“Is that so?”

Belita felt uneasy with Rian’s continued provocation of Lovia. Her hand was sweating from the anxiety that something might happen. It was torture being caught between two apex predators in a battle of wills. Thinking about what she had said to such a woman that day made her spine tingle.

“But since I came to give my greetings, I should do so before leaving, even if I’m treated as an uninvited guest, shouldn’t I?”

“Still tactless and self-centered as ever. Well, people don’t change easily.”

“Huh, don’t you know that’s my charm? I don’t change easily. My feelings for His Grace have always remained constant.”

Rian’s eyebrows twisted in irritation at Lovia’s words, now openly revealing her true feelings. His slowly turning gaze was nothing short of hostile.

“Lovia.”

Belita’s heart ached at the sound of her name from Rian’s lips.

What kind of relationship did they have? What kind of relationship would make him call her by name like that?

“Congratulations, Your Grace. You’ll soon meet your precious baby. How lovely it would be if the baby takes after Your Grace completely. It would have been even lovelier if the child resembled Your Grace and me, but that’s a bit unfortunate. Ah! May I hold the baby later?”

What did she say…?

“……Wife.”

“What? Yes.”

With her eyes widened in shock at Lovia’s appalling words, Belita glared at Lovia before turning to look at Rian a beat late when he called her. But this time her eyes rounded at Rian’s words.

“Cover the child’s ears.”

“What…?”

“Cover them tightly so it can’t hear somehow.”

Seeing the man’s expression with his mouth corners stretched upward, Belita suddenly recalled when she first met him. A monster of a man who was thoroughly, completely insane. At Crazy Rian’s grotesque smile, Belita instinctively wrapped her arms around her belly and hunched over.

“Even though I would never have stuck my c*ck in that filthy body of yours, if I had gone crazy and sprayed my seed, and if a brat had formed in your belly, I would have sliced your stomach open without hesitation. Do you understand, Countess?”

Gasp! Good heavens. Baby, don’t listen. Just listen to mommy’s voice. Okay? Let’s sleep, my baby……

Well, it’s not like the baby wouldn’t hear anyway, and even if it did, it probably wouldn’t understand what was being said, but still, desperately hoping the child would never know about its father’s insane side, Belita frantically covered her belly and soothed it.

“I didn’t know Your Grace had this side to you. I thought you were just a handsome but boring man, but ah… what should I do? I think I’ve fallen for you even more?”

Lovia spoke with a bright smile, as if she were truly insane. She revealed her inner thoughts without filter, as if only she and Rian existed in this place. Belita felt dizzy from the conversation between these two mad people. She wondered what kind of environment could produce such a mindset.

“Hmph, a woman not even worth dealing with. This is your final warning. Get lost.”

“I was going to leave even if you tried to stop me. Oh, and dance with me at the upcoming banquet. The Grand Duchess seems unable to dance with her protruding belly. I’ll fill your side, for old times’ sake.”

Belita felt confused at the sight of Lovia winking provocatively at Rian. Suddenly, she remembered what Lovia had said before. That she would passionately comfort Rian’s loneliness. The image of Rian embracing her overlapped with him embracing Lovia. Had something really happened between them?

At that moment, Belita stood up abruptly. She couldn’t listen anymore. Lovia had crossed the line, far beyond it. At Lovia’s final words, as if her reason had snapped, Belita released Rian’s hand and strode purposefully toward Lovia. The gazes of the two women met coldly. Lovia, still wearing a sneer, smiled brightly. Her expression clearly mocked, ‘What are you going to do about it?’

“You certainly talk a lot with that open mouth of yours.”

“My goodness, I suppose it’s because you’re a noble who grew up practically like a commoner that your speech is so vulgar. I’m worried that the field for the baby to be born is so vulgar that it might tarnish the honor of the Grand Ducal family—”

SLAP—!

“Ah!”

Belita’s eyes blazed as she slapped Lovia’s cheek. Lovia’s face froze in shock as she staggered and steadied herself against the wall. Confused by Belita’s unexpected action, Lovia clutched her cheek and glared. Soon, gritting her teeth as if about to pounce, Lovia faced Belita, who curled her lips upward and spoke fiercely.

