Thud, thud, thud. 

She felt her body pulled to the floor over and over again.

All because of you.

Daphne swallowed the rest of her words.

This time, the one who kissed first wasn’t Astaire—it was Daphne.

It was an impulsive action. The moment she saw his face and eyes, her hand moved naturally. She pressed her nose close to his and kissed him.

Astaire let out a breath like a sigh at her clumsy kiss.

“I’ve taught you so many times, but you’re still clumsy.”

It was a warm, fragrant breath.

Their colliding lips twisted, finally finding the perfect angle and locking together seamlessly.

“It’s okay.”

Just before the kiss deepened further, the man whispered.

“I’ll teach you as many times as it takes. So live inside me forever.”

They needed no more words beyond that.

That night.

For the first time in a long while, the air in the bedroom—one only the two spouses could use—heated up intensely. All night, throughout dawn, even into early morning, the hot, humid air never cooled.

For them, night and dawn were far too short.

The light born with the dawn outside the window seeped into the room. It gently brushed away the lingering darkness and announced the morning.

Daphne’s softly closed eyelids trembled, then revealed her vivid blue eyes.

“Ha.”

Daphne let out a short sigh. Even the slightest movement hurt everywhere. No, she couldn’t move her body properly in the first place.

What is this?

Daphne turned her back with difficulty, then was startled to discover Astaire holding her.

Come to think of it, this was a first.

After spending the night together, he always left the bed before her.

She was the only one who slept in a bed whose heat had completely dissipated.

But what was different today that made him stay by her side?

“Your Grace?”

When she called to him with dazed eyes, the man slowly opened his eyes in response to Daphne’s voice.

Soon their green and blue eyes became entangled so intensely they seemed ready to blend together. What became entangled next were their lips.

“Mmph.”

From morning, this man blocked her from breathing. Daphne hit the man’s broad chest, trying to push him away. The more she did, the more strongly the man held her.

“Let go, let me go…”

“I don’t want to.”

For just a brief moment when their lips parted, they exchanged short words.

“If I let you go, I hate that you’ll go somewhere else.”

“I won’t go…”

Daphne answered without thinking. It was closer to saying anything just to escape him right now, but Astaire seemed to take it seriously and immediately let her go.

“The only place for you is by my side.”

Astaire whispered like he was brainwashing her.

He lowered his hand and placed it on Daphne’s bare lower abdomen. It was a touch so careful, like a baby was really growing inside.

At that, Daphne laughed weakly.

She already knew anyway. In a few weeks, the Emperor and the First Prince would be able to confirm whether she was really pregnant or not.

They didn’t have much time.

“My place isn’t by your side, Your Grace.”

Daphne answered weakly. This time Astaire said nothing. He only silently hardened his lips.

Instead, he roughly stole her lips.

Once again, the morning heated up intensely.

That afternoon.

Instead of going to work at the trading company, Astaire sat at the desk in the office on the top floor of the ducal estate.

“Clear this away.”

He pushed the cigar holder outside the desk as he spoke. The servants quietly nodded and left after tidying the room. It was time to quit cigars again.

“It won’t be easy.”

Astaire murmured quietly, left alone.

But then he chuckled.

This wasn’t the time to wallow in self-pity alone. Was there ever anything easy among the things he did?

Shortly after, Germo came up to the office.

Astaire slowly turned his back from looking out the window toward his aide.

“Your Grace!”

The aide’s voice calling the man was filled with tremendous excitement. Germo must have already heard everything that happened at the trial, so it was a natural reaction.

Astaire thought quietly.

To avoid any possible suspicion, he needed to prepare in advance.

To do that.

“Germo.”

He had to deceive his aide first.

“Congratulations!”

As soon as he called his aide’s name, congratulations came back.

For Germo, it was an extremely natural reaction. Congratulating his superior’s good fortune.

To create a perfect secret, he had to deceive those closest to him first. Astaire showed a false reaction calmly. A reaction that would soon become truth.

“…Enough with the thanks.”

“This is truly wonderful! Although the timing isn’t good, still, great fortune has finally come to the Seyfried ducal house.”

“Right.”

Astaire smiled calmly. Unusually for him, it was a rare, composed and gentle smile.

Beneath it, he sharpened his blade again and again.

He prepared to protect his Daphne and the real baby she would soon carry.

“No need to make a fuss. Make sure not to create unnecessary commotion in the estate and disturb the Duchess’s mood.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind!”

Astaire smiled watching Germo fall for his false reaction without a shred of doubt.

“Madam, congratulations!”

The words Daphne heard from the servants the moment she opened her eyes were congratulations.

