While they were all enjoying a light meal and chatting away, the question was raised.
“Did Erin happen to know beforehand that Aiden’s memories had returned?”
Isabella asked, and Logan looked on with a face full of curiosity.
Although everything had concluded, the topic of conversation still centered on the time Erin and Aiden had spent together in the room over the past few days.
Of all things, what was most intriguing was the matter of Aiden’s memories.
Isabella and Logan had assisted at Erin’s request.
They had all helped under the assumption that Aiden had no memory.
There was indeed hope that perhaps during their time together, his memories would return.
But, as it turned out, Aiden had remembered everything all along.
Both were surprised and curious about what had happened.
“I didn’t know.”
Erin answered calmly.
She, too, had acted believing that Aiden had no memories.
“But I believed. I believed that even without his memories, Aiden would come to feel the same way about me once again.”
In a way, Erin’s choice at that moment was reckless and stubborn.
But Erin had a strong conviction regarding Aiden’s heart.
That’s why she was able to make such a choice.
“All of this was possible thanks to Erin’s strong resolve.”
“I agree with that. Not being shaken in that situation is truly amazing.”
Isabella and Logan expressed their gratitude to Erin.
In fact, it wouldn’t have been easy for Erin to decide to confine Aiden, who had lost his memories.
Although she didn’t show it much, the fact that Aiden had lost his memories was shocking to Erin.
There were times when Erin couldn’t help but suspect Aiden.
But in all those moments, Aiden showed Erin trust and a greater heart.
So, in the end, she had no choice but to believe in Aiden.
During the times when she believed that Aiden had completely lost his memories,
Erin’s faith actually grew firmer.
Fortunately, Aiden remembered Erin and the situation was resolved well.
However, not everyone thought the same as Erin.
“Aiden.”
Isabella called out to Aiden in a grave tone.
Her voice carried a power that tensed the air around them.
“So you just pretended not to know about Erin’s difficult situation.”
Isabella’s sharp criticism flew at him.
“No matter the plan, you should have given Erin a heads-up.”
For a moment, Aiden flinched, and his head seemed to drop.
There were reasons Aiden had to do what he did.
But without making any excuses, Aiden appeared to be reflecting.
His subdued demeanor was solely because the issue involved Erin.
Because it caused Erin distress, Aiden hung his head.
That’s why Erin, even more so, wrapped her fingers around the back of Aiden’s hand and stepped in for him.
“No. I think Aiden did the right thing.”
Erin protected Aiden.
Indeed, between the two of them, this matter had already been sufficiently discussed.
But Isabella didn’t seem to think that was enough.
“Erin would naturally take Aiden’s side. But that doesn’t mean you should just accept it as being okay,” she pointed out more decisively.
“Sure, she might say that, but she must have had a tough time with all this worry,” even Logan added.
“From now on, I will make sure not to cause Erin any trouble,” Aiden declared in front of everyone.
Isabella was the first to burst out laughing at Aiden’s earnest attitude. Logan and Erin also laughed following her.
Although they had pointed things out to Aiden, everyone knew.
This conversation was possible only because all the issues had been resolved.
“That’s right. The future is what matters. I believe you will do well,” Isabella said with trust.
“And even if it’s just not to fall out of favor with Erin, you’ll do better,” Logan joked, mixing support with his teasing as they all spent a while laughing and talking.
When it was time to close the gathering and Erin was about to rise from her seat, she said, “Oh…?”
Erin felt suddenly dizzy and staggered, losing her balance.
“Erin!” all three exclaimed at once without anyone being the first.
Aiden caught Erin in surprise.
“Erin, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“No, just a bit dizzy for a moment. I’m fine now,” Erin said, steadying herself.
But Aiden was not convinced at all.
“This won’t do. Let’s call a doctor to the room.”
Aiden immediately picked Erin up in his arms.
“Aiden, I’m really fine. It was just for a second.”
“You’ve been overdoing it; you might have overexerted yourself.”
“Just wait. Not now, later… Before that, I have something to say…”
“Erin. I’d like you to just go along with me on this. It would put my mind at ease.”
With such insistence, Erin could no longer dissuade Aiden.
