This marriage had certainly been arranged with this child in mind. Not just Karin and Luke, but everyone had thought so.

But now it was too late. About a month too late. If the pregnancy was going to be discovered, it should have been discovered a month ago. If she really was pregnant, this child was nothing more or less than an unwanted burden now.

D*mn it.

If others found out about the child, the marriage nullification would become difficult. But it wasn’t like both Hurion and Aselidia would offer congratulations and tell them to live happily now that they had a child.

There would be a long and tedious custody battle. Or the child might not even be born. There would be more people in both Hurion and Aselidia who wouldn’t want a child carrying the other side’s blood to inherit. Karin coldly accepted that the latter was more likely.

She spent a long time in her room, her head bursting with worry, when the doctor arrived. And he gave the answer Karin had already expected.

“…It appears to be a pregnancy.”

She had s*x so much that of course she’d get pregnant.

Even trying to calm her mind with such idle thoughts didn’t work. Karin squeezed her eyes shut and glared at the doctor.

“This matter is a secret. You must not tell anyone. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

The doctor hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Sweat was beading on his balding forehead.

The doctor hurriedly packed his medical bag, barely explaining pregnancy precautions to Karin before saying “I’m busy so I’ll be going now.”

As soon as he left Karin’s room, he walked almost at a run to the end of the corridor, then looked around and stamped his feet anxiously.

“What should I do about this?”

Karin was pregnant. The father was obvious without asking. She had been the wife of that man, Luke Serade, until a month ago.

The problem was the impact Karin’s pregnancy would have on this situation. The marriage nullification lawsuit itself would be disrupted, and depending on which family raised the child who would become heir, it could escalate into something much bigger.

A child born this way would become a legitimate heir to both sides with no problems, inheriting both families’ succession rights, instead of inheriting Corbin since the Emperor had already made Corbin imperial territory.

…Even before the child was born, people who could see that far ahead might put Karin in danger. The doctor swallowed hard and went to find the Duke and Duchess of Hurion.

After going through numerous procedures to finally gain an audience, the ducal couple listened to the doctor’s words and remained silent for a long time.

“Are you certain?”

Breaking the silence, Adrian spoke with difficulty. The doctor, who perceived all the faint anger, bewilderment, and restrained sadness in that voice, nodded.

“I stake my entire medical career on it. I’m certain.”

“…I understand. Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone else, and you may go now.”

The doctor bowed repeatedly at that command and quickly left the duke’s study.

The couple sat alone on the sofa in the study that seemed frozen in time for a while.

“…Haah…”

Adrian broke the silence. He let out a deep sigh.

Rachel seemed to collapse at that sigh, sinking deeply into the backrest.

“Nothing goes right.”

Adrian muttered gloomily. Rachel closed her eyes tightly beside him.

“Of all things, our Karin had to get pregnant with that man’s child.”

“…Do you have any good ideas, my dear? I can’t think of any.”

“First, we can’t let her have the child. We must prevent it.”

Rachel spoke with firm determination. Adrian’s uncomfortable expression wasn’t because Rachel was being immoral, but because he couldn’t grasp the method.

“So, that method…”

“We need to persuade Karin. Since Karin didn’t like that man, persuading her should be easy.”

“But I’m concerned that she called for a doctor on her own without asking for our help.”

Adrian was frustratingly cautious. Rachel shook her head.

“The marriage is about to be nullified and she’s pregnant. Who would want to tell anyone about that? It’s natural.”

“Is that so, hmm…”

“Instead of doing this, they say to strike while the iron is hot – we need to meet with Karin right away.”

Adrian looked at Rachel with a bewildered expression.

“Shouldn’t we give Karin some breathing room?”

“Even while we’re doing this, that bastard’s seed is growing in Karin’s belly. We need to handle it as quickly as possible, even a day sooner. Come on, call Karin.”

The word “handle” reeked strongly of blood. Adrian wasn’t the type to fear that bloody smell splashing on his daughter. He wouldn’t have become a duke if he were that weak.

After calling for Karin, she entered the study with a composed expression shortly after.

“You called for me, Father. Mother.”

“Yes. Dismiss your maid.”

The maid bowed and quietly left the study before Karin could say anything. The two called Karin closer.

Rachel gently but firmly grasped Karin’s hand.

“Karin.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You know why we called you, so speak honestly. You’re hiding something from us, aren’t you?”

Karin’s complexion changed dramatically. Rachel gripped Karin’s hand even tighter. So she absolutely couldn’t escape.

“We’re not trying to scold you. We’re not trying to interrogate you either. We want to find a solution to this matter together.”

“…If you know everything, can’t you just do whatever you want?”

