that the old fox is your father-in-law, I can't come to the fox hunt? See you at Promhunt in two days.]
If someone received something like this by telegram, they would say, 'Hey, how much is this?' Although it was a frightening amount, it was very short compared to what Valquiterre had sent so far.
Anyway, what made Kaian dumbfounded was the content.
“Fox hunting? Now?"
There are only about ten days left until the fall festival.
A tyrant crazy guy wants him to go fox hunting?
But he had one more line written underneath it, which pissed Kaian off even more.
[ This is the King’s command. Surely you won't break it, Duke? ]
Kaian placed his hand on his forehead.
Considering the entire kingdom of Oberon, support for Valquiterre's rule was quite high.
The opinion that he was anxious because he was a young King compared to Queen Silvia's achievements was not something to be said for Valquiterre, who protected the country and strengthened its internal stability even during five years of war.
Nevertheless, in the entire kingdom of Oberon, the land where regret for Valquiterre remained was the Rowen territory.
At the time of the previous Duke, it was a land with the highest support for the royal family thanks to having a Queen and her sister, the Duchess, but now the situation has become the exact opposite.
There were several reasons.
First, it could have prevented Kaian's expedition, but it did not.
Kaian is the child of a married Princess, so he is half of royal blood.
Because he was a descendant of the royal family, unlike other families, he had immunity from having to personally go to war, but since Valquiterre ordered all noble families to go to war, it became difficult to say anything.
Kaian never once thought he would die.
He would come back alive, that was natural, and Temnes was so crowded with blood relatives that it even controlled the education of successors.
Even if an emergency occurs, there is no need to stop paying.
If there is a problem, it is a bigger problem in Vermont where hands are precious.
However, everyone did not agree with him, so during the five years that the heirless head of the family could not return from the battlefield, opposition to the King grew within the territory.
The second reason is that Valquiterre often called Kaian for trivial reasons during the past few years when he returned from the battlefield and ruled the territory.
Major reports were received by telegram from the battlefield, and family dispatchers busily traveled to and from the battlefield to convey the Lord's orders, but it was a world of difference from Kaian personally staying in the castle and taking care of it.
The anxiety of the Rowen estate, which suddenly lost both its Lord and its Lord's wife, was dispelled when Kaian returned from the battlefield, but in fact, the Lord had to go to a war he did not have to go to because of a few words from the King.
But he, the King, are telling their Lord to come?
Blood relatives and vassals secretly wrote a letter asking whether it would be better for Rowen to become independent from the Kingdom of Oberon.
Kaian and Valquiterre grew up as brothers in a very informal manner, and even now, he thought that he was the only one he could trust even if the world collapsed.
He was different from Bianque, even though they were identical cousins.
Valquiterre, a man of the same age as him, was a very special person to Kaian.
Family.
The person that Kaian, who grew up as an only child and now lost his parents, could say was his family was Valquiterre, and he was very lenient on what his brother did to him.
But it was true that as soon as Kaian saw that telegram, he felt a headache.
“There’s going to be another uproar.”
Fromhunt was a day's ride north of the Lord's castle in the center of Rowen's territory.
It was a famous fox hunting ground as various types of foxes with slightly different fur colors grew in the dense forest.
If Kaian says he will be away from the estate for a few days during this busy and important time by royal order, his vassals will squeal noisily again.
In front of the great Lord of Rowen, Kaian, he could even bet that the squires, whom even King Oberon looked down upon, would not hesitate to curse Valquiterre.
It was very important and desirable for the Lords and vassals to look up to and respect their Lord like a god, but it was a different matter for them to turn a blind eye and look down on even the King, saying he was not as good as their Lord, but the current atmosphere within the Temnes family is only in that respect. It wasn't easy.
However, the most serious of his worries was something else.
"Ha. What about Claudel?”
A poor woman who can't sleep unless he embraces her.
The thought of taking her to the prom hunt crossed his mind for just a moment but was immediately dismissed in his mind.
“The hunting ground is dangerous.”
