I Became a Mother of a Sub-Male Son

The next day, there was no communication from Ladiana. Although she was nervous, she thought it would ease in time, so she headed to the training ground with her child. Besides Sylvester, another knight was waiting for them there. As soon as she saw the knight, she recognized it as her weapons training teacher.

 

“This is ‘Miriel Cyanine’ who will help the Lady with her weapon training.”

 

Upon Sylvester’s introduction, a knight named Miriel greeted me with an indifferent expression.

 

“Hello, Lady Elia Rotten. My name is Miriel Cianan. I would appreciate it if you could call me Miriel.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Please take good care of me in the future.”

 

“Then come this way. We’ll start training right away.”

 

“Okay. Then Lian, train hard.”

 

“Yes. Elia too.”

 

She waved her hand at the child and followed Miriel. Miriel moved and stood in the farthest place from the area where the child would be trained.

 

“This is a whip that will be used for training purposes from now on. After I become fully familiar with the weapon, I will change it to a lethal weapon.”

 

The whip Miriel gave her was lighter and simpler than the one she had held yesterday. She held the whip tightly and took a deep breath. She began to follow Miriel’s instructions, pledging herself to learn by this time and become healthy.

 

* * *

 

While a week had passed since she practiced weapons training, there was no communication from Ladiana. No matter how many times she asked Sarah, she was told that she had not requested a visit. It looked like she’s really sulking… Should she have sent a letter or something first?

 

As she was thinking about this and that, her eyes suddenly caught sight of the stopped carriage. It seemed like they had already arrived as the temple building was visible through the window.

 

“Then get off.”

 

“Yes.”

 

She got off the carriage and headed to the central chapel in the main temple building with the Duke. When she arrived at the central chapel, she walked close to the statue. Then he quietly looked up at the statue. If the white bird seen in this stone statue is indeed Pejetion’s alter ego, how should she accept it?

 

She carefully placed her hand lightly on the statue. However, just like last time, she couldn’t see anything resembling an illusion. She was quite concerned that she had not seen the ‘white bird’ since she last saw it at the temple. She prayed to herself that she would show up at least for a moment, but it was no use. She let out a small sigh at the situation where she couldn’t even see the feathers, let alone her face. Why was she so anxious?

 

In the end, she gave up and walked towards the Duke with her back to the statue.

 

“Is the prayer over already?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Anything else?”

 

She shook her head when she realized that he was asking her if she had seen an illusion like last time.

 

“No, I didn’t see it.”

 

“Then, how about visiting other parts of the temple?”

 

“Well, shall we see?”

 

“Because you never know.”

 

“Then let’s look around a little more.”

 

“Sure.”

 

However, even though she looked around the temple, she could not see the white bird. In the end, the duke and she left the temple in vain and got into the carriage. When she was far away from the temple, she opened her mouth.

 

“The statue in the central chapel. What do you feel when you see that?”

 

“To put it bluntly, I don’t feel anything.”

 

“Not at all?”

 

“No. But, isn’t it really strange? Unlike the Duke, I think I can feel something. I feel like the statue is full of sacred energy. But I feel like that energy is gradually decreasing.”

 

The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly at those words.

 

“In what way exactly?”

 

“I just feel like my strength is weakening as time passes. Anyway, that’s how I feel.”

 

Instead of answering, the duke touched her hand. As she was looking at him, a bracelet visible between his wet sleeves came into view.

 

“Hey, duke.”

 

“What?”

 

“About the bracelet I gave you as a gift. When did you start wearing it? I saw you wearing it when Lady Ladiana came over before.”

 

“I just wore it because she could see it.”

 

“I didn’t ask why, I just asked when you started wearing it.”

 

“…”

 

Suddenly the Duke closed his mouth. The sight brought a smile to her face.

 

“…Why are you smiling?”

 

She blinked slightly. It wasn’t a reproachful tone, but it felt like the question was being asked out of genuine curiosity.

 

“It just made me laugh.”

 

“But there must be a reason.”

 

“Do you really need a reason to smile?”

 

“Yes, everything happens for a reason.”

 

Subtly sunken eyes turned towards her. She didn’t know if she was offended, or if she was, why she was offended.

 

“Is there really a need to find a reason? Wouldn’t it be easier to just think of it that way?”

 

“No. It’s just an empty thought. There can be no action without a reason. Just as there is no good deed without a reason.”

 

She looked at his dark red eyes for a moment and then opened her mouth.

 

“Really, I just burst out laughing for no reason. Well, if I had to put it that way, was it because I was happy? I guess I just burst out laughing because I was in a good mood.”

 

“…Because it’s fun?”

 

“Yes. I feel good talking with the Duke.”

 

The duke raised his head without saying a word. The tips of the Duke’s ears turned toward the window were seen to be strangely red. She didn’t know if it’s her imagination or not. She touched her ear without even realizing it, feeling itchy somewhere. She impulsively took out the handkerchief she had kept in her pocket and held it in her hand. She stared blankly out the window while fiddling with the handkerchief the duke had given her. Then, she turned her head and was startled by the gaze she felt.

