Ever since Frederick had left, Veronica had been visibly dispirited. Wanting to coax even the smallest smile from her, Ophelia brought her favorite strawberry cake and offered it gently.

“Veronica, do you want some strawberry cake?”

Veronica lay facedown on the bed, weakly shaking her head. Hugging her pillow tightly, she buried her face in it, clearly not wanting to eat.

Ophelia placed the strawberry cake on the bedside table and sat down gently beside her. She slowly brushed her daughter’s round, silky hair and sighed.

King Alfonso had reportedly been overjoyed upon seeing Frederick and had arranged for him to stay in the Reycan Palace. Consequently, Veronica could neither visit him nor send him letters.

Moreover, Frederick’s existence had not yet been officially announced. If Ophelia took Veronica to see Frederick now, it would only provoke the king’s suspicions.

Ophelia had no idea how to cheer her up.

‘Should I tell her that she’s going to have a sibling?’

She had planned to wait until her pregnancy entered a stable stage, which was why she had kept it from Veronica for now.

Ophelia gently helped the child sit up. Veronica gazed at her with droopy eyes and murmured,

“Mom… Veronica doesn’t want to do anything right now…”

Her small voice was drained of all energy.

“Veronica.”

Ophelia carefully took her daughter’s hand and placed it over her own belly.

“You’re going to have a sibling. Right here.”

“…A sibling?”

Veronica’s head snapped up.

“A sibling for me?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Veronica’s face brighten, Ophelia smiled tenderly.

“It’s still early, so you’ll have to wait a while before the baby is born.”

“How long do I have to wait? Is it going to be a sister or a brother?”

Her response was far brighter than Ophelia expected.

Ophelia stroked her daughter’s plump cheek and answered with a gentle smile.

“Well, I don’t know yet. Would you like to have a sister or a brother?”

Veronica placed both hands over Ophelia’s belly, her round eyes widening.

“Umm… Bebe likes both! A little sister is good, and a little brother is good too! When the baby is born, Bebe will share snacks and draw pictures together!”

“My goodness, you’re so kind. Your sibling will love you very much.”

“Hehe, I’m excited! Bebe came out like this—”

She traced a little door in the air with her hands, chattering brightly.

“Later, I’ll tell the baby to come out!”

“Hmm? You came out through a door?”

Ophelia blinked in confusion.

‘What door is she talking about?’

There was no way a child could remember their own birth. Yet Veronica formed a perfect circle with her hands, as if mimicking the opening of a little door — as if she truly did remember.

It was so adorable that Ophelia couldn’t help but smile. She gently patted her daughter’s back.

Veronica’s face lit up as she hesitated for a moment, then whispered quietly, as though testing the waters.

“Even if the baby comes… Veronica is still Mommy’s baby? Mommy still loves Veronica?”

She was worried, just as Ophelia feared, afraid that she might lose her mother’s affection once the new child arrived. The way she watched Ophelia’s face so carefully made that clear.

Ophelia pulled her into her arms and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

“You will always be Mommy’s baby. There is no one Mommy loves more. Not even if your sibling is born.”

Veronica’s cheeks flushed instantly. Her lips pressed together, then slowly parted into a burst of happiness she could no longer contain.

Knock, knock.

The door opened, and Ligeia stepped inside.

“Grand-aunt!”

Veronica jumped to her feet and ran to her, throwing herself into Ligeia’s arms. Ligeia lifted her easily and spun her once in the air before gently setting her down.

“Dear, why don’t you go see your father? He says he wants to play with you.”

“Huh…? Daddy…? Okay!”

Veronica tilted her head for a moment, then agreed without protest. She pattered toward the door and dashed out.

Ophelia narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched her leave.

‘Renoir… wants to play?’

Given his personality, he would never have made such a request of Ligeia. Clearly, Ligeia wanted to speak without Veronica hearing.

Her suspicion was correct. As soon as the door shut and Veronica’s footsteps faded away, Ligeia’s expression hardened.

