“I’m pleased to meet Duke Seyfried’s wife again after your recent joyous news.”

“Ah… I greet the Second Prince.”

For some reason, Astaire hadn’t come with him and seemed to have gone up to his office first.

Because of that, Daphne had to receive their guest Phaios alone.

Click.

The door closed, and when they were left alone.

“Daphne.”

Phaios removed his stiff mask and called her name familiarly.

Daphne found this uncomfortable but it was awkward to point it out.

“Yes, Second Prince.”

“Congratulations.”

A bitter emotion briefly flickered through Phaios’s eyes as he offered congratulations.

She felt she knew what that emotion was, so Daphne deliberately pretended not to notice.

Now she could be certain.

The reason she’d always felt uncomfortable whenever she met him.

It wasn’t because she’d learned that someone she thought was just a friend actually had the hidden identity of royalty.

“…Thank you.”

She swallowed dryly and responded to his thanks.

After that, a strange silence she couldn’t quite describe flowed between them.

“I brought gifts for you and the child.”

“Ah, thank you… I don’t know how to repay this.”

“You don’t need to repay anything.”

Phaios smiled with his eyes half-closed.

“Just you living well.”

The moment she heard those words, Daphne felt an uncomfortable sensation like someone was pricking her heart with a needle.

“You living happily. That’s enough.”

Phaios looked so sad as he said this that she couldn’t say anything.

Phaios’s wish wouldn’t come true anyway.

As long as she remained by Astaire’s side.

She could only be happy by leaving him.

Daphne looked into Phaios’s mysterious purple-tinged eyes.

“Actually, I…”

Her lips moved on their own.

Should she tell him or not? She’d only been agonizing over it, but her mouth moved on its own.

Even though she thought she should stop here, her lips wouldn’t stop. Her mouth moved freely, spitting out words.

“I’m soon going to—”

Please save me.

Please help me.

She was about to say such things to Phaios.

She wanted to tell him. That the laurel leaf he’d put in the envelope for her back then was still valid.

That she still wanted to leave Astaire.

But her hope shattered into pieces.

“Daphne.”

Astaire had somehow silently opened the door and entered the drawing room, watching Phaios and Daphne.

About thirty minutes before Astaire entered the drawing room where Phaios and Daphne were together.

As soon as the Duke arrived at the estate, he went up to his office to meet the person waiting for him.

“Hello, Your Grace.”

It was the gynecologist. She had finished examining Daphne and had been waiting at the estate until Astaire arrived.

“How is my wife’s condition?”

“For now, physically there are no problems.”

Physically no problems. Then in other aspects.

“However, today the Madam…”

The doctor moved her lips for a long while. Only after Astaire raised his eyebrows to urge her did she finally speak.

“She experienced morning sickness for the first time.”

“Morning sickness?”

“Yes. In early pregnancy, women have symptoms like being unable to properly eat foods they normally ate well, or retching when smelling certain things.”

Of course, Astaire wasn’t unaware of those symptoms.

He immediately understood what the gynecologist was concerned about.

“The Madam’s body is not much different from that of a pregnant woman.”

In other words.

“Phantom pregnancy.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Daphne had become so immersed in her pregnancy state that, just as he’d feared, she was experiencing a phantom pregnancy.

Astaire felt dizzy that the concern he’d had while riding in the carriage had become reality.

“Eventually I’ll have to announce that she miscarried.”

If she didn’t actually become pregnant, he’d have no choice but to tell people she’d miscarried.

“Yes, that’s what worries me too…”

The gynecologist also trailed off.

But Astaire thought a bit differently.

If she was going to hurt anyway, wasn’t it better to hurt quickly and be done with it?

Of course, Daphne would be extremely distressed at losing the child. But Astaire thought it could be resolved if he took good care of her so she wouldn’t have time to feel the loss.

“Your Grace.”

“Yes.”

“If I may be so bold, this isn’t an ordinary problem. The shock women receive when they lose their child is beyond what men think.”

He wasn’t unaware of that either.

But this was the only way. He had to push forward. It was already too late to turn back.

