ICM Chapter 12

Everything happened so quickly that Glenoa couldn’t gather her thoughts. When the gag that had been forcibly placed in her mouth was removed and the knights released her, she had already been dragged into an unfamiliar room.

A group of women came in, restrained her, examined her, and then hurriedly left. Afterward, a maid brought food, but Glenoa didn’t touch it. It was only when she examined the black liquid that was handed to her as “medicine” that she finally came to her senses.

“What are you doing to me!”

Glenoa threw the cup held out before her in one swift motion.

Clang.

The cup fell to the floor with a loud noise, spilling the black liquid. Marilyn, who had brought the medicine, frowned.

“My goodness, this was made with medicinal herbs managed by the estate. Do you know how expensive this medicine is?”

“Stop lying! You’re trying to harm the child in my womb!”

“What are you saying? This is a stabilizer with tonic ingredients that the Duke’s personal physician prescribed specifically for pregnant women!”

“I don’t believe you! I know that Igraine or the Young Duchess is planning something against me and my baby!”

“Oh, really.”

Marilyn held back the curses that were about to escape her lips as she picked up the cup and wiped the floor with a cloth. Though angry at Glenoa’s fierce behavior, she could understand her situation.

Even Marilyn, the closest maid, couldn’t comprehend why Ashika had brought this woman here.

‘The mistress is pregnant with her fiancé’s child, and she brings her here and even gives her tonic medicine? At the very least, she should be driving her away. Sigh.’

Her master had always been difficult to understand, but this time was especially perplexing.

“Quite noisy, isn’t it?”

Hearing a voice suddenly from behind, Marilyn’s face brightened with relief.

“Miss, I apologize. It wasn’t me who spilled the medicine….”

“I heard. No need to explain.”

“Um, what should I do about the medicine? Should I bring more?”

Ashika looked down at the cup in Marilyn’s hand. The expensive silver cup was dented at the edges from hitting the floor, and beyond it was a woman with claws raised like an angry wildcat.

‘Being this sensitive won’t be good for her.’

It wasn’t concern for Glenoa. Ashika was more worried about the child in her womb.

‘How could I have gotten such an opportunity.’

There was a need to soothe the angry woman. Ashika concluded it would be better not to provoke Glenoa.

“Bring the medicine again tomorrow. For now, I’d appreciate if you’d leave us.”

Ashika politely issued the order of dismissal to the maid who was wearing a troubled expression.

After Marilyn left the room, Glenoa stepped back in anticipation of trouble. Behind her was an elegant bed. The entire room was filled with more expensive decorations than any space she had ever stayed in during her life.

“This is a guest room. It was designed more to showcase the Duke’s authority than for comfort. You probably feel oppressed just by being here.”

“What… what are you trying to say?”

“Know your place.”

The cold remark flew like a dagger. Glenoa’s face crumpled miserably.

Ashika’s expression remained consistently calm. Except when she first heard the news of the pregnancy, her composure had never broken.

“This can’t be happening. Nobles can’t be punished by individuals on a whim.”

“Not an individual, but the Igraine Duchy. Didn’t you boldly throw yourself into this situation?”

“I, I didn’t do anything! What did I do wrong….”

Glenoa pleaded her innocence with an anxious face. As if expecting denial, Ashika merely stared back.

“Who would dare deny that I’ve been insulted? Who would dare challenge the claims of an Igraine? Isn’t that right?”

“T-that’s….”

Glenoa had underestimated her. The woman with the smaller frame had appeared to be just a delicate noble lady rather than someone of Young Duchess rank.

But now she understood how powerful the position of being the only heir to the Duchy was.

“You think I brought you here to harm you, don’t you?”

“Isn’t that the case?”

Her voice was sharp even in her frightened state.

What a foolish woman she was. That’s why she would have committed such an outrageous act.

Ashika wanted to leave Glenoa trembling in fear until she realized her situation. However, the child in the womb was important not only to Glenoa but also to Ashika.

‘It would be problematic if something happened to the child because she’s frightened.’

Even if it was only for a few days.

“I’ve wanted to break off the engagement for a long time. But without a significant issue, it’s not easy to break an alliance between families.”

Glenoa’s eyes widened in surprise. Despite everything, the engagement had lasted two years. While half-doubting, expectation began to bloom on her frightened face.

“Lady Schwern. Do you think the situation is turning in your favor?”

“What?”

Glenoa asked like a fool.

Despite Ashika’s explanation, she didn’t seem to understand. Ashika’s mood sank dismally. Having to speak these words herself left a bitter taste in her mouth.

‘Well, one needs a worthy enemy to hate or harbor resentment against.’

