048. Special indulgences
Emilia was at a loss.
Why on earth did she have the absurd idea that the man would clear up the misunderstanding? It just came out even more complicated than that.
“What do you mean, ‘in heat’? How can you think such a ridiculous idea?”
Emilia was at a loss.
Why on earth did she have the absurd idea that the man would clear up the misunderstanding? It just came out even more complicated than that.
“What do you mean, ‘in heat’? How can you think such a ridiculous idea?”
Looking down at the terrified Emilia, Hardius emptied the alcohol in his glass in one gulp. Then he smiled coldly.
“Do you even know what ‘in heat’ means?”
“Of course I know.”
He paused strangely. Something was so surprising that he raised his eyebrows, completely forgetting his previous anger and frustration.
Emilia opened her mouth as she stared at him blankly.
“In-heat is a physical reaction that occurs in animals before mating. Before a male and female reproduce, the female’s body...”
“Yes, stop.”
Hardius cuts through words like a sword.
“Looks like you’ve seen a lot at Cavendish Manor.”
“No, I didn’t read it in a book. My father taught me. He worked on a pig farm right before he passed away. He showed me a scene of pigs mating.”
Emilia, who had a hazy face, suddenly smiled.
“At that time, my dream was to become the owner of a pig farm.”
“How old were you at that time?”
“Eight years old.”
Hardius suddenly frowned.
“I don’t mean to insult your late father, but... telling a child something like that...”
“Something like that?”
The conversation was going in a strange direction.
Emilia furrowed her eyebrows, pondering what it meant to say, 'I taught my daughter that.'
“...What else did your father say?”
“About mating?”
“Can you speak a little more quietly?”
Why would such a shameless man be so concerned about what others think? Emilia lowered her voice.
“He taught me how to mate high-quality Ferendot pigs. How to know when they are in heat, how to deal with it, and things like that. Females go into heat once a month, and when they are in heat, they lose their appetite and their backs become as hard as a stone. I check their body condition and choose sows that are definitely in heat and put them together with a male breeder. If all goes well, I can have cute piglets in three months.”
Emilia, who was explaining diligently like a teacher, realized that the other person was being overly quiet.
When she raised her head, she saw the face of a man who looked a little dazed.
It's strange. Why on earth does Hardius do that?
She frowned and noticed that their champagne glasses were completely empty. The events at Elver flashed before her eyes.
Aha, it must be alcohol again.
Emilia put down her empty glass firmly, trying not to recall the wonderfully sweet taste that lingered in her mouth. On the contrary, Hardius reached out to the servant across from him and received another glass of champagne.
“How about you stop drinking?”
“Why? Are you afraid that you’ll do something you’ll regret again?”
Emilia's head, which had been facing him, suddenly turned in the opposite direction. For a moment, his vision went dizzy, but he didn't realize at all that it could be because of the alcohol.
He hadn't even realized that he wasn't as embarrassed by the words reminding him of the kiss as he used to be.
The two of them stood side by side for a while, looking out the window. Since there was no more conversation, Hardius thought he had forgotten about 'copulation'. But then he suddenly asked again.
“I guess your father never taught you anything about ‘how to meet a cute human baby’?”
Emilia's face turns to Hardius again.
“...What does that mean?”
Just before their eyes met, this time Hardius turned his head as if running away.
"...it's okay."
Of course, eight-year-old Emilia naturally asked her father.
If pigs have offspring through mating, how do humans have children?
Her father answered with a smile.
'It's completely different for people. You shouldn't be shameless and entangled like animals. That's a much gentler, more noble, and more mature act. Your mother will tell you all about it when you're old enough to get married.'
Emilia, who was recalling her memories from that time, suddenly felt a very strange feeling.
If she looks at Hardius, who has become increasingly strange, and the conversations they've had so far, as well as what her father said a long time ago, there must be a significant similarity between 'breeding' and 'how to meet a human baby'. Surely...
Emilia, who had been staring into space with a very serious look in her eyes, soon shook her head.
Ues. What's the big deal about pig estrus?
“Anyway, I don’t want to make any more excuses. I mean, my relationship with Master Malvin. There’s nothing more tiring than talking to someone who has already decided the answer. No matter what I say, Master will twist everything.”
The moment Emilia muttered coldly, a bell rang. A butler appeared at the entrance to the hall.
“The ballroom will open shortly. The gentlemen may proceed to the study, and the ladies to the salon to prepare for the ball or to have a chat.”
It was a long-standing custom in Nowak society for men and women to prepare in separate places just before dancing.
The men began to split up towards the servants dressed in their uniforms, and the women towards the maids.
“Then see you later.”
He caught Emilia as she was about to head towards the maid. There was worry in their eyes as they looked at each other.
“...Are you okay?”
His eyes were on the women laughing among themselves and linking arms, worried that she might be left out.
It was as absurd and funny as the drink he poured at Laura's house and named 'comfort drink'.
Didn't that man do something worse once a year? And yet, Emilia's heart was still melting.
“Don’t worry, they’re no match for me.”
