Chapter 29
Knock, knock, knock.
“Her Grace, the Duchess, has arrived.”
As the door opened, Cedric lifted his head and looked at me. The smile that was about to form on his lips quickly flattened into a straight line.
It was because of the figure next to me—Zeno.
“As soon as I get rid of one, another comes along.”
At Cedric’s words, Zeno growled in displeasure but didn’t bite. He knew biting would have no effect anyway.
“I knew it. Holding back last night wasn’t a good idea after all,” Cedric said.
“Don’t say such scary things. Come and sit down. I have something to talk about.”
“…Is this about that bothersome wolf pup next to you?”
I nodded slowly.
It was time to tell him everything. My father wouldn’t be coming back for a while, so I thought it might be safe to tell Cedric about the abilities.
I glanced at Zeno, who lazily placed his head on my lap.
Cedric raised his eyebrows and then got up, pulling Zeno toward him. Zeno frantically resisted being dragged to Cedric’s side, but there was no use struggling in front of a madman.
Cedric ignored Zeno’s protests and continued to stare intently at me.
“The truth is… I have an ability…”
Knock, knock, knock.
“Your Grace, the royal physician has arrived. May I interrupt for a moment?”
Just when I was about to talk, someone always had to interrupt. I brushed my hair back and stood up.
“It looks like I need to take care of the urgent matter first. I’ll be back soon.”
“Will you be alright?”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
I made a circle with my fingers and shrugged.
“There’s one thing you don’t know, Your Grace: people on my father’s side love this.”
With a playful wink, I walked off lightly toward where the royal physician was waiting.
The royal physician stood up immediately as soon as he saw me.
“Please step outside,” I said to the maid, signaling her with a nod that it was fine.
I slowly lay down and extended my hand. My heart was pounding, and my mouth was dry.
“Then, excuse me for a moment.”
The royal physician calmly examined my body to check for signs of pregnancy. I breathed slowly, waiting for his words.
“…Your Grace.”
The royal physician opened his mouth slightly, but I stopped him with a raised hand.
“By the way, do you know how much royal physicians are paid these days?”
“…What?”
“I know this might be sudden, but listen carefully.”
I sat up and held up three fingers.
“Three times.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“I’ll pay you three times as much.”
The royal physician blinked in surprise, clearly at a loss. I waved my fingers with a sly smile.
“I could even go as high as four times, as long as you do as I say.”
“Wait, what do you mean?”
“Tell my father I’m pregnant.”
“…What?”
The royal physician looked at my belly in disbelief.
“Your Grace, there must be some misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“You are pregnant. Congratulations.”
My mouth dropped open in shock.
What the…? It couldn’t be this easy to get pregnant, could it? This wasn’t some super sperm situation! In the original story, there was no mention of a child.
Feeling my vision blur, I gulped hard.
This is crazy!
How could I be pregnant?
I thought the stress I’d been under lately would have delayed everything, but I guess I was wrong.
“Is something wrong, Your Grace?”
“No… nothing. You’re sure I’m really pregnant?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
I immediately pulled out a gold bar from my pocket and placed it in the royal physician’s hand.
“I’ll tell His Grace myself. Consider this hush money.”
It seemed right that I should be the one to deliver the news. The royal physician’s eyes sparkled as he nodded vigorously.
“Understood. I’ll head straight back to the palace without saying a word.”
I nodded and gave him a wink.
My heart was racing. How would Cedric react? He wouldn’t dislike it, right? If he did, he wouldn’t have tormented me every night like that.
With nervousness bubbling inside me, the royal physician and I left the room together.
I took a short breath and casually saw the imperial doctor off before heading to Cedric’s office.
Creak.
When I opened the door, Zeno and Cedric both stared at me.
“How… did it go?” Cedric asked.
“Listen, don’t be too surprised.”
Now, how should I break this news to him?
I hesitated for a moment, holding my stomach. Honestly, no matter what I said, it wouldn’t be easy to believe. He didn’t know how much I had struggled with this in the room before coming out.
“Well… I tried to bribe the doctor, but there was no need. Something unexpected happened.”
At my cryptic words, Zeno and Cedric’s eyes widened in shock.
Grrrr. Woof, woof! (What’s wrong? Did that imperial doctor do something? Did he threaten you? Should I go get him?)
Zeno barked furiously.
No, that’s not it.
I didn’t know how to explain it. I never expected to actually be pregnant! How was I supposed to say that out loud?
Woof? Woof?! (What?! You’re pregnant?)
Looks like he read my mind again. I quickly covered Zeno’s snout with my hand and awkwardly smiled.
“Zeno seems a little out of sorts.”
“Well, that beast is always like that, isn’t he? Don’t worry. Just throw a stick outside, and he’ll be happy.”
It seemed Cedric often played with Zeno during their walks. But that wasn’t the point right now.
Cedric stood up and came toward me, checking my forehead for fever with the back of his hand.
“You don’t seem to have a fever. What’s going on?”
“Your Grace, I still can’t believe it myself… but I heard some surprising news.”
Cedric tilted his head in confusion. I gestured for him to come closer. When he bent down, I whispered softly.
“I’m pregnant.”
“…”
His body flinched.
His eyes, wide with surprise, soon locked onto mine.
“…Are you serious?”
I nodded vigorously.
“Are you really pregnant?”
I nodded again, even more firmly this time.
I gave him a thumbs-up. Considering the number of times we had been together, it was no surprise that I got pregnant. He must be a very healthy man. If we had been intimate countless times and I still wasn’t pregnant, he might’ve started to worry.
Honestly, even I might’ve worried a bit inside.
‘Are my sperm okay?’ he might’ve wondered every day.
His blue eyes curved into a crescent shape, and then he hugged me tightly. It felt like he let out a small sigh of relief.
“You should rest in bed right away.”
“No, it’s just that…”
“That’s why you’ve been so tired lately.”
“No, that’s because…”
“I’ll have the doctor make something to restore your energy.”
It’s your fault! If you let me sleep, I wouldn’t be tired! It’s because I’ve been staying up every night trying to convince you to stop!
After that fiery night with Cedric, his eyes had sparkled every evening. He was almost too energetic, which was a problem. If I hadn’t convinced him otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed.
He didn’t seem to realize it was his fault. Given how healthy he seemed, I could understand why. As he carried me in his arms, I quickly reached out toward Zeno.
“We still have more to talk about…!”
“Shh, nothing is more important than your health.”
Ah… never mind.
I guess I’ll have to talk to him later. I had tried, but he had cut me off.
If he ever blames me later for not telling him, I swear…
Like a rag doll, I ended up being carried back to our room again.
Honestly, he was much more over-the-top than I had expected. I was starting to wonder if this novel was even the same one I knew.
Why on earth did Isabel make such a fuss about not wanting to marry a man like him? I was starting to doubt the logic of the original story at this point.
