Chapter 4

Ultimately, Eric confined Euphrasia to the ducal estate, almost as if imprisoning her.  

‘She must have been under a lot of stress. Her face looks so worn.’  

After glancing once more at Euphrasia’s condition, Eric turned and walked toward the bed.  

For a brief moment, a complex and subtle emotion flickered in his eyes before vanishing.  

He knew this was the perfect opportunity to take the child from her.  

Since being confined to the ducal estate, Euphrasia had fiercely protected her child like a wounded lioness.  

None of the ducal servants had been allowed into her room until she collapsed.  

In fact, she had barred entry to anyone from the ducal household, even before her collapse.  

“To take even a single step into this room, you’ll have to risk your life. There are no exceptions—not even for the head of the Herrington family. Relay my words to the Duke exactly as I’ve said them.”  

Though she was in a situation akin to being a prisoner of war, she acted as if she were a revolutionary fighting for the independence of a colony.  

Euphrasia was keenly aware that if she showed even the slightest weakness, her child would be taken from her immediately.  

Cradling her child with one arm and clutching a paring knife in the other, Euphrasia stood resolutely, her expression unwavering.  

Her defiance left the servants utterly dumbfounded.  

‘No wonder. I heard that while she refused to eat or drink anything, she suddenly made the odd request to peel and eat some fruit herself.’  

Everyone was already on edge over the hunger strike of a woman who might one day become the Duchess.  

When she made her request, the head of the ducal kitchen personally prepared an assortment of fruits and a single paring knife. Euphrasia rejected the fruit but kept the knife, securing at least one means of protecting herself.  

‘That’s not necessarily a bad thing.’  

Perhaps it was because she had grown up under the watchful eye of a spiteful stepmother.  

Despite her delicate appearance, Euphrasia had an extraordinary instinct for survival.  

Maybe, beneath that innocent exterior, a cunning and shrewd serpent was coiled, waiting to strike.  

Still, Eric found himself somewhat fond of this side of her—not as a fragile flower in a greenhouse, but as a hardy weed thriving within it.  

In the end, instead of seizing this perfect opportunity to take his child, Eric decided to go with the option that intrigued him more.  

As if entranced, Eric raised his hand and gently removed a few strands of hair stuck to Euphrasia’s cheek.  

His fingers brushed against her skin, lightly grazing her cheek, yet Euphrasia remained motionless.  

After a moment of hesitation, Eric slowly, very slowly, leaned down.  

Just as his lips seemed about to touch Euphrasia’s forehead, he tilted his head slightly and brought his lips close to her ear.  

“How long do you plan to keep pretending to be unconscious, putting on such an unconvincing act? Is that how you intend to escape the ducal estate?”  

His low growl resonated in her ear, accompanied by a faint scoff, like air escaping from a balloon.  

“Of course, even that is somewhat endearing in its own way.”  

Yes, he liked it.  

If she gave up resisting too quickly, it wouldn’t be any fun, would it?  

But when Euphrasia still didn’t move, Eric deliberately turned and walked toward Louis’s cradle.  

“Fine, I suppose there’s no other choice. Since the mother cannot protect her child, I’ll have to take responsibility and protect him myself.”  

This provocation had the desired effect.  

Euphrasia’s eyelids, which had been shut as if in death, twitched and trembled.  

At this, Eric smiled with satisfaction.  

He didn’t know exactly what she was plotting, but her desperate attempts to outwit him, working that tiny brain of hers to its limits, were undeniably amusing.  

‘How entertaining.’  

***  

Each day was peaceful yet monotonous, and that monotony bred boredom.  

So, when the Emperor expressed his desire to resolve a border dispute, Eric was the first to volunteer for the battlefield.  

For over a year, he endured a series of urgent and intense situations on the frontlines.  

The small nations bordering the Lockvela Empire were no match for a man who had truly drawn his sword.  

Not only did Eric swiftly resolve the long-standing border disputes, but he also succeeded in fully subjugating the surrounding nations.  

After the battlefield was neatly wrapped up, Eric returned to the Empire, feeling a slight sense of emptiness amidst the cheering crowds.  

The thought of returning to the repetitive grind of state affairs filled him with a mild sense of dread.  

However, what awaited him upon his return to the Empire was unexpected news.  