When he remembered Claudel's injury during the crocodile hunt, goosebumps appeared on the fearless man's arms.
Promhunt was a fairly well-groomed hunting ground, but Kaian couldn't stay by her side the entire time. He will be taken with Valquiterre to catch the fox.
“Is this child the one who got married and doesn’t even realize it?”
[ Brother. I want to go hunting. I heard that the fox fur caught at Prom Hunt these days is of good quality. As you know, old fox is also the nickname of the Duke of Vermont, so I believe the Duke's attitude toward fox hunting is more serious than ever. Oh, now that the old fox is your father-in-law, I can't come to the fox hunt? See you at Promhunt in two days.]
If someone received something like this by telegram, they would say, 'Hey, how much is this?' Although it was a frightening amount, it was very short compared to what Valquiterre had sent so far.
Anyway, what made Kaian dumbfounded was the content.
“Fox hunting? Now?"
There are only about ten days left until the fall festival.
A tyrant crazy guy wants him to go fox hunting?
But he had one more line written underneath it, which pissed Kaian off even more.
[ This is the King’s command. Surely you won't break it, Duke? ]
Kaian placed his hand on his forehead.
Considering the entire kingdom of Oberon, support for Valquiterre's rule was quite high.
The opinion that he was anxious because he was a young King compared to Queen Silvia's achievements was not something to be said for Valquiterre, who protected the country and strengthened its internal stability even during five years of war.
Nevertheless, in the entire kingdom of Oberon, the land where regret for Valquiterre remained was the Rowen territory.
At the time of the previous Duke, it was a land with the highest support for the royal family thanks to having a Queen and her sister, the Duchess, but now the situation has become the exact opposite.
There were several reasons.
First, it could have prevented Kaian's expedition, but it did not.
Kaian is the child of a married Princess, so he is half of royal blood.
Because he was a descendant of the royal family, unlike other families, he had immunity from having to personally go to war, but since Valquiterre ordered all noble families to go to war, it became difficult to say anything.
Kaian never once thought he would die.
He would come back alive, that was natural, and Temnes was so crowded with blood relatives that it even controlled the education of successors.
Even if an emergency occurs, there is no need to stop paying.
If there is a problem, it is a bigger problem in Vermont where hands are precious.
However, everyone did not agree with him, so during the five years that the heirless head of the family could not return from the battlefield, opposition to the King grew within the territory.
The second reason is that Valquiterre often called Kaian for trivial reasons during the past few years when he returned from the battlefield and ruled the territory.
Major reports were received by telegram from the battlefield, and family dispatchers busily traveled to and from the battlefield to convey the Lord's orders, but it was a world of difference from Kaian personally staying in the castle and taking care of it.
The anxiety of the Rowen estate, which suddenly lost both its Lord and its Lord's wife, was dispelled when Kaian returned from the battlefield, but in fact, the Lord had to go to a war he did not have to go to because of a few words from the King.
But he, the King, are telling their Lord to come?
Blood relatives and vassals secretly wrote a letter asking whether it would be better for Rowen to become independent from the Kingdom of Oberon.
Kaian and Valquiterre grew up as brothers in a very informal manner, and even now, he thought that he was the only one he could trust even if the world collapsed.
He was different from Bianque, even though they were identical cousins.
Valquiterre, a man of the same age as him, was a very special person to Kaian.
Family.
The person that Kaian, who grew up as an only child and now lost his parents, could say was his family was Valquiterre, and he was very lenient on what his brother did to him.
But it was true that as soon as Kaian saw that telegram, he felt a headache.
“There’s going to be another uproar.”
Fromhunt was a day's ride north of the Lord's castle in the center of Rowen's territory.
It was a famous fox hunting ground as various types of foxes with slightly different fur colors grew in the dense forest.
If Kaian says he will be away from the estate for a few days during this busy and important time by royal order, his vassals will squeal noisily again.
In front of the great Lord of Rowen, Kaian, he could even bet that the squires, whom even King Oberon looked down upon, would not hesitate to curse Valquiterre.
