I examined the seal closely. Although it was small, it was undoubtedly the same pattern as the one on the bracelet.

“This doesn’t seem like something I should wear. Put it back in the box.”

“What? But it was a gift for you, ma’am!”

The maid who had received the box widened her eyes in disbelief. However, when I shook my head firmly, she reluctantly repackaged the ornament and put it back.

Only His Majesty the Emperor could bestow items engraved with the imperial seal. It was, of course, forbidden to exchange them as gifts. Was I misunderstanding something? I wasn’t very knowledgeable about the royal laws, so I couldn’t find an immediate answer despite my concerns.

Once I finished getting ready, I immediately called for Leopold. He would surely know something about this.

“Ma’am, the Duke is here.”

“Yes, please let him in.”

I stood up to check my appearance one last time. Just then, the door opened, and my eyes met Leopold’s. He stood frozen, staring at me intently. Puzzled, I looked at him curiously, and only then did he slowly walk over to me. He stood there, covering his mouth with one hand as if deep in thought. I waited quietly, sensing he had something to say. Soon, his pleasant low voice emerged from his composed lips.

“You are always beautiful, but today, you are especially stunning.”

“Oh… thank you. You look particularly handsome today as well.”

Unable to control the blush spreading across my face, I responded to him. However, it was difficult to maintain eye contact, so I eventually looked away. Would there ever be a day when I wouldn’t get embarrassed by compliments that sounded like declarations of love?

“By the way, this came for you.”

Thankfully, there was a topic to change the subject.

“It was sent by Viscount Setubun.”

As I showed him the box, Leopold took out the waist ornament with an intrigued expression. Like me, he examined it carefully, and soon a smile played on his lips. Curious about its meaning, I looked at him questioningly.

“He acts so quickly after hearing a single word at the imperial banquet. Truly, he’s a man of excessive ambition.”

He clicked his tongue briefly and set the ornament down. The fluttering feathers still caught my eye, but I closed the lid without hesitation.

“What did you say?”

“I mentioned that I’m interested in rare collectibles these days. I joked that if someone could procure a unique item that no one but His Majesty could possess, I might support them for life. Of course, it was just a joke.”

It suddenly struck me how remarkable a negotiator and strategist he was. Leopold was someone who could steer any situation in the direction he desired if he set his mind to it.

“How did you know the viscount had such an item?”

“After some investigation, I stumbled upon an interesting rumor.”

The rumor was simple. About ten years ago, a knight who had achieved great merit in a border battle received several rare treasures, including a waist ornament. However, as his family fell on hard times, Viscount Setubun offered him a large sum to purchase the ornament and other treasures.

“Trading items engraved with the imperial seal is forbidden. They symbolize authority and power. In fact, no one actually trades them. It’s a matter of family honor. The knight probably didn’t intend to sell the ornament either. But Viscount Setubun must have attempted a negotiation. After all, it’s something he would never have the chance to see in person.”

“What happens if someone trades it?”

“Execution.”

I was so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t speak. I knew the royal laws were strict, but the severity of the punishment was beyond my imagination. Covering my mouth with my hand, I looked at him in shock, and Leopold added further explanation.

“He must have been constantly anxious. Even though he was greedy enough to buy it, keeping it must have been nerve-wracking, especially since the knight wasn’t dead. Naturally, he would want to dispose of it somehow. But then, if he could present such a valuable item to the Lawrence family and gain their protection, wouldn’t that be killing two birds with one stone? He’d get rid of the item and ensure his safety.”

The malicious intent behind sending that gift was evident. If Leopold had made an innocent joke and I had accepted the gift unknowingly, we could have ended up in a dangerous situation…

“So, what happens now?” I asked with concern.

He closed his eyes gently, as if to reassure me, and embraced me warmly. “I’ve already informed His Majesty about the situation. If the waist ornament ends up in my possession, we will arrest the viscount immediately. Sending this back to the imperial family will ensure everything is handled smoothly. Does that ease your mind a little?”

It did more than ease my mind. If I ever returned to the ice lands, I could convey all the facts with a sense of apology. I nodded vigorously and gave him a bright smile.

***

It had indeed been an exhausting day.

