Yvonne’s gaze, filled with complex emotions, once again turned toward Silvia.

“Silvia, Count Rosier is here. I mean Yvonne.”

Silvia’s eyes slowly turned toward Yvonne at Daniel’s words from beside her.

“Y……vonne……”

After slowly murmuring Yvonne’s name for a moment, Silvia pulled at her own hair like a child.

“Don’t do that, Silvia. You’ll mess up your hair that we worked so hard to comb.”

It was just as Daniel was comforting Silvia.

“Si……ster…… Si……ster……”

Fragments of the past flowed from Silvia’s lips.

“That’s right, Silvia. It’s me, Yvonne, who used to be your sister-in-law. Are you starting to…… remember a bit?”

Yvonne nodded and asked urgently.

But Silvia only slowly rolled her vacant eyes without continuing to speak.

‘Her brother was executed, her mother went to prison, and she herself suffered a terrible ordeal. Perhaps it’s better if she doesn’t recover her memories. Yes, but still……’

Yvonne let out a small sigh as she looked at Silvia, who seemed unlikely to return to her right mind.

“The meal is ready. Come and eat, everyone.”

At Mrs. Hans’s words, everyone headed to the kitchen together.

Yvonne, about to sit on a chair, couldn’t help but be surprised at the lavish dishes prepared.

“What is all this? Mrs. Hans, you must have worked hard preparing it.”

“What hard work? When I heard the young miss…… no, the Count was coming, I showed off my skills for the first time in a while, and it actually gave me energy. Come on, hurry. I specially prepared only things you like, so you must enjoy each one.”

The meal finally began when Mrs. Hans, who had cut the roast duck into small pieces and served it on each plate, sat at the table.

Daniel, Joanna, and Silvia, who had now become a proper family. And Mrs. Hans, who always welcomed her warmly whenever they met.

A smile spread across Yvonne’s lips as she watched them.

Had there ever been such a peaceful mealtime in this house?

“I’ll enjoy this delicious meal, Mrs. Hans.”

In front of the dining table, filled with an atmosphere incomparably warmer than before despite little change in appearance, Yvonne was about to take a spoonful of soup when—

“……Ugh!”

Suddenly, a terrible feeling of nausea rose up.

Mrs. Hans and Daniel’s eyes widened in surprise, as shocked as Yvonne herself.

“Are you alright, Count?”

“Oh my, are you okay? What’s happening all of a sudden? It couldn’t have gone bad in such a short time!”

Mrs. Hans, not knowing what to do, picked up the soup bowl, smelled it, and even tasted it herself, then wore a puzzled expression.

“I-I’m sorry, Mrs. Hans. There’s nothing wrong with the food. Actually, I’ve been feeling unwell for the past few days.”

Yvonne also showed signs of not knowing what to do.

What rudeness was this toward Mrs. Hans, who had worked hard to prepare the meal for her?

After repeatedly apologizing to Mrs. Hans, Yvonne next cut the roast duck into small pieces and brought it to her mouth.

“……Ugh, mmph!”

The nausea was worse than before.

It was then, as Yvonne was suffering, torn between her regret toward Mrs. Hans and the persistent nausea.

“Count, could it be……”

Mrs. Hans’s face gradually brightened as she trailed off.

※※※

That night, Hugo finished bathing and entered the bedroom. He stared at Yvonne, who had gone to bed earlier than usual.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

Yvonne was reading a book—no, pretending to read a book. She slowly shook her head.

“No, I’m just…… a bit tired.”

“I told you not to work so hard.”

Hugo spoke softly, almost murmuring, as he lay down next to Yvonne with practiced ease and held her in his arms.

“When you’re tired, I get bored.”

Yvonne glanced sideways at Hugo. He was speaking playfully with his face buried in the nape of her neck. She pouted her lips.

“If I’m tired, why are you bored?”

“Well…… Because I have to hold back?”

Hugo slightly raised his upper body and looked down at Yvonne lying on the bed, speaking mischievously.

“Tsk, as if you’ve ever held back much.”

Hugo gently pulled at the knot of Yvonne’s nightgown while continuing to speak as she pouted her lips and chided him.

