“But my husband said that the King will not marry that woman either.”
"Eho?"
Else, who had been caressing her lower abdomen, asked back. She frowned as if she hadn’t heard me properly, took a sip of wine, and opened her lips.
“That woman. The woman who served His Majesty for over ten years.”
"Ah..."
“I think her name was Liena. I heard her mother was His Majesty’s wet nurse. The King’s wet nurse is chosen only from high-ranking women of the family, so she must have been a noblewoman from Siena. However, I heard His Majesty has no intention of taking her as his Queen.”
The words that came out quickly were all things Else could not understand. The King's nanny, the family of the woman who had assisted the King for over ten years. It was something she had never been interested in her entire life. Else did not even know the face of the King who had been beheaded when he returned.
She recently learned that he had persecuted the Qilza after his usurpation, not to mention his name. It was a good thing. Lugdun was an isolated island-like territory, far from the central powers. A quiet and boring countryside that no one would want to covet. That kind of countryside was Lugdun.
“Jules!”
The woman who had been talking about Siena for a while suddenly stood up and turned around. The man who called his wife in a cheerful voice opened his arms. The woman called Jules ran and hugged him. They were a perfect couple. As expected of a newlywed couple, their faces were filled with warm smiles.
The man who kissed his wife’s cheek without hesitation despite the many eyes on her greeted Else. Else also stood up and greeted him properly. Jules Loper. Her maiden name was Jules Litain. The man Jules married was a knight of the royal guard, and he was the son of a high-ranking knight family who had been devoted to the King since his grandfather.
In comparison, the Litain family was a petty, low-class noble family that could not be called particularly high-class, so their union was a match made in heaven. Else looked at Jules, who was cheerful and lively like a new bride. If she had lived in the capital, would she have been able to meet a man who would love her deeply and marry her? Without meeting Ian and having to marry Millium... Would she have met a warm and affectionate man and lived happily like Jules?
“Are you hungry? I didn’t even have a proper breakfast today because I was touring the castle with the lord.”
Jules touched her handsome husband's face and narrowed her eyebrows. Jules' husband said that he got up early this morning to tour the castle with Else's father. Jules laughed at him, looking at him as if she had starved for three days just because she had skipped one meal. Are all newlyweds like that? They were warm and affectionate... full of love.
Else thought of Millium. Millium and her did not look like that. She could not possibly look at each other with such longing eyes, even if it was just acting. It was natural since they had not married for love, but... It seemed like she would never be able to do that with Millium again.
“Is it okay if I join you for dinner?”
Jules' husband asked Else.
“Of course. I’ll make sure you have a seat.”
Else nodded quickly and called the maid. The maid approached and bowed politely.
“I will prepare a seat for Count Loper.”
After the maid answered and left the dining room, Else looked at Jules' husband. Jules' husband was a Count and a knight. They had known each other for quite some time, just as Millium and her had. In short, they had been very close since childhood.
Count Alexander of Loper, who had been fond of Jules since childhood, proposed to her when she grew up to be a beautiful young woman, and Jules gladly accepted and became the Count's wife. It was truly a perfect love story. Their love story, which the noble maidens of the royal capital would listen to with shining eyes, was a sweet story that even Else would envy.
“How’s the food? I told you that Siena food doesn’t suit you.”
“Yes. My baby said it was delicious. I guess my baby likes Eastern food better than Siena food.”
“That’s fortunate.”
The man kissed Jules on the cheek. Else looked down. Then she began to rummage through the empty bowl.
“I think you’re not feeling well, young lady.”
Count Loper said, looking at Else. Else raised her head.
“Elsa has a short mouth. She’s been hiding a lot since she was little.”
Jules said. Else smiled faintly and nodded to Jules' words. It wasn't a good habit. Being picky about food... Else didn't want to be picky about food. However, lately, she had a hard time swallowing food even when she is hungry. She wanted to eat for the sake of the baby in her stomach, but swallowing itself was difficult and she couldn't eat.