“Soon I’ll announce that my wife miscarried. We need to start preparing.”

“…”

The gynecologist looked like she had much to say about Astaire’s plan. But in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to object.

“You still remember the plan I told you about beforehand?”

“Yes, I remember.”

The gynecologist nodded reluctantly.

“Then we start from today.”

Astaire’s eyes gleamed.

Soon, Daphne would learn the news of a miscarriage of a baby she never even had.

“That’s all I have to say. You may leave now.”

“Yes. Have a good evening.”

The gynecologist still had an uneasy expression, but Astaire cut off any chance for objections she might voice.

After dismissing her, Astaire left his office and went down the stairs.

He hurried his steps considerably.

By now, Daphne would be receiving their guest Phaios who’d come to the estate.

Thinking of the two of them together made his teeth grind.

“I’m soon going to—”

Just as he grabbed the drawing room door handle, he heard Daphne’s voice from inside.

It was a voice so desperate it would make anyone listening tear up.

Soon going to what?

Astaire felt he somehow knew what words would follow. Something about running away, probably. That same old story.

That d*mn escape.

Your place is by my side.

If Daphne ran away holding Phaios’s hand, of all people.

Astaire would chase them down and cut off that royal bastard’s wrist that she was holding.

Not wanting to hear what came next, he roughly threw open the drawing room door like he’d break it.

“…”

Finally, silence came to the room. He’d never been so grateful for stillness.

And when he saw Daphne’s blank eyes staring at him.

Astaire naturally clenched his fists.

Why can you only look at me with those eyes?

If that royal bastard weren’t here right now, he would have grabbed Daphne and shouted at her.

The only time Daphne stayed docilely in his arms was during the nights they spent together.

That’s why Astaire always wished the nights they spent together would never end.

“Sorry to interrupt.”

When Astaire didn’t hide his sarcastic tone, the interrupted Phaios didn’t hide his displeasure.

“Your hospitality is truly excellent, Duke.”

“We are quite inadequate in hosting the Second Prince at our estate. Please understand that point, Second Prince.”

To words more twisted than a knot, Astaire responded with equally sarcastic expressions. Phaios and Astaire’s gazes clashed coldly in the air.

“Ah…”

Just then, a maid who’d come from behind carrying simple refreshments couldn’t hide her awkwardness at seeing them.

Astaire squeezed between Phaios and Daphne and sat down.

After the Duke was seated, Phaios and Daphne also sat.

“This is chamomile tea.”

The maid explained the tea she’d brought this time and approached the table with the teapot. A fragrant floral scent soon spread throughout the drawing room.

That’s when it happened. Daphne’s face turned white as a sheet of paper.

“Madam?”

Everyone in the room noticed Daphne’s strange state. Naturally, the first person to jump up was Astaire.

“Urk…”

“Daphne!”

Just as Astaire tried to turn Daphne’s body toward him, she bent her slender upper body and covered her mouth with both hands.

“Ugh!”

The moment she retched, Astaire froze like ice. What he’d feared was happening.

“Are you okay?”

Astaire patted her back while taking care of Daphne. Thinking could come later—taking care of Daphne came first.

“Yes, I’m… I’m fine.”

Daphne spoke with difficulty, gasping for breath. Then her face turned white as a blank page again.

“Urk!”

“Daphne!”

Daphne ended up shaking off even Astaire’s hand and ran out of the drawing room.

“Wait!”

“Daphne!”

Astaire chased after her, calling only her name. Naturally, Daphne couldn’t go more than a few steps before collapsing to the floor.

“My stomach… my stomach feels bad.”

“Let me call a doctor first.”

“No, I’m fine.”

Daphne grabbed Astaire’s hand as he tried to call a doctor immediately and stopped him.

She smiled a faint smile that seemed ready to fly away at any moment.

“This is also a natural process. Because a baby is growing inside my belly.”

Even though she was breaking out in cold sweat like she might die at any moment, Daphne smiled while gently stroking her belly.

“Morning sickness is also a physiological response to protect the baby in the womb. I’m fine.”

“There’s no way you’re fine!”