The smile she had worn moments ago vanished completely.

“Ophelia. I managed to smuggle Viscount Schreier to safety, but…”

“…”

Ophelia recalled asking Ligeia to hide Viscount Schreier and Annette as well. Her heart tightened.
Had something gone wrong?

“Countess Noahyu did… make it out of the prison. She met her son once, sent him back, and then swallowed poison. It happened so quickly I had no chance to stop her.”

“…What?”

Ophelia felt the breath she had drawn lodge painfully in her throat.

“Annette… is dead?”

She staggered a step back, her fingertips trembling.

Her mind went blank.

Ligeia watched her carefully before continuing, her voice softer.

“She left one last request before she died. She asked me to give you a message.”

Ophelia slowly lifted her shaking gaze.

“…”

“She asked you to take care of Louis. She said… she could be at peace because you were here.”

It seemed that Annette had chosen death because she could no longer bear the guilt she felt towards Cassandra.

Although their relationship had been mutually beneficial, Annette never revealed everything to Cassandra, not even at the end.

“I didn’t want to tell you… but if you went looking for her later and found out on your own, it would have hurt you even more.”

Ophelia exhaled shakily, closing her eyes. Annette’s final words echoed in her ears like a fading whisper.

“…Yes. I’m all right.”

Still, the fact that Annette had seen Louis one last time was a small comfort.

Ligeia paused, then spoke again.

“And about the king. I stopped by the palace earlier… His condition has worsened. Two months would be the best-case scenario.”

“…I see.”

“It could be sooner. You should prepare yourself.”

Ophelia’s vision blurred.

Her mind felt distant, lightless.

Ligeia stepped closer in alarm and gently shook her shoulder.

“Are you well, Ophelia?”

King Alfonso was expected to die within two months. This meant that Frederick needed to be formally appointed Crown Prince before the king died.

A written will would not carry the same weight as Frederick being declared Crown Prince while the king was still alive.

The legitimacy of the succession depended on this.

‘I need to send Marchioness Josephina a letter, ask her to push the appointment forward.’

Her father was dying, yet she felt nothing. No grief. No sorrow. Her thoughts were only for Frederick.

She found herself feeling strangely detached.

‘…I didn’t think I would feel this little.’

If she witnessed his actual death, would she cry then?

Even that felt uncertain and the uncertainty itself struck her with a faint, belated sadness.

***

That night.

Renoir received an urgent report from Lieutenant Briar.

“There are documents requiring your approval. Please go upstairs and rest first.”

“All right. Don’t overwork yourself.”

Leaving his office behind, Ophelia went up to their bedchamber only to feel her abdomen tighten with a deep, aching cramp.

“Ah…”

She could not sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, a sharp pain shot through her stomach. She clutched her stomach and writhed in agony.

The sheets beneath her grew damp and she could smell the metallic scent in the air.

“…No. No…”

When she lifted her hand, her fingertips came away stained with blood.

It was the same as that day. The day she lost her second child.

Panicking, Ophelia yanked the bell cord and curled in on herself.

“Ugh… hrr—…”

Tears streamed uncontrollably, fear tightening around her like a fist.

Footsteps pounded toward her room and then Renoir rushed in.

Dr. James and Meryl ran in right behind him.

“Ophelia!”

Renoir strode to her side, eyes wide with alarm.

“Renoir… what do I do… the baby… I can’t lose…”

“Ophelia, breathe. It’s all right. I’m here.”

He spoke in a forced calm manner, but his hands were trembling. He was holding himself together desperately so that she wouldn’t see his fear.

Ophelia leaned into him, her vision fading at the edges.

Renoir took the sedative that Dr James handed him and helped her to swallow it. He continued to rub her abdomen in slow, steady circles, and gradually, the pain began to subside.

“My lady, can you hear me? The bleeding has stopped, we managed to control it.”

Ophelia could only tilt her head faintly in response. Even speaking felt impossible.

“Is… is the baby… all right…?”

“Fortunately, the child is safe. Please don’t worry.”