Chapter 3.2

The reactions of the Baron and Baroness to Erika’s pregnancy could not have been more different. The Baron, who had been dozing by the fireplace that day, was delighted to hear of his second daughter’s pregnancy, especially when he learned the father was none other than Gilbert of the Marquisate of Bastide.  

The Baroness, on the other hand, was so shocked she nearly fainted on the spot. She could not accept the truth and wept bitterly, but it was far too late to undo what had happened.  

In the midst of the chaos, Aness clung to the wall in fear, exchanging glances with Dana, while the eldest, Imelda, stood with a calm expression. In fact, she too had a secret she could never tell anyone.  

Imelda, the eldest daughter of Baron Klein, had always been obedient to her parents and sometimes served as their pillar of support.  

But she had a secret she would take to her grave. In fact, she was the secret concubine of Baron Eckras.  

A married baron with two grown children, from a family no better than the Kleins, Baron Eckras was a man Imelda had admired from afar for a very long time.  

Despite being from a similarly humble family, he was neither servile like her own father nor cold—he was a warm and family-oriented man.  

When he was young, Baron Eckras was known for his handsome face, and even now, in his older years, he had a distinguished and impressive appearance. At first, he flatly rejected Imelda’s confession and turned away, but as she continued to approach, his heart softened.  

He respected and loved his current wife, but it became harder and harder to ignore the earnest courtship of a calm and lovely maiden.  

In the end, they held a secret ceremony, and Imelda spent the past year hiding as Baron Eckras’s second wife.  

That was why seeing her younger sister Erika’s state felt so personal and pitiful. Whether it was out of desire or for the sake of the family, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for her sister. Would such a tragedy have happened if they were young ladies from a prominent family?  

If so, they would have received a proper marriage proposal, and if it didn’t work out, they would have found another noble match. They wouldn’t have fallen for such a philanderer.  

But the family’s misfortune didn’t end there. While the Baroness was bedridden from shock, the Baron ended up causing even more trouble.  

He was secretly pleased to hear of his daughter’s pregnancy. Look at the Baltimore Barony—thanks to their eldest daughter Julia, they had revived their house.  

He thought his family could do the same. Dutiful Erika must have stepped up to help her father and the family. In that case, as her father, he couldn’t let this opportunity slip by.  

The Baron headed straight for the Marquisate of Bastide, determined to negotiate with the Marquis.  

***

Caron was busy with work in his office when he received a new report from his butler.  

“…An unmarried pregnant woman?”  

Caron raised his eyebrows and stared intently at the paper.  

“It’s estimated that the daughter of Baron Klein is three months pregnant? Is this true?”  

“Yes, and it seems the whole family is in an uproar because of it. But there’s an even more serious matter…”  

Butler Volteman lowered his voice as he continued the report.  

“The Baron went to the Marquisate of Bastide to confront the suspected father and caused a scene. He probably doesn’t realize how strict the new law is and acted recklessly.”  

Otherwise, he would never have dared to defy the Emperor’s decree and break the law so openly.  

“Hm, whether he knew or not, he’s definitely committed a crime and must be punished. What’s the name of the pregnant daughter?”  

“She is the second daughter, Erika.”  

“Arrest all members of the family. I need to see the face of the daughter who’s said to be pregnant.”  

The Duke wanted to confirm it himself. They said she was pregnant by the Marquis’s son, but he needed to see the woman’s face with his own eyes.  

Over the past two months, he had only managed to find two unmarried pregnant women, and both were commoners—neither looked anything like the woman from that night.  

Now, he was confident he could find her by scent alone. As time passed, the scent of apples grew so strong it gave him headaches.  

That afternoon, the entire Klein family was arrested and brought to the underground prison of the Perschtmann Ducal mansion, where the Knight Commander resided.  

His mansion was as grand and luxurious as the Imperial Palace, and it was notorious for holding foreign spies—its atmosphere was chilling.  

The Baron, who tried to negotiate with the Marquis of Bastide, was locked in a solitary cell. The bedridden Baroness managed to get up and waited in the interrogation room with her three daughters.  