Unlike the mind, the body turns around ruthlessly.
As she trudged along with the crowd heading to the salon, Emilia felt her heart pounding.
Some memories are so deeply embedded in the mind that they never go away. No matter how hard you try to dig them out, they just end up being buried deeper and deeper.
For Emilia, the engagement ceremony five years ago was such a memory.
Looking down at the ring spinning around on her finger, she smiled faintly... That moment of Hardius Meyer was so deeply engraved in her heart that she could never take it out.
From then on, Emilia experienced a cycle of anticipation and disappointment every time she met him.
At the first banquet, she was really disappointed and thought, 'Oh, it was just my own delusion.' But when their eyes meet again, her anticipation grows like a poisonous mushroom.
It was the same at the second banquet, and the third as well.
Emilia gradually fell into fear as she kept expecting and being disappointed, expecting and being disappointed again, and the same thing happened over and over again.
The reason why the steps to the banquet were so heavy was not because of the nameless people who treated her like an invisible person, but because of the illusion and hope that would come back to life no matter how much she was trampled.
But today, only now, Hardius has confirmed that it was not a mistake. It was a confession too late, but it couldn't stop the splendid emotions from the engagement ceremony from resurfacing.
In front of the man who put the ring on her, Emilia foolishly forgave and understood again.
He had to break up with Bianca.
He was politically exploited by the King he hated so much.
More than anything, he felt attracted to the 'woman who would have children'. He would never want to admit that fact.
How much did his mother and the people around him notice?
It's not easy to betray your family's trust, whether it's right or wrong.
It's probably like the tantrum of a child who wants something but can't have it, and doesn't want to give it to others.
Don't forget.
There aren't many people who are clear about good and evil.
Each action has its own reason and definition.
So, you shouldn't think of Hadius Meyer as a horned monster...
Emilia, who had been nodding her head like a crazy person, suddenly stopped for a moment.
No, don't make excuses like that.
The ring was as tight as her suffocating pain.
It was just because I liked you. Because I liked you, because I missed you, so I forgave you so easily.
It was a special indulgence, granted only to Hardius Meyer, who was sixteen and shining like a star.
***
As soon as they arrived at the salon, some sat in a circle, some called their personal maids to get ready, and the maids diligently prepared tea.
Emilia looked around at the people and thought for a moment about what to do. As she hesitated, someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her away.
“Sit here, Miss Bern.”
It was Josephine. She led Emilia to the central position.
“Tell me a little bit. You’re engaged to be the heir to the Meyer family. What’s it like hanging out with a rising star in high society?”
Why has that young lady been acting like this all this time?
Emilia stared intently at Josephine's face, but her eyes were so innocent that she had no way of knowing whether it was a mistake born of ignorance or a mean trap.
“Please, please. Sit next to me.”
Emilia, who was about to refuse, changed her mind. People exchanged glances with each other and began to sit down around Emilia one by one.
Suddenly, another funny thought occurs to her. Could this also be one of Hardius' tricks? Could it be that he used Josephine Luen, the host's daughter, to secure the position of protagonist that she did not want?
Whatever the truth, the conclusion was sad. Everything he had done so far had serious side effects.
She can no longer trust him. She can't help but be constantly suspicious and anxious.
“Did you hear? A restaurant is coming to Deal Street soon.”
"Really?"
“I heard that foodie culture is popular in Nowak these days. They go around to restaurants all over the place and hold tasting sessions.”
“That would be fun!”
Dreamy eyes suddenly turned to Emilia.
“Have you been to a restaurant by any chance, Miss Bern?”
"No."
“Oh... really?”
Josephine looks strangely disappointed.
“I thought you would have gone. I heard a lot about it. Prince Hardius bought all sorts of gifts for his fiancée.”
“He bought me a dress, but I turned it down.”
“Oh my, why?!”
“It’s too burdensome. I think there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Even a dress has to cost something.”
Josephine, whose eyes were wide open in disbelief, suddenly clasped her hands together.
“Oh my! It’s such a bleak story, but it’s also a truth that hits the nail on the head.”
Time passed surprisingly peacefully. People treated Emilia with polite masks, and she also gradually relaxed.
This time again, it was Sheila who caused a stir in the peaceful atmosphere.
“There was a book I read the other day that I really enjoyed.”
Even when she was lucky like that, Emilia wasn't interested at all.
“What is that?”
“It’s a novel called ‘The Camellia Maiden.’”
“Oh, I read it too. It’s a very popular novel these days, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“I read it too.”
“It was really interesting.”
Various answers were heard.
“What is it about?”
“It’s about a Count who falls in love with a maid and marries her. It’s a beautiful love that transcends social status.”
Sheila suddenly looks at Emilia and asks.
“Have you read it, Miss Bern?”
Ten pairs of eyes turned simultaneously to Emilia.
“What is it about?”
“It’s about a Count who falls in love with a maid and marries her. It’s a beautiful love that transcends social status.”
Sheila suddenly looks at Emilia and asks.
“Have you read it, Miss Bern?”
Ten pairs of eyes turned simultaneously to Emilia.
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