Christopher, the head butler standing nearby, naturally added an explanation.

“His Highness the Grand Duke gave orders to bring in a new personal physician. Since the doctor is highly skilled and already acquainted with you, my lady, I thought you might find it easier to receive treatment……”

There was no need to go to such lengths. She nearly let a curse slip out before she could stop herself. Demian bowed his head with a composed expression, as though nothing were out of the ordinary.

“It has been a while, my lady. I look forward to working with you.”

“Oh, r, right. It’s lovely to see you again like this. Ha ha……”

Groaning inwardly, Luna forced a smile at him. But her facial muscles had already stiffened and refused to cooperate.

“Then, you two, please talk for a moment. His Highness the Grand Duke will be joining you shortly.”

“Yes. Go on ahead.”

There was a faint bitterness in Luna’s tone.

The door closed and the footsteps faded, and a silence settled over the reception room so complete you could hear breathing.

Something felt like it was going wrong.

Whatever the case, now that things had come to this, the best approach for keeping up the act of being Adelia was to avoid speaking with Demian as much as possible. Luna pressed her lips firmly together and stayed perfectly still, and Demian, seated across from her, asked carefully,

“Why do you look so startled?”

It seemed she still needed more practice at hiding her flustered state. Luna composed her expression belatedly and spoke with a neutral face.

“Naturally I’m surprised that a coincidence like this exists. Your father served our Marquis household, and now here you are, becoming the personal physician to the Grand Ducal household.”

“I see.”

“Right. But Demian, what made you come to the Grand Ducal residence all of a sudden? There are plenty of places that would want you besides here… in terms of compensation, going between multiple households would be far better for you.”

Demian looked at her for a moment, then smiled faintly and said, “There are times when something matters more than money, aren’t there. I simply made that judgment.”

The words, spoken with quiet composure, lingered in her chest in a strange way.

Something that matters more than money. Was he referring to his connection with Adelia? But in her memory, the two of them had never been particularly close. The kind of relationship where they exchanged greetings when they happened to cross paths?

The more she thought about it, the more questions piled up.

Unable to make sense of what lay behind those words no matter how she turned them over, she gave a light shrug and spoke.

“All right. If things ever become difficult, feel free to say so. If you want to leave, I’ll put in a good word with His Highness.”

“That won’t be……”

Before he could finish, a heavy set of footsteps approached from outside the reception room and the door opened.

The one who entered was Caesar.

The moment he appeared, even the air in the room seemed to change. A tall, commanding height. A solid build and sharp, defined features. Even Demian, standing beside him, somehow looked smaller by comparison.

Demian lowered himself in a respectful bow as he faced Caesar.

“I greet Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Christopher told me about you. That you and my wife are already acquainted.”

“Yes. My father served at the Lutenberg manor for many years. That connection is what brought me here to the Grand Ducal residence.”

“Good. Sit.”

At Caesar’s brief word, the three of them took seats side by side on the reception room sofa.

After a short silence, Caesar spoke.

“You are young, but I hear your skill rivals that of the imperial palace physicians.”

“You flatter me.”

“My reason for summoning you here is simple. My wife has been in an uneven state of mood lately, and I wondered whether she might be with child. I would like to ask you to take her pulse.”

“I beg your pardon? With child?”

“There’s no harm in checking.”

Caesar rubbed her back as though to soothe Luna, who had been startled by the unexpected remark.

“Yes. Then for a moment……”

Demian rose calmly from his seat and moved to Luna’s side. He carefully lifted her wrist and felt her pulse.

“Well?”

“Unfortunately… she is not with child.”

“Is that so? I see.”

With those brief words, a flicker of disappointment passed across Caesar’s face.

Demian drew a short breath and spoke again.

“If I may be so bold, might I ask a few questions?”

“Go ahead.”

Caesar answered Demian briefly and rested his chin in his hand. His gaze was unhurried, but there was a subtle pressure within it.

Demian nodded and asked carefully.

