Leticia bit her lip at the harsh remark. Kyle knew that she had been having secret meetings with men in the salon while hiding her identity. There was nothing wrong with what he said. Before they were married, her husband had promised her those four things and strictly forbade her from doing one.
"Don't expect babies from our relationship. I don't mind you having a lover's baby, but as soon as it's born, the baby will be faked as an accidental death."
"Huh? What, what is that..."
She was shocked by the terrible assertion. She was ignorant of the Black Mass and the blood causality. She had been overjoyed when she heard from her uncle that she would marry the Duke of the house that everyone wanted and that she would marry the young master she had admired deeply since Cullinan Island. Her uncle, Baron Samuel Dervan, whom she had only heard of since childhood, presided over the marriage from beginning to end as guardian in place of her parents on the island.
"But everyone talks about pregnancy even before marriage. To have a baby quickly..."
"As I said, if you don't mind if the baby dies right after birth, you can have anyone's child. I will gladly accept that child as mine. If you don't like it, you can annul the marriage right now. Even if it's not now, if you file for divorce at any time, I will accept it."
Leticia was trembling with horror. She was too scared to say anything, both her uncle and Kyle. In the end, she kept quiet about the verbal contract and went through with the wedding. She couldn't give up the status of a Duchess that all women in the country dreamed of.
And nothing happened between them on the first night. The chambermaid only took away the bed sheets soaked in deer blood. The fact that the two of them were sharing separate bedrooms and not sharing beds was kept completely secret.
The promise was fulfilled. She reigned as the Queen of society, and she could enjoy jewels, clothes, villas, maids, and anything she wanted. At first, she was so happy that she didn't know what to do. She had lived a comfortable life on Cullinan Island, but it was incomparable to her current life.
But that was only for a short time. As time went by, the materially rich life began to feel incredibly empty. Her husband made excuses that he was busy and Leticia could hardly see him, and no matter how long she waited, his indifference and neglect did not change. So she met other men as he had encouraged her to do when she got married.
Trieste originally had no formal concubine system, either before or after the war. However, due to the nature of the aristocratic marriages in which political marriages were common, secret extramarital affairs were common, and the custom of pretending not to know each other unless it was openly revealed persisted.
Leticia enjoyed secret affairs with a variety of lovers, as a patron of artists such as musicians, painters, actors, and playwrights. They were safe relationships that did not cause any trouble even if they broke up at any time. However, she was never satisfied with any man she met.
The reason for this was now confirmed again. What she ultimately wanted was her husband's attention and affection. No other man could replace Kyle. Such a beautiful and perfect creature had never been seen outside the Duke's mansion.
“Kyle. Everyone seems to think I’m infertile. My uncle, the royal family... Louis Dunst from Te Deum sent me a letter the other day, asking if I had any signs of pregnancy yet. How long am I going to be treated like a slut? Huh? You say the baby will die as soon as it’s born, and the others nag me about why I can’t have a baby...”
Leticia's mouth twisted. There was no chance of having his baby in the first place, and even if she did have another man's baby, she would die.
She wanted to tell all those who were pressuring her to get pregnant, but if she did, Kyle would immediately declare divorce. He never said he would do that himself, but she had a strong feeling that he would.
“I guess I have to ask the same thing. What more can I do for you?”
Please, do something about that annoying politeness. Leticia desperately wished that he would stop speaking in a tone of voice that was devoid of any emotion as if he were reading a book. Kyle had never once shown her any emotion.
“Still... you can’t forget that kid?”
Leticia finally crossed the line. It may have been an inner expression of wanting to be angry.
“Did you think I didn’t know? It’s been three years. Three years. If you search so desperately but there’s no trace, then in the end there’s only one conclusion!”
Leticia finally raised her voice. She was determined to let it be. The moment she spoke, her lips trembled in fear. She was terrified to the core, wondering how the Duke would react. But nothing happened. The eerily quiet silence seemed to suffocate her.
Kyle didn’t respond. He didn’t even look up to see her. All he did was pick up the bell on the corner of the table and shake it gently. As the clear ringing spread, the butler in the hall hurried in.
“Did you call, Your Highness?”
“Take my wife to the hall. The air here is bad, so let’s ventilate the room.”
“Get out of the way. I don’t need guidance.”
Leticia walked out on her own two feet, her face flushed. She couldn't look like she was being kicked out of the room so violently. She was so angry that she couldn't stand it. Even in the midst of all that, she felt miserable and frustrated at herself for not being able to give up a single ray of hope.
She really hopes the body or grave is found soon. Kyle will give up once he sees Angie dead with his own eyes. Then he will change his mind and this marriage will become real.
So please, Angie. Please show up dead. Show me proof that you have completely disappeared from this world!
The sky over Te Deum was beginning to turn purple. Michael was ready to leave before dawn. Before leaving the room, he looked back at the bed. His wife was fast asleep, wearing only a thin negligee.
The boat that would take him to land was anchored in front of the entrance. Louis Dunst stood like a shadow next to a tree and stepped forward. It seemed that she had been waiting to see him off to the capital, Hedestad.
“Mrs. Dunst, I’ll see you in three weeks.”
“Be careful. Try not to catch the Duke’s eye.”
“Unlike the guards, the shadows are not supposed to be seen by anyone. The sight of the target they are supposed to protect is also... That’s the role of the shadow guards.”
“It means that you must not do anything that would displease the Duke. No matter how great you are, you are no match for Lord Kyle. He is a natural at both civil and military affairs, and he has also overcome his addiction to Eternity on his own.”
“Don’t worry. I will just do my duty and never cross the line.”
Michael nodded and got on board. Heinrich, the boatman who traveled across Lake Te Deum, smiled at him kindly. His face, scarred from war, was hidden by a hood, making it hard to see. A thick voice broke the silence of the lonely lake at dawn.
“It looks like you’ll be away for a long time this time. Are you going to Hedestad first and then head to WlVintergar as part of the delegation?”
“Yes. I will join the Duke’s escort.”
“The Duke should accompany His Majesty on his overseas trip. We’re talking about the Blackwell family, but they’re the real power behind this country. In fact, even in Vintergar, they’re looking forward to interacting with the Duke. The name is that we’ve received an invitation from the Citadel royal family to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Vintergar.”
Michael smiled without answering. The boatman was talkative, but he never leaked confidential information to the outside world. Still, there were some useful pieces of information he occasionally asked about.
“I don’t know how long it will take for the two countries to establish diplomatic relations. I thought you would maintain a closed-door policy forever, but it seems that His Majesty also had no choice. Well, in neighboring countries, cars run around the streets like horses here and there, and ships are floating on the sea, so they don’t need masts and don’t have to row like this. It really sounds like a story from another world.”
“That’s true. It’s my first time crossing the border, so I might be surprised when I actually see it.”
“I wish His Majesty would be more surprised and change his mind. This country needs reform and openness. If it continues like this, it will only go down the path of decline. If it were quiet, there would be no peaceful days due to peasant uprisings and civil revolutions here and there across the country. If it weren’t for the overseas business and powerful military that Lord Kyle has multiplied several times, the royal family would have fallen long ago.”
“I hope this invitation will be a practical starting point. More importantly, how are your wife and your married daughters? I heard that Sarah recently gave birth to her first child. Congratulations.”
“Oh, thank you. Haha. A very pretty baby girl was born. She’s scheduled to be baptized next week anyway.”
The tone of the boatman who had been freely expressing his dissatisfaction with the royal family changed drastically. The topic changed naturally, but this time, Michael's private life was put on the chopping block.
“A child is a blessing from God. How wonderful. A life that didn’t exist yesterday is born again today and becomes one being. Come to think of it, you and Charlotte should have a child soon too... It’s already been two and a half years.”