 

The gaze was so persistent and intense that she felt slightly out of breath.

 

“Oh, I just held this.”

 

“I didn’t say anything.”

 

The corners of the duke’s mouth loosen as he closes his mouth, feeling like he has been stabbed.

 

“We’ve arrived at the mansion, so let’s get off.”

 

For some reason, the soft-sounding tone made me feel even more tickled than before, and she couldn’t bear it. She got off the carriage before the Duke and headed straight to the mansion without even looking back. She didn’t know what kind of spirit she arrived at the room with. All she wanted to do was get away for that moment. Did she really not know the identity of this feeling she kept feeling every time she saw the duke these days? It might be her, not the duke, who already knew but was pretending not to know. But, what difference would it make if she acknowledged her feelings for the duke instead of ignoring them? His feelings, which should have been originally directed towards Ladiana, were directed towards her.

 

To be honest, she was anxious. About developments that differ from the original direction. When she thought that the Duke’s feelings for her may at any time be transferred to Ladiana… Her fingertips seemed to be drying up. How did it end up like this? To the point where she felt like it would have been better when she opened her eyes at the point where she had just been possessed without knowing anything. Wanting to somehow shake off the complicated thoughts in my head, she went to the child’s room. The child, who had kicked off the blanket, was sleeping on the bed, breathing loudly. She lay down on the bed and hugged the child tightly.

 

As a faint scent of anger passed the tip of her nose, she felt her heart calm down a little.

 

“…Ugh, El…”

 

“Yes. Lian.”

 

As she answered in a low whisper, a faint line was drawn around the corner of the child’s mouth. As soon as they saw it, the beasts suddenly started flocking towards them. She slowly blinked and surrendered herself to the fading consciousness.

 

* * *

 

While lying down on the bed, she gently lifted the pendant necklace. It was a necklace she bought at a jewelry store the other day. Even though it looked like an ordinary necklace now, why did she feel the urge to buy it at the time? 

 

She looked inside the empty necklace and took out the feather she had kept in the drawer. She put the feathers neatly inside the pendant and closed the lid. She finally felt like she was full. She put the necklace in her arms and got up. The child happened to be free as he was in the morning class. He went straight outside and headed to the stable. She still hadn’t figured out why Rex took her there.

 

To be honest, she didn’t think she could find out the reason just by going to Rex. Of course, she noticed that Rex understood her to some extent, but they couldn’t communicate with each other in the first place. It’s not like she knew the spoken language. So, she thought she would just say something and see Rex’s reaction.

 

When she arrived at the stable, she walked over to Bruno, who was removing a pile of straw nearby, and asked.

 

“Bruno, where is Rex?”

 

“Oh, it’s Elia. Rex is in the M section. Shall we bring him here?”

 

“No, I’ll go in and take a look.”

 

“Then follow me there.”

 

The place Bruno headed to was a stable that stood alone. When she went inside, Rex looked at her and immediately scolded her.

 

“Rex won’t end up leaving here like last time, right?”

 

It seemed like the duke might have done something, but he just didn’t know.

 

“Do not worry. I tied it up with magic at the duke’s command, so something like last time won’t happen.”

 

“Thank god. Then go out, Bruno.”

 

“Yes. If you need anything, please call.”

 

Soon Bruno left the stable. As soon as Bruno got out, Rex pushes his face through the boards and snorts. She straightened her hair, which had become disheveled from snoring, and took out the necklace she had kept in her pocket.

 

“Rex.”

 

She opened the pendant and waved the feather inside his necklace in front of Rex’s eyes.

 

“Purr!”

 

When Rex saw this, he got very excited and pushed his snout fiercely. There was no fuss as if he somehow wanted the feather inside.

 

“Where are you going to take it?”

 

She pulled the pendant necklace back so Rex couldn’t take it. Then Rex seemed to get even more angry and started pounding the floor with his hoof! He hit it.

 

“I think I could give it to you if you tell me why you picked me up and went to the forest last time…”

 

“Purr!”

 

Rex’s angry eyes narrowed to a noticeable extent.

 

‘Look. I’m sure you understand what I’m saying.’

 

“What did this bird of feathers tell you? Of course you can’t communicate with other animals.”

 

First of all, the most likely hypothesis was that it had sent some signal to the white Rex. In any case, animals would be able to communicate with each other. Rex, who was looking at her intently, snorted loudly and twisted his body around.

 

“Rex.”

 

“Purr!”

 

He’s really upset because she didn’t give him even a feather. She looked at Rex’s back with a bewildered feeling.

 

“Let’s say I’ll give you a feather if you tell me if it’s correct?”

 

“Purung!”

 

She tried to subtly cajole him, but Rex didn’t look back. Being the clever guy he was, he seemed to have figured out that what she was saying was a lie. She tried talking to Rex a few more times, but he just let out an angry cry and didn’t look back. In the end, she had to give up and leave the stable.

 

She didn’t come here with high expectations to begin with, but she trudged along with the intention of doing just that.

 

“I guess that’s what the owner said, but his temperament is…”

 

She shook her head and entered the mansion.

 

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Translator Note: