16. “I never imagined you were someone with such improper thoughts.”
Feeling embarrassed that her shallowness had been mistaken for kindness, she rolled her eyes for no reason. Then, she suddenly opened her mouth.
“Then, the one who gave birth to Your Highness…”
Anette was about to ask what had happened, but upon seeing his slightly widened blue pupils, she quickly closed her mouth. A moment later, she quietly apologized.
“That was rude of me. I’m sorry.”
“No, no.”
Cardin quickly waved his hand.
“I was just a little surprised because I didn’t think anyone would be interested in my birth mother.”
Even he hadn’t really paid it any mind—except for when he first learned the truth.
“Hmm, I heard that she was promised a life without want, with wealth and a new identity, in exchange for giving birth to me. She lived comfortably in the palace during the pregnancy. But apparently, she died right after giving birth.”
Listening to Cardin’s calm explanation, Anette hesitated. Their circumstances were vastly different, yet she felt they shared a similar pain—and that stirred a strange sense of kinship.
“Well, maybe His Late Majesty took preemptive measures, fearing future complications.”
But Cardin, his eyes lowered as if lost in thought, spoke coldly.
“She was foolish. For getting pregnant, for revealing it, and for believing she’d be free just by giving birth.”
Anette’s face twisted slightly.
“Do you really have to judge it so harshly? Maybe she thought it was the best choice under the circumstances…”
Then, belatedly, she realized she’d crossed a line.
She had never shared anything so personal with anyone before.
Not even with her own blood, Franz, had she bared her heart like this—so there was no way she could draw proper boundaries now.
Besides, it wasn’t as if she had spoken out of sympathy for Cardin’s mother or truly believed there must have been circumstances to pity.
She simply couldn’t ignore the faint bitterness in Cardin’s voice as he spoke of his mother, and her lips had moved on their own.
“I’m sorry. I spoke out of turn again.”
Still, she didn’t want Cardin to hate the woman who had given birth to him. It was a clumsy and awkward attempt at comfort.
And Cardin understood that sincerity.
“You really are too kind, Princess.”
He smiled gently—a smile invisible behind the mask.
“If I may say something just as presumptuous.”
“…”
“I’m sure your mother loved you very much. I imagine it broke her heart not to see you grow up. Had she been with you, I’m sure she would’ve been overjoyed every day, feeling like she owned the world. And I’m certain she would’ve been so proud of you.”
Anette flinched.
Cardin’s words pierced right through her chest.
Perhaps this man really did know her well, just as he claimed.
How else could he speak as if he knew that she always believed the late queen hated her?
Watching Anette freeze like she’d been struck by lightning, Cardin smiled bitterly behind his mask and deliberately changed the subject.
“After all this, do you understand a little better now? That you’re far nobler than me—and that someone like me, a bastard, is unworthy of you?”
Anette, snapped out of her daze by his joking tone, stared at Cardin with a strange expression.
She couldn’t understand the duke, who revealed his vulnerabilities so freely.
‘He doesn’t even seem to consider being a bastard as such a fatal flaw.’
It was, of course, a secret that must never be known by others. But it somehow felt like he brought it up just to put her at ease.
‘Why would he lower himself like this… Ah.’
At that moment, Anette’s eyes narrowed.
‘No matter how I look at it, this man…’
“Don’t tell me you’re disappointed because I’m a bastard?”
Cardin asked in a sulky voice, seeing Anette’s silence.
It was a playful question—but tinged with quiet anxiety.
And Anette became certain of what she had just realized.
This man wanted to close the distance between them. He wanted to get closer. And surprisingly, he seemed to be doing it out of genuine affection.
‘Why?’
The obvious question followed. But she had no time to ponder it just now.
Because she had to answer his question first.
“Disappointed? Not at all.”
Did she even have the right?
Anette was born with a stain on her birth that made her very existence cause her father to doubt his wife’s fidelity.
Though the king later corrected the rumors about the late queen, he had made it clear through his actions that he didn’t consider Anette his child.
To someone like her, born with such a fatal flaw in bloodline, things like noble blood or bastardy meant nothing.
But she didn’t bother explaining in detail.
If Cardin truly knew her well, as he claimed, then he surely already knew about the rumors and her situation.
And Anette had no intention of admitting, with her own lips, the way the world had treated her.
“That’s a relief, then. Well, let’s leave it at that for today.”
