Chapter 9 (Part 2)

Anthus, who was at the Imperial Palace due to Cloud’s persistent summons, was annoyed.

“I heard that a Holy Knight named Aens secretly obtained a powerful sleeping drug. The name of the sleeping drug is ‘Gentleman of the Night.’ Just a drop will knock you out immediately… It’s an illegal drug.”

“What do they intend to use it for?”

“That’s what we need to find out, isn’t it?”

More importantly, the ‘Gentleman of the Night’ obtained by Aens was an illegal drug banned from trade.

“Should we seize it first since it’s a banned item?”

“That’s a good idea.”

Knock, knock.

The chamberlain who entered urgently approached Anthus.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. And Duke.”

“What is it?”

“A red paper has arrived from the Rockbellion Ducal residence!”

“What?”

A red paper from the family means there’s a very urgent matter requiring immediate return. In such cases, even the Emperor must allow Anthus to return to the Ducal residence.

“Red paper…”

The chamberlain handed the red paper to Anthus. Confirming Frey’s handwriting, Anthus read the contents.

“Your… Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Cloud looked worriedly at Anthus, whose face was contorted with shock after reading the urgent message from the Ducal residence.

“Your Majesty, I must return.”

“It’s alright, go quickly.”

Anthus’s heart pounded unpleasantly. 

What on earth happened to her?

With his mind unsettled, all he could think of was running to Yuliana. Crushing the red paper, Anthus ran out with all his might.

Anthus rode his horse roughly and dashed into the Ducal residence. Ferrell immediately greeted Anthus.

“What on earth is going on! Where’s Lia!”

“Please calm down first, Master… Physician Diana is personally attending to her.”

Ferrell wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and tried to calm Anthus, who was looking for Yuliana. As he spotted Physician Diana descending the stairs, Anthus’s face began to turn pale.

“Diana, nothing happened to my Lia, right?”

Diana turned her gaze away in response to Anthus’s question. Anthus looked at Ferrell. Seeing Ferrell’s unusually serious and heavy expression, Anthus felt like he was about to collapse.

Anthus turned his gaze to Diana. Diana lowered her head, looking at the floor.

“Tell me! Immediately! What’s going on! Where is she?”

“She’s in the Duchess’s room.”

Without looking back, Anthus sprinted up the stairs. Frey was standing in front of the Duchess’s room.

“You’ve come… Yan.”

Seeing Frey with slightly reddened eyes and an awkward smile, Anthus began to feel afraid. He had just started to be happy… Everