Chapter 83

The sudden statement from the head of the house plunged the meeting room into brief silence.

They had been arguing about the heir issue just moments ago, so the timing alone made them flinch. And with the head of the house still in his prime, bringing up an heir so suddenly naturally stirred curiosity.

Had the duchess conceived while in Bellamare? No, but there’d been no such report.

In that brief instant, countless thoughts raced through the officials’ minds.

Then the duke spoke.

“Elicia and I haven’t yet become a complete married couple.”

“Excuse me?”

“What do you mean by not a complete married couple…?”

Edwin gave a silent nod, turning their doubts into certainty.

Naturally, the officials thought of Elicia. If there was a problem in the marital relationship, the cause could only be her.

But the duke’s next words shattered that assumption completely.

“I’m the problem.”

“Excuse me?”

“The physician says it’s likely psychological. As you all know, I’ve avoided women my entire life, and because of that, my physical balance was thrown off.”

“Uh… pardon? What kind of problem is that?”

The duke spoke in a roundabout yet unmistakably clear manner, explaining the cause.

The flustered officials struggled to process what they were hearing.

Which was understandable. Among the already imposing men of the north, the duke stood out as overwhelmingly built.

He was the strongest warrior in the empire, a man with towering height and muscles packed tight like a beast’s.

He was the ideal and idol of countless men.

And yet he had a problem too unspeakable to voice aloud? Was that even possible?

The shaken officials turned their eyes to the elderly chief steward standing behind the duke.

“…”

Berthold was the closest of the duke’s close aides.

Clinging to their last shred of hope, the officials looked to him, but his expression didn’t change in the slightest.

The duke wasn’t the type to joke, which meant it was true.

‘Oh God…’

Faced with a truth they couldn’t bear to believe, the officials lost what little fighting spirit they had left.

Against a duchess who was complete in every aspect, there was no way to strike back at all.

At this point, heir politics hardly mattered anymore. The very continuation of the Lombard family was at stake, and the diagnosis of a temporary issue was their only remaining hope.

As the officials shuffled out in exhaustion, Berthold finally rubbed his face.

“Master… was this truly the only way?”

“I can’t stand by and watch Eli get attacked. It’s faster to put the blame on me.”

They wouldn’t be able to speak of it elsewhere anyway.

The Lombard family had to endure so they could continue clinging to it and feeding themselves generation after generation.

Edwin’s temporary issue would be kept as the most guarded of secrets, and if the heir issue arose externally, they would block it themselves.

Still, Berthold looked unconvinced.

“I may be overstepping, but I truly can’t understand why the two of you keep postponing your first night.”

“I’m not ready yet.”

“Even if your hearts weren’t fully aligned, a married couple having relations is not strange at all.”

Normally a man of few words, Berthold seemed determined today.

He continued.

“Even for Madam’s position. Isn’t bearing an heir what truly secures her standing as lady of the house?”

“…”

“I beg you to reflect deeply on what truly benefits Madam. This is the plea of an old man whose day to return to God is not far off.”

“I will think about it.”

Berthold knew that answer was hollow.

Even so, he bowed without another word.

* * *

Edwin’s calculation was flawless.

The officials completely clammed up about the heir issue and stopped raising it openly.

However, there was one variable.

Ramon, the chief administrator and Elicia’s closest ally, possessed a level of sociability that far exceeded common sense.

Elicia’s outstanding performance had been the spark, but regardless, Ramon had already succeeded in drawing several capable high ranking officials to their side.

And so Edwin’s most closely guarded secret reached the duchess’s ears in less than a single day.

* * *

“…What?”

The documents in my hands slipped down and scattered across the floor.

I’d been receiving a report from Ramon on spring planting progress.

Because Lombard suffered chronic food shortages due to poor soil and frequent cold damage, I’d been keeping close tabs on developments ever since Bellamare.

“Did I hear that right?”

“It’s truly an irreverent thing to report to you, Madam, but…”

For someone claiming irreverence, Ramon’s thick skin showed no hesitation.

By the time he finished explaining everything, I realized I’d made a massive mistake toward Edwin.

‘What did I ask that poor man to do?’

And while drunk, no less, after making a complete mess of myself.

I felt deeply sorry, but at the same time I was honestly confused, so I needed time to think.

“All right. You may leave for now.”

“I’ve been searching for a miracle acupuncturist said to raise even the bedridden. Relying on such arts isn’t ideal, but Lombard’s future is at stake, so soon there will be good news…”

“Get out!”

Is he insane? Raise what exactly?!

Scowling, I looked down at Nero to cleanse my sullied ears.

Even after returning to Lombard, there was a mountain of official work that needed immediate attention.

But since Nero refused to leave my side, I had no choice but to keep him tucked snugly against my waist.

It really couldn’t be helped.

“Nero, I think I made a terrible mistake with Ed.”

“Nyaa?”

Edwin was a man with an ocean deep heart. Even though I’d wounded his pride as a man, he hadn’t shown even a hint of displeasure.

That made me feel even worse.

Even if our marriage was political, I could feel how sincerely he treated me, which made it harder.

“How should I apologize to Ed?”

“Nya.”

“You’re telling me to stop talking and pet you?”

“Nyang.”

If that was the right answer, Nero flopped onto his back and swished his tail lazily.

Of course.

I let out a hollow laugh and stroked from the back of his neck down his soft spine.

Maybe because I loved Nero so much, lately it felt like he truly understood my words and responded to them.

Like a person.

But seeing him purr nonstop no matter what I worried about, he was still just a spoiled little cat.

“I love you, my baby.”

I planted a hundred kisses on his cheek.

* * *

[F*ck, my ears are rotting off!]

Even though he couldn’t possibly get an ear infection, Morcathus scratched at his ears furiously.

Did a great demon raised in luxury really have to listen to such trash?

Ramon or Lemon or whatever his name was, next time he saw him, he’d smash that smug face first.

After fuming for a while, Morcathus finally muttered the real issue.

[So what the hell happened in the west?]

“Nyaa.”

Nero, who’d been sprawled out comfortably, suddenly lifted his head.

In truth, Nero had been deeply sulking after being left alone in the castle for so long.

He knew why Mom couldn’t return, and Aunt Berry read him letters every day, but it still hurt.

He’d planned not to speak for at least a week.

But after receiving a hundred kisses and monopolizing busy Mom for a full two days, his heart had softened.

So even when Mom stepped out just now saying she needed to talk with Edwin briefly, he let her go coolly.

Actually, Nero had things he wanted to say to Morcathus too.

“Nyaa, nyanya, nyaaa.”

[That’s exactly what I’m saying. I coated her in demonic energy over and over, but it vanished like nothing happened. And even when I try to layer it again, it won’t stick.]

“Nyaa?”

[You think my power’s weakened? Don’t make me laugh.]

Seizing control of the body, Morcathus slowly walked toward the mirror.

Those vivid purple eyes still clearly displayed demonic energy of the highest purity.

[Anyway, don’t get cocky just because you’re a tiny cat.]

“Nyang! Nyanyanyaang!”

[My ears are killing me. Anyway, just wait. Hey, wait! Whatever the problem is, there’s never been anything my demonic energy couldn’t fix. Just watch!]

But Morcathus’s bold claim never came true.

No matter how many times he layered demonic energy onto her, Elicia’s body erased it every time. Cleanly. Without leaving a trace.

Thanks to that, Morcathus was close to losing his mind from stress.

Meanwhile, Elicia, who knew nothing, was delighted that her baby clung to her day and night, showering her with affection.

So at least for half of them, it was a happy ending.