After that, she heard congratulations so many times they were practically hammered into her ears. She heard them almost every time she passed through the estate.

“Thank you.”

At Daphne’s calm smile, the maid smiled warmly. Daphne quickly left, uncomfortable with her gaze.

Since she was publicly known as pregnant, she had to act naturally according to that role.

“From now on, pretend to be pregnant.”

She didn’t forget what Astaire said this morning.

“You can do it well.”

Just like she had acted like a loving couple for so long, he believed she could act pregnant well going forward too.

At Astaire’s trust, Daphne felt suffocated.

But there was no turning back now.

As he said, he and she were accomplices.

Even when dying, they would fall together, since he had grabbed her hand.

“Madam, be careful!”

Was it because she was thinking of other things? Daphne unknowingly missed a step while going down the stairs.

“Ah!”

“Oh my!”

The maid screamed from behind. Countless stairs seemed to pour toward her.

Then.

“You need to be careful.”

Astaire caught Daphne from below as she was about to tumble down. Daphne was so surprised she gasped. She couldn’t say anything, held in his arms.

Then.

Still embracing her from behind, Astaire slowly lowered his hand and caressed Daphne’s lower abdomen.

“I wonder if our baby is okay.”

“…”

Astaire looked down at her intently. Daphne swallowed dryly but still couldn’t say anything.

Then the man whispered in her ear.

“You need to go along with me.”

“…”

“Hurry. What are you doing?”

At the pressure in his words, Daphne ultimately had no choice but to submit again.

“It’ll, it’ll be fine.”

Unlike usual, her acting was terrible. Astaire must have known it too, because he frowned slightly so only Daphne could see.

“Are you all right?”

The maid hurried down and asked. Her reddened face showed she was quite shocked too.

“I’m fine, but I don’t know about the Duchess and the baby.”

“Goodness, should we call a doctor?”

When the maid said that, Daphne felt her heart sink.

“…I’m just a little startled, there’s no need to go that far. I’m fine.”

She hoped her voice didn’t sound strange. Yet strangely, she was trembling.

Fortunately, the maid seemed oblivious. She seemed to think Daphne was still in shock.

“We should call the gynecologist soon.”

Astaire looked down at Daphne like he just remembered. His grip holding her tightened. Daphne felt a little more suffocated. More than Astaire’s arms, the words he uttered pressed down on her windpipe even more.

“What do you think, wife?”

Astaire pressed again.

Daphne barely nodded.

“…Yes. That’s fine.”

What on earth was this man trying to do?

Was he going to call the gynecologist and make her take medicine to help her get pregnant again?

Suddenly her mouth tasted bitter.

He was the one who once said he wouldn’t burden her anymore and completely stopped the gynecologist’s appointments. Of course, given the situation, it couldn’t be helped.

‘Last night he was at least warm.’

She recalled again the man’s firm skin gently embracing her. She thought of the hot breath that enveloped the back of her neck.

Astaire Seyfried.

Which side is your true heart really on?

If you’re deliberately being kind to me to use me…

Once again, this man doesn’t discriminate between means and methods.

Daphne suddenly felt distant from him. She felt pathetic for feeling happy even briefly in his arms last night.

I want to run away. From this man.

From deep within her heart, another cry was heard.

“You look sad, Daphne.”

Astaire returned to a gentle voice and caressed Daphne’s cheek.

“You need to smile.”

At his words, Daphne forced a smile.

“So our baby can be happy.”

Astaire, speaking of the happiness of a baby that didn’t even exist, was surely insane.

The next day.

Astaire entered the reception room of the Avont Empire’s Emperor, lined with massive columns.

The gold-decorated ceiling fresco depicted the celestial realm. The intricately woven red carpet beneath his feet swallowed all sounds of walking.

Each column carved with patterns commemorating the Emperor’s achievements caught the eye.

The moment he stepped in, he felt a heavy pressure.

“Welcome to the palace.”

“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”

Unlike a few months ago, the Emperor could now walk on his own without others’ help. Even if he couldn’t carry out daily life completely like an ordinary person, still, his eyes were intensely sharp enough to overwhelm the person before him, befitting his former epithet as the Iron Emperor.

Astaire offered his greeting to the Emperor of the Avont Empire.

Then, as the Emperor nodded, he rose from his seat and met the Emperor’s eyes.

Watching Astaire with his back straight, the Emperor waved his hand dismissively.

“No need to be tense, it’s just us.”

“Still, aren’t there always watching eyes everywhere?”

“That’s true.”

The Emperor treated Duke Seyfried quite comfortably. It was quite different from the strict, blade-like demeanor he always showed other nobles.