Karin’s voice was sharper than ever. She had sensitively picked up that her parents weren’t pleased about her pregnancy. Rachel’s expression also hardened slightly.

“What kind of way is that to speak to your mother?”

Adrian scolded. However, Rachel raised a hand to stop Adrian and spoke in a soothing, sweet voice.

“I understand your feelings completely. At just twenty, you’re still young, and you’re carrying a child that won’t be welcomed by anyone – how frightening that must be, like the sky is falling. But remember, we’re always on your side.”

“…”

“Just because you’re having a child doesn’t mean you need to develop tender feelings for that man. When he finds out you’re having his child, he’ll come running and snatch it away. Then he’ll remarry and live well.”

Rachel dripped these words into Karin drop by drop like poison.

“Men are that heartless. Only you would suffer losses, only you would hurt your body… That can’t happen, can it.”

“I understand what you’re saying, Mother. I don’t intend to be that stubborn either.”

Karin spoke in a deflated voice. Rachel smiled brightly and pulled Karin’s hand.

“Good, then this mother will find someone good at abor…”

“But I don’t want to have an abortion procedure. It involves inserting metal rods and scraping around inside. Many women have died or become disabled.”

In a world without proper anesthetics or surgical instruments, how dangerous and unsanitary pregnancy termination would be was obvious. Rachel looked flustered.

“Then what do you want to do? We have to get rid of it right now.”

“I won’t get rid of it.”

“Karin! You just said…”

“Calm down, Mother. I said I won’t get rid of it, but I didn’t say I planned to suffer losses.”

Karin spoke calmly.

“I’ll go to a distant villa. I’ll stay there for about 8 months… No, it would be better to stay about a year so no one suspects. If someone happens to give birth there, or if that child dies right after being born… I want to go somewhere quiet where no one will know.”

Rachel and Adrian looked at each other. The same anxiety was reflected on both their faces.

However, they had to acknowledge that Karin’s proposed method was the best option. It was also an era when pregnancy termination was more dangerous than giving birth. Rachel reluctantly nodded.

“If that’s what you’re thinking, there’s no choice. I’ll make preparations. When are you planning to leave?”

“The sooner the better, so I’ll go tomorrow.”

“Alright, do that.”

After a few more words with her parents, Karin bowed and left the room.

“Miss.”

The maid who had been waiting outside approached Karin. Karin’s complexion was pale.

“Are you alright?”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go. I need to pack. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be going to stay at the villa right away.”

The maid was surprised but showed a thoughtful expression while walking, then soon understood. She grasped what method Karin had decided to use.

She wasn’t sure if this was really the best choice.

Karin looked down at her lower abdomen with confused eyes, then gritted her teeth viciously and glared at the empty space in front of her.

But she had to do it this way.

She needed to steel her heart as ruthlessly as possible. Only then could she survive this strangely twisted story.

* * *

“Here’s the item you requested.”

Luke received the booklet his aide handed him inside the carriage. It was a thick booklet slightly larger than his palm. The beige leather cover was stained with fingerprints and ink blots were scattered here and there.

Luke took what appeared to be someone’s notebook, opened it, flipped through the pages expressionlessly, frowned once, then closed the notebook.

“Good work.”

Seeing Luke put the booklet in his jacket, the aide made a complicated expression. But he quickly erased that expression.

“The next schedule is visiting Count Eldanin’s house.”

“He certainly profited a lot when his parents were alive. He’s probably the happiest about this incident.”

“Everyone’s saying ‘what a terrible incident’ on the surface, but inside they’re celebrating it as an opportunity to devour.”

“That’s right.”

Luke closed his eyes and sighed. He was tired. He wanted to hold Karin and sleep soundly.

Even though she would never come into his arms again.

Just then, the carriage suddenly shook violently with a thud and stopped. Both Luke and his aide frowned at the unusually rough driving.

Moreover, the carriage had stopped. The aide hurriedly got out of the carriage.

“What’s wrong? Why did you suddenly stop without orders?”

“Sir, we were hit from behind!”

At those words, the aide first looked toward the back of the carriage warily. Indeed, an unfamiliar shabby black carriage was diagonally ramming into the luxurious carriage from behind.

“Did you block our way knowing this is His Grace the Duke of Aselidia’s carriage?”

The aide asked as he walked toward the black carriage.

“We won’t punish you, so hurry and back your carriage away.”

However, his hand rested on the hilt of the sword hidden behind him. It could be an assassin. He couldn’t let his guard down.

Then the carriage door opened and a woman wearing a cloak got out. As she got out of the carriage, her hood fell back, revealing brown hair completely.

The aide was truly surprised.

“…My lady… No, Lady of Hurion?”