Chapter 9 (Part 5)

As soon as Cardin left the mansion, he asked Damon, 

“Did the doctor say anything?”

“He mentioned that her body is weak and that she needs nourishing food.”

Despite the carriage waiting nearby, Cardin hesitated unusually. Damon, mindful of the tight schedule, urged him.

“Please get in.”

Cardin frowned, staring at the carriage. He seemed lost in thought, as though grappling with a dilemma. Just then, hurried footsteps echoed behind him.

“Your Grace!”

When Cardin turned around, a maid responsible for Brienne approached and bowed deeply.

“I heard you called for me.”

“Report her recent activities.”

The maid immediately began to speak.

“After Your Grace left, she was preparing herbal pills when Lady Foyne arrived, and they met.”

“Foyne?”

“Yes, their voices were raised briefly, but Madam remained calm throughout the conversation.”

Cardin’s expression darkened with discomfort. Foyne. These useless nuisances kept clinging to him, irritatingly so.

He took a step forward. 

“I’ll stop by Marquis Gardrea’s study first.”

Damon was startled and protested.

“Your Grace! You’re scheduled to attend the mine’s opening ceremony right now….”

“Even if I arrive late, all I’ll have to do is listen to boring speeches. It doesn’t matter.”

“That may be true, but everyone is eagerly anticipating your presence. Your appearance alone could attract further investments….”

“I’ll only meet the Marquis briefly before going.”

Cardin’s tone was resolute as he climbed into the carriage. Damon calculated the time in his head and reluctantly replied, 

“You’ll only have twenty minutes!”

***

Marquis Gardrea forced an awkward smile. He had already been uneasy about his daughter’s sudden engagement ceremony, but he hadn’t intervened because he knew better than anyone that his daughter was acting under Hernes’ influence.

Of course, he had attended Cardin’s wedding himself, but in the aristocratic world, it was common for noblewomen of insignificant families to be discarded if they no longer served a purpose.

Moreover, rumors about Brienne’s inability to conceive had been circulating. While he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the situation, what unsettled him most was that Cardin had neither spoken about it nor visited him personally.

Now, facing Cardin directly, Marquis Gardrea realized how foolish his daughter’s actions had been.

Cardin silently sipped his tea, his expression cold and rigid, as though suppressing anger. The Marquis, sensing impending disaster, nervously watched him.

The sound of the teacup being placed on the table broke the silence, followed by Cardin’s low voice.

“Marquis.”

Sweat beaded on Marquis Gardrea’s forehead as he forced a smile. Though his name hadn’t been mentioned, a chill ran down his spine. Cardin’s gaze, though seemingly neutral, carried a coldness that made his skin crawl.

Swallowing nervously, the Marquis braced himself.

“Do you think it’s possible for Foyne to hold an engagement ceremony with me?”

“N-not at all!”

The Marquis even waved his hands in denial. Every instinct honed during his time managing royal finances screamed at him to refuse. While aligning with Cardin would have brought significant advantages, it was clear that this was not the time or place.

A faint laugh escaped Cardin. Marquis Gardrea instinctively knew this situation was beyond repair. He felt as though disaster loomed just ahead.

“Then why does Foyne persist in clinging unnecessarily?”

“I-I’ll make sure to talk some sense into her. I deeply regret that this matter has caused you any distress, Your Grace….”

“Make sure she doesn’t act foolishly again.”

“Yes, I sincerely apologize.”

“If this happens again, I won’t stand by idly.”

Relieved, the Marquis realized he had narrowly avoided disaster. Despite the tension, Cardin’s words offered a chance for redemption.

The Marquis bowed deeply, genuinely grateful. 

“I’ll ensure Foyne never does anything like this again.”

Cardin rose to leave, prompting the Marquis to hurriedly stand as well. In his haste, the high-quality mahogany chair toppled over with a loud thud.

Ignoring the noise, the Marquis moved to escort Cardin out, but Cardin stopped him with a firm command.

“There’s no need to see me out.”

The Marquis froze in place, bowing deeply. 

“Safe travels, Your Grace.”

He didn’t lift his head until the door closed behind Cardin. Only then did he exhale deeply, sinking back into his chair—only to miss it and fall to the floor with a loud crash.

“Agh!”

The pain was sharp, but it was the ominous feeling that lingered. Worry crept into his mind.

Oh, Foyne. My daughter. How am I supposed to handle you when even I can’t control you?

For the first time, the Marquis realized that disaster hadn’t left; it still loomed over him.

***

By the time Brienne finished preparing the herbal pills, evening was approaching. She was about to make more when her maid intervened.