“I heard that there are cases where it is a bit late. The doctor said that there is nothing wrong with both of us.”
The lies flowed naturally. He was born infertile.
She was shocked by the terrible assertion. She was ignorant of the Black Mass and the blood causality. She had been overjoyed when she heard from her uncle that she would marry the Duke of the house that everyone wanted and that she would marry the young master she had admired deeply since Cullinan Island. Her uncle, Baron Samuel Dervan, whom she had only heard of since childhood, presided over the marriage from beginning to end as guardian in place of her parents on the island.
"But everyone talks about pregnancy even before marriage. To have a baby quickly..."
"As I said, if you don't mind if the baby dies right after birth, you can have anyone's child. I will gladly accept that child as mine. If you don't like it, you can annul the marriage right now. Even if it's not now, if you file for divorce at any time, I will accept it."
Leticia was trembling with horror. She was too scared to say anything, both her uncle and Kyle. In the end, she kept quiet about the verbal contract and went through with the wedding. She couldn't give up the status of a Duchess that all women in the country dreamed of.
And nothing happened between them on the first night. The chambermaid only took away the bed sheets soaked in deer blood. The fact that the two of them were sharing separate bedrooms and not sharing beds was kept completely secret.
The promise was fulfilled. She reigned as the Queen of society, and she could enjoy jewels, clothes, villas, maids, and anything she wanted. At first, she was so happy that she didn't know what to do. She had lived a comfortable life on Cullinan Island, but it was incomparable to her current life.
But that was only for a short time. As time went by, the materially rich life began to feel incredibly empty. Her husband made excuses that he was busy and Leticia could hardly see him, and no matter how long she waited, his indifference and neglect did not change. So she met other men as he had encouraged her to do when she got married.
Trieste originally had no formal concubine system, either before or after the war. However, due to the nature of the aristocratic marriages in which political marriages were common, secret extramarital affairs were common, and the custom of pretending not to know each other unless it was openly revealed persisted.
Leticia enjoyed secret affairs with a variety of lovers, as a patron of artists such as musicians, painters, actors, and playwrights. They were safe relationships that did not cause any trouble even if they broke up at any time. However, she was never satisfied with any man she met.
The reason for this was now confirmed again. What she ultimately wanted was her husband's attention and affection. No other man could replace Kyle. Such a beautiful and perfect creature had never been seen outside the Duke's mansion.
“Kyle. Everyone seems to think I’m infertile. My uncle, the royal family... Louis Dunst from Te Deum sent me a letter the other day, asking if I had any signs of pregnancy yet. How long am I going to be treated like a slut? Huh? You say the baby will die as soon as it’s born, and the others nag me about why I can’t have a baby...”
Leticia's mouth twisted. There was no chance of having his baby in the first place, and even if she did have another man's baby, she would die.
She wanted to tell all those who were pressuring her to get pregnant, but if she did, Kyle would immediately declare divorce. He never said he would do that himself, but she had a strong feeling that he would.
“I guess I have to ask the same thing. What more can I do for you?”
Please, do something about that annoying politeness. Leticia desperately wished that he would stop speaking in a tone of voice that was devoid of any emotion as if he were reading a book. Kyle had never once shown her any emotion.
“Still... you can’t forget that kid?”
Leticia finally crossed the line. It may have been an inner expression of wanting to be angry.
“Did you think I didn’t know? It’s been three years. Three years. If you search so desperately but there’s no trace, then in the end there’s only one conclusion!”
Leticia finally raised her voice. She was determined to let it be. The moment she spoke, her lips trembled in fear. She was terrified to the core, wondering how the Duke would react. But nothing happened. The eerily quiet silence seemed to suffocate her.
Kyle didn’t respond. He didn’t even look up to see her. All he did was pick up the bell on the corner of the table and shake it gently. As the clear ringing spread, the butler in the hall hurried in.