The other party was merely a foolish woman blinded by greed who couldn’t take care of herself.

“Don’t you think that the danger to you now isn’t from me, who wants to break off the engagement, but from someone else?”

“Lies! I know how important nobles consider their own bloodline.”

Ashika now wore a pitying expression, wondering what to do with this naive woman.

“You know one thing but not the other. That only applies when it’s the heir’s child. What use is an unmarried noble who already has an illegitimate child? They become useless even in the marriage market. Or did you perhaps believe you would become his mistress?”

Glenoa flinched and avoided Ashika’s gaze.

“You must have expected the title that would be bestowed upon Lord Oclein.”

A count’s title would be quite impressive. She could understand what calculations led Glenoa to become Coral’s mistress.

Ashika sighed with a somewhat tired expression.

“The Marquisate of Oclein has publicly declared they will give their second son nothing but a title without any territory. Do you know what that means? It’s a title worse than that of a baron with territory in the borderlands.”

That’s why Coral had agreed to pledge loyalty to Igraine in exchange for territory. Of course, even that was merely as a proxy; ultimately, it would belong to the Igraine Duchy.

“Even that might have seemed like a good marriage partner to you. But how would Lord Oclein see it? Coralrod Oclein, who could have sought an expensive marriage with even just the name of a count’s title, lost his value in the marriage market overnight. Because of you alone.”

The man Glenoa had tried to steal was just an attractive shell. Only when backed by Igraine did he have value.

“That’s the kind of man you claim to love. Holding the Igraine Duchy in one hand and having his romance on the side. A truly greedy piece of trash. Now, what do you think he’ll do if this marriage falls apart?”

The color drained from Glenoa’s face. Ashika continued without hesitation.

“What you should be worried about now is yourself and the child in your womb.”

A cold pronouncement awakening her to reality. Finally understanding what was being said, Glenoa froze completely.

The face of the man who had sweetly catered to her wishes and his cold expression as he made her take medicine after their intimacy flashed through her mind.

“Now you understand? I need you and your child to proceed with breaking off the engagement. I’ll protect you until then, one way or another.”

“Trying to persuade me like this….”

Glenoa tried to deny Ashika’s words until the end. Ashika emphasized once more.

“Don’t think about going on a hunger strike or causing trouble. Your only card is the child in your womb. If something happens to the child, you’re like a kite with a broken string, understand? Eat well and rest well.”

Glenoa’s face was filled with confusion as she tried to gauge her misjudgment and the future ahead.

That was a responsibility Glenoa had to bear entirely on her own. Ashika didn’t want to exchange any more words.

‘Even this much kindness is more than she deserves.’

Considering the nonsense Glenoa had spouted, stripping her naked and chasing her out wouldn’t have been enough. Though she wasn’t worth sympathizing with, no matter how trashy the parents were, the child in the womb was innocent.

With that thought, Ashika left the room.

****

Outside the Duke’s office, Ashika took several deep breaths. Despite trying not to be nervous, sweat seeped from her clenched hands.

It was the first time. The first time she had so directly gone against her grandfather’s wishes.

‘Surely, even in this situation, he wouldn’t insist on the marriage.’

This was why Ashika, who always prioritized family honor, had made the issue public. It was to eliminate any possibility of quietly resolving the matter.

‘No. This time, I cannot.’

She was so tense that she couldn’t hear the sound of her own knocking.

“Come in.”

Despite her tension, her grandfather Weive’s voice was distinctly imprinted in her ears.

The office door opened, and the bright interior light stung Ashika’s eyes. In front of the window where darkness had settled, stood an elderly gentleman with noticeable silver-gray hair.

Despite his slender build, the elderly gentleman looked as solid as a pillar. He was Ashika’s grandfather and the master of Igraine, one of only four duchies in the empire.

Weive did not speak when he saw Ashika. As always. His method of handling people was to pressure them with silence, compelling them to speak first.

“Grandfather, I have something to tell you.”

“You came all the way here because you have something to say.”

He never made conversation easy. Ashika tensed her body to avoid showing emotion.

“I believe you have already received the report.”

Hah, Weive let out a hollow laugh. For someone who rarely showed emotional changes, even that was quite a significant reaction.

“Even without a report, I couldn’t help but know. The capital’s nobles are in an uproar.”

Weive’s voice was as calm and cold as the anger he displayed.

“Proceeding with this marriage would bring dishonor to our family, Grandfather.”

“To prevent family dishonor, you created such a great scandal?”

It was a rebuke for making the issue public at the Empress Dowager’s Palace. Ashika’s gaze fell to the floor.