“Your Grace!”  

Demian, who had come out to greet him at the mansion’s entrance, hesitated with a peculiar expression as he spotted Eric.  

Eric instinctively sensed that something had happened.  

And his instincts were correct.  

While he had been away from the ducal estate, something far more significant than he had anticipated had occurred.  

“I will escort you to the drawing room. The young lady of the Count Olden family is waiting there—with your child. Did you know about this?”  

The elderly butler quickly masked the emotions that had momentarily surfaced on his face.  

As Demian continued his report in his usual tone, Eric recalled a night he had tucked away in the corner of his memory.  

‘Was it the Founding Festival Ball?’  

It had been an event he wouldn’t have attended under normal circumstances.  

Despite being regarded as the Empire’s most eligible bachelor, Eric had no interest in meeting or forming relationships with women.  

‘If I had the time for that, I’d rather swing my sword one more time.’  

Becoming a Sword Master hadn’t been easy—it was the result of innate talent combined with relentless effort.  

Perhaps because of his noble lineage, Eric had inspired awe rather than camaraderie among his peers since childhood.  

Rather than trying to befriend him, other noble children had focused on staying out of his bad graces.  

The world of children mirrored the hierarchical structure of noble society.  

Occasionally, young noblewomen would approach him, not out of genuine affection, but with conditional love that sought to benefit themselves or their families.  

Eric quickly grew accustomed to the attitudes of such women and saw no need to engage with them.  

‘And yet… that night was certainly different.’  

Forced to attend an event he hadn’t wanted to, Eric had been in a foul mood.  

“It’s a national event commemorating the founding of the Empire. Absence is not an option. Besides, it’s about time you found a partner. If you wish, I could even arrange for you to wed the Imperial Princess.”  

The Emperor himself had personally encouraged Eric to attend, leaving him no choice but to obey.  

The Emperor had long sought an opportunity to pair Eric with the Empire’s only princess.  

Perhaps he had hoped that the Duke and the princess would fall in love at first sight during the ball.  

Of course, Eric had no intention of fulfilling the Emperor’s wishes.  

After fulfilling his duty as the princess’s first dance partner, he had been ready to leave without hesitation.  

“Excuse me, may I ask you something? Do you know where the nearest carriage rental station is?”  

Standing alone at the entrance of the ballroom, a young lady had timidly approached him, struggling to appear confident while failing to hide the fear in her eyes.  

Her unguarded demeanor was rare in a society where everyone wore social masks.  

“A carriage rental station? Why are you looking for one?”  

“My partner was unable to attend the ball. I had planned to return home with him, but the carriage I arrived in left immediately. To return home, I’ll need to rent a carriage.”  

From this brief exchange, Eric had deduced several things.  

In a ball where one could easily enjoy themselves alone, leaving because of a missing partner suggested she wasn’t accustomed to such events.  

Moreover, the fact that she asked about a carriage rental station rather than contacting her family indicated she was likely the black sheep of her household.  

Normally, he would have ignored her and walked away, but that night, for some reason, his curiosity held him back.  

“To reach the nearest carriage rental station on foot, it would take you all night. What will you do?”  

Her face paled at his response, and she bowed her head slightly.  

“I see… Thank you for your help.”  

Had she asked him to escort her home at that moment, he would have been disappointed.  

He would have dismissed her as no different from the other noblewomen who sought his attention through various means.  

But instead, she turned away without hesitation, piquing Eric’s interest just a little more.  

“Since you’re already here, why not enjoy the ball for a while? There’s plenty of fine wine to taste. Don’t worry about getting home—I’ll make sure my family’s carriage takes you back safely.”  

And so, uncharacteristically, he extended his hand first.  

That night, he found himself becoming intoxicated faster than usual.  

Though he could have sobered up instantly if he wanted to, he found the light-headed, hazy feeling quite pleasant.  

As the night deepened, things naturally progressed.  

It was a truly unfamiliar experience.  

Her voice, her breathless whispers, even her intoxicatingly sweet scent—everything about her sent shivers through him in a way no one else ever had.  

She had said she was the daughter of the Count Olden family.  

Furthermore—  

“I’m an illegitimate child born outside of marriage.”  

She had revealed the secret of her birth with a calm demeanor.  

In that moment, Eric had felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness.