“A child.”

Leod glanced sidelong at Olga.

“We’re still newlyweds. Isn’t it a little soon for a child, Mother?”

“Too soon? Leod.”

She cut him off quickly.

Now that she thought about it, the two of them had originally had no intention of having a child so early. But Meriline, who rarely interfered in anything beyond matters of dress, had pressed them so earnestly that they’d had no choice but to spend that night together — and afterward, they truly had conceived.

“Just think how precious a child born with a likeness of both Leod and me would be.”

She took his hand and smiled brightly.

“If that is what you wish, Olga…… then I’m glad. I only thought that bearing a child would be a great burden on a woman.”

“Naturally, I intend to bring in mages from the Mage Tower to make it as painless as possible. Olga is my daughter. From the moment you two married, I decided to think of her not as a daughter-in-law but as my own daughter.”

Meriline smiled with gentle warmth and looked upon the two of them with quiet contentment.

“I cannot have my daughter suffering. No matter the cost. So long as Olga is not in pain.”

“Mother…….”

Olga’s eyes filled with something moved.

Word had it that some women died in childbirth — but Olga had not felt a single pang of pain. Meriline had engaged no fewer than three mages from the Mage Tower, and they had used the most powerful pain-relief magic available.

“You’re the only one who truly thinks of me, Mother.”

By that time, Leod had already turned away from her — he hadn’t even come to see Liet’s face.

A surge of bitterness rose in her chest, and Olga quietly let go of his hand.

Leod glanced briefly at the date on the parchment still in her hand.

“Not long now.”

“Yes — as you both know, it was given by a most capable and holy priest. A child conceived on this day will without question play an important role in the empire.”

Meriline’s eyes shone as she brought up the priest.

“Oh, Mother.”

Olga laughed softly, watching her sparkle like a young girl.

Truly, there could be no more devout believer than Meriline.

And in the end, she had been right. A most precious child had been born.

‘Come to think of it, I owe Mother a great deal.’

She had been a mother to Olga in every way — to someone who had none. That gratitude was beyond any words.

“Until then, refrain from spending the night together, and be sure to keep the body clean and…….”

She was, admittedly, rather inclined to go on.

Smiling inwardly, Olga listened attentively and nodded along with great diligence.

“Now then, finish your meal together. I am off to pray for you both, as I do every day.”

“Safe travels, Mother.”

“Take care, Mother.”

The two of them rose to see her off. Once she was gone, Leod spoke first, looking a little sheepish.

“I’m sorry — Mother can be rather excessive.”

“Excessive? Not at all. There couldn’t be another mother-in-law in the world who treats her daughter-in-law as her own daughter. And besides…….”

Her expression dimmed slightly, and she let her words trail off before collecting herself.

“It was quite an unequal match, wasn’t it.”

“That would obviously be on my side.”

“What are you saying, Leod. Anyone could see it was my side that fell short.”

On the day of their wedding — the happiest day of her life — the one thing that had nagged at her was the way people looked at her. Eyes that envied and yet, in the end, looked down on her as a Cinderella. She had done her best to ignore it, but the quiet contempt of the nobility had continued long after the wedding.

Olga had been about to say more — and pressed her lips shut instead.

“But Mother embraced me as her daughter, despite all of that.”

“Olga…….”

“I want to live up to her hopes. You’re her only son — how dearly she must want to see a grandchild.”

“……I only worry it will be hard on you.”

“I’ll be fine. Why would it be hard?”

She raised her hand and slowly brushed it along his cheek.

“Tell me, Leod. Would you prefer a daughter or a son?”

Her touch drifted down his cheek, tracing the line of his neck with a soft, unhurried stroke.

Leod closed his hand gently around hers.

“A son would be wonderful — but a daughter who takes after you…… that I would love even more.”

At those words, her hand dropped.

“……You’d want a daughter?”

“Yes. One who looks like you.”

Olga’s eyes trembled, like something stirred by the wind.

She stared at him — looking so thoroughly, effortlessly happy — with an expression of pure disbelief.

How could he say something so false without so much as a flicker of hesitation?

He had said he wanted a daughter — and when a daughter was actually born, he hadn’t spared her a single glance.

“Do you mean that?”

“Do you think I would lie to you?”

Leod smiled and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“I always mean what I say. Where you’re concerned.”

She held his gaze and bit down hard.

He was truly frightening.

What on earth had he wanted from her, to have carried off such a flawless performance?

She wanted to ask him right this moment — and the fact that she couldn’t was its own kind of torment.

“……I see. I’m sure you do.”

No smile came naturally, but she forced the corners of her mouth up regardless.

“Then on that day — let’s do as Mother wishes.”

Olga smiled softly and turned away from him.

But in that instant, his arm swept around her waist.

Her body was pulled into his embrace in a single motion.

“Oh——.”

“Does it have to be that particular night? We’re still…….”

“Wait——.”

His lips drew slowly closer.

Olga clenched both fists.

If she refused this kiss, there was a chance the two of them might never recover from it.

In the end, steeling herself with a firm resolve, she wrapped both arms around Leod and pulled him close.

Their lips met, and a sweet kiss followed.

A soft, unsteady breath escaped through her slightly parted lips.

Before she knew it, Olga had lost herself in the kiss — her head tilting gently to one side.

Then her senses snapped back all at once.

‘What am I doing!’

Their lips parted with a quiet sound.

She pushed lightly against his chest, composed and unhurried.

“It’s still morning. I’m embarrassed, Leod.”

“Then let’s go to the room and——”

“I’m not fully recovered yet. And Mother said so herself — to show restraint until New Year’s Day.”

“It’s only what a priest said. There’s no real reason we need to follow it.”

Leod pressed his lips lightly to her nape.

She drew back, just slightly.

“I told you. If Mother longs so dearly for a grandchild, I want to answer that wish. It’s the only thing I can do for her.”

He looked at her steadily.

It was different from yesterday — but something about her manner had still shifted. In the past, she would have smoothed it over with a playful pout, or he would have swept her up and carried her to the room.

But something about the way she was holding him at arm’s length made it impossible to press further.

“As you wish, then.”

He gave a somewhat sheepish smile.

“I’ll head back to my room then. I’m full, and I’d like a nap.”

Leod looked at her with faint surprise.

The Olga he knew — if she were tired enough to nap — would have wheedled him into setting aside his work and sleeping beside her.

Something was definitely wrong. She was angry with him. Of that he was certain.

Wanting to do something — anything — to ease whatever was troubling her, Leod carefully drew out what he had been keeping tucked inside his jacket.

“Oh — Olga.”

“Yes?”

“A surprise gift.”

“A surprise — gift?”

She tilted her head and took the small box from him.

She opened it to find a brooch set with a harmonious arrangement of rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.

“A brooch.”

“I thought it would suit you.”

He had gone out at the crack of dawn to buy it — the finest gemstones available.

He smiled and pinned the brooch to her dress himself.

“Thank you.”

Olga offered a small word of thanks and turned away from him.

As she moved to leave the dining room, he called after her, hurried.

“By any chance, do you…….”

“Yes?”

“By any chance, is there something you’ve — prepared, just like this, on the spot…….”

“Oh — I’m afraid I haven’t prepared anything. I’ll try to next time.”

But contrary to what Leod had been hoping, Olga only smiled pleasantly and walked out of the room.