“I heard you were looking for me, M’lady.”
Eugene, the doctor at Fortrion Manor, said as he bowed his head briefly and entered Sophia’s room.
At first, he thought that Sophia had sought him out due to her heightened nerves, exacerbated by the embezzlement.
However, when he saw the Fourth Lady, who was sitting on the sofa showing some signs of nervousness, he seemed to understand the real reason for the summons.
Sophia signaled to Eugene with a glance.
“Could you please check Edith’s pulse for me?”
“Yes. Lady Edith, please lend me your hand for a moment.”
From the fifth month onwards, it was possible to confirm pregnancy using blood tests, but for early pregnancy, checking the pulse was still the only available method.
Edith reached out her arm, recalling the expression of a patient at the clinic who had desperately wanted a child.
She knew that if she didn’t deliberately make a happy expression, she would face Eugene with a stiff, unyielding face.
『 This is the doctor who checked my condition when Sophia first brought me here.』
In other words, Eugene was as close to Sophia as Whitman, implying that he might know everything about what Sophia was up to regarding House Fortrion.
Eugene’s face brightened as he felt Edith’s pulse.
“Lady Edith… congratulations on this turn of events.”
The moment Eugene confirmed it, Edith smiled, just as she had seen many times on pregnant women.
However, she felt embarrassed because Sophia seemed even more delighted than herself about the pregnancy verdict.
“Oh, Edith, this is truly wonderful news.”
-I’m finally getting my money’s worth.-
Even without hearing it, Edith seemed to understand Sophia’s true thoughts.
Sophia, who was usually composed, was now oddly excited, even instructing the servants to prepare a cake for dinner to celebrate.
“I think I heard somewhere that pregnancy cakes have little special designs.”
When Sophia mentioned this casually, the maids looked somewhat surprised.
“Pregnancy?”
“Yes, because there is something to celebrate with Edith. I am so glad that the Viscount really loves at least one of his wives…”
Sophia’s voice as she spoke was melancholic.
Edith thought that Sophia should receive an award for her exceptional acting skills.
By the time the cake was ready, everyone at Fortrion Manor would probably be whispering about the news that the Fourth Lady was expecting a child.
『 They have no idea they’re being deceived.』
Edith pretended to touch her belly in fascination and thought about the ellickberry.
She had learned about that nasty fruit when she worked at the clinic about a year ago.
⋙“I’m asking you whose kid it is! I, your husband, was away from home for a month on business!”⋘
⋙“You son of a bitch! How many times do I have to tell you I didn’t cheat?! Is that something you say to a wife who’s been quietly taking care of the house?!”⋘
⋙“Ex-excuse me… You two, calm down…!”⋘
Incidents involving the ellickberry always started with commotion.
This was because problems arose when women, especially those in their fertile years, mistook these non-edible berries for other kinds of berries and consumed them, causing issues.
Doctors had said that the juice of the ellickberry affected the female body, especially the reproductive organs.
『 It was said that it could mimic the symptoms of pregnancy or cause irregular menstrual cycles.』
Since ellickberries were not commonly consumed due to their unpleasant taste, information about their side effects was not widely known.
They weren’t potent enough to kill or paralyze people.
Especially, nobles didn’t know that plants with such side effects existed, as they rarely made the mistake of eating the wrong fruit.
However, once a year, a patient who had mistakenly eaten ellickberries would come to the clinic and cause an uproar.
Edith was so intrigued by the commotion that she even personally searched for a book on herbology.
She wondered how a plant that looked like any other could cause such a fuss.
『 I never knew I’d put that knowledge to use someday.』
Mrs. Homan’s words that everything you learn can be put to use were very true.
“Eugene, are there any precautions Edith should take?”
“Yes, M’lady. For the time being, she should focus on light walks for exercise. Vigorous exercise is not recommended. And…”
Sophia and Eugene, who had eagerly awaited Edith’s pregnancy, were in complete harmony. Edith smiled and pretended to listen to his advice.
After the doctor and the maids who had conveyed their congratulations had left the room, Sophia’s expression completely changed.
“Edith, of course, we should celebrate the pregnancy, but it would be better if you don’t expect anything bigger just because you’re having a child.”
This probably meant not to harbor any illusions about using the child to gain power. Edith nodded quietly.