Unlike the duke, who revealed his weakness so easily—
“I’ll tell you the next secret when we get to your estate. So please remember—I may be a liar, but I’m not a conman.”
Cardin grinned at her, as if wondering what the difference was.
“Oh, and don’t worry about your body not returning to normal. Although the royal marriage might have to be delayed a bit…”
Ah. That part was a little disappointing.
Cardin, who had been eager to marry Anette and make her his real family as soon as possible, paused as he realized his plan had gone awry.
Still, since he had gained something unexpected and pleasant, he decided the minor setback was worth it. For now, being her fiancé was enough.
“Anyway, it won’t break the marriage arrangement. It might take some time, but there is a way to restore your body.”
Cardin said seriously, his tone stripped of mischief.
He couldn’t explain in detail just yet.
She wouldn’t easily believe him, of course—but just as he was about to ask her to trust him—
“I see. I’m glad there’s a way.”
Anette nodded so easily that Cardin was left surprised.
“You… believe me?”
“…Is it a lie?”
Didn’t he just say he’s a liar…?
Seeing her slightly narrowed eyes, Cardin jumped to deny it.
“No! Absolutely not!”
Her unexpected laughter made him pause.
She didn’t even know why.
Was it just to feel at ease? Or was it because no one had ever asked her to trust them before?
She only knew one thing:
She wanted to believe him.
Seeing her laugh, the man—whose honest emotions didn’t match the mask he wore—widened his eyes in surprise, then smiled gently in return.
And then—
“By the way…”
As Anette smiled, Cardin, overwhelmed with joy, suddenly sobered.
With the kind of pouting expression that would make anyone familiar with him groan at the act, he said:
“I never imagined you were someone with such improper thoughts.”
“Improper… thoughts?”
Anette asked stiffly, not believing her ears. Cardin nodded, pretending to be hurt.
“Even if it’s a political marriage, marriage is marriage. What’s this about taking a lover?”
“Ah…”
“I respect your heart, Princess, for even accepting a bastard child as your own—but I can’t say I’m thrilled. I’d never let my wife suffer the sorrow my mother did.”
“……!”
The real reason Cardin brought this up was because Anette seemed so indifferent about the marriage, and he wanted her to take it seriously.
Also, he was worried she might think of him like the late emperor—a man who couldn’t keep it in his pants—so he wanted to show her his sincere devotion.
But Anette’s face went pale.
She hadn’t meant to offend. She had only meant to show she was prepared to face anything in their marriage—yet she’d inadvertently struck a nerve about his origins.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Flustered, she even felt bad for her earlier private thoughts about how Cardin didn’t seem to take being a bastard so seriously.
“I never meant it lightly. I wasn’t joking. But I was wrong to say such things about Your Grace and Her Majesty the Dowager. I truly apologize.”
Cardin was startled by how flustered she was.
Yes, her words had upset him—but not enough to warrant this reaction.
Oddly enough, seeing her so flustered made whatever anger he had vanish completely.
“Hm. If Mother had heard that, even if she likes you, Princess, she might have scolded you.”
With a mischievous glint, he added that teasing remark—and Anette’s eyes immediately dropped.
Suppressing a laugh, Cardin quickly added:
“But since you didn’t mean it, it’s okay. Just promise me you’ll never think it’s acceptable to take a lover again. Be faithful in our marriage.”
“Yes!”
Completely caught up in Cardin’s pace, she gave the answer he wanted—but she was just grateful he forgave her, and didn’t realize how he had maneuvered her.
Seeing her nod cutely and clench her fist, Cardin’s smile couldn’t be held back.
He cleared his throat to control his expression and said:
“Lastly. You said something a little earlier.”
Anette instinctively parted her lips.
He said he had much to object to—was he really going to bring up everything she said?
‘At least he said it’s the last thing…’
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“You said that as long as the marriage wasn’t broken, you’d do your best to meet whatever I wished for.”
“Yes, I did…”
Was there something he wanted besides a faithful marriage?
Thinking that this might be the real point, Anette straightened her posture.
“Is there something you want from me?”
“Yes. It’s a bit embarrassing, but… there is.”
Cardin nodded, his ears turning red.
Anette, who’d assumed he wouldn’t ask for anything unreasonable, swallowed nervously at his unusual demeanor.
Then came something she’d never expected.
“I want you, Princess… to do whatever you want, without needing anyone’s permission—including mine.”
