“Ah, Your Highness, could it be, that thing?”

“That thing?”

“You know, that ugh, thing…!”

The others, who had been indifferent, started to feel a strange sense of anticipation. After all, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess were still in their hot honeymoon phase. It wasn’t unreasonable to expect something by now. The loyal retainers of Lucas began to get excited.

“Could it be, morning sickness…?”

The rising excitement was instantly cooled by Lucas’s gaze, so cold it dripped with frost. His eyes, filled with killing intent and contempt, made everyone who met his gaze feel a bone-chilling fear.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Fearing Rosaline would get startled, he restrained his aura in her direction, but he immediately felt her shoulder tremble beneath his palm. A quick glance showed her clenched fist shaking.

Danger. His instincts sensed immense danger, and he made a swift decision. It was a reflex he would praise himself for all his life.

“Continue with your meal. I will escort my wife.”

“Yes.”

Lucas was in a hurry. He felt that if he delayed even a moment, something irreversible would happen, so he even used teleportation. He rarely used magic within the estate, preferring to walk alongside her, but he judged that this was no time for leisure.

And his judgment was correct.

As soon as they arrived in their bedroom, Rosaline began to cry thick tears. Seeing her flushed cheeks and streaming tears, Lucas was completely flustered.

Rosaline had been feeling off all day, both physically and emotionally. He hoped she would leave the dining room quickly to avoid getting sick from the fishy smell. He suggested it out of concern, but now he feared he had undermined the dignity of the Grand Duchess. But what she said next was different from what he expected.

“Why… why is that nonsense?”

“Rosie…?”

“Why… why is it nonsense?”

“What do you mean, Rosie? Please, don’t cry. You’ll get a fever.”

Lucas, trying to comfort her rather than talk. He hugged her and patted her back, but Rosaline pushed him away forcefully. She wanted to talk, not be comforted.

“Why is morning sickness nonsense?”

“I’m sorry, Rosie. I misspoke. I didn’t mean morning sickness was nonsense.”

“Then, what do you mean?”

“I meant… it couldn’t be.”

Rosaline’s mouth slowly opened. It couldn’t be? She couldn’t understand what he meant, and her head spun.

Saying it couldn’t be morning sickness meant she wasn’t pregnant. He was sure of it. How could he be so sure? While she hoped and anticipated each day, only to be disappointed and depressed when her period came, how could he be so calm and confident?

Her mind, already filled with negative thoughts, started spiraling further. Could he know something? Could the archmage see that she was barren just by looking at her?

“Rosie, please… don’t cry.”

Lucas, who usually found her crying endearing and would tear up along with her, didn’t seem so lovable now. She didn’t want to see him at this moment. For the first time since their marriage, Rosaline ordered him to leave. She had a good excuse that wouldn’t hurt his feelings.

“Go downstairs, Luke. Go have dinner with the guests.”

“Rosie, I…”

“Make sure to properly entertain the guests and send them off well. For me, in my stead.”

Lucas hesitated for a long time, clearly reluctant, but he couldn’t refuse Rosaline’s request. He knew he had to properly entertain the guests for the sake of the Grand Duchess’s dignity, but he didn’t want to leave her side. He was overwhelmed with the fear that if he left her alone in this unstable state, he might come to regret it deeply.

But Rosaline was firm. She made it clear that if he didn’t go, she would go down herself. In the end, Lucas turned away with a face full of lingering reluctance. Those people weren’t even worth such hospitality, but since Rosaline wanted it, he had no choice.

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Properly. Entertain them properly. I’ll be here.”

Despite her teary yet resolute eyes, Lucas forced his unwilling feet to move. It seemed she needed some time to think.

08.

Three hours later, Lucas, who would obediently follow any of Rosaline’s words, returned to the bedroom. Usually, despite not feeling well, Rosaline would always see the guests off properly, but today she wasn’t in the mood for it.

Rosaline was consumed by anxiety, jealousy, and fear, feeling utterly hopeless. Though she had an introverted and passive side, she wasn’t someone with low self-esteem or prone to exaggeration. In fact, she was quite talented at knowing her worth and solidifying her position within it.

The reason why she became so contemplative and pessimistic was obvious: it was because of Kallen and Amelia.

She had been thoroughly deceived, betrayed, and even killed. However, having been born with a calm disposition and raised with moral values, Rosaline managed to bury the past that didn’t actually happen, albeit with some visible signs. Yet, if the aftermath lingered, it was a different story.

She felt a deep murderous impulse. If any small harm had come to her body because of them, she would never forgive them. And she hated herself for having such thoughts.

Just thinking about Lucas dining with those women made her body tremble. She was so annoyed and frustrated that she cried. Hating herself for this, she buried herself under the blankets and stifled her sobs.

What if Lucas gets disappointed in me?

With such unnecessary thoughts, Rosaline tried to pull herself together. She wanted to prepare to talk calmly and rationally before he returned. She tried hard to push away the pessimistic thoughts that kept coming.

But not all efforts are rewarded. When Lucas finally returned to the bedroom, she was still overwhelmed with emotions and silently shedding tears.

“Rosie!”

Seeing the immense pain on Lucas’s anxious face, Rosaline tried hard to stay calm. She took a deep breath and bit her lower lip. It was a habit he didn’t like, but she did it unconsciously when she needed to calm herself.

“Have the guests all left?”

“Yes. I sent them all away. They were all worried because you were sick. Francis offered to help, but I told him it wasn’t necessary… Should I call him?”

“You did well. I’m not sick.”

She wasn’t actually sick, so it would have been embarrassing if the high priest, Francis, had insisted on seeing her. It seemed Lucas, who was always keen on Rosaline’s health, had made the right judgment for once.

Even as a smile naturally formed, her chest felt cold. So, Lucas knew she was pretending to be sick. He knew her body wasn’t ill, regardless of her psychological state.

“Luke. Can we talk?”

Lucas’s large body visibly flinched. However, after a moment of hesitation, he eventually nodded slowly and sat on the sofa. As if he couldn’t dare to go against her wishes.

“First of all, I’m sorry about today.”

“There’s no need to apologize.”

“I couldn’t properly entertain the guests. As the hostess, it’s something to be sorry about. I’d like to invite them again soon.”

“That’s not necessary… Do as you wish, Rosie.”

Rosaline let out a deep sigh. She knew that wasn’t his intention. But it felt like he was constantly excluding her from his people, which made her sad. However, there was a more important issue at hand, so she chose to ignore it for now. There would be time to discuss this again later.