Pregnancy for a Successor - Chapter 38

“What do you mean?”

“It’s, it’s……”

Celia hesitated, opening her mouth but unable to get the words out. Meanwhile, Eugen grabbed Celia’s chin, lifting her face as she avoided his gaze.

“Yes? Madam.”

Celia, her face held by him, let tears fall.

“Speak properly. What did my father do to you?”

“A-Andro didn’t……”

“Didn’t what?”

Eugen gently urged her to continue, as if telling her to speak quickly. Still, Celia found it difficult to open her mouth. It was time to tear down the tower of lies she had been building all this time.

“……”

Celia just opened and closed her mouth, looking at him. A strange energy enveloped her entire body.

He was waiting for something. Like a predator patiently, yet persistently, watching its prey, waiting for it to walk right into its mouth.

What could it be? What answer was he waiting for…

“Hmm? Tell me.”

As if ready to hear anything, he applied pressure to the hand holding her chin. His deep blue eyes settled darkly on her, and Celia was completely captivated by them.

“I, I never… consummated with him.”

She blurted out as if entranced.

“I see.”

At his light response, Celia looked at him with a puzzled face.

“Ah.”

With his short reply, Celia’s eyes filled with fear.

“…Yet you enjoyed being embraced by me.”

“……”

“Does that mean you want me?”

There was a darkness as deep as the abyss in his blue eyes. Celia stared at Eugen as though she was under a vicious spell.

“Hmm? Celia.”

He urged her to answer. But it was closer to a voice expecting her to give the predetermined answer rather than seeking to satisfy his curiosity.

“Answer me.”

He looked at her with an even deeper gaze. It was a look that seemed like it could change at any moment depending on her answer. Celia, facing those abyssal eyes, slowly opened her mouth.

“Me……”

The man’s eyes sparkled, like he didn’t want to miss a single movement of her speaking lips or tongue, like a snake hiding in the grass waiting for an opportunity. The poor prey, completely captivated by that gaze, could only move as he controlled.

“Me.”

Eugen repeated her words, waiting for the rest of the answer. Celia moved her lips to utter the remaining words.

“D-don’t abandon me. Me……”

She finally collapsed. And with tear-filled eyes, she pleaded.

“Let me… stay by your side. I, I can’t without you now……”

Her tearful voice knocked at his ear.

“Oh, Celia.”

His voice, tinged with regret, was heard as if he felt sorry for her.

“How could I abandon you?”

“……”

Celia looked up at him with tear-stained eyes.

“When there’s a Hilbert seed in here.”

He smiled as brightly as ever.

“Whatever sins you’ve committed, I don’t care.”

“E-Eugen……”

Eugen pulled her trembling body into an embrace. It was a gentle gesture, but the grip that held her captive was not one she could easily escape from.

“You just need to focus on nurturing the seed you’re carrying in here.”

Celia turned over and over the words that flowed from Eugen’s mouth. No matter how much she thought about it, it was difficult to grasp the exact meaning of those words. Finally, she understood with a sense of resignation.

A woman carrying a Hilbert child. That was the definition he had given her. But Celia doubted her own ears at the words that followed.

“By becoming my wife.”

She heard Eugen’s laughter in her fading consciousness.

***

In her sleep, she felt something tickling her face. Celia tossed and turned for a moment before opening her eyes.

“……”

The person whose eyes met hers smiled gently.

“Eugen?”

She sat up abruptly.

“Did I wake you?”

Eugen asked, gently pressing her body back down. As soon as she saw his smiling face, Celia slowly backed away. What was going on?

“I, I……”

Eugen pulled her close and embraced her. Surprised by the sudden hug, she squirmed, but he just gently patted her.

“Are you surprised?”

“……”

“By my proposal.”

It wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t an auditory hallucination either. He, Eugen, the Duke of Hilbert, had indeed proposed to her directly.

“I, I……”

Celia’s face turned red from embarrassment. Rather than feeling happy about his proposal, she felt dizzy at the sudden reality that dawned on her.

“People think of me as your new mother……”

“Well.”

He smiled and lifted Celia’s chin.

“Among those who came to the funeral, who saw this face?”

“……”

“Who heard your voice?”

No one had.

“By the way, I’d like to interpret your fainting as being overjoyed by my proposal. If that’s not the case……”

Eugen’s face darkened rapidly.

“I-I like it. Of course I like it.”

The words burst out before she could stop them. She quickly covered her mouth, but she couldn’t take back the words that had already come out.

Seeing Celia startled, he smiled, and Celia felt like she could die of embarrassment.

“Why?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

She quickly retreated, releasing her arms. She had done something presumptuous.

“Hmm……”

At that moment, his expression suddenly contorted.

“Eugen? What’s wrong?”

Celia looked at Eugen with a face even paler than his. He was clutching his left chest and breathing heavily as if in pain.

“Eugen!”

Celia’s sharp scream echoed through the bedroom.

***

“Wh-what could have happened to him?”

Celia asked, her face turned pale blue. Just looking at her face, she seemed like someone about to collapse herself.

“Suddenly his expression hardened… he couldn’t breathe properly and collapsed. What, what should we do?”

“Calm down, he’ll be fine.”

Mrs. Letten wrapped a blanket around Celia’s shoulders, who was trembling like a rain-soaked sparrow. She even placed a teacup with just the right warmth in her hands. But despite the warmth in her hands, her trembling showed no signs of stopping.

“Even if he’s not alright… you’re here, Madam.”

“Pardon?”

Celia looked at Mrs. Letten with disbelieving eyes.

“What did you say?”

“If something happens to the master, all of the duke’s estate will go to you, Madam. More precisely, to this child.”

“……”

“I’m telling you that there’s nothing bad for you in this situation.”

“What, what are you saying?”

Celia stared at Mrs. Letten, who was speaking with an extremely rational face. Mrs. Letten continued with an unwavering expression.

“Continuing the family line is extremely important. Lord Andro also felt the need for more heirs out of concern for this. It was in preparation for a day like this.”

“Mrs. Letten……”

“So even if something happens to the master, you don’t need to worry at all. Madam, please just focus on safely giving birth to the child.”

Mrs. Letten bowed her head and spoke, and Celia looked at her with an even more bewildered face.

“Are you serious? Do you really think that?”

“Of course. I exist for this family. Probably all the long-serving servants feel the same way.”

“……”

“It’s heartbreaking that the master’s health has deteriorated, but still, it’s fortunate that the Hilbert ducal family will safely continue its lineage since you’re carrying a child. No matter what happens, I will protect you and the child.”

“…You know whose seed is in here.”

“It’s the seed of the Hilbert family.”

“Eugen… is the child’s father.”

“……”

“This child is Eugen’s. I don’t care about Hilbert or whatever.”

Mrs. Letten seemed a bit surprised by this strong assertion she had never seen before.

“Calm down, Madam.”

Mrs. Letten held Celia’s hand tightly, trying to calm her down.

“No matter what anyone says, what you’re carrying is a Hilbert child. That’s all that matters.”

“No, it’s not.”