It was very important and desirable for the Lords and vassals to look up to and respect their Lord like a god, but it was a different matter for them to turn a blind eye and look down on even the King, saying he was not as good as their Lord, but the current atmosphere within the Temnes family is only in that respect. It wasn't easy.
However, the most serious of his worries was something else.
"Ha. What about Claudel?”
A poor woman who can't sleep unless he embraces her.
The thought of taking her to the prom hunt crossed his mind for just a moment but was immediately dismissed in his mind.
“The hunting ground is dangerous.”
When he remembered Claudel's injury during the crocodile hunt, goosebumps appeared on the fearless man's arms.
Promhunt was a fairly well-groomed hunting ground, but Kaian couldn't stay by her side the entire time. He will be taken with Valquiterre to catch the fox.
“Is this child the one who got married and doesn’t even realize it?”
The fact that he is now a married man.
"But... What would a person who has never been in a relationship know?”
Like the hardships of a husband having to take care of his wife who can't sleep.
“Anyway, I guess I can’t refuse the King’s order.”
Kaian stood up, folding the letter back into the envelope.
The next morning.
Claudel woke up to his hands gently comforting her body.
"Yes."
The corners of my mouth naturally rose at the sight of his familiar body temperature and male body odor.
'It looks like the sun has risen because your eyes are dazzling.'
Am I just dreaming because I'm half asleep?
I'm happily snuggled into Kayan's arms.
“It makes me not want to go out.”
When I opened my eyes at the sound of his voice, he was looking into me affectionately.
"But... What would a person who has never been in a relationship know?”
Like the hardships of a husband having to take care of his wife who can't sleep.
“Anyway, I guess I can’t refuse the King’s order.”
Kaian stood up, folding the letter back into the envelope.
***
The next morning.
Claudel woke up to his hands gently comforting her body.
"Yes."
The corners of my mouth naturally rose at the sight of his familiar body temperature and male body odor.
'It looks like the sun has risen because your eyes are dazzling.'
Am I just dreaming because I'm half asleep?
I'm happily snuggled into Kayan's arms.
“It makes me not want to go out.”
When I opened my eyes at the sound of his voice, he was looking into me affectionately.
“Kaian? Are you gone yet?”
"Yes."
Usually, he got out of bed before I woke up.
I was taken aback because it was the first time I had seen him when I opened my eyes.
“What’s going on? Oh, don't look. It would be so messy.”
My head would be sticking out and I would wake up with a dirty face.
He looked at me who was embarrassed and casually gave me a light kiss on the lips.
“Don’t worry, it’s not as messed up as you think.”
... Even when I wake up, I can’t say I’m pretty or okay.
It was a time when I liked Claudel but also felt disappointed.
“I think I will have to vacate the castle for three days from today.”
"Yes?"
I was surprised.
“Are you saying you are leaving the Lord’s castle?”
“I have to go to the Prom Hunt because of the King’s order.”
“Promhunt?”
Kaian patted my back and smoothed out her tangled hair with the hand he had used.
“It’s a hunting ground to the north of the territory. The telegram sent yesterday said to meet in two days, so the King must have already left the capital three days ago. The telegram must have arrived halfway and then been sent when he felt like it.”
“It’s sudden.”
As I mumbled my words, Kaian hugged me tightly.
"Yes. It’s not like I can refuse, but it’s always like this.”
Kaian held the red hair that he had brushed neatly in one hand placed his lips on the nape of my neck and whispered.
“I guess I can find some persimmon to make a scarf for you this winter.”
“Rowen... Because it’s not cold even in winter. Don’t you need a scarf or something?”
“I want to see you wearing just that.”
“....”
When I resisted, as if I was going to pull my body out of his arms, Kaian quickly kissed me and traced the woman's body heat over my thin nightgown.
I, who was released from Kaian after a deep kiss, could not hide my disappointment.
“You should have told me last night. If you have to go today.”
“I was going to tell you, but I forgot.”
There are other things to forget.
