He bustled about the shelves lined tightly with various herbs and glass bottles.
“As it happens, we recently imported a reagent from Sweenia. Let’s try that!”
“Yes.”
Ivan approached and, perhaps in an effort to ease her tension, spoke more than usual.
“Did you know? Ever since Sweenia lost the War of Tears, the price of reagents has soared. It’s caused quite an uproar. As you would expect from a nation of artists, no one rivals Sweenia in this field.”
“This… sort of field?”
“Luxury and indulgence. Things of that nature. After all, they have a somewhat lacking sense of morality. That’s why Lady Matwood was so brazen with Aiden…”
“……”
He brought out a thick needle.
“This will sting. The pain won’t last long, so bear with it.”
“…All right.”
Sveta nodded obediently.
Silence fell as the silver needle pierced her pale skin.
Only after he had allowed the drawn blood to drip into a test tube filled with dark liquid did Ivan speak again.
“I meant to complain about the price of reagents, but somehow the conversation wandered off. Whether they’re expensive or cheap, what does it matter? Our Aiden will pay for everything, won’t he?”
With nothing suitable to say, Sveta answered softly.
“Yes.”
“Now we must wait a little.”
Ivan continued talking, but she barely registered his words.
She nodded occasionally, as though she were listening.
Yet her tense, unblinking gaze was fixed on the test tube.
This seemed to amuse Ivan, who gave a faint smile.
After a while, the dark liquid in the test tube turned faintly pink.
Ivan’s already rosy complexion deepened further.
“The color has changed, Mr. Bartley.”
Frowning slightly, Sveta watched his nostrils flare wider and wider. For a moment, it seemed as though he might snort; then, suddenly, his tightly shut mouth opened.
“Good heavens. I’m going to have a niece or nephew.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m going to be an uncle!”
“Then that means I…”
His face lit up with excitement as he rubbed his palms together.
The dry, rasping sound was drowned out by the thunder of her racing heartbeat.
Noticing her pale expression, which had come too late, Ivan hurried to add,
“I got carried away. You’re pregnant.”
“……”
“Aren’t you happy?”
Sveta stared at him blankly.
Not knowing what expression to wear, she found herself fixating only on his rounded chin.
“Are you all right?”
“…I think I’m happy. And yet… I think I’m sad as well, Mr. Bartley.”
“Why? Why sad?”
“I don’t know.”
He waited patiently, his expression showing that he understood.
Her pulse raced. Now that she had heard the words, she could feel her stomach doing somersaults.
Carefully, Sveta placed a hand over her stomach.
She felt a faint joy and fluttering anticipation, but almost immediately, a vast shadow of fear fell over them.
“Mr. Bartley… I took medicine. Will that be a problem?”
“Medicine?”
“Yes. The medicine meant to prevent a child… I took it.”
“Was it given to you by Lady Noma, perhaps?”
How did he know?
It was as if he understood everything.
Sveta nodded towards the reliable doctor.
“If it’s that medicine, I know it well. There’s no need to worry. The kind used by noble ladies doesn’t harm an embryo once it has taken root. If a child conceived by accident were to be born, at least they would be healthy.”
“I see.”
She let out a short breath of relief and then whispered,
“Would you… keep this a secret for now? From the Duke.”
“You do realize I am Aiden’s close friend, don’t you?”
He looked as though he were trying to conceal his excitement, yet there was kindness in his face.
Sveta appealed to that kindness.
“But you swore a moment ago.”
“……”
“And you are a good man, Mr. Bartley. You would not abandon someone in danger, would you?”
“That may be so… but why do you think you are in danger?”
“That’s…”
Sveta clenched the beige folds of her skirt.
Her hands resting on her knees trembled faintly.
“If you conceive, it will be you who is dragged into the forest.”
“Don’t you know of that child’s excessive fastidiousness? Even an heir is no exception.”
Lady Noma’s forgotten voice slithered back into her ears like a snake.
Beth’s terrible warning that the old duke would cast her out and kill her if she had a child echoed in her mind.
There would be no one to protect the baby growing inside her.
