Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 7 Part 9

“Was your family so weak that it could be ruined by just one statement I made in an unsound state of mind before I collapsed?”

For a moment, the Marchioness’s mouth closed.

Arne could only laugh at the absurdity. Originally, the responsibility for this incident lay with Bianca. These were words that should have been directed at Bianca, not at Arne who had nearly died after unknowingly drinking water full of mana perfume.

‘Having barely survived, shouldn’t I at least get the table Bianca set for me to not feel wronged?’

Besides, Arne didn’t even know who the real culprit was who attempted to poison the Second Prince. Who knows, maybe Kale was really the culprit.

All Arne did was say that Kale, who recommended a gold cup instead of a silver one, was suspicious.

It’s an exaggeration to say that the Marquis family would face extinction just because of this one statement. They just needed someone to shift responsibility to and vent their anger on.

“Marchioness, you’re exaggerating too much. Did I give false testimony at the treason trial? What changed because of just one statement from an unsound lady? Besides, who knows if Kale really tried to poison the Second Prince?”

“What?”

The Marchioness, seemingly not expecting Arne to retort so calmly, kept getting tongue-tied.

“If Young Master Kale truly didn’t attempt poisoning, there’s nothing to fear. The Imperial investigators and royal guards will investigate and reveal the truth. Surely you’re not saying that the Imperial family would judge Young Master guilty of poisoning based on just one statement from an unsound lady? That would be lèse-majesté, underestimating the judgment of the Imperial family.”

“You.”

This time, the Marchioness’s attempt to retort was stopped by the mention of lèse-majesté.

As her face grew increasingly red and blue, the Marchioness started to insist in a loud voice.

“How dare you talk back at every turn. I heard your reputation as the Empire’s mad villainess was widespread, and it seems that’s true. How would I know that you, being so wicked, didn’t try to devour my son?”

“The investigation has already concluded that there was no poison. Yet if people still harbor doubts, isn’t that the fault of the Wayne family? What kind of behavior has the Young Master shown usually?”

Arne answered calmly. The last statement had some truth to it. However, the cause and effect were reversed. It wasn’t that Arne had acted wickedly, but that Kale had first despised and disregarded Arne.

“It seems to people that the Young Master hated me enough to want to kill me. Or were Young Master Kale de Wayne’s usual actions cruel enough to make people think he might really kill someone?”

“Our son is never like that! He’s such a tender child who can’t even kill an ant, how dare you compare him to someone like you?”

“……”

That was really going too far. For the first time, Arne was at a loss for words. An ant? Kale was the one who would tear the wings of dragonflies that were flying well, making them unable to fly.

But thinking she had finally gained the upper hand, the Marchioness continued confidently.

“A servant we recently interrogated said something quite interesting. That you often collapse not because of poison, but due to mana surges! If it’s revealed that you collapsed from your own illness and falsely accused my son, how could you ever show your face in public? You’ll pay dearly for the lies you’ve told.”

Lies, she says. It’s just that until now, without evidence, no one believed her, so she couldn’t speak.

If it’s revealed that she collapsed after drinking the mana perfume that Bianca secretly added, that would be satisfying in its own way.

She always thought Bianca’s hypocrisy wouldn’t last long from the beginning. This is quite a long time to have endured.

“Marchioness, I’ve never lied. I, too, eagerly await for the truth to be revealed.”

“Ha, you’re so brazen until the end. I’ll have to teach you a lesson soon. To think that a lady who will soon be engaged to our Wayne family is so ill-mannered.”

For a moment, Arne’s brow furrowed.

“Engagement? Duke Ronia is no longer interested in an engagement with the Wayne family due to Young Master Kale’s conduct.”

“That’ll be different once the suspicion of poisoning is completely cleared. Duke Ronia needs the Wayne family.”

Arne blinked slowly. As she listened, something felt odd. It seemed like the Marchioness kept trying to engage Kale and Arne.

“Marchioness, why do you keep trying to arrange an engagement between us when you hate me so much?”

“What nonsense! I get furious just hearing about my son getting engaged to you!”

As if there was something to be guilty about, the Marchioness’s voice became excessively agitated. Arne’s eyes steadily gazed at the Marchioness.

