Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 10 Part 1

Warren blinked slowly. Even though it was his respected superior, he didn’t want to see such an intimate scene. And to even call someone’s name, damn it.

“……”

“……”

A strange silence fell. One of Cedric’s eyebrows, as he laid in the bathtub, raised. Only then did Warren realize that his gaze had lingered too much in his center. He cleared his throat, turning his head away, humbled by the majestic sight that was almost sacred.

“I came to find my sword.”

“I didn’t expect you to come to the bathroom just for that.”

“The Grand Duke ordered me to deliver Serena’s medicine to you, Cedric. Don’t you need to replenish the medicine by tonight?”

“That’s right.”

Cedric put on the robe Ella had brought and received the medicine from Warren. After meeting Lady Leverun in the afternoon and going to the villa where Serena was, his schedule for today would be over.

Cedric never postponed what needed to be done, regardless of his mood or condition. Warren sometimes clicked his tongue at that relentlessness.

Now that the young lady of Ronia has announced her engagement to Kale, Cedric will also have a meeting with Lady Leverun. The Grand Duke will certainly not stand by as rumors spread in social circles that Renigrad has been abandoned.

Cedric knows this well too, so he won’t neglect his duty to maintain Renigrad’s dignity.

‘Living as the young master of Renigrad must be quite tiring.’

Warren felt strange because of the unseemly and intimate scene he had just witnessed.

* * *

Amelia de Leverun’s gaze slowly moved from Cedric’s hair, swaying with the carriage’s movement, to his feet.

Amelia unconsciously parted her lips slightly at the movement of muscles flowing under his shirt with every move, following his face with deep shadows.

Thinking her expression was too blatant, she slightly raised her fan and glanced at Cedric. At that moment, as their eyes met, Amelia’s fingertips gripping the fan tensed.

Like she had felt at Kale’s recent party, Cedric had an atmosphere around him that strangely made people tense just by making eye contact.

Unlike Amelia’s eyes, which held a subtle warmth, Cedric’s eyes were utterly cold.

When the carriage was about to stop, Amelia deliberately let go of the carriage handle. As a result, when the carriage stopped, Amelia’s upper body tilted and fell towards Cedric.

Thanks to Cedric’s hands grasping both of Amelia’s shoulders, she was steadied before falling into Cedric’s arms.

The carriage hadn’t shaken enough for Amelia to actually fall. Cedric’s cold gaze sank even further.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I’ll caution the coachman.”

After finishing his polite but dry response, Cedric extended his hand to Amelia. As she got off, receiving his escort according to etiquette, the gazes of people in the Ipellita Garden converged.

“Isn’t that the young master of Renigrad and Lady Leverun?”

“It really is Lord Cedric and Lady Amelia! I heard there’s been talk of engagement between the two families lately, it must be true.”

“My, don’t they look so good together?”

Amelia’s lips smoothly curved upwards at the subtle envy and curiosity in the pouring gazes. It was a tingling and sweet moment that sent shivers through her entire body.

Amelia smiled at Cedric as if to show off.

“It’s my first time at Ipellita Garden, and it’s so beautiful. And to escort me here, you’re so kind, Cedric.”

Cedric merely nodded briefly, letting go of Amelia’s hand as soon as her feet touched the ground. It was an impeccably polite movement following etiquette, but no further conversation followed.

Amelia, too, was too busy flashing a bright smile at the nobles looking at her and Cedric to notice the silence settling in.

Perhaps because Cedric was a war hero from the Great Demon Beast War, he overwhelmed the surroundings just by standing there. Maybe it was because of his physique, which was much larger than other nobles.

Or perhaps it was because of the formal attire that flawlessly enveloped his body. It was made of holy fabric that only the High Priest could wear. And the neck pin made of holy stone on top of that.

They were all very precious things. It displayed the prestige of the Grand Duke’s family while also showing respect to the Leverun family.

A smile slowly spread across Amelia’s lips. Her gaze fell on the bouquet in one of Cedric’s hands.

Although she had seen it in the carriage, Amelia, who had deliberately waited for this moment without asking, opened her mouth.

“Is that prepared for me?”

“…That’s right.”

Cedric held out the bouquet to Amelia. At that moment, murmurs and exclamations flowed among the people in the garden. Even the noble ladies watched the scene with excitement.

