“What’s the matter? Are you alright?”
Walter reflexively asked as soon as Edith frowned.
Before she could even think, her body had already moved to the seat next to her.
“No. I just feel a bit queasy.”
Edith replied vaguely.
Walter quietly put the food she had not even touched into a corner, then opened the window slightly to let in some fresh air.
Edith felt sorry, rather than thanking him, despite all the preparations he had made for the food.
This was far from the reunion she had vaguely imagined.
Edith hadn’t wanted to cause any trouble, even if they couldn’t be as close as they used to be, considering that she had unilaterally driven him away.
Just as she was quietly looking away, Walter opened his mouth first.
“I have prepared a place for you to stay in the building used by the Militia Force. We’re heading there now.”
Edith had been thinking about where to go, especially after escaping from the manor. But even though she felt shameless, she was grateful that Walter had provided a safe place for her tonight.
Edith had only sent him away with a few pieces of jewelry and had done nothing to help him reach the Militia Force safely. Still, he was being considerate of her feelings, which made her feel like she was having unnecessary misconceptions.
“Thank you. I’ll find a place to stay as soon as possible so that I don’t overstay my welcome.”
“…”
Walter didn’t react in any way to her statement about leaving quickly.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Militia Force building nestled among the dense coniferous trees.
Walter got down first, took Edith’s hand, and then led her to her room on the second floor.
The room had a roaring fireplace, to the point that she wondered if he was planning to cook someone to death.
Then, Walter placed the slippers he had warmed by the fireplace in front of Edith.
“Put these on. I’ll bring something to eat soon.”
“…”
Edith took her feet out of her stiff and dirty shoes and put them into the soft fur slippers.
The corners of her mouth slightly curled up, revealing that she was feeling a little happiness.
Every time Walter saw her smile like that, he wondered how she would react if she received bigger gifts.
Walter thought he would send her so many gifts that she couldn’t even hold them if they left the manor together someday.
However, when the soft and warm food was served shortly after, she couldn’t help but frown again.
She had been starving for several meals, and as soon as she smelled the food, her stomach churned as if someone was playing with it.
When Edith didn’t even touch the soup, Walter asked in a low voice.
“Is it because of the herbs you used for the pregnancy scheme that are damaging your body?”
“It’s not like that, so it’s alright. You don’t have to worry.”
Edith’s answer was confident. It wasn’t because of the herbs, but she didn’t want to reveal that…
As Edith, who already didn’t look well, turned down each dish he offered and seemed to dislike even looking at them, Walter sighed in frustration.
“Is it because you don’t like the food I prepared?”
“What?”
Edith was taken aback by the unexpected words that came out of Walter’s mouth.
But before she could ask again, Walter kissed her. He had no intention of listening to her excuses.
He believed that if she was willing to accept him without resisting, even when he unexpectedly pushed her against the wall or kissed her without warning, she shouldn’t have abandoned him that day.
Walter wanted her to cling to him as if she wanted all of him, and not abandon him like she had discarded what she had picked up. The anger and resentment that he had suppressed for so long suddenly rose up.
“You should have trusted me, Edith.”
When she heard the words that slipped through his lips, Edith’s heart tightened.
“Don’t just think of me as someone you can use when you want to do something like this.”
Walter’s hand moved down Edith’s shoulder deliberately.
The intense kiss made her lose her mind.
However, when his hand reached the button at her waist, Edith was startled and grabbed his arm.
“… Wait, Walter.”
The pounding pulse in his forearm woke her up from the ecstasy that had blurred her mind.
When she entered the secret passage to escape the assassins sent by Elizabeth, she held her breath and checked her own pulse.
It was an unmistakable pregnancy.
The moment she clearly sensed the pulse in her body that only pregnant women should have, her mind went blank.
Regardless of what to do with the child, she couldn’t accept him anymore now that she found out she was pregnant.
Edith caught her breath, feeling a tension she had never felt before.
She was wondering what to talk about first, and after much deliberation, she decided on her order.
“I have something to tell you, Walter. Benjamin investigated the Viscount’s kidnapping.”
“…”
“If you want to know about your lineage, I’ll give you explanations with more objective evidence than what I will say now. To summarize for now…”
When Benjamin’s name came up, Walter seemed on the verge of losing it.