‘Ah, I see. There’s no one else but me.’

The notorious playboy Kale, whom everyone avoids, finally came to the orphaned noble lady Arne, who’s known as the Empire’s mad villainess. And with the Second Prince poisoning suspicion on top of that, there’s no way there could be any other marriage prospects.

“So, I’m the only marriage prospect you have left. Whether he’s suspected of poisoning or not.”

As if hit right on the mark, the Marchioness’s mouth gaped, but she couldn’t say anything. If that’s the case, it was the Wayne family who was in need.

‘Does someone who’s in need talk like this all this time?’

Arne pressed her throbbing temple, dumbfounded. What was more headache-inducing was the fact that the Wayne family wouldn’t easily let go of Arne. Arne let out a big sigh.

She walked respectfully and held the Marchioness’s hand tightly. Although the Marchioness glared as if to ask what she was doing, Arne spoke demurely.

“Marchioness Wayne, whatever it is, it’s all my fault.”

Seeing Arne’s deeply repentant appearance, a smile finally spread across the Marchioness’s lips.

“If you tell me to pay my respects, I’ll do it as many times as you want.”

“Good. You’ve finally come to your senses.”

“So please, I beg you, don’t engage me with the Young Master. I really, really don’t want to.”

The Marchioness’s lips trembled. Arne’s eyes looking back at her were too sincere.

“What’s wrong with my son! You should be grateful!”

Arne turned her head and shouted at Kale, who had been standing behind the Marchioness all this time.

“Kale, no, Young Master Wayne, why are you just watching? Please stop your mother quickly. You don’t like me either, do you? Do you really intend to get engaged with me?”

“What nonsense! You’re just a means to…”

Kale shouted angrily at Arne. The Marchioness hurriedly pulled Kale’s hand and snapped at Arne.

“I heard you like Young Master Renigrad. Don’t tell me it’s because of that? Was that naive and ridiculous talk actually true?”

“Yes, I like Lord Cedric.”

“Ha, I’m at a loss for words. Do you think you’re worthy?”

“Then is Kale worthy?”

“W-What?”

“Please stop obsessing over me. I’m begging you.”

Arne’s eyes shone with such sincerity. It was so genuine that the Marchioness felt a rush of heat to the back of her neck.

But Arne didn’t stop. She had to deliver the final, decisive blow with all her heart and sincerity. Her mouth opened.

“Marchioness.”

* * *

Cedric quickly left where Arne was. He ran his hand deep through his hair. He rubbed his face repeatedly, but the heat wouldn’t subside.

Clearly, at first, he just thought of avoiding the situation. If they were going to pretend to be lovers engaging in an affectionate act anyway, it had to be done properly.

Arne’s quick wit in applying the situation she had seen was good, but if they were caught with a clumsy imitation, it would only deepen the scandal. So he only intended to pretend just enough to drive away the man who was chasing them.

That was certainly the plan, but as it went on, he couldn’t stop.

As it continued, the heat enveloping his entire body only intensified instead of subsiding.

‘How could it subside after seeing an expression like that.’

When that clear gaze was also tinged with heat, he thought he was going to lose it. Especially when she was looking at him without knowing what kind of expression she had.

If he were at the annex, he would have gone to the training ground, but he couldn’t do that now. He had already bought the feed or nuts long ago, but he didn’t dare to go back. It felt like he had circled around the bakery about ten times by now.

“Young master over there.”

Cedric lowered his hand that was rubbing his face at the sound of someone calling.

“It seems like you’re having some trouble, going round and round the bakery.”

It was a wandering merchant selling accessories with a stand set up next to the bakery. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be from a nomadic tribe from far away.

“If you had a lucky bracelet, your worries would disappear. Would you like to buy one?”

“A lucky bracelet?”

“All worries and troubles will disappear, health will come, happiness and luck will…”

It was clearly a scam even at a glance. Despite knowing this, Cedric’s mouth moved on its own.

“Give me one.”

“Is one enough?”

“No, two.”

“Alright!”

“No. Just give me all you have.”

“All of them?”

Even the merchant who had been happy to have a customer was surprised and asked again. Cedric handed a gold coin to the merchant.

“Keep the change.”