Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace

When Cecil coughed, Cedric finally turned back to look at the duke and his wife.

“Nice to meet you, Duke and Duchess of Ronia.”

Duke Ronia’s gaze lingered between Cedric and Arne. He remembered Arne mentioning in passing, inside the carriage, that she had received Cedric’s help due to a mana surge that occurred at dawn.

“I heard that you treated Arne after she experienced a mana surge.”

“Yes. The physician said she absolutely needs to rest, so I was surprised to see her at the banquet.”

Cedric’s gaze was filled with reprimand and questions.

“I found out on the way to the banquet hall. She’s a child who doesn’t show much.”

Cedric waited for the duke’s response, but he had no further words.

“…Wouldn’t it be better for Lady Ronia to return to the duke’s residence even now?”

“Today is an important banquet with the second prince attending as well, so I didn’t want to cause any unnecessary commotion. It would also disappoint Wayne, who hosted the banquet.”

Cedric raised an eyebrow. Was there something more important than his daughter’s life?

But Arne, whom he glanced at briefly, had an indifferent face, as if she expected such an answer.

As if she had no expectations at all. Cedric clenched his fist at Arne’s empty, hollow gaze.

It was the same look she had when she was misunderstood by Warren.

Strangely, Arne looked back at Cedric, who seemed more upset than her.

‘It doesn’t matter anymore.’

As Cecil said, Cedric was a gentleman. He had only seen her for the first time today but still showed concern for her.

‘Has the duke ever worried about me even once?’

From the moment she entered the banquet hall until now, she felt Cedric examining her mana core.

Arne was about to say she was okay when Bianca blocked her path.

“Hello, Lord Cedric. I am Bianca Sevilia de Ronia.”

Like Arne, Bianca confidently extended her hand.

But a silence fell because Cedric was just merely staring at her extended hand.

Just then, Warren, who had been watching, approached Cedric.

“Your grandfather is looking for you.”

“Right away.”

Cedric nodded to Arne and said to Bianca,

“I must excuse myself first.”

As Cedric turned away without hesitation, Bianca’s lips quivered.

She awkwardly withdrew her extended hand.

It was unbelievable. Arne was a troublemaker in social circles.

On the other hand, excluding the missing Duchy of Xenon of the four ducal families in the empire, Bianca was the only ducal daughter.

Everyone was eager to make a good impression on Bianca. But Cedric showed no such inclination.

‘It must have been a mistake.’

The Grand Duke of Renigrad, who made significant contributions during the Great Demon War, was as esteemed as the emperor himself.

Bianca consoled herself, thinking it was just because the grand duke had called him urgently.

* * *

Cedric’s grandfather, the current Grand Duke of Renigrad, shook hands with Marquis Leverun.

He introduced the late-arriving Cedric to the marquis.

“This is my grandson, Cedric.”

“He is as handsome as the rumors say.”

“Lady Leverun of Marquis Leverun is truly a beauty of this era.”

“You flatter me.”

“On such a joyful day, we must drink. The pride of the north, the noble liquor Reta.”

“Such an honor! Thank you.”

“Let’s go upstairs and talk. Cedric, do introduce Lady Leverun to Reta properly.”

“…Yes.”

The Grand Duke of Renigrad went upstairs with Marquis Leverun to discuss business matters.

As everyone else left and only the two remained, Amelia was the first to speak.

“Pleased to meet you, Lord Cedric of the Grand Duke of Renigrad’s family, I am Amelia de Leverun.”

“I’m Cedric.”

Amelia lifted her fan with a smile in her eyes.

Then, the young lords around her gasped.

Amelia was a typical beauty with blond hair and blue eyes, a strong candidate to become this year’s ‘Belle of the Society.’

Amelia, looking bored, dropped her fan while looking at Cedric.

“Ah.”

Then, the young lords around hurriedly rushed to pick up Amelia’s fan.

Amelia, looking down at this scene, found Cedric’s bored expression interesting.

Soon, Kale picked up the fan and offered it to Amelia.

“Lady Leverun, it’s my first time meeting you. I am Kale de Wayne.”

“You must be Marquis Wayne’s son, the host of this banquet. Nice to meet you.”

As Amelia received her fan and smiled with her eyes, Kale felt his face heating up.

“You are as beautiful as the rumors say.”

Amelia shyly smiled at Kale’s chuckling.

Bianca, seeing this, approached and spoke displeasedly. She had to connect Arne with Kale, so that she wouldn’t have to reveal her connection with Cedric anymore.

“Lord Wayne, you’re here. Arne is waiting for you.”

“Arne? Isn’t she Lady Ronia’s sister?”

“Sister?”

Bianca frowned at Amelia’s question, who asked with an innocent expression.