There were times when she deliberately waited until she was hungry before eating. However, as soon as she put food in her mouth, she felt nauseous. She tried to hold back the nausea, but she couldn't. Those were miserable days.
Facing Millium, deceiving him... Everything was stressful. Else was worried that she might lose Ian’s child. Since she couldn’t openly say that she was pregnant, the doctor had to meet Millium secretly when she wasn’t there, and even then, she was conscious of other people’s eyes.
Meals were often skipped, and the beds were uncomfortable. This was natural since she was sharing a bedroom with Millium. Laying another man in the same spot where Ian had been laid... Just looking down at the dishes made her feel nauseous.
“Could it be caused by another underlying disease?”
The man who was cutting the turkey that the maid had brought out and taking a bite asked Else. Else, who was looking at the roses in the vase, stared at him. The man with blond hair and sky-blue eyes had a handsome face and a knightly impression. Straight but sharp. Else did not like that sharpness. She felt uncomfortable with the eyes that were specifically looking at her, and she was even more disgusted.
“It’s okay. It’s just that the weather is getting warmer... That’s why it’s like that.”
Else shook her head and pursed her lips. Then she stood up and folded her hands neatly.
“I’m sure you’d like to have a leisurely meal... I guess I’ve been gone too long. I hope you and Jules have a nice time.”
I got up from my seat because it was uncomfortable to face him. Jules waved his hand saying it was okay, but Else shook her head. Else left them behind and returned to the bedroom. The bedroom she shared with Millium was the same one Else had used before.
The Lord's bedroom was not yet available because Millium had not yet inherited the title of Lord. So, she was really laying another man in the same place where Ian had been laid. She felt the changed bedding with one hand and recalled the night of their wedding.
As the banquet began, Else returned to the bedroom and waited for Milium. It was the first time she had waited for a man other than Ian to sleep with her. She felt for the closed door with her eyes wide open, thinking that a large hand, not Ian's, would touch her. She felt a sudden fear as if a snake was wrapping itself around her back.
Moreover, she was already pregnant. Ian's child was growing in her stomach. How could she accept another man's belongings? Her stomach lurched. She shut her eyes tightly and covered her face with both hands. Sleeping with a man who was not the baby's father was for the baby's sake. For no one else but the baby in her stomach... Even if Ian was here, she would have slept with Millium.
“You shouldn’t whine, Elsie. You’re a mother. You should think of the baby.”
Else raised her head. She took her hands off her face and looked at the door. She thought about why she rushed into this marriage. To protect the baby. To protect the baby... Because Else wanted to give birth to this child safely. It was a piece of Ian left behind. It couldn’t be anything but special. It couldn’t be anything but lovely.
Suddenly, Else wondered how Ian would react if he found out about the existence of the child. He would probably freak out. The child was the result of forced sexual intercourse during slavery. But still... She didn’t know if she could have a child if not now. It might be the last child. So...
“I have to endure it.”
It was the end of a long and arduous banquet. The low sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway leading to the bedroom. Else watched the door open with nervous eyes. Every time the sound of footsteps got closer, she imagined Ian appearing. The man who would open the door with trembling steps and stand in front of Else.
The face that had been staring at Else with a crooked gaze appeared before her eyes, lips drawn up slanted and cold blue-gray eyes.
“You’re crying.”
But what was in front of her was not that man, but another man. Else looked up at her husband. The man who had been gently rubbing the area under her eyes, where her long eyelashes touched, smiled brightly. She broke out in a cold sweat. Else tried to smile like a bride. This was reality. Ian was gone, and she had things to protect. She also had things to repay. So...
“Because you miss that kid?”
Millium laughed. It was a coarse laugh. Else's lips trembled nervously.
“I heard you were really into that kid?”
“Mill...”
“Elujah Ilenova.”
The name of the female doctor who was examining Else was also the doctor who diagnosed Else's pregnancy. She was someone outside the territory who had no connection to Lugdun. Else looked up at him, frozen in white. Suddenly, the hand that had been groping her eyes roughly grabbed her chin.
“You probably thought I didn’t know. Your father and you.”