“Madam! I think this is enough. Especially for the charity event, this should suffice. If you keep going, you’ll wear yourself out.”

Indeed, her throat was sore, and her back ached. As she stood up, the maid quickly cleared her workspace. Brienne watched her for a moment. It struck her that, despite working all day, no one seemed to know she was pregnant.

After some thought, she asked the maid, 

“When someone’s pregnant, what are the usual symptoms?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m just curious.”

The maid seemed to ponder for a moment before kindly explaining.

“People usually say severe morning sickness, dizziness, and constant drowsiness are common symptoms.” 

“Have you ever been pregnant?” 

“No, I’ve only heard about it from others.”

When Brienne remained silent, the maid hesitated before continuing.

“From a woman’s perspective, it’s better not to get pregnant! Pregnancy weakens your bones, and as you age, you start feeling aches and pains everywhere.”

It seemed the maid was aware of Brienne’s inability to conceive. But that wasn’t true anymore. Brienne stopped herself from saying more. If she told the maid, she’d be revealing her pregnancy to someone other than Cardin first. And she wanted Cardin to be the first to know. She wasn’t sure when exactly that moment would come.

Just then, the maid gently nudged her arm.

“Madam, please rest in your room. I’ll bring up some snacks for you later.”

Reluctantly, Brienne went upstairs. After washing her hands, she lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The silence was overwhelming. Unconsciously, her hand moved to her stomach.

‘Am I really pregnant?’

Though she doubted it, the two previous tests had shown the same result. She tried to sleep but found her thoughts racing. Eventually, she got out of bed and stood by the window. She considered taking a walk, but when she looked outside, rain was pouring down.

Her mood sank further. She didn’t want to lie down, read a book, or make more herbal pills. Staying in the room only made her think of unpleasant things, leaving her restless.

A knock on the door broke the silence.

“Madam?”

The maid cautiously opened the door.

“Your Grace has returned.”

When Brienne went downstairs, she saw Cardin talking with Damon. His face was cold and stern, creating an atmosphere that made it hard for anyone to approach him. As Brienne took a step closer, Cardin immediately turned to her. His expression softened instantly, and he walked over to embrace her.

“Did you eat well today? What about snacks?”

They had seen each other briefly after lunch, but he seemed unusually attentive.

“I didn’t feel like having snacks, so I didn’t eat any.”

Cardin pulled back slightly to look at her.

“I heard your body has weakened. You need to eat snacks, too.”

Brienne had so much she wanted to say. Should she tell him about the pregnancy now? No, she wanted it to be a special moment. Her thoughts swirled as Cardin took her hand.

“Let’s go have dinner.”

She had no choice but to follow him to the dining room. Upon arriving, Cardin immediately seated her beside him. He had apparently arranged beforehand for all her favorite dishes to be prepared—chickpea soup, pheasant, pork, beef, and lamb. The array of meats looked appetizing but excessive.

“Cardin, I don’t need to eat this much.”

“They say eating lots of meat is good when your body is weak. You’ve been eating mostly vegetables, haven’t you?”

“Even so, this is a bit much….”

“Let me know if you’re full. But finish what I serve you.”

Cardin began piling her plate with meat until it formed a small mountain. Brienne almost blurted out her pregnancy news but stopped herself. His earlier words lingered in her mind.

Still, she decided to test the waters.

“Cardin, if I were to get pregnant….”

“My answer will always be the same. You don’t need to feel pressured to have a child. Most importantly, I don’t want your body to suffer from pregnancy.”

“…But I might be fine.”

He smiled.

“You wouldn’t be. Having a child is harder and more exhausting than you think. Even my mother couldn’t handle it.”

For a moment, fear crept into Brienne’s heart. From the maid to Cardin, everyone seemed so adamant. She stared at her plate, her face tense, when Cardin picked up a piece of meat and offered it to her. She had no choice but to open her mouth and eat, all the while feeling his gaze on her.

“Have I been too busy lately?”

His eyes were filled with concern, as if he was entirely focused on her reaction. Brienne forced a smile.

“It’s fine.”

Cardin looked at her for a moment before suddenly embracing her.

“Once this is all over, let’s take a break somewhere. I’m so sick of Devok.”

“Alright.”

Though her answer was brief, he held her for a long time. The food on the table, steaming moments ago, gradually cooled. Brienne gently pushed his shoulder.

“The food will get cold.”

Only then did Cardin release her and look at her. Without meeting his gaze, Brienne picked up her fork and began eating. To ease his worries, she made an effort to eat more meat than usual. Strangely, it went down easily. Normally, she would have felt too full by now and put her fork down.