After making sure Hazel was asleep, Leopold sank into the sofa next to the bed. Pressing his temples did nothing to alleviate his headache.

‘You two look so perfect together. I’m sure your child will be beautiful. I’m really curious.’

‘A daughter who looks like the Duke and a son who resembles his wife would be perfect. Or maybe twins would be nice!’

‘It’s almost been a year since you got married, so I’m sure there will be good news soon. It seemed like Mrs. Lawrence was looking forward to it too.’

The urge to tell them to shut up rose in his throat, but seeing Hazel handle it gracefully, he managed to suppress his irritation.

‘I’m so happy in my newlywed life with him that I haven’t even thought about children. If Mother and Leopold agree, I could live like this forever.’

The ladies giggled with envy, but Leopold didn’t miss the fleeting disappointment on his wife’s face.

Of course, he understood. Having grown up as an orphan, she often revealed her true feelings in letters from a young age. She wished Isabel were her real mother or that her best friend could be her sister. These were all expressions of her deep-rooted longing for family. He, too, had dreamed of a normal, complete family in his childhood, so he fully understood Hazel’s feelings.

However, hadn’t he already experienced more than enough fear of losing Hazel? He couldn’t let her risk her life for an uncertain future. Absolutely not. The guilt from making her give up on having children was a burden he would carry for the rest of his life.

Still, when he followed Hazel to the academy, Leopold couldn’t help but ask Isabel if there was a way to have a child while ensuring her safety. Ultimately, Hazel’s happiness was what mattered most to him.

‘It’s a natural concern for you, Duke. You’ve been through something terrifying… But there’s no need to worry. Hazel will be fine even if she has a child.’

When he asked for evidence, Isabel handed him an old book with a smile. ‘Trust me, Leo.’

He couldn’t shake off his doubts and brought the book back, but he couldn’t bring himself to open it. Once he confirmed its contents, he felt he would inevitably have to take the next step, whatever that might be.

After a long hesitation, he gazed at Hazel once more. Then, with great difficulty, he got up and headed to the study. If he opened the desk drawer, there would be a small brown-covered book right in the first compartment…

***

“5. Healer’s Pregnancy and Childbirth”

“As explained in the previous chapters, the magic possessed by a healer fundamentally defends against all types of ailments that occur within the body (for ease of description, these are collectively referred to as diseases, but it encompasses anything that poses a threat to the healer). Only when the healer’s body is free of issues can the remaining magic be used for healing. Therefore, it is natural for healers to die of natural causes at a much later age than ordinary people.

The same applies to pregnant women. Generally, ordinary people without magic are exposed to various dangerous conditions as soon as they become pregnant, but this is not the case for healers. From pregnancy to childbirth, they experience no pain, not even mild discomfort. The fact that no healer has died from childbirth is historically proven.

Ironically, because of this, the power that opposes the healer’s magic, known as ‘destructive magic,’ has gradually disappeared from history. The healer’s magic perceives destructive magic as a threat and eliminates it before it can fully develop.

Nevertheless, pregnancy and childbirth require great caution. Let’s explore the precautions that must be observed from now on…”

***

Whether it was due to drinking the night before or the overwhelming attention I received, I felt on edge from the morning. If Leopold hadn’t been by my side, I would have left much earlier. I was worried that I might have made a mistake due to all the conversations we had. I hadn’t realized people were so interested in our plans for a child.

It seemed wise to change my initial plan of staying in the capital for a few more days and return to the estate sooner. Invitations from numerous families would soon arrive, and there would undoubtedly be some that would be difficult to decline. Then I’d have to face people who would ask Leopold those troublesome questions again.

Since we hadn’t yet set up a couple’s bedroom in the capital residence, we slept separately. Still, Leopold would usually wake up first and rouse me in the morning, but today… perhaps he wanted to rest a bit more after yesterday’s ordeal.

In any case, before leaving, I had to finish my mother’s treatment. The amount of magic I had to use today or tomorrow would be the same, so there was no particular reason to delay. Even if I fell into a deep sleep afterward, Leopold would worry.

After some deliberation, I called a maid and instructed her to prepare for my mother’s treatment. I hoped we could return to the Lawrence estate by tomorrow morning.