No one would welcome her pregnancy.
And yet, Sveta wanted to confirm it once and for all.
She wanted to ask him.
To give him the chance.
‘Perhaps… perhaps the Duke may want this as well…’
Even if he were to change his mind and say that he would protect the child — despite being the man who once sought her death — she would forget all resentment and bitterness.
Looking Ivan in the eye, she spoke clearly.
“I cannot tell you that.”
“You talk about it as if it’s a secret, yet with such honesty. I won’t ask any more questions. Besides, something like this must be confusing and frightening. I understand. Many noble ladies cry when they find out they’re pregnant.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bartley.”
When a polite smile appeared on Sveta’s face, Ivan returned it with one just as bright.
“Still, it may be difficult to keep such a secret. I’d better avoid Aiden for a while. I might let something slip. I won’t even drink.”
Leaving him behind as he spoke lightly in his excited voice, she stepped out.
***
She had just entered the long corridor beyond the laboratory when she spotted a familiar figure.
It was Hazel Strilland, cradling a baby wrapped in golden swaddling cloth. His bright laughter mingled with the light giggles of the maids around him.
The blushing maids exchanged playful remarks with him. Then Hazel noticed Sveta and smiled warmly at her.
“Oh? We meet everywhere, it seems.”
The maids’ faces became increasingly stiff as Sveta approached. They bowed to Hazel and then hurried away.
The duke’s mistress had a poor reputation among the servants.
No one wanted to stay near her in case they were dismissed.
Sveta was accustomed to such reactions and felt nothing, but Hazel seemed momentarily taken aback.
Only for an instant, though. He soon masked it with a natural smile.
Like Aiden, he was a beautiful man.
Sveta found herself staring spellbound at Hazel’s green eyes.
“Caleb.”
“Pardon?”
“My son’s name.”
“Caleb. It’s as lovely as he is.”
She bent her head to take a closer look at the child swaddled carefully in gold.
‘I heard he was only recently born.’
Perhaps that was why his skin looked so delicate. The brown hair resting on his small forehead was as soft as dandelion fluff.
When she noticed the faint flush on the baby’s tiny lips, which were unlike the usual pallor of a newborn, her eyes curved gently into a smile.
“He resembles the Duke’s lips.”
“Well, Aiden resembles mine.”
“Ah… was that improper of me to say?”
“Not at all.”
“……”
The baby breathed in soft sniffs.
As Sveta watched him, she felt a faint bubble of emotion rise within her chest.
Such a precious being!
She could hardly believe that she was carrying something so precious inside her.
“That fellow probably doesn’t even know what his nephew’s lips look like.”
“The Duke hasn’t seen him yet?”
“My younger brother is a very busy man.”
Hazel answered casually, then brought the baby closer to her.
“Would you like to hold him?”
“May I?”
“There’s no reason you shouldn’t.”
His well-shaped lips—so much like Aiden’s—curved again into a beautiful arc.
Meeting those familiar green eyes, Sveta carefully took the baby into her arms.
“Oh… he’s so light.”
She blinked slowly. With every breath, the warm scent of the baby filled her senses.
She only tore her gaze away from the baby’s soft, round, seemingly melting cheeks when Hazel spoke again.
“I like you.”
“Me? Why?”
Hazel tilted his head slightly.
Fiddling with the brown locks that fell across his forehead, he winked at her slyly. It was remarkably charming.
She could see why the maids had looked at him as though they were in love.
Still dazed, Sveta drew the baby closer.
“Well… perhaps Aiden and I share similar taste?”
“Then you ought to dislike me.”
A soft laugh escaped him.
As though she had told a most amusing story, Hazel pressed a hand to his forehead and laughed aloud.
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bluemoon238
Since she was on birth control ML got upset and pushed until she got pregnant… Man deserves death in the most horrible way. He treats her like that all while threatening future death. She can’t even properly get a chance to fool herself with his behavior that he would think otherwise (honestly feel that’s a good thing). She’ll likely feel pressured to kill off the child now. He gave her only a year and not a leg to hold let alone stand on. No way she would think he would let it live after she’s gone