16. Breaking Ground

Saena returned home in a slightly dazed state.

As expected, her nanny, who had been waiting only for her return, interrogated her about various things, but Saena gave brief answers and quickly entered her room. She managed to make the nanny retreat for now by saying she was tired, but this probably wouldn’t be the end of it. The second round would surely await tomorrow.

“Kyang.”

She was actually tired (not physically since she had taken such a long nap, but psychological factors played a bigger role) and was about to wash up and go to bed when Yolly came running, having heard her enter.

“Oh, Yolly. You haven’t gone to sleep yet?”

Saena picked up Yolly who had approached her. He was still very small. Initially, there were times when he grew surprisingly fast, but at some point, he stopped growing, which worried her.

“Kyang?”

But then in her arms, Yolly made a strange sound and suddenly started sniffing.

As he pressed his nose against her chest, shoulders, and nape, sniffing around, Saena froze, feeling caught. Weren’t animals supposed to have a very keen sense of smell?

‘Did, did the Duke’s scent get on me?’

Finally, after sniffing near her face, his eyes widened and–

“Kyaang!”

He roared. Then he raised his short front paws and pressed them against Saena’s lips. He continued making irritated noises.

“Mmph! Wh-what’s wrong!”

“Kyaang!”

What, what did he figure out?

Though it didn’t hurt since he wasn’t using his claws, his bearlike paws pressing against her lips and his apparent awareness and reproachful manner made Saena very embarrassed.

“Kyang kyang!”

“……”

Saena quickly put him down on the bed and fled outside.

“Alright! I’m going to wash up!”

She quickly closed the door while calling out to Yolly, who was trying to follow her with his short legs.

“Kyang kyang!”

Leaving Yolly’s diminishing cries behind the bedroom door, Saena hurried to the bathroom.

Her mind cleared as if she had never been dazed. The back of her neck was flushed red.

* * *

Why was it?

Was it because of what happened to Saena?

That night, she had another strange but vivid dream.

A woman climbed onto a man’s lap, swaying her alluring figure. Wearing only l*ngerie as thin as dragonfly wings, the woman pressed herself against the man.

『Mmm, honey…』

The woman’s delicate, fine small hands stroked the man’s chest seductively before wrapping around his neck. She tried to arouse him by grinding her body against his.

The man had his head tilted back against the chair, eyes closed, but after a while, he opened them and straightened his head.

The man’s face revealed straight on was… terribly cold. Despite having a nearly n*ked woman pressed against him, his expression showed not the slightest change.

『What are you doing?』

His voice was even colder. Unlike the woman’s writhing movements, he showed no sign of excitement anywhere.

『Are you tired? Just stay still. I’ll make you feel good.』

Though the woman seemed slightly flustered by the man’s coldness, she continued speaking calmly. Her soft, falling voice was both gentle and seductive, as if it could melt eternal snow.

『You’re doing unnecessary things.』

The man pushed the woman off his body with just one hand. Not content with that, he even brushed off his arm as if something had stained it.

『Kyaa!』

The woman’s legs spread indecently as she fell beneath the chair, revealing her secret place. Of course, the thin shoulder strap made of a single string fell, exposing her voluptuous flesh.

Despite the exposure that would captivate any man’s gaze, the man’s expression showed not the slightest change.

The woman, seeing that her exposed flesh failed to move him, seemed to feel shame instead and shouted while fixing her clothes.

『You need an heir too! How long do you think you can keep pushing me away?』

The woman’s eyes turned sharp as she bit her lip in frustration.

『I don’t need one.』

But the man still showed no interest.

『Especially not that bastard in your womb whose father is unknown.』

『……!』

The woman’s beautiful face distorted mercilessly.

The distorted face was, surprisingly, Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth looked slightly older and more mature than her current self.

『You’re cold. You really are…』

『A monster.』

『Even your chilling temperature…』

Words that could have been excuses or resentment leaked out like curses.

『Why would I have done that if I had a normal husband! It’s all because of you!』

The target of Elizabeth’s resentful screams was clearly Duke Kramer, who must have been her husband given the setting.

Despite her shrill screams, the Duke only looked down at the woman with emotionless eyes.

『You blame me now, but where were these thoughts when you were enjoying yourself as you pleased?』

『……』

『Would you like me to show you the list of all the men you’ve been with, from before marriage until now?』

『Th-that’s!』

『I believe I made it clear. That our relationship was just a contract. You haven’t fulfilled any of the conditions of that contract, yet you want so much.』

『……』

『I don’t expect conscience, but it’s problematic if you underestimate me.』

Elizabeth’s complexion turned very pale.