Every time another man’s name came out of her mouth, it felt like his heart was being thrown into icy water.
Walter eventually left, slamming the door behind him.
Edith, who had intended to reveal the pregnancy afterward, was left alone in the room, staring at the closed door.
She wondered if she should have brought up the main point that she was pregnant.
『 However, if Walter is indeed of Lexion or a similar bloodline, as Benjamin says, then our child would also have inherited their blood and would become a target for people like Elizabeth and Nicholas.』
Although Benjamin’s speculation was baseless, it was clear that they couldn’t have a serious discussion about what to do with the child in her womb without first revealing that fact.
In reality, Elizabeth may not have known she was pregnant, but the mere possibility of her carrying Walter’s child made her a target.
Furthermore, it is said that in order to harness the power of children who inherit such abilities, Lexion imprisons and trains them to the point of abuse.
If that were true, even if she gave birth to the child, Edith didn’t want to subject her child to such an environment. Absolutely not.
Edith wanted to lay out all these thoughts and discuss them with Walter, but considering his wounded, beast-like eyes, she didn’t think now was a good time.
She was also a little worried about his reaction.
『 When should I tell him? I should tell him as soon as possible.』
Edith sighed as she stared at the firmly closed door.
──────────✿◦•
Negotiations between Isabelle Fortrion and the Militia Force had been going smoothly for several days.
Thanks to the promise that the manor’s doors would not be closed until negotiations with Isabelle were completely concluded, Helen was able to return to the Militia residence after a long absence.
“Congratulations, Miss Helen. You will soon become the head of House Fortrion. Should I call you Viscountess now?”
Merlin, who was handling administrative tasks, greeted Helen warmly when he noticed her passing by.
She replied with a wry smile.
“Please refrain from calling me that until the Investiture Ceremony takes place. It’s not entirely my merit, so I don’t want to stand out.”
“I didn’t mean to single you out. I was just stating the fact.”
Merlin wanted to have a closer relationship with Helen, but her interest was already directed towards someone else.
Edith, who had felt guilty about being a burden, was now getting permission from the cleaning staff to use the watering can to water the potted plants.
『 That woman… She is undoubtedly the fourth wife of Nicholas Fortrion, brought here by Walter.』
Merlin glanced up and down at Edith.
The news that Walter had requested food and fruit for her in the kitchen had already spread throughout the entire Militia Force.
Walter acted as if the reason he invaded Fortrion Manor, where he had been imprisoned for seven years, was to kidnap a lady.
Merlin didn’t like Edith at all, but Helen was different.
“Edith, if you have the time, would you like to come over for a cup of tea? I have something I’d like to ask you.”
Upon Helen’s words, Edith hesitated briefly before putting down the watering can. She felt that it was important to express her gratitude to Helen for providing her with a place to stay for the past few days.
As they sat down, fragrant tea was served in rustic cups.
Helen took a sip before asking her question.
“The friend that Miss Isabelle mentioned, that’s you, Edith, isn’t it?”
“Friend?”
Edith was so fond of Isabelle that she thought she would like to send her a greeting letter sometime soon.
But it was somewhat surprising and heartwarming that Isabelle introduced her as a friend.
“Did she call me that?”
“She tried to hide your name, but somehow, I thought it was you. From what I heard, it seems like you gave some business advice to Isabelle and the Karkus merchants.”
Edith didn’t know this, but Helen knew about it after hearing about it from Cassius.
She discovered that the Manor’s accounting books had been manipulated and brought Isabelle and her father in to handle the matter.
Thus, dragging Sophia down and providing a turning point for local residents to rise up was part of Edith’s plan to escape.
Even though she was unable to leave the manor due to an imprisonment spell, she moved boldly as if she wasn’t constrained at all, giving off an impression very similar to Walter’s.
⋙“I tried to figure out how to secure the budget needed to repair the river embankment.”⋘
⋙“It won’t be easy to secure the budget in a short period; it’s not just a few coins.”⋘
Isabelle responded with a faint smile as if she thought the same.
⋙“That’s right. But my friend gave me a hint, so I had time to discuss it in advance.”⋘
So Helen wanted to hear directly from the woman in front of her, who was supposed to be Isabelle’s ‘friend’.
Edith had no choice but to speak, as Helen’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, like a student participating in a class.
❀.°• ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ •°.❀
