Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 10 Part 2

‘I thought it would just be a passing emotion……’

Amelia intuitively knew that even though Cedric was looking at her holding the bouquet, the person in his eyes was another woman.

Disliking this, Amelia knocked her handbag on the chair. At that moment, the contents of the bag spilled onto the floor. As he finally looked back at Amelia, she smiled with satisfaction.

“I’m sorry. My fan fell, could you get it for me?”

“……”

It was when Cedric was picking up the fan. Something shiny was visible on the floor. It was a cufflink.

As he picked up the strangely familiar cufflink, Amelia’s eyes flickered for a moment.

Amelia hastily snatched the cufflink and smiled brightly.

“I wanted to surprise you with a gift, but I didn’t expect to be caught like this. I’ll show you properly when I have everything ready.”

“……”

At that moment, Cedric’s eyes flashed sharply. He also has one of those cufflinks. The cufflink that the blonde woman who accidentally bumped into him in the Ipellita Garden had dropped and left behind.

A cufflink with the Wayne family crest engraved on the back.

“Is this really your first time in the Ipellita Garden, Lady Leverun?”

“Of course.”

At that moment, Cedric’s gaze sank coldly.

Amelia de Leverun was lying.

With that innocent face. How dare she.

* * *

Arne faced a woman with almost white silver hair and red eyes like herself.

As far as Arne knew, in the empire, apart from Princess Ramona who had suffered from Arin’s disease, Arne was almost the only one with such an appearance.

‘And an appearance strangely similar to Cedric’s… Could it be Serena?’

Serena, who was no less surprised than Arne, covered her mouth with her hand and took a sharp breath.

The old woman of the annex sitting next to Serena and knitting was the same. Serena looked back and forth between Arne and the old woman, then suddenly hugged the old woman and cheered.

“Granny! Granny! It worked! It worked!”

‘Ooooh!’

The old woman of the annex, though unable to make a sound, opened her mouth wide and made a fuss along with Serena.

The old woman hurriedly held up a notepad and showed it to Serena.

[Ooooh!]

“Thank you so much, Granny! For granting my lifelong wish!”

Of course, since there was no one to replace the old woman of the annex, she wouldn’t be kicked out even if today’s events were discovered, but it was true that she had taken a risk for Serena. Serena quickly stood up and approached Arne.

“I’m Serena Schopendha de Renigrad. Are you Lady Ronia?”

“I’m Raniarne Freya de Ronia. Did you, Lady Renigrad, send me this letter?”

Serena looked at Arne’s letter and nodded vigorously.

‘Why would Serena contact me? If she heard the rumor about my engagement to Kale, there’s even less reason to call me. Maybe she can’t receive news.’

Looking around the unfamiliar space, Arne thought it was quite possible.

‘This room, there’s no door.’

Moreover, it was surrounded by a considerable high-level magic barrier. It was a space where, without a scroll, no one except designated people could enter or even leave.

Arne’s gaze fell on Serena.

‘Is this a space that protects Serena while also confining her?’

Serena cleared her throat and asked Arne with shining eyes.

“I heard a rumor that Lady Ronia is a grand mage, is that true?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Then, can you get me out of here?”

‘Ah.’

Arne’s head tilted to the side. Although it’s a complex barrier, with Arne’s power and an unbroken mana core, she could certainly break the barrier.

‘It might be a bit risky right now.’

Facing Serena’s desperate gaze that went beyond eagerness, Arne nodded.

“It might take some time, but it’s possible.”

Serena carefully took Arne’s hand with a moved expression.

“I love you, Lady Ronia.”

“Pardon?”

“Um… can I call you sister?”

“Lady Renigrad, are you referring to me?”

Serena slowly shook her head.

“Lady Renigrad? Please, be comfortable and call me Serena.”

It was a gaze full of infinite goodwill. Serena glanced at Arne and carefully brought up the topic again.

“Can you really get me out of here?”

Her desire was so obvious it was almost cute. Arne answered with a slight smile.

“I can. If Cedric and the Grand Duke allow it. If not, it’s difficult.”

Serena pouted, pressing her lips tightly. If the Grand Duke or Cedric had allowed it, she wouldn’t have sought out Arne in the first place.

“I heard the lady is interested in my brother. I’ll help you succeed. In return, get me out of here. Let’s make a deal! Of course, I’ll keep it a secret that you helped me!”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to trouble Cedric.”