“I can tolerate whatever you say about me. But I absolutely cannot tolerate you speaking carelessly about my child, my husband, and my home.”

“Are you insane? How dare someone like you do this to me!”

“That’s what I’m saying. There’s a limit to insanity. How dare someone like you speak such nonsense about a child who will be born carrying imperial blood?”

“Hmph, is that child really His Grace’s? Are you not carrying another man’s seed and deceiving His Grace that it’s his child? Rian would never embrace someone like you!”

“I sincerely want to kill you.”

Rian approached with a murderous gaze and growled, baring his teeth. He took Belita’s trembling hand and positioned her behind him as he faced Lovia. Despite her shaking legs at seeing Rian’s expression—one she had never seen before—Lovia looked at him with pitiful eyes, as if she were the victim. However, the words from his mouth cut deeper into her heart than the slap on her cheek.

“You’re as disgusting now as you were before. Just being in the same space with you makes me nauseous from the stench.”

“Rian…!”

“I never gave permission. Who told you to call my name with that filthy mouth! I could kill you right here for insulting the imperial family, but I don’t want to show my wife such an ugly sight, so I’m letting you go. Instead, you will soon pay the price. I’ll hold your father accountable for the crime of raising a daughter who dared to take the imperial family lightly.”

“You’ll regret this. I won’t forgive you for making me so miserable!”

“By all means. Your forgiveness means nothing to me, so leave quietly while I’m giving you this last chance.”

Belita felt confused seeing Lovia show tears for the first time. Lovia’s obsession with Rian seemed deeper and more pathological than she had thought. That made her anxious. A flower harboring poison would surely cause harm.

As Lovia turned to leave, her footsteps halted. In front of her stood a man who appeared to be her knight, glaring at Rian with a fierce expression. But something seemed odd about him to be just a knight protecting her.

Rian chuckled mockingly and muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“Looks like she’s been feeding her dog with her body. As expected, she never disappoints.”

Whether anyone understood properly, Lovia’s body flinched.

“I’ll escort you.”

The man supported the trembling Lovia and escorted her away. Watching them, Rian smiled enigmatically.

“Ah……”

“Wife.”

“Haah…… I want to go home.”

“Yes. It would be best to go home and rest.”

After returning to the residence, leaning on Rian with her exhausted body, Belita drifted into sleep as if she had passed out. She had many questions for him, but she lacked both the courage and energy to ask now. Today’s events alone were more than enough shock.

* * *

Inside Grand Duke Rian’s office.

Bruno, the Knight Commander, and the butler stood with serious expressions before Rian, who sat with an emotionless face. Bruno’s shoulders trembled with anger after hearing about the day’s events.

“Ha! I should go and cut off her head right now! You shouldn’t tolerate this anymore!”

“……”

“I should have been guarding that place! Haah…!”

Despite Bruno’s growling words, Rian stared at one spot, lost in thought.

“Your Grace, what’s wrong?”

At the butler’s concerned question, Rian finally muttered something incomprehensible.

“It wasn’t particularly something to hide, but how did she know?”

“What do you……”

“I have a bad feeling.”

“Could it be that you’re worried the Countess might do something?”

“Hmm, strengthen the security around my wife for now.”

“Understood.”

The atmosphere in the office grew heavier at Rian’s words.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Carefully examine everything entering the mansion. From the clothes my wife wears to the food ingredients, and recheck all the servants.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Honestly, Rian was also surprised by Lovia’s behavior today. She had never acted so recklessly before, but today Lovia seemed truly insane. Her eyes showed a determination to risk even death. Like a moth rushing fearlessly toward a flame, knowing it would burn to death.

And he knew that look well. The look in his mother’s eyes when she easily harmed those around his father because she couldn’t kill him. Lovia resembled his most hated mother very much. Perhaps that’s why he disliked her from the beginning.

“Your Grace, please don’t worry too much. I will definitely protect the madam and the baby.”

“Strengthen the security around the mansion, and have someone watch the Ventum mansion. Find out everything they’re doing.”

“Understood.”

His nerves were on edge from the anxiety and impatience he felt after quite a long time. It felt like his dead mother’s ghost was hovering around him. Rian’s expression grew colder as the unpleasant feeling seemed to bind his entire body.