Amelia deliberately slowly took the bouquet and said,

“Thank you so much. I’m grateful for your thoughtfulness, Lord Cedric, preparing this for me.”

“……”

Cedric merely nodded briefly. It was a very dry response, but since Cedric was known for being cold and stern, no one noticed.

“To think that even the cold young master of Renigrad would give a bouquet to Lady Leverun. It must be love.”

“They’re a strong candidate to be the flower of this year’s social circle, aren’t they? Beautiful, kind, and gentle to boot. Aren’t they truly a match made in heaven?”

“But wasn’t there a rumor about him and Lady Ronia?”

“That was just Lady Ronia chasing after the young master of Renigrad on her own. How could that be? She’s realized her place now and is getting engaged to Lord Wayne, isn’t she?”

Amelia, who was happily listening to people’s whispers, placed her hand on Cedric’s arm.

“Shall we take a walk?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Oh, I’d like to host a party for you and me together, would that be alright? The Grand Duke said I could do as I please.”

“Do as you wish, my lady.”

Cedric’s monotone voice continued. Without fail, ground squirrels and rabbits were frolicking along the walking path.

Amelia’s expression brightened at Cedric’s agreement, followed by the sight of cute animals. It seemed to be a universal trait among young ladies to like fluffy creatures.

“Aren’t they so cute?”

At those momentary words that sounded like an illusion, Cedric’s eyebrows twitched. Amelia’s following words faded into the distance.

“…When I was young, my father got me a precious flying squirrel from the western country, so I’ve liked all squirrels since then. Cedric, do you prefer ground squirrels or rabbits?”

“Rabbits.”

Cedric closed his lips that had been moving. He no longer wanted to be here, faced with another overlapping illusion-like image.

“Lady Leverun, let’s head to the restaurant.”

“Alright.”

Amelia headed to the restaurant, escorted by Cedric. According to her father, although it was not well known to the public, this restaurant was owned by Renigrad.

Whether that was true or not, Cedric and Amelia were guided to a seat that was always empty without even waiting.

Amelia’s smile never left her face at the clinging gazes. It was certainly a different kind of pleasure that she had never felt when she was with Kale.

Moreover, even Mendel, the head chef known for his arrogance and who was considered among the best chefs in the empire, came to greet her personally.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Leverun. I am Mendel, the head chef.”

“I’m Amelia de Leverun.”

After Mendel paid his respects, he glanced at Cedric. He knew Lady Leverun would come today due to the Grand Duke’s instructions, but seeing her in person made him feel strange.

After all, until just recently, someone else had been the owner of this seat.

“How would you like to start?”

“I’ll start with a salad. What about you, Lady Leverun?”

“The same for me. And I’d like rosemary tea, please.”

“Earl Grey.”

Mendel poured water while gesturing to the servant to bring it quickly. Cedric drank the water, but he still felt thirsty. He wanted to pour strong alcohol into his mouth, but there would be no reta.

“And wine. Rivac.”

“Certainly. It’s a very good wine, properly aged in northern oak barrels. Excellent taste, sir.”

It was when Mendel was about to turn around after paying his respects that Amelia spoke with a bright smile.

“I heard you came here with Lady Ronia not long ago.”

When Amelia brought up the topic he had deliberately avoided, Mendel walked slowly, glancing at Cedric.

“That’s right.”

“I heard that you two had a very enjoyable time in the Ipellita Garden. People were talking as if you two had become quite close, but I guess it was all just rumors.”

“……”

Amelia smiled sweetly.

“What did you eat then? Could you recommend something with good flavor? Various experiences are the foundation that helps in important moments, aren’t they?”

Amelia instantly reduced Lady Ronia to just one of his many experiences, a foundation for Amelia. At that, Cedric’s dark eyes turned towards Amelia.

A smile spread across Amelia’s lips. Finally, for the first time, Cedric looked at Amelia first.

“At that time, we had sal……”

Cedric couldn’t take his eyes off the salad and Earl Grey that the servant had just brought. Then his gaze lingered on the lilies and lilacs Amelia was holding.

They were all things he had shared with Arne.

“Here’s the rivac wine.”

“……”

Rivac, the wine Arne had liked at the Renigrad banquet hall.

An alarm went off in his head. The increasingly intense alarm reverberated throughout his body.