Serena was taken aback. She assumed Arne would accept the proposal. After all, most of the empire’s ladies were after Cedric.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Renigrad.”

Seeing that Arne was about to say goodbye, Serena became desperate.

“Lady Ronia, I know a lot about my brother! Don’t you really want to know? Cedric’s favorite food, perfume, list of his sponsorships, hidden personal assets, secret vault password!”

“I don’t think you should tell me such things……”

Faced with a more indifferent response than expected, Serena frantically racked her brain.

“Then how about Cedric’s embarrassing past! The incident where he chipped his front tooth while chasing a white cat that wouldn’t eat! The time he ran away and got trapped in an ice mountain, barely rescued and had to receive thawing magic treatment for a month!”

The seemingly perfect Cedric chipping his tooth, and even running away from home. A slight interest appeared in Arne’s eyes, but she still remained indifferent.

Serena, as if playing her trump card, opened her locket necklace and held it out.

“A portrait of Cedric as a child!”

“……”

Arne’s eyes wavered for a moment.

‘These are all trivial and useless stories, but they’re strangely appealing.’

After all, it was the little Cedric with chubby cheeks that hadn’t lost their baby fat, wearing pumpkin pants.

‘How cute.’

Arne unknowingly let out a chuckle. Watching this, Serena raised one eyebrow.

‘This sister has quite a unique taste. Preferring this picture over the password of his vault. This creepy family portrait.’

Serena grinned and shook the locket necklace.

“You want it, don’t you?”

“…I’m fine.”

Arne, who had been contemplating, declined with a voice dripping with regret.

‘Tch, even this doesn’t work.’

If there was no card that immediately appealed to Arne, she needed to become friends first and then find more ways. Serena urgently grabbed Arne’s collar.

“Then just play with me.”

“It seems I’m an uninvited intruder, wouldn’t it be troublesome for you if I’m caught, Lady Renigrad?”

As expected of someone Cedric was meeting, she was even similar in being difficult. As Arne politely bowed and turned around, Serena blurted out without thinking.

“Don’t leave me alone!”

Arne’s footsteps stopped at Serena’s trembling voice.

“Please. I’ve never been outside this room in my entire life. Everyone comes and leaves me behind. I just wanted to meet other ladies normally, have tea, and chat.”

Serena grabbed Arne’s collar.

“It’s okay if you can’t get me out. Can’t you just stay with me for a little while?”

Arne turned around to face Serena. Light shone through the room’s only window. The shadow of the bars fell over Serena.

Arne bit her lip, as those shadowy bars seemed like a prison enveloping Serena.

It was like Serena’s life, living in an invisible prison while the outside was so warm and sparkling.

“……Just until this evening.”

At Arne’s voice, Serena’s teary eyes slowly curved. Grinning broadly, Serena opened a drawer and brought out her cherished tea set. The old woman of the annex clapped her hands and quickly held up her notepad.

[Thank you for accepting Serena’s invitation.]

“……”

Somehow, seeing the excited Serena made Arne’s heart twinge. Serena spoke to Arne like a child playing house.

“Lady Ronia, I heard you had a dinner with the Grand Duke today. Was it enjoyable?”

“The dinner was canceled. I like Cedric, but the Duchess of Ronia is trying to force me to get engaged to Lord Wayne, and she’s spreading false rumors as if I want to get engaged to Lord Wayne.”

“Oh my, how nasty.”

Cough cough. Arne almost dropped the teacup she was tilting.

“I told you, I’m on your side. Let me know anytime if you change your mind.”

Serena winked at Arne. With not much time left to live, Serena had nothing to hide.

‘Just wait, Sister Arne. I’ll definitely get your consent!’

Serena sipped her tea.

“Let’s finish our tea and have a chemise party in the evening! I heard it’s trendy for close ladies to wear only chemises and share secrets. It might be my first and last time. I’ll tell you more embarrassing stories about Brother Cedric. You were honestly intrigued earlier, weren’t you?”

Serena winked at Arne again. Arne continued to cough, experiencing this fresh courtship for the first time in her life.

‘But somehow, I don’t dislike it. It’s a bit cute, actually.’

* * *

Cedric, who had returned from the Ipellita Garden, placed one cufflink on the desk and smiled bitterly.

‘It’s the same.’

It was identical to the cufflink Amelia had hastily taken away today. Cedric turned it over to see the Wayne family crest engraved on the back.