Because saying Arne was Bianca’s sister was the last thing Bianca wanted to hear.

Bianca recomposed her expression and spoke loudly enough for Cedric to hear.

“Our father hopes that Arne will be engaged to Lord Wayne. When that happens, we’ll invite you too, Lord Cedric. You’ll congratulate us, won’t you?”

“……”

As Cedric’s silence lengthened, Bianca clenched the hem of her dress tightly.

Amelia found Bianca’s shaking, and Cedric’s bored expressions interesting for the first time.

“So, you brought Lady Ronia to the banquet for this?”

Cedric opened his mouth, which had been firmly shut, but it wasn’t the answer Bianca had hoped for.

“Of course. Our Ronia ducal family is an excellent spirit family, so the Wayne family is also very interested.”

Using Arne as an excuse, Bianca began to elaborate on the excellence of the Ronia ducal family.

But Cedric’s gaze was on Arne.

Seeming overwhelmed by the banquet hall, she was sitting alone at a nearby table, catching her breath.

Noticing this, Amelia said to Kale,

“You shouldn’t leave your partner alone. Go on, Lord Wayne.”

“I don’t need to go…”

“Quickly. You are kind, aren’t you?”

“…Yes, of course. I’ll see you again, Lady Leverun.”

Kale walked towards Arne, unable to hide his regret and pleasant expression.

“Shall we go too? Lord Cedric agreed to introduce me to Reta wine.”

“Let’s do that.”

Cedric gripped the wine bottle in his hands tightly and strode forward.

He placed the wine bottle on the table right in front of where Arne was sitting and pulled out a chair for Lady Leverun. Bianca, who followed without a clue, spoke to Cedric again.

“Reta is a very famous wine from the north! It’s a precious wine that can only be drunk with the Grand Duke’s permission! May I join you?”

“Of course.”

Cedric answered dryly while looking at Arne. They were diagonally across from each other, close enough for their gazes to meet directly.

Arne lifted her head to see the wine bottle in Cedric’s hand as if she could hear their conversation.

“I’ve wanted to try it too.”

Hearing Arne’s murmur, Cedric smiled slightly.

But as soon as Kale arrived, Arne turned her head towards him.

“I am Raniarne Freya de Ronia.”

“Kale.”

With an insincere response, Kale scanned Arne from head to toe.

Her perfectly pinned-up silver hair and black dress with only a single pearl decoration were elegant but not to Kale’s taste.

“It’s a suffocating style. I hate this kind of style. Can’t you dress like Amelia?”

“…….”

Yes, Kale was this kind of person. It had been so long since they last met that she had forgotten.

From their first meeting, he had shown antipathy towards Arne, who was referred to as a ‘snow rabbit’ in social circles.

Marquis Wayne considered the marriage between the troublesome Kale and the orphaned Lady Ronia of the ducal family a profitable deal.

However, Kale was angered by the duke’s very thought and found fault with Arne for everything.

“Next time, come more dressed up. Is this the only decoration? You need to dress up to be by my side. Think of how it makes others feel.”

He was rude and disrespectful. Yet, Arne from her previous life clung to Kale.

Afraid that he would refuse to get engaged. Afraid that the duke would be disappointed in Arne and abandon her.

She shriveled and hurt at every harsh word Kale dug into her, unable to let go despite being miserable.

But now, it was clear. Kale had been planning to push Arne away and set his heart on Amelia from the beginning.

‘It’s better this way. It would be troublesome if she clung to me.’

Arne crossed her legs and lazily tilted her head.

“Try smiling kindly like Lady Amelia.”

“Kale, do you like Amelia?”

Kale was taken aback by Arne’s sudden condescension and couldn’t continue speaking before Arne spoke again.

“Lucky me. I have no interest in Kale either. I was dragged here because the Duke of Ronia wanted me to meet you, but you’re not my type either. I hate this style.”

“You.”

“Since we both feel the same way, let’s just keep up appearances and say we don’t want an engagement.”

When Arne gestured to a servant, a bottle of wine in ice was placed on the table.

“I’ve grown out of liking this kind of thing. But it can’t be helped.”

For a family like Marquis Wayne’s, this was considered making an effort.

Having developed a taste for the renowned Reta from the Grand Duchy of Renigrad, it was inevitable that no drink at the banquet would suit her taste.

Arne slowly turned her head to look at Cedric.

Just then, their eyes met as if he was also looking at her.

“I hope I don’t run into you anymore, Kale. I have someone I like.”

Cedric, who was pouring Reta into his glass, couldn’t take his eyes off her.

He felt the cold sensation of the drink filling the glass in his hand.

“The person who can’t take their eyes off me for fear I’ll collapse during the banquet is more my type.”