“How often do you and your wife share a bed?”

“Every day? Sometimes several times in a single day.”

The words left Caesar without the slightest hesitation, and Luna’s face flushed red in an instant. Even if she was “Adelia” right now, she had never imagined she would end up having this kind of conversation in front of a childhood friend she had known since they were small.

Unmoved by her feelings, Demian continued his questions.

“Then… when was the last time you were together?”

“Just yesterday? Actually, thinking about it, it was today. Just this morning alone……”

“Ha ha… isn’t that more or less the same thing?”

Luna couldn’t hold back and jabbed Caesar in the side with her elbow, cutting him off. She was embarrassed to have Demian learning about their intimate life.

Demian, having turned the answer over in his mind, opened his mouth quietly.

“Hmm… I have found the problem.”

“What is it?”

“No matter how many times you sow seeds in soil that is not yet ready… it is difficult for roots to take hold.”

Caesar’s brow furrowed slightly at the roundabout phrasing.

“Don’t speak in circles. Explain it plainly.”

Demian bowed his head and continued at once.

“Lady Adelia’s constitution is not naturally robust. She is not someone for whom conception comes easily. In that state, frequent intimacy only depletes her energy… making it difficult to maintain the conditions favorable for conceiving a child. If I may be so forward, for a more accurate assessment… might I also take Your Highness’s pulse for a moment?”

“You have my permission.”

Demian bowed respectfully, then stepped one pace closer to Caesar.

He carefully took hold of the firmly extended wrist and felt the pulse with his fingertips. A strong, steady beat came through clearly against his fingers. Demian closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated.

At last, Demian slowly opened his eyes and spoke with care.

“…As I suspected, it is much as I expected. To state the conclusion plainly, it would be best to cease relations for the time being. In the meantime, the priority should be having Her Highness the Grand Duchess take medicine to restore her vitality, and correcting her lifestyle habits, including her diet.”

“Not reduce, but cease entirely?”

He leaned to one side with his displeasure plain to see. His low, settled voice carried unmistakable dissatisfaction.

Demian met his gaze without flinching and answered calmly.

“Yes, Your Highness. Her Highness’s constitution is weak, while Your Highness possesses an exceptionally vigorous energy, so in the current state there is a considerable risk of it doing more harm than good. The first priority is to tend to Her Highness’s body and enrich the soil, so to speak. After that, relations should be timed to appropriate days.”

Caesar’s expression shifted subtly. After a brief silence, he finally spoke in a low voice.

“Then there’s nothing to be done. I’ll trust you and do as you say. So I hope you will see to it that we bear fruit.”

“Yes. I will do my utmost in what has been entrusted to me.”

* * *

Luna sat buried among the stack of invitations piled on her desk, writing polite refusals one by one.

The invitations had already been mounting like a small hill. Since presenting her painting, the number had grown noticeably, and even writing out refusals one by one was no small task.

Knock knock―

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess. I have brought the medicinal herbs to restore your vitality.”

Luna set down her quill and rose quickly from her seat at the voice from beyond the door.

She greeted Demian with eyes wide in surprise.

“You’ve already prepared the medicine?”

“This has been made by decocting angelica root and white peony, which are excellent for replenishing vitality. Take it three times a day after meals, together with these pills.”

“Understood. Could you have someone brew this and bring it to me?”

Luna gave a light wave of her hand and passed the medicinal herbs to a maid, then returned to her desk and resumed writing her replies. Her manner made it clear she had no desire to continue talking with Demian.

But Demian did not withdraw. After watching her for a moment, he asked,

“Around what time do you sleep?”

“It varies quite a bit, but… usually around midnight?”

Demian gave a small nod and continued.

“Getting to rest earlier is better for your health, so if possible, it would be good to move that up by about two hours.”

“All right.”

“And your meals should not be skewed toward any one thing. Vegetables, eggs, and lean meats as a base, along with small amounts of jujube, nuts, and honey to help with circulation would be of great benefit.”

“Understood.”