Chapter 26
Harvich paused for a moment at the man’s words.
“That’s none of your concern. Isn’t that a matter between husband and wife?”
Only then did Harvich realize that what he had just said was practically a confession.
That he was not the child’s father.
But if Tereo was someone from Cassius Territory, that might matter.
To the imperial family, however, the identity of the father wasn’t important.
What mattered was that Lincia was pregnant.
Besides, since Tereo liked Lincia, he had already calculated that Tereo would not do anything to harm her.
“So stay out of it. I will take good care of my wife.”
Leaving the man standing frozen in place behind him, Harvich turned his body away.
“To have it removed.”
The first time he had suggested Lincia end the pregnancy, it had been purely for her sake.
If Lincia miscarried early, the arrows of blame would strike him rather than her.
Although he disliked the idea of the Grand Duke’s family being indebted to the imperial family for failing to protect the seed of the royals, it was better than forcing Lincia herself to bear that pressure.
In any case, no matter when she lost the child, the Grand Duke’s family would not escape blame.
But if she were to lose a child she had carried for a long time, the chances of Lincia becoming infertile would rise sharply.
If she became infertile, her already precarious position as a woman would grow even more fragile.
The vassals of the Grand Duke’s household would use that as grounds to drive her out, and Julius would no longer consider her of any value.
On top of that…
“…You were the one who pressured her to conceive, weren’t you? Through Oberok.”
If she were to lose such a child, Julius would condemn Lincia.
In the worst case… he might not even allow her to live.
But even if she bore the child, would that solve the problem?
No, it would not.
Because he was not the father.
Harvich bit his lip hard. The foul mood would not leave him.
***
The man who had told her to wait alone did not return even after a long time.
Perhaps it was for the best, Lincia thought as she wiped the corner of her eyes.
Left alone on the terrace, she broke into tears again.
When she finally calmed down, shame washed over her.
Even if the terrace was a private space, to show such emotions in the middle of a banquet…
This was her first time experiencing such a thing.
Lincia stood up, leaning her upper body against the railing, letting the cold wind of Cassius Territory cool the heat in her face.
When she closed her eyes, she could hear the faint flow of music.
The streets were alive with joy, celebrating the Grand Duchess’s pregnancy.
The cheerful voices of the people, the clinking of glasses, drifted faintly from afar.
…Thank goodness. They look happy.
That thought gave Lincia a small sense of relief.
Something cold brushed against her cheek.
Lincia slowly lifted her eyelids.
“…Snow.”
Here, snow was not a blessing.
The seasons of Cassius Territory were simple: summer, winter, and the in-between season of daylight snow.
Summer was nothing more than slightly warmer days without snow.
The daylight snow season always began with the first snowfall.
Once that first snow fell to mark the end of summer, it would pause briefly, then continue without stopping until the season ended.
Even under blazing sunlight, the snow fell.
It was beautiful to look at, but it lasted two to three months without ceasing, freezing the entire land solid.
And before the frozen earth could even thaw, the bitter winter arrived.
In the Grand Duchy, snow was a calamity.
Unconsciously, Lincia placed a hand over her belly.
The sudden fall of snow made her shiver with unease.
What if her child became the curse of this land?
While she was lost in thought, someone entered the terrace.
When she turned her head, Harvich was standing there.
“My apologies for being late.”
Harvich’s face stiffened when he saw Lincia standing in the falling snow.
He slowly approached and gently pulled her into his arms.
“It’s dangerous.”
Seeing the snow fall, he seemed unfazed.
Instead, he brushed Lincia’s damp cheek with his hand.
His touch was so warm it almost felt hot.
“Why were you late?”
“There was a small matter.”
Harvich set slippers and medicine on the table.
Before she could even protest, he carefully took hold of her foot and lifted the hem of her dress.
“…What are you doing?”
“I brought medicine.”
With those words, he began to apply it to the back of her heel.
The stinging sensation of the medicine on her wound made a faint moan slip from her lips.
“…Ugh.”
“Does it hurt?”
“N-no. I was just startled.”
Harvich placed both of her feet on his knee and diligently applied the medicine.
Lincia stared down blankly at him kneeling in front of her.
His snow-white hair was clearly visible, his silvery strands gleaming as though made for the falling snow.
Suddenly, she felt the urge to reach out and run her fingers through his hair.
Just as she stretched her hand without realizing, Harvich let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry your feet ended up like this.”
Once again, a low apology came from him.
He wrapped her ankle neatly with bandages and even slid her feet into the slippers himself.
“This medicine was provided through Oberok, so don’t worry. It won’t harm the child.”
“…Why?”
“Because I care for the child’s safety.”
At his quiet words, Lincia recalled what Oberok had said when he came to treat her wrist.
“For a pregnant woman, strong medicine cannot be used. Please handle your body with care.”
Could it be that Harvich had been mindful even of such details?
Realizing that he had not been entirely indifferent after all, she felt her heart unexpectedly soften.
“…Thank you.
And I’m sorry for ignoring your words back then.”
Harvich’s gaze turned toward her.
“No. It was all my fault.”
“What was it you wanted to tell me?”
“It was nothing important.”
He closed the medicine jar.
As he moved to tidy up and leave, Lincia caught him.
“Still, I’d like to hear it.”
Harvich fell silent for a moment, then finally spoke.
“I only asked because I worried it would hurt you to learn that the maid who served you was a spy.”
Lincia’s lips parted slightly.
“The reason I was late to lunch was because of news that His Majesty was coming.
I needed to deal with the spies inside the Grand Duke’s estate.”
“…Ah.”
“Even if I already had them identified, it still left me uneasy.”
The sky darkened under the falling snow, the air was cold, yet strangely her heart felt warm and bright.
“It’s my fault for not explaining properly to you.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“As for the new maid…”
“Anna is enough.”
“I will assign Erna to you.”
The name was familiar to Lincia.
Among the maids of the Grand Duke’s estate, Erna had been one of the few who had shown her kindness.
But now that Anna was with her, she felt it wasn’t necessary.
“That’s alright. Ah—do you suspect me…?”
“That’s not what I mean.
Only that, for a pregnant lady, a single maid may not be enough to serve you all day…”
His rushed explanation sounded almost like an excuse, and Lincia couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“And you don’t have to trouble yourself coming to the dining room for meals anymore.
I never gave such an order in the first place.”
“Thank you for telling me.
I hope that when we return to the Grand Duke’s estate, we can continue to talk like this.”
In the softened atmosphere, Lincia unconsciously whispered a small hope.
But the reply that came was firm and swift.
“It would be better for us not to.”