"Eho?"
Else, who had been caressing her lower abdomen, asked back. She frowned as if she hadn’t heard me properly, took a sip of wine, and opened her lips.
“That woman. The woman who served His Majesty for over ten years.”
"Ah..."
“I think her name was Liena. I heard her mother was His Majesty’s wet nurse. The King’s wet nurse is chosen only from high-ranking women of the family, so she must have been a noblewoman from Siena. However, I heard His Majesty has no intention of taking her as his Queen.”
The words that came out quickly were all things Else could not understand. The King's nanny, the family of the woman who had assisted the King for over ten years. It was something she had never been interested in her entire life. Else did not even know the face of the King who had been beheaded when he returned.
She recently learned that he had persecuted the Qilza after his usurpation, not to mention his name. It was a good thing. Lugdun was an isolated island-like territory, far from the central powers. A quiet and boring countryside that no one would want to covet. That kind of countryside was Lugdun.
“Jules!”
The woman who had been talking about Siena for a while suddenly stood up and turned around. The man who called his wife in a cheerful voice opened his arms. The woman called Jules ran and hugged him. They were a perfect couple. As expected of a newlywed couple, their faces were filled with warm smiles.
The man who kissed his wife’s cheek without hesitation despite the many eyes on her greeted Else. Else also stood up and greeted him properly. Jules Loper. Her maiden name was Jules Litain. The man Jules married was a knight of the royal guard, and he was the son of a high-ranking knight family who had been devoted to the King since his grandfather.
In comparison, the Litain family was a petty, low-class noble family that could not be called particularly high-class, so their union was a match made in heaven. Else looked at Jules, who was cheerful and lively like a new bride. If she had lived in the capital, would she have been able to meet a man who would love her deeply and marry her? Without meeting Ian and having to marry Millium... Would she have met a warm and affectionate man and lived happily like Jules?
“Are you hungry? I didn’t even have a proper breakfast today because I was touring the castle with the lord.”
Jules touched her handsome husband's face and narrowed her eyebrows. Jules' husband said that he got up early this morning to tour the castle with Else's father. Jules laughed at him, looking at him as if she had starved for three days just because she had skipped one meal. Are all newlyweds like that? They were warm and affectionate... full of love.
Else thought of Millium. Millium and her did not look like that. She could not possibly look at each other with such longing eyes, even if it was just acting. It was natural since they had not married for love, but... It seemed like she would never be able to do that with Millium again.
“Is it okay if I join you for dinner?”
Jules' husband asked Else.
“Of course. I’ll make sure you have a seat.”
Else nodded quickly and called the maid. The maid approached and bowed politely.
“I will prepare a seat for Count Loper.”
After the maid answered and left the dining room, Else looked at Jules' husband. Jules' husband was a Count and a knight. They had known each other for quite some time, just as Millium and her had. In short, they had been very close since childhood.
Count Alexander of Loper, who had been fond of Jules since childhood, proposed to her when she grew up to be a beautiful young woman, and Jules gladly accepted and became the Count's wife. It was truly a perfect love story. Their love story, which the noble maidens of the royal capital would listen to with shining eyes, was a sweet story that even Else would envy.
“How’s the food? I told you that Siena food doesn’t suit you.”
“Yes. My baby said it was delicious. I guess my baby likes Eastern food better than Siena food.”
“That’s fortunate.”
The man kissed Jules on the cheek. Else looked down. Then she began to rummage through the empty bowl.
“I think you’re not feeling well, young lady.”
Count Loper said, looking at Else. Else raised her head.
“Elsa has a short mouth. She’s been hiding a lot since she was little.”
Jules said. Else smiled faintly and nodded to Jules' words. It wasn't a good habit. Being picky about food... Else didn't want to be picky about food. However, lately, she had a hard time swallowing food even when she is hungry. She wanted to eat for the sake of the baby in her stomach, but swallowing itself was difficult and she couldn't eat.
There were times when she deliberately waited until she was hungry before eating. However, as soon as she put food in her mouth, she felt nauseous. She tried to hold back the nausea, but she couldn't. Those were miserable days.
Facing Millium, deceiving him... Everything was stressful. Else was worried that she might lose Ian’s child. Since she couldn’t openly say that she was pregnant, the doctor had to meet Millium secretly when she wasn’t there, and even then, she was conscious of other people’s eyes.
Meals were often skipped, and the beds were uncomfortable. This was natural since she was sharing a bedroom with Millium. Laying another man in the same spot where Ian had been laid... Just looking down at the dishes made her feel nauseous.
“Could it be caused by another underlying disease?”
The man who was cutting the turkey that the maid had brought out and taking a bite asked Else. Else, who was looking at the roses in the vase, stared at him. The man with blond hair and sky-blue eyes had a handsome face and a knightly impression. Straight but sharp. Else did not like that sharpness. She felt uncomfortable with the eyes that were specifically looking at her, and she was even more disgusted.
“It’s okay. It’s just that the weather is getting warmer... That’s why it’s like that.”
Else shook her head and pursed her lips. Then she stood up and folded her hands neatly.
“I’m sure you’d like to have a leisurely meal... I guess I’ve been gone too long. I hope you and Jules have a nice time.”
I got up from my seat because it was uncomfortable to face him. Jules waved his hand saying it was okay, but Else shook her head. Else left them behind and returned to the bedroom. The bedroom she shared with Millium was the same one Else had used before.
The Lord's bedroom was not yet available because Millium had not yet inherited the title of Lord. So, she was really laying another man in the same place where Ian had been laid. She felt the changed bedding with one hand and recalled the night of their wedding.
***
As the banquet began, Else returned to the bedroom and waited for Milium. It was the first time she had waited for a man other than Ian to sleep with her. She felt for the closed door with her eyes wide open, thinking that a large hand, not Ian's, would touch her. She felt a sudden fear as if a snake was wrapping itself around her back.
Moreover, she was already pregnant. Ian's child was growing in her stomach. How could she accept another man's belongings? Her stomach lurched. She shut her eyes tightly and covered her face with both hands. Sleeping with a man who was not the baby's father was for the baby's sake. For no one else but the baby in her stomach... Even if Ian was here, she would have slept with Millium.
“You shouldn’t whine, Elsie. You’re a mother. You should think of the baby.”
Else raised her head. She took her hands off her face and looked at the door. She thought about why she rushed into this marriage. To protect the baby. To protect the baby... Because Else wanted to give birth to this child safely. It was a piece of Ian left behind. It couldn’t be anything but special. It couldn’t be anything but lovely.
Suddenly, Else wondered how Ian would react if he found out about the existence of the child. He would probably freak out. The child was the result of forced sexual intercourse during slavery. But still... She didn’t know if she could have a child if not now. It might be the last child. So...
“I have to endure it.”
It was the end of a long and arduous banquet. The low sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway leading to the bedroom. Else watched the door open with nervous eyes. Every time the sound of footsteps got closer, she imagined Ian appearing. The man who would open the door with trembling steps and stand in front of Else.
The face that had been staring at Else with a crooked gaze appeared before her eyes, lips drawn up slanted and cold blue-gray eyes.
“You’re crying.”
But what was in front of her was not that man, but another man. Else looked up at her husband. The man who had been gently rubbing the area under her eyes, where her long eyelashes touched, smiled brightly. She broke out in a cold sweat. Else tried to smile like a bride. This was reality. Ian was gone, and she had things to protect. She also had things to repay. So...
“Because you miss that kid?”
Millium laughed. It was a coarse laugh. Else's lips trembled nervously.
“I heard you were really into that kid?”
“Mill...”
“Elujah Ilenova.”
The name of the female doctor who was examining Else was also the doctor who diagnosed Else's pregnancy. She was someone outside the territory who had no connection to Lugdun. Else looked up at him, frozen in white. Suddenly, the hand that had been groping her eyes roughly grabbed her chin.
“You probably thought I didn’t know. Your father and you.”
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