Kaian came to the bedroom much later than usual yesterday.
'I'm busy with something that suddenly happened.'
Even though he felt sorry for me, he immediately hugged me and showered me with kisses.
Kissing is something we do every day!
How can you forget such an important thing?
I knew that Kaian did not expect much from me in my role as Duchess.
When I realized that fact, I wondered what the use of the hostess role I was learning so hard was all about.
He was silent for a moment as he looked at me, who had lost my energy.
“I guess I should get ready.”
"Yes."
“It’s okay if you don’t have to see me off. You fell asleep late and I woke you up. Get some rest.”
“Still...”
I hesitated and then I asked him.
“I think Irena will arrive soon.”
"Ah. Your sister.”
Kaian answered coolly.
“I heard you’ve been studying hard. When the Lord is away, the Lord's wife must take my place. I will inform the butler, so please make sure she is welcomed well so that she does not lack anything.”
"Yes."
“I have to vacate the position urgently by order of the King. I will return and we will hold a banquet to welcome the guests.”
"All right."
Kaian looked at me with a look in his eyes that gave me something to look forward to.
“Aren’t you sad that your husband will be away for three days?”
"Do not go."
He widened his eyes in surprise at my words.
“I know I can’t sleep without you. Do not go."
I spoke sullenly and then raised my eyes slightly. There was no sign of disappointment as before.
“That doesn’t mean you have to break the King’s order. You gave me a sudden notice and expected a lot from me. You want me to feel sorry.”
“I almost fooled you. It seemed like you were sincere.”
Kaian scolded me for the short and regretful time with his hard lips.
Holding me in his arms, he gently bit my sensitive spot for a long time until I was out of breath.
“Don’t get hurt.”
The man, who read the anxiety in my clear eyes, looked into my eyes for a moment.
“I won’t get hurt.”
"Still...”
Kaian noticed that I also remembered the incident from the crocodile hunt.
'As expected, it was a good decision not to take Claudel.'
He told me, swallowing his sigh inside.
“Tell Hannah to sleep here while I’m gone.”
"Yes? Really?”
Kaian decided to grant the servant who had sacrificed Temnes' soul the place where he lay.
Although it was customary for a maid to lie in the bed of the Lord and mistress - unless the Lord would make the maid his mistress - Kaian decided to take special measures to ensure Claudel's health.
“I can’t do anything for you.”
"Thank you."
“Instead, you should sleep well and welcome me back.”
Kaian was happy to see Claudel nodding her head.
His wife was well on her way.
***
Kaian left for the hunting ground early in the morning.
Not long after that, an advance party arrived at the castle, saying that Irena would arrive in half a day.
“Because it’s not even funny. Even on that rainy day, the Duke of Vermont said he couldn't provide any more escorts to you. What are you doing here on a sunny day like this?”
"Quiet. Hannah. Who should listen?”
“What if someone hears it? I am a servant of Temnes.”
On the way to Rowen, heavy rain poured down, making the carriageway broken in places and dangerous.
The party asked Valmonde in the middle city to provide more escorts, even by hiring mercenaries, but the Duke of Vermont only sent a short reply telling them to just go.
It was after that that water started leaking from the roof of the carriage, which was forced to run on a road that had potholes and rocks exposed here and there. It was almost impossible that the carriage wheels broke down as soon as they reached the castle.
“Still, we’ll all look funny together. Temnes will only think of us as Vermont.”
Even if Irena's lack of hospitality was not Temnes' fault, it would be the Vermont woman's fault.
'I'm sure the butler won't act laxly even after receiving Kaian's request.'
Claudel was nervous because she had never done anything as the Lord's wife in this castle before.
Soon, a gorgeous carriage arrived at Rowen Castle, accompanied by escorts on horses wearing golden tabards.
The door with the familiar Vermont family crest opened and Irena got out from inside.
Her luscious red hair fluttered in the wind, like flower blossoms swaying in the light breeze.
The dazzling beauty smiled brightly and opened her arms towards Claudel.
“Claudel! My little sister!"
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