Haggard and weeping endlessly, the Baroness was nearly out of her mind. The second daughter, Erika, was unmarried and pregnant, and her husband was now facing a heavy sentence for attempting to extort money illegally using their daughter. They had been completely unaware that the law had changed.  

Imelda leaned against the wall with her head bowed, anxiety written all over her face. She feared the world would discover she was Baron Eckras’s secret concubine.  

Only the youngest, Aness, paced back and forth, searching for a way out.  

‘There must be a way. A way to save Father. Yes, I’ll beg Caron, the Knight Commander. Should I just confess that I was the woman that night? Surely, he wouldn’t destroy the family of a woman carrying his child. Maybe, for the sake of appearances, he’ll let us go. Yes, I’ll appeal to his sympathy first, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll tell the truth…’  

As she was lost in thought, the heavy iron door opened, and Caron finally appeared. Wearing his military uniform, a long cape, and leather gloves, the Duke entered. The Baroness collapsed at his feet as if throwing herself before him.  

“Your Grace! Please, forgive us in our ignorance. We truly knew nothing. My husband did wrong, not knowing the law had changed. Please, have mercy on us.”  

Seeing her mother, still unwell, collapse in tears at the Duke’s feet, Aness rushed over to support her.  

Erika, who had been leaning blankly against the wall, was shaken by the sight of the handsome Caron before her. The man with shining blond hair and striking features looked at her with a cold expression and asked,  

“Are you Erika?”  

“Yes, y-yes.”  

Erika answered in a trembling voice, bowing her head slightly.  

Caron stepped closer to her, and Erika was so nervous she could barely breathe. She hadn’t realized Duke Perschtmann, the most powerful man in the Empire after the Emperor, was so handsome and impressive. Blushing furiously, Erika trembled as the Duke approached.  

Meanwhile, Caron, standing close to the supposedly pregnant and unmarried Erika, sniffed the air and frowned. Far from the scent of apples, there was only the stifling smell of cheap perfume, which irritated him even more.  

He stepped back a few paces and looked over the women. The eldest, Imelda, stood by the wall with a calm expression and her head bowed. The youngest, who seemed to be supporting her mother, glared at him with soft brown eyes and brown hair.  

“No one in this Empire can break the law set by His Majesty. You must receive a fitting punishment. Therefore, Baron Klein cannot avoid a heavy sentence, and you all must atone for your wrongs through labor.”  

Caron declared arrogantly, about to turn away, when Aness couldn’t stand it anymore and boldly blocked his path.  

“Excuse me! Your Grace, isn’t it unfair to say it’s all our fault? We truly didn’t know. The news about the new law was only shared through newsletters for the wealthy noble families, right? We couldn’t afford to subscribe to those.”  

As Aness argued, glaring at him, the Baroness and her two other daughters finally realized the gravity of the situation and froze. Their youngest was now confronting the second most powerful man in the Empire, right after the Emperor—without a hint of fear.  

“Hmm, but a crime is still a crime. Even without the law, blackmail is a serious offense, don’t you know?”  

“Then what about the other side? Isn’t the Marquisate of Bastide’s notorious son just as guilty? Even if my sister went to him, he was the one who forced himself on her. My sister had no choice. Isn’t she the real victim here?”  

Behind her, Erika wiped her tearful eyes with the back of her hand. The little sister she’d always ignored was now recklessly standing up to the Duke for her sake, risking everything. That alone made Erika cry.  

“Hmm, that’s not quite right, young lady.”  

Caron frowned, glaring at the bold Aness across from him. He was always calm and cold, never losing his temper. But his punishments were always certain and severe.  

“A man can be wronged just as easily as a woman. A man can lose his chastity too, so in this kind of case, both sides are equal.”  

He frowned, recalling how he had recently lost his own chastity, then tilted his head. A breeze entered through the window, brushing past Aness, and a faint scent of apples tickled the Duke’s nose.  

The moment he caught the apple scent, the Duke’s body slowly stiffened. A look of surprise crossed his face.