“Hmm, it hurts my feelings when you say that. I think I’ve made tremendous efforts not to appear like a beast to you……”

“No, Theo, you’re already a beast.”

Hugo let out a relaxed chuckle at Yvonne’s retort.

“Fine, I’m a beast. It actually feels better to be judged that way.”

Hugo’s hands were just beginning to slip into Yvonne’s gown as he buried his lips in the nape of her neck again.

“N-not today!”

Yvonne raised her upper body, startled. She hurriedly grabbed the hem of her gown and pulled it down.

Then she looked at Hugo with eyes full of wariness, as if determined not to show even the slightest gap.

“Why so suddenly……”

Hugo, quite surprised by her refusal, blinked slowly.

Though he didn’t show it much, Yvonne noticed his face turning disappointed and bit her lip nervously.

“I’m sorry. But you see……”

Yvonne’s lips parted and closed several times.

After a long while, she finally seemed to have made up her mind and cautiously opened her mouth.

“Actually, today…… I had lunch at Daniel’s house.”

“……Why is another man being mentioned here? Especially at a time like this.”

Hugo instantly sat up on the bed and frowned, looking displeased.

Oh no. Realizing she had started with a story that could be misunderstood in a situation prone to misunderstanding, Yvonne shook her head.

“Just listen first. I went because Mrs. Hans invited me, and there was a feast prepared. All my favorite foods too.”

“And?”

“But I kept feeling nauseated in front of Mrs. Hans, who had worked so hard to cook.”

“Nauseated?”

Hugo’s face became even more serious than before.

“Are you really not feeling well? No, this is no time for that. We should call a doctor right away……”

“I already went to the hospital. Mrs. Hans said something, and it kept bothering me.”

Hugo exhaled a long sigh of relief, thankful to hear that.

“So, what did they say at the hospital? It’s not a serious illness, is it?”

Yvonne took a deep breath while facing Hugo. His face was once again filled with concern.

And then, resolved, she finally opened her tightly closed lips.

“They say I’m pregnant.”

“Yes, preg……”

Hugo’s mouth, about to mindlessly repeat Yvonne’s words, suddenly stopped.

For a long time, he blinked his eyes with a face deeply tinged with confusion.

Eventually, he slowly opened his mouth again.

“Preg……nant?”

Yvonne nodded.

But for a while after that, there was no response from Hugo.

Yvonne’s face sank gloomily as she watched Hugo. He remained frozen without even the slightest movement, let alone a response.

‘Could it be…… he’s not happy about it?’

She thought perhaps Hugo might feel that way. He had endured such a terribly difficult childhood.

Even while understanding and empathizing with his arduous life, she felt disappointed nonetheless.

Yvonne had lowered her head without realizing it. She was trying hard to hold back tears while biting her lower lip.

‘……?’

Yvonne slightly raised her head at Hugo’s strong arms suddenly embracing her.

She felt a faint trembling from Hugo’s body as he pulled her close, his arms crossed behind her neck.

“This…… isn’t a dream, is it?”

Yvonne nodded slowly at Hugo’s quiet question.

“Yes, it’s real.”

Upon hearing her answer, Hugo embraced Yvonne more tightly and exhaled a long breath.

“I can’t believe it. That my child is inside you. That I…… could be this happy.”

“Are you happy…… that we’re having a baby?”

“Of course!”

Hugo suddenly removed his arms from around Yvonne, grabbed her shoulders, and smiled.

“How could I not be happy that we’re having our child? I am happy. So happy that it’s almost frightening.”

Only then did Yvonne feel relieved and smiled broadly.

“You scared me. I thought you weren’t happy.”

“That’s nonsense.”

Hugo lightly kissed Yvonne’s cheek.

Then he carefully took in Yvonne’s face as he faced her again and gently brushed her hair.

Yvonne smiled softly as she looked at his eyes, rippling with emotion.

“Now we’re really…… becoming a family.”

※※※

Under the bright blue sky that summer had bestowed.

The lush greenery of the former hunting ground, which had now completely regained its original appearance, beautifully undulated in the gentle breeze.