The word 'illegitimate child' seemed a little wet. A twitch formed under her eyes. A little while ago, it was so tangled and sticky, but in the end, it was a dirty and filthy relationship. No, could it be that it was such a dirty and filthy relationship that they could play around so frivolously? She was able to confirm the relationship through their child. Else looked at her daughter in her father's arms with sad eyes.
“Is it because it’s my child? Because it’s not your wife’s child..."
She swallowed dryly. Else pursed her lips and looked down. Sybil didn’t respond. He put Hermi down and slowly approached her. And he knelt on the floor with one knee as usual.
“It’s because of you that I don’t love my children.”
The stiff face trembled. Was that the reason? Soft lips fell to the eyes that were distorted. A smooth, low voice came to her ears.
“If it was going to be like this, I shouldn’t have gotten you pregnant.”
Else swallowed her tears.
And it was morning. While she was breastfeeding Hermi, Sibyl came into the bedroom with two knights. Else covered her chest at the appearance of the strange men and glared at Sibyl. He frowned slightly, as if he had not thought that she would be breastfeeding her child.
"What's the matter?"
Sybil took Hermi, who was breastfeeding. Else was so embarrassed that she didn't even think to cover her breasts and just stood up. Sybil held the baby with one hand and opened the front of her chest with the other, and she cried out.
“From now on, Hermi will grow up in the Queen’s bedroom.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t plan on letting you have my child.”
The tone was monotonous. There was no anger to be read. It was just cold and serene. Else ran to the man who was trying to leave the bedroom with Hermi in his arms and grabbed him.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Why is Hermi growing up in the Queen’s bedroom?”
Her heart was pounding. Thinking back, she had heard a few days ago that his fiancée was entering the palace. It was a fact that she had repeated dozens of times, but still could not get used to. Else couldn’t believe it for a while, even after hearing it from Jeanne. Then she decided that it would be okay. Really, really, she was now going to...
“I told you, Else. I’m going to run out of things until I'm the only one left.”
“Don’t do that, Sybil. Please, please... Not Hermi.”
Sibyl gestured to the knights. The knights approached Else, who grabbed Sibyl's arm as if trying to tear it off. Sibyl turned his back. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She stared blankly at him as he walked away, then ran.
"Your Majesty."
The knight who had gently grabbed Else's arm blocked her path. Else tried to turn around and run to Sybil. However, the brute strength of the trained men was something Else could not overcome. She swung and hit their chests. She couldn't tell who she slapped several times. She sat down and cried and swore. Then she suddenly got up and started wrestling with the knights again. Else couldn't remember how she had defeated them and run to Sybil.
The important thing was that when she came to her senses, she was already in front of that woman. Sybil's fiancée was holding Hermi with a bright face. Else couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Jules, who was behind Else, carefully pulled her away. Meanwhile, Hermi continued to cry like a little kitten. Her heart beat faster every time her faint cry echoed through the ceiling and floor.
The glassy eyes were filled with tears. Henrietta looked down at the baby with an anxious face. The milky, white, and clean skin was bluish and red as if it had been soaked in the water of the safflower. It was a doll-like face. When separated from her birth mother, the child only cried softly in her father's arms, but as time passed, she became more and more irritated by Henrietta's nerves. It was already the third day.
The baby was never quiet, except for the moments when she fell asleep from exhaustion, and then she would whine and become irritable and start crying loudly. She thought that even cicadas in midsummer would be quieter than this.
“I... Miss, I should bring the nanny back...”
The maid, who was holding the baby, carefully gave her opinion while rubbing her forearm with her spare hand. The baby, who was crying nonstop, seemed to be quite frightened, as if she was afraid of herself as well. What could a newborn do? The father of this baby was none other than the King. If something went wrong, she would definitely get in trouble.
“Is it really necessary to hire such a lowly woman as a wet nurse for His Majesty’s daughter?”
"But..."
The Princess's wet nurse was the wife of Count Icalant. She had been a lowly slave only a dozen years ago, and her marriage to her husband, the Count, had only recently been recognized. Such a woman couldn't be a wet nurse to the King's daughter.
“Is it because it’s my child? Because it’s not your wife’s child..."
She swallowed dryly. Else pursed her lips and looked down. Sybil didn’t respond. He put Hermi down and slowly approached her. And he knelt on the floor with one knee as usual.
“It’s because of you that I don’t love my children.”
The stiff face trembled. Was that the reason? Soft lips fell to the eyes that were distorted. A smooth, low voice came to her ears.
“If it was going to be like this, I shouldn’t have gotten you pregnant.”
Else swallowed her tears.
And it was morning. While she was breastfeeding Hermi, Sibyl came into the bedroom with two knights. Else covered her chest at the appearance of the strange men and glared at Sibyl. He frowned slightly, as if he had not thought that she would be breastfeeding her child.
"What's the matter?"
Sybil took Hermi, who was breastfeeding. Else was so embarrassed that she didn't even think to cover her breasts and just stood up. Sybil held the baby with one hand and opened the front of her chest with the other, and she cried out.
