Chapter 29
“Brother.”
“Yes?”
“Are you going to get married?”
Tedian had been sulking because Matthias kept postponing their dinner, so Matthias thought he was still upset. But instead, Tedian asked a question Matthias hadn’t expected at all.
However, Tedian’s expression was more serious than ever before.
Matthias decided to answer his question first.
“Well, I need an heir to succeed the Grand Duchy, so I suppose I will.”
“When?”
“When the time comes?”
“What does ‘when the time comes’ mean?”
“I’m just a bit busy for now.”
The contamination issue in the territory, which was classified as confidential, had to be resolved first. Reports kept coming in that the situation was growing more serious by the day.
“I suppose I’ll have to do it once I have some free time. The position of the Grand Duke’s lady shouldn’t remain vacant for too long.”
“Right. Please get married quickly, Brother.”
Cornelia said earnestly.
“I want to hand everything over to my new sister-in-law as soon as possible and be free.”
“Is your new sister-in-law someone who will do your work for you?”
“I’m not just all about work, you know! If I’d known I’d be working this long, I wouldn’t have taken the position of Lord. I should have followed Maria and Julia to the capital.”
“I see……”
Tedian bowed his head and poked his half-eaten steak with a fork.
Cornelia asked Matthias.
“So, who will you marry? Are you seeing anyone right now?”
“No.”
“Hmm…… Well, if Brother says he’s looking for a wife, many would be interested. It’s a chance to become the lady of the Hiliard Grand Duchy, after all.”
“I can’t just put anyone in that position.”
“True. If you aren’t seeing anyone, why don’t you ask Mother to arrange a suitable lady for you?”
Tedian’s pupils shook.
*He isn’t seeing any lady right now?*
*Then who is that woman he was secretly meeting in the annex?*
“You aren’t seeing anyone?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Why? I’ve been quite busy lately.”
“B-but…….”
“Tedian. In my opinion, you shouldn’t have any expectations regarding Brother and women. Brother likes work more than women. He probably has no eye for them either?”
“You’re being cheeky.”
Matthias let out a light growl.
Cornelia snorted proudly.
Tedian sank back into thought.
Not even sparing a glance at his steak growing cold.
*’It seems the youngest has hit puberty.’*
Normally, if someone suggested sparring, he’d shovel food into his mouth and say “Let’s go right now!”, but he wasn’t doing that today.
He should have been happy that his younger brother was maturing, but Matthias felt a slight regret.
Was this what they called empty nest syndrome?
Children grow up so fast every day.
Eleanor’s baby was like that too.
*’I wonder if the baby’s mother is feeling better.’*
Suddenly, he remembered Eleanor lying in bed, her face flushed red as she said she was fine.
The blush on her pale white cheeks had been so vivid.
Perhaps because her skin was so transparent, it seemed even more so.
*’She keeps collapsing so easily.’*
Even if he tried not to worry, he couldn’t help it.
*’I should get her some health supplements.’*
Matthias thought he should bring some health supplements when he visits tomorrow.
* * *
“Abya bya.”
Hands flapping vigorously like a leaping salmon.
“Ooba.”
Plump, sturdy thighs that had gained healthy weight from eating and sleeping well.
The baby wriggled on the bed.
Lately, as if trying to roll over, the baby’s movements had become more active.
It was cute and adorable.
But Eleanor couldn’t fully focus on the child.
*’The secret passage has been discovered.’*
And by the Young Lord of Hiliard, no less.
She had no idea how Tedian had found the hidden secret passage.
She thought she had cleaned up well, leaving no traces of coming and going, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
*’Did he tell Matthias that he ran into me outside?’*
He probably did. They seemed so close.
Eleanor immediately scrapped her plan to try going out through that passage again that night.
*’Come quickly, baby’s mother. Did you enjoy your outing, even leaving the child behind?’*
She was afraid that Matthias might be waiting for her at the exit.
“Phew.”
Her gaze turned to the pile of gift boxes stacked in one corner of the room.
They were what Matthias had been bringing her over the past few days.
They were various vitamins and health supplements, but to Eleanor, they felt like a form of pressure.
A kind of gentle threat, telling her to behave well while he was treating her so kindly.
*’Should I contact the Magic Tower?’*
The Magic Tower was closed-off, but they were on particularly good terms with Eleanor.
That’s because she had offered the usage rights of the patents she developed throughout her academy days to the Magic Tower first.
*’They would probably help me if I asked.’*
But she wondered if that would just be like entering another tiger’s den.
Eleanor let out a sigh.
It was clearly a situation where something major could happen, and the fact that it had been quiet so far made her even more uneasy.
It felt as if Matthias was watching to see what choice she would make.
Just as she was looking at the baby with a troubled face—
*Rumble—*
The sound she had last heard a few days ago echoed.
Startled, Eleanor shot up from her seat.
The unused passage was opening again.
And from beyond it.
“……Hi.”
Tedian Hiliard, who seemed oddly calmer, appeared.
*Thud.*
The door closed.
Tedian brushed the dust off his clothes.
His blue eyes, similar to Matthias’s, scanned the room.
*’Why did he come here again?’*
Eleanor was wary of Tedian.
On the first day Tedian had suddenly visited via the secret passage, she hadn’t given him any information.
There was nothing she could say, either.
What could she possibly say when he asked what her relationship with Matthias was?
That they were in a cooperative relationship, but she just happened to be confined right now?
“Gyaah.”
Seemingly excited to see a new person, the baby babbled.
Tedian’s gaze, which had been scanning the room, naturally turned toward the baby.
As if he was seeing such a small baby for the first time, his eyes sparkled.
Eleanor hurriedly stepped forward.
“What brings you here?”
“Ah.”
Only then did Tedian’s gaze leave the baby.
He spoke somewhat awkwardly.
“I have something I want to say.”
“Something you want to say?”
“I’ve been looking into a few things for the past several days.”
Eleanor frowned slightly.
What on earth had he been looking into?
It didn’t seem like it would be good news.
“This annex… it’s not a place that’s used often.”
Tedian continued.
“It’s been closed since before I was even born. I asked the Head Butler, and he said it was the same even when Brother was born. He said it’s a building that was only used back when our grandfather was alive.”
Tedian had asked the Head Butler for the reason too, but he hadn’t told him.
*’Ohoho. They say it’s because the building is old, and it could be dangerous if you go in.’*
He only said it was because of the building’s age.
But that couldn’t be right, since there was already someone inside, wasn’t there?
Brother had been coming and going, too.
The answer Tedian was looking for came, unexpectedly, from his eldest sister, Cornelia.
*’That building was grandfather’s secret meeting place.’*
*’Secret meeting?’*
*’It was a place to meet a lover he had hidden away. You’re so innocent and young, Tedian.’*
*’B-but grandfather had grandmother.’*
*’That’s why he met in secret. It wasn’t an honorable relationship. That’s why Father closed the annex. He said he couldn’t stand the sight of it because it made grandmother sad during her lifetime.’*
The annex used by his grandfather for secret meetings with his lover.
And now, an unfamiliar woman was using that same annex.
Along with a baby who had inherited Brother’s blond hair.
“My sister said that there are relationships in this world that aren’t acknowledged.”
Tedian said sullenly.
“Now I understand why you’re here. You gave birth to Brother’s illegitimate child, didn’t you?”