“If the child inherits half of Hans’s blood and half of yours, it will be evident from the appearance that it’s not from the Fortrion lineage.”
“I know very well.”
“Even if the Viscount passes away, Fortrion’s bloodline can be distinguished.”
“…”
『 Paternity tests are possible within one month of shedding blood, but after nine months, it becomes impossible.』
The book Edith had read the most while studying for the Academy of Medicine entrance exam was ‘Reproduction and Childbirth’. It wasn’t because she aspired to become a wife and doctor, but because it contained much explicit content.
Just because she lived a busy life didn’t mean she wasn’t interested in that area.
Although she knew the truth, Edith, having achieved her goal, simply remained obedient.
“All right, but don’t send any men to me anymore. It’s dreadful. And don’t forget to take care of my share.”
“Of course.”
Sophia thought with a wicked smile. After she quickly gets rid of the Viscount’s second and third wives who were bothering her, the next thing she planned to do is to throw away the ugly woman in front of her.
──────────✿◦•
Sophia planned a pregnancy celebration party to announce Edith’s pregnancy.
She sent invitations to local nobles with whom she did not normally interact, and she also allowed merchants who had sent gifts upon hearing the news of the pregnancy to attend the party.
In reality, Edith’s pregnancy was like a miracle that had saved House Fortrion, which was on the brink of financial collapse. People did not think that Sophia’s actions were just a ploy.
Thanks to her efforts, the news spread like wildfire across the entire domain.
“While it’s true that the Fortrion Estate’s financial troubles have been averted thanks to the pregnancy…”
“When the lord of a territory changes, it causes various annoyances for the residents, but if someone like the current lord rules for another 40 years, that’s a bit much.”
Those who knew that the management of the estate had started to falter since Nicholas Fortrion took over the Viscountcy did not welcome the idea of extending the Fortrion lineage.
Some even suggested that it might be better for the estate to change hands entirely if the payments were to stop.
But the conversations were different at a tavern.
“Nicholas must have a strong taste for alcohol and gambling, so the child who inherits his blood will probably be quite reckless.”
“Goodness, I wonder what kind of troublemaker will come out this time.”
“If he lacks talent in gambling as much as Nicholas does, that would be a real marvel.”
Those who had spent a lot of time with Nicholas at the gambling table were downing beer in broad daylight.
Smoking indoors, shattering glass, and laughing loudly were clearly things that could furrow one’s brows, but no one could restrain them.
『 The Viscount hasn’t passed away yet, hmph.』
The tavern owner sighed as he washed the dishes. In his view, they were the main culprits in ruining the management of the territory.
Nicholas Fortrion had never received his parents’ approval because of his upright and honest older brother, so he enjoyed being surrounded by flatterers.
⋙“Of course, as expected of our Viscount! Your fearlessness is extraordinary! This time as well, will you choose the thrill over playing it safe, right?”⋘
⋙“Only our Viscount can raise the stakes this high. May I offer you a drink as a sign of respect?”⋘
Whenever Nicholas was coaxed a little, he would risk a lot of money, and the result was mostly losses.
However, the Viscount is the lord of the estate.
Within the estate, he was like a king. Rather than valuing those who earnestly advised him, he treasured those who flattered and praised him as if they were his own tongue and hands. And these troublemakers acted without caution in broad daylight because of this.
Jingle-jangle—
At the right moment, a small bell hanging at the entrance shook, indicating another guest had arrived.
The tavern owner’s head was already throbbing.
『 And here comes the damn leader of these troublemakers.』
But for some reason, Geoffrey was unusually silent.
Other gamblers flocked to him, reeking of alcohol, trying to strike up a conversation.
“Geoffrey, have you heard the news about the pregnancy? Our esteemed Viscount is going to have a baby.”
“I heard it.”
“Why is your reaction so dull? The Viscount will be upset if he finds out that the person he cared about the most reacted like this, man.”
Although others casually nudged him and tried to engage him in conversation, Geoffrey replied indifferently and ordered a glass of beer, which he downed in one gulp.
He was trusted by the Viscount more than others, but one thing caught him off guard.
『 Nicholas was a drunkard who kept staggering around, so the baby probably wasn’t the viscount’s.』
He recalled a conversation he had with the Viscount a long time ago.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