“The doctor will check on her and then I’ll let you know, so Mother, Father, please don’t follow,” Aiden said, warding off Logan and Isabella’s concerned faces, and moved forward.
As soon as Erin was laid in the room, the doctor arrived.
“No matter how much you’ve prepared, there must have been many things lacking due to staying in the room alone.”
As soon as the doctor entered the room, he spoke as if he had a hunch and examined Erin’s condition.
Aiden was watching with a serious expression by her side.
“How is Erin’s condition?”
Aiden was anxious.
The fact that the doctor came so quickly meant that, despite any attempts to downplay it, there was something wrong with Erin’s physical state.
He was nervous about what might come out of the doctor’s mouth.
But at that moment, the doctor’s gaze turned towards Erin.
As Erin slightly nodded her head, the doctor’s lips slowly parted.
“Madam is pregnant.”
Aiden had no reaction.
“…….”
To be precise, he could not react at all.
From the moment he heard the word ‘pregnant,’ he had frozen, his breath seemingly halted.
Aiden’s eyes blinked slowly.
“……What did you say?”
He could only open his mouth. As if he couldn’t quite grasp what to say or how to respond.
Aiden stared intently at the doctor as he asked again.
“What did you just say…?”
The doctor repeated calmly.
“Madam is pregnant.”
“……”
Aiden’s face slowly turned to one of astonished horror.
A moment of silence.
Then what followed was a cry that was almost a scream.
Aiden couldn’t believe it.
It was impossible to feel the reality of it all too soon.
He had been, in his heart, waiting for this.
But to the nobility, an heir was a duty.
He didn’t want to bring the burden of that expectation upon Erin.
The day pregnancy became a topic, he knew the elders would be the first to exert pressure on Erin.
He had only silently hoped.
Hoped that one day, a child resembling Erin would come into the world.
And now, that life was already taking root.
It was simply wondrous.
“We’re going to be parents.”
Erin’s lips curved into a smile.
All the words felt so moving as to be surreal.
Aiden held Erin’s hand and nodded.
“Congratulations. You are already at four weeks.”
The doctor said, his face beaming with a smile.
That was when it happened.
Aiden, who had been simply overjoyed, suddenly tensed up.
His gaze, which had been on the doctor, slowly shifted from Erin’s abdomen to her face.
As if he had just remembered something he had overlooked.
Aiden’s eyes wavered.
“…When did you know?”
He asked slowly with trembling lips, as if he was afraid to ask.
“When did you first find out… about the pregnancy?”
Aiden’s voice trembled.
Erin too knew what Aiden was thinking at that moment.
That’s why she had waited to tell him, and why she was worried as well.
“Did you find out… when I lost my memory?”
***
Erin found out about her pregnancy when Aiden lost his memory.
After his return, it was upon the doctor’s urgent recommendation, worried about Erin’s condition as she stood by Aiden’s side, that she went for a check-up.
The doctor, while attending to Erin, tilted his head with curiosity, then began to ask various questions.
Then the doctor’s expression turned grave.
It looked difficult for him to open his mouth to speak.
“It seems there’s something. It’s okay. Concealing a problem won’t make it disappear.”
“Well, it’s not exactly a problem. It’s just that—”
“—?”
“Madam has a child in her belly. You are pregnant.”
“—.”
“Have you not felt any changes in your body recently? There must have been signs.”
“—Pregnant.”
Erin’s eyelids trembled slowly.
She was stunned upon hearing the word “pregnant.”
Before she could react, there was too much to consider. The situation was overly complicated.
The doctor, too, could not have been unaware of Erin’s turmoil.
“But, given the Duke’s unusual demeanor lately—”
The doctor trailed off.
Ordinarily, the birth of an heir to the Lienster family would have been a joyous occasion.
It would have been natural to announce it to everyone immediately and celebrate.
However, the timing of now was problematic.
Instead of joy, the fact of being pregnant was a cause for concern under the circumstances.
That’s why the doctor couldn’t immediately speak about Erin’s pregnancy.
The doctor carefully observed Erin, lost in thought.
“What a blessing that has come upon us.”
Erin smiled. Gently stroking her belly, she was truly happy.