“From now on, Hermi will grow up in the Queen’s bedroom.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t plan on letting you have my child.”
The tone was monotonous. There was no anger to be read. It was just cold and serene. Else ran to the man who was trying to leave the bedroom with Hermi in his arms and grabbed him.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Why is Hermi growing up in the Queen’s bedroom?”
Her heart was pounding. Thinking back, she had heard a few days ago that his fiancée was entering the palace. It was a fact that she had repeated dozens of times, but still could not get used to. Else couldn’t believe it for a while, even after hearing it from Jeanne. Then she decided that it would be okay. Really, really, she was now going to...
“I told you, Else. I’m going to run out of things until I'm the only one left.”
“Don’t do that, Sybil. Please, please... Not Hermi.”
Sibyl gestured to the knights. The knights approached Else, who grabbed Sibyl's arm as if trying to tear it off. Sibyl turned his back. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She stared blankly at him as he walked away, then ran.
"Your Majesty."
The knight who had gently grabbed Else's arm blocked her path. Else tried to turn around and run to Sybil. However, the brute strength of the trained men was something Else could not overcome. She swung and hit their chests. She couldn't tell who she slapped several times. She sat down and cried and swore. Then she suddenly got up and started wrestling with the knights again. Else couldn't remember how she had defeated them and run to Sybil.
The important thing was that when she came to her senses, she was already in front of that woman. Sybil's fiancée was holding Hermi with a bright face. Else couldn't help but roll her eyes.
How did I give birth to this baby? How did I protect this baby... I only have this baby now. You, you... My pretty baby...
The baby's cries shook the bedroom. Hermi was her own little fairy. An angel who came down to her after a time of loneliness and pain. It was a small kindness that God had given her out of pity. That child was a small token made with the man who had once wanted to split open his chest and take out his heart. The only treasure left after love had died out. That was why Hermi had never been her baby, not even for a moment. She held her in her arms and raised her.
Those incompetent bastards dare.... Whose baby dare they... These filthy things. These, these...
She slapped the cheek of the woman who was patting the crying baby like a doll. There was nothing to see. Just like she did with Lugdun's maids. She grabbed her by the hair. Then she shook her without mercy and screamed.
"Stop."
A low voice was heard. Else glared at him, shivering. She wanted to kill him. Her whole body trembled with betrayal. She had never hated Sibyl as much as she did today. She had never thought she could feel this kind of emotion toward this man. Else cried out in a shuddering voice.
Hermi was no good. Hermi, Hermi was a sick baby. Just like her, because she had only passed on bad things to her... She was a baby who couldn’t even suckle and just whined. Else cried and clung to him. But the baby was never returned.
Else couldn't remember how she lost consciousness. Else opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. Jules' pale face caught her blurred vision. A few cold tears fell down, soaking her dry skin.
“Hermi?”
She tried to raise her tattered body. Jules carefully grabbed her shoulder and laid her back down as she tried to get up. Else swallowed through her swollen throat and shook her head. As soon as she opened her eyes, the first thing that came to her mind was the fact that Hermi had been taken away.
That woman... The fact that those damn bastards had taken her baby. Just thinking about it made Else want to tear them both to pieces. It didn't matter how those bastards got together. They could have a baby together, or make fun of Else. It didn't matter. But...
“I have to find it.”
“No. The bedroom is guarded by knights of the Imperial Guard.”
"So?"
“Else.”
“So what do you want me to do? Just lie here and watch that bitch torture my baby?”
“Else, please...”
“I don’t care what those guys do.”
A gurgling, squeaky breath came from her swollen throat. Else swallowed her tears, shivering. She clenched her fists. She was about to get out of bed with her lips pursed. Jules stopped her.
“Not this way.”
"Then?"
“You are His Majesty’s woman. Do your duty.”
“Sibyl is nothing to me. That man can’t be anything to me. So I’m nothing to that man!”
Jules sighed as he saw Else screaming and getting angry.
“I know, Else. I know how much you hate him. I know how much he has done for you. But if you want Hermi back, you have to do it.”
Her eyes were distorted. Hot air rushed into her eyes. Else tried to hold back tears, but eventually shed them. A baby's cry was heard from somewhere. Jules' face also hardened, wondering if Else was hearing things.
Else finally shook off Jules and left the bedroom.
“Please come in, Your Excellency.”
The one who stopped her was Count Loper, Jules' husband. Unlike last summer, his face was sharp and showed only cold air. Else stared at the men lined up behind him, speechless.
“If you go in with my wife, His Majesty will come to see you soon.”
“...My daughter is crying.”
As Else opened the thick door, Hermi's cries became louder. Goosebumps appeared on her ears. She wanted to run and hold the baby right away. Henrietta. She couldn't figure out what that woman was doing with her daughter.
“I know.”
“Get out of the way.”
“But it seems that Your Highness has no further business to concern yourself with.”
“It’s none of my business.”
The baby's cries shook the bedroom. Hermi was her own little fairy. An angel who came down to her after a time of loneliness and pain. It was a small kindness that God had given her out of pity. That child was a small token made with the man who had once wanted to split open his chest and take out his heart. The only treasure left after love had died out. That was why Hermi had never been her baby, not even for a moment. She held her in her arms and raised her.
Those incompetent bastards dare.... Whose baby dare they... These filthy things. These, these...
She slapped the cheek of the woman who was patting the crying baby like a doll. There was nothing to see. Just like she did with Lugdun's maids. She grabbed her by the hair. Then she shook her without mercy and screamed.
"Stop."
A low voice was heard. Else glared at him, shivering. She wanted to kill him. Her whole body trembled with betrayal. She had never hated Sibyl as much as she did today. She had never thought she could feel this kind of emotion toward this man. Else cried out in a shuddering voice.
Hermi was no good. Hermi, Hermi was a sick baby. Just like her, because she had only passed on bad things to her... She was a baby who couldn’t even suckle and just whined. Else cried and clung to him. But the baby was never returned.
***
Else couldn't remember how she lost consciousness. Else opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. Jules' pale face caught her blurred vision. A few cold tears fell down, soaking her dry skin.
“Hermi?”
She tried to raise her tattered body. Jules carefully grabbed her shoulder and laid her back down as she tried to get up. Else swallowed through her swollen throat and shook her head. As soon as she opened her eyes, the first thing that came to her mind was the fact that Hermi had been taken away.
That woman... The fact that those damn bastards had taken her baby. Just thinking about it made Else want to tear them both to pieces. It didn't matter how those bastards got together. They could have a baby together, or make fun of Else. It didn't matter. But...
“I have to find it.”
“No. The bedroom is guarded by knights of the Imperial Guard.”
"So?"
“Else.”
“So what do you want me to do? Just lie here and watch that bitch torture my baby?”
“Else, please...”
“I don’t care what those guys do.”
A gurgling, squeaky breath came from her swollen throat. Else swallowed her tears, shivering. She clenched her fists. She was about to get out of bed with her lips pursed. Jules stopped her.
“Not this way.”
"Then?"
“You are His Majesty’s woman. Do your duty.”
“Sibyl is nothing to me. That man can’t be anything to me. So I’m nothing to that man!”
Jules sighed as he saw Else screaming and getting angry.
“I know, Else. I know how much you hate him. I know how much he has done for you. But if you want Hermi back, you have to do it.”
Her eyes were distorted. Hot air rushed into her eyes. Else tried to hold back tears, but eventually shed them. A baby's cry was heard from somewhere. Jules' face also hardened, wondering if Else was hearing things.
Else finally shook off Jules and left the bedroom.
“Please come in, Your Excellency.”
The one who stopped her was Count Loper, Jules' husband. Unlike last summer, his face was sharp and showed only cold air. Else stared at the men lined up behind him, speechless.
“If you go in with my wife, His Majesty will come to see you soon.”
“...My daughter is crying.”
As Else opened the thick door, Hermi's cries became louder. Goosebumps appeared on her ears. She wanted to run and hold the baby right away. Henrietta. She couldn't figure out what that woman was doing with her daughter.
“I know.”
“Get out of the way.”
“But it seems that Your Highness has no further business to concern yourself with.”
“It’s none of my business.”
It was like being hit in the back of the head. Else had never expected to hear such words from Jules’ husband. Her whole body trembled. Else, pale and frightened, glared at him with sharp eyes. However, Count Loper simply called his wife with a calm expression.
“Jules.”
"Yes."
“Your Highness.”
“Jules.”
"Yes."
“Your Highness.”
Jules, who was behind Else, carefully pulled her away. Meanwhile, Hermi continued to cry like a little kitten. Her heart beat faster every time her faint cry echoed through the ceiling and floor.
***
The glassy eyes were filled with tears. Henrietta looked down at the baby with an anxious face. The milky, white, and clean skin was bluish and red as if it had been soaked in the water of the safflower. It was a doll-like face. When separated from her birth mother, the child only cried softly in her father's arms, but as time passed, she became more and more irritated by Henrietta's nerves. It was already the third day.
The baby was never quiet, except for the moments when she fell asleep from exhaustion, and then she would whine and become irritable and start crying loudly. She thought that even cicadas in midsummer would be quieter than this.
“I... Miss, I should bring the nanny back...”
The maid, who was holding the baby, carefully gave her opinion while rubbing her forearm with her spare hand. The baby, who was crying nonstop, seemed to be quite frightened, as if she was afraid of herself as well. What could a newborn do? The father of this baby was none other than the King. If something went wrong, she would definitely get in trouble.
“Is it really necessary to hire such a lowly woman as a wet nurse for His Majesty’s daughter?”
"But..."
The Princess's wet nurse was the wife of Count Icalant. She had been a lowly slave only a dozen years ago, and her marriage to her husband, the Count, had only recently been recognized. Such a woman couldn't be a wet nurse to the King's daughter.
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