『If you had lived quietly as a shell, you could have at least maintained that, how foolish.』

The Duke’s atmosphere changed. The already chilly room temperature seemed to drop further, and even the lighting seemed to dim.

Swoosh.

Then black mist rose from behind his back. The black current soon transformed into wing-like shapes.

『If you had known even slightly what it means to carry an Oathkeeper’s child, you couldn’t have attempted such petty tricks. Tsk.』

『Wh-what are you trying to…』

Swoosh–

The black wings spread like ink in the air and stretched toward Elizabeth.

『Aah! What is this!』

『I don’t know whose child it is, but I’ll keep you safe until you give birth.』

『N-no! Get away!』

The black rippling spread widely behind Elizabeth as she tried to flee in terror. Like ink spilled on the floor, it spread in all directions, then that form swallowed Elizabeth and seeped into the floor.

『Kyaaaa…』

Through that gap, the shrill scream gradually faded and disappeared.

Huh–! Saena woke from the dream with a heavy gasp and sat up abruptly.

‘What… did I just see?’

Her body trembled, showing how startled she was. That’s how bizarre it was. That thing that emanated from the Duke.

‘Why do I keep having these dreams?’

Could this also be a side effect of the regression? Was that dream something that really happened? Then does that ‘black thing’ really exist too?

Many questions arose, but none could be answered.

* * *

When the weekend came, Saena headed to Delvon again.

“Sir Car– I mean, ahem. Sir Vishelma.”

Habits are truly frightening. She almost called him ‘Sir Carrot.’ Even though he had been granted such a splendid name.

Fortunately, Rupert didn’t seem to mind much.

“Though late, congratulations on becoming Sir Vishelma.”

Before departing, she handed him a gift. The items she had bought before.

“…Miss.”

“It’s nothing special, but open it later. I just bought practical things.”

She bit her lip to hold back laughter as she remembered the ointment.

“Though Miss’s smile seems somewhat suspicious, I accept with gratitude. And I will serve you with even more dedication and sincerity.”

“You’re already doing well enough. I need to breathe too.”

Rupert smiled as if he understood.

And as soon as she arrived at Delvon, what she heard was nagging.

“Never create a situation where you’re alone with the Prince! Never! Understand?”

And lots of it. From Sage.

‘He really has changed his personality.’

Though it felt a bit overwhelming, it was ultimately an expression of affection for Saena.

She now knows well how precious family love is. She also knows that it’s better to discuss and decide things with family no matter how embarrassing or awkward the situation might be.

“Nanny, aren’t you tired of coming and going every week? You could just stay at the main house.”

“What are you saying? I need to take care of you, Miss. I do this because I want to, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you.”

In her past life, when she got married, how she had missed her nanny. Actually, even if she couldn’t bring anyone else, she had really wanted to bring her nanny.

She had forcefully held back because she didn’t want to ruin one more person’s life.

As expected, coming to Delvon where all her family was made her feel at ease. She should rest well before leaving.

“Miss.”

Her nanny, who had said she was going out briefly, returned, somehow carrying a silver tray. Behind her was a maid carrying a box.

“……”

What could it be this time? Surely not again?

“Who would send something on a silver tray?”

“See for yourself.”

Her brows furrowed automatically just seeing the color of the envelope on the tray. It was another golden envelope.

“From the Imperial Palace?”

Now she feels like she’ll get goosebumps just seeing gold.

Holding back sighs that threatened to burst forth, Saena picked up the envelope. She turned it over to check the sender first.

“Oh?”

Saena’s face brightened immediately.

“It’s from the Princess!”

While receiving golden envelopes usually made her feel burdened rather than honored, this time seemed to be an exception.

Of course, she would have to read it first.

However, having felt good about their conversation during the tea party, and thinking her a good person unlike the Prince, joy showed in her hands as she opened the envelope.

Still, she didn’t have high expectations about the contents. She assumed it would be a brief reply to her thank-you letter. But as she read the contents, Saena’s eyes grew wider and wider.

“What does it say?”

The nanny, seeing a letter from the Princess for the first time, showed a very curious expression. Saena’s expression also fueled that curiosity.

“Um… She invited me.”

“Invited?”

“Yes. To the Princess’s palace.”