His sympathetic smile unknowingly sparked defiance in Celia. Though sufficiently polite, that tone and voice that seemed to mock her more than anyone else stirred up a strange competitive spirit.

“You must know the pain of losing family better than anyone.”

“……”

“And I’m not the only one who lost family. It’s the same for you, Your Grace, isn’t it? An even closer… father and son relationship. Directly blood-related.”

Perhaps because they had been apart for a long time, Eugen didn’t seem like someone who had recently lost a blood relative. Rather, he appeared more dry and cold than Celia, who had only spent a single night. Even that appearance would be praised by people.

“Didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”

Celia wanted to end this uncomfortable time quickly. The longer she sat facing him, the more times she spoke, the more she felt like a branch being swept away aimlessly in a raging river.

Eugen remained silent for a while. Meanwhile, Celia’s anxiety only grew.

“The reason I asked to see you is none other than this.”

He took out an envelope and handed it to Celia. As she took it with anxious eyes, he gestured for her to open it.

For some reason, Celia found the envelope in her hand very unsettling. Even without knowing what was inside. Slowly breaking the seal and taking out the document, she found a paper filled with legal terms.

Though the professional terms were unfamiliar, she could understand the general meaning. Her hand, overcome with shock, began to tremble slightly.

“Are you… asking me to give up the inheritance?”

“That’s correct.”

Eugen took a sip from his teacup and answered brightly.

Celia read the document carefully again. Though the veil frustratingly obstructed her view, she didn’t have the courage to lift it to read. This was the only protection that could make her somewhat equal to Eugen.

“That’s absurd. No matter if you’re the heir to the duchy, you can’t do this to me, the wife of the former Duke.”

“Don’t tell me you were after the Hilbert family’s inheritance?”

Celia’s hand trembled lightly at his stern question. She unknowingly gripped her black veil tightly.

“Such… words are excessively rude.”

“Ah, it seems I’ve made another mistake as a son. I apologize again.”

She wasn’t foolish enough not to know that the repeated apology was mockery. Celia glared at him.

“As his wife, I have the right… to be granted proper status. Even though he’s no longer here now.”

“Come to think of it, I’m curious. May I ask how you came to marry my father?”

“Why do you…”

“I suddenly want to know. After mother passed away, father always spent time in front of mother’s portrait with tears in his eyes, so I’m curious how he came to remarry so suddenly.”

“……”

It was hard to believe. It must be either crocodile tears or that the son didn’t know his father well. But she couldn’t say that.

“…He came to my hometown on a trip, and Lord Andro proposed to me.”

“Ah, I see. How romantic.”

He nodded, responding in a tone mixed with admiration. Celia didn’t believe for a moment that it was genuine admiration. Eugen’s sudden inquiry about this story only seemed more suspicious. Whether he knew her thoughts or not, Eugen changed the subject again.

“This room has been used as the office of the Dukes of Hilbert for generations.”

“……”

Celia anxiously looked at Eugen, who had suddenly started talking about something else. She could see him smiling faintly through the veil.

“Now it has become mine. Since I use the things my father left behind one by one, I’ve come across traces he left. Documents he hadn’t finished organizing, letters… It’s taking some time to sort through everything.”

“I see.”

Celia quietly lowered her eyes. He surely hadn’t called her to talk about his daily life. She clenched her fists at the ominous feeling creeping up.

“In the process, I discovered something quite interesting.”

He said, picking up an envelope from the table.

“You wouldn’t say you don’t know about this, would you?”

Thud.

Celia immediately recognized what was being held out in front of her.

The document she had personally signed and sealed. It was a contract stating the amount of money she would receive and the inheritance rights if she produced an heir for Andro’s son, that is, for the Hilbert family.

“You’ve done quite an interesting thing.”

“……”

“Miss Celia, you’ve desecrated the sanctity of marriage with such a contract.”

His expression and tone were like those of an executioner pronouncing a death sentence.

“That… that was a contract your father himself offered. I didn’t demand it…”

“Who would believe that?”

At his cold rebuke, Celia felt as if all the blood in her body had dried up.

“It’s true, really. I just… as Lord Andro suggested…”

“You merely sold your body?”

Before the shock of his words could subside, even harsher words followed.

“So, you agreed to copulate with my father and bear a child?”

“This, this…”

“Are you going to deny it again? Say that the person who signed this has nothing to do with you, Miss Celia?”

“Your Grace…”

“To think he didn’t welcome a wife, but brought in a woman to bear an heir of my blood.”

The words, like shards of cold ice, mercilessly pierced Celia.

“And yet you dared to act as the Duchess. You even expected me to treat you as a mother.”

Celia trembled like a rain-soaked bird at the barrage of words.

“I can’t overlook this any longer.”

Eugen stood up. Seeing him walk towards the door as if he was about to chase her out immediately, Celia rose without thinking.

“No!”

She fell in the very posture of rushing towards Eugen. It was due to the long, flowing dress and veil. There was no time to think about how unsightly she might look. Raising her head, all she could see were Eugen’s long legs.

“No, no. Please…”

Celia clung to Eugen’s legs. She couldn’t help it even if it looked unseemly.

“What are you doing?”

She heard his cold voice, but Celia clung to his legs even more tightly.

“Please, please.”

Celia cried out, half out of her mind. She had to think of something, anything. She had to…

“I, I’m carrying His Grace’s child.”

“……”

He turned back from his steps and faced her again. Then he knelt on one knee in front of her.

Celia flinched and retreated at the sudden proximity of Eugen’s face. But as she backed away, Eugen’s hands grasped her shoulders.

“What did you just say?”

“……”

Hearing his calm questioning voice, Celia also became composed. It was like the eye of a storm that had found its way into extreme tension and fear. Looking into the man’s deep blue eyes staring at her, she felt scared, but there was something more desperate now.

“I said… I might be pregnant. With Lord Andro’s child. A successor… of the Hilbert duchy.”

The words flowed out clearly from her trembling lips.

“My father’s child.”

He tilted his head. Seeing the look of disbelief in his eyes, Celia cried out in an even more desperate voice.

“I’ve already consummated with Lord Andro. Even though we hadn’t gone through the proper marriage procedure… I came to this mansion as His Grace’s wife, and everyone knows that.”

Celia swallowed hard.

“It was a proper consummation.”

Celia shouted whatever came to mind. It was because she thought everything would be over if Eugen left this office and ordered her to be dragged out.

“So, I… I might be carrying Lord Andro’s child. No, I must be.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“We, we deliberately timed the consummation for a day favorable for conception…”

Words she would never have uttered normally came pouring out. Shame was nothing now. Celia was desperate.