“Did you call, Your Highness?”
“Take my wife to the hall. The air here is bad, so let’s ventilate the room.”
“Get out of the way. I don’t need guidance.”
Leticia walked out on her own two feet, her face flushed. She couldn't look like she was being kicked out of the room so violently. She was so angry that she couldn't stand it. Even in the midst of all that, she felt miserable and frustrated at herself for not being able to give up a single ray of hope.
She really hopes the body or grave is found soon. Kyle will give up once he sees Angie dead with his own eyes. Then he will change his mind and this marriage will become real.
So please, Angie. Please show up dead. Show me proof that you have completely disappeared from this world!
***
The sky over Te Deum was beginning to turn purple. Michael was ready to leave before dawn. Before leaving the room, he looked back at the bed. His wife was fast asleep, wearing only a thin negligee.
The boat that would take him to land was anchored in front of the entrance. Louis Dunst stood like a shadow next to a tree and stepped forward. It seemed that she had been waiting to see him off to the capital, Hedestad.
“Mrs. Dunst, I’ll see you in three weeks.”
“Be careful. Try not to catch the Duke’s eye.”
“Unlike the guards, the shadows are not supposed to be seen by anyone. The sight of the target they are supposed to protect is also... That’s the role of the shadow guards.”
“It means that you must not do anything that would displease the Duke. No matter how great you are, you are no match for Lord Kyle. He is a natural at both civil and military affairs, and he has also overcome his addiction to Eternity on his own.”
“Don’t worry. I will just do my duty and never cross the line.”
Michael nodded and got on board. Heinrich, the boatman who traveled across Lake Te Deum, smiled at him kindly. His face, scarred from war, was hidden by a hood, making it hard to see. A thick voice broke the silence of the lonely lake at dawn.
“It looks like you’ll be away for a long time this time. Are you going to Hedestad first and then head to WlVintergar as part of the delegation?”
“Yes. I will join the Duke’s escort.”
“The Duke should accompany His Majesty on his overseas trip. We’re talking about the Blackwell family, but they’re the real power behind this country. In fact, even in Vintergar, they’re looking forward to interacting with the Duke. The name is that we’ve received an invitation from the Citadel royal family to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Vintergar.”
Michael smiled without answering. The boatman was talkative, but he never leaked confidential information to the outside world. Still, there were some useful pieces of information he occasionally asked about.
“I don’t know how long it will take for the two countries to establish diplomatic relations. I thought you would maintain a closed-door policy forever, but it seems that His Majesty also had no choice. Well, in neighboring countries, cars run around the streets like horses here and there, and ships are floating on the sea, so they don’t need masts and don’t have to row like this. It really sounds like a story from another world.”
“That’s true. It’s my first time crossing the border, so I might be surprised when I actually see it.”
“I wish His Majesty would be more surprised and change his mind. This country needs reform and openness. If it continues like this, it will only go down the path of decline. If it were quiet, there would be no peaceful days due to peasant uprisings and civil revolutions here and there across the country. If it weren’t for the overseas business and powerful military that Lord Kyle has multiplied several times, the royal family would have fallen long ago.”
“I hope this invitation will be a practical starting point. More importantly, how are your wife and your married daughters? I heard that Sarah recently gave birth to her first child. Congratulations.”
“Oh, thank you. Haha. A very pretty baby girl was born. She’s scheduled to be baptized next week anyway.”
The tone of the boatman who had been freely expressing his dissatisfaction with the royal family changed drastically. The topic changed naturally, but this time, Michael's private life was put on the chopping block.
“A child is a blessing from God. How wonderful. A life that didn’t exist yesterday is born again today and becomes one being. Come to think of it, you and Charlotte should have a child soon too... It’s already been two and a half years.”
“I heard that there are cases where it is a bit late. The doctor said that there is nothing wrong with both of us.”
The lies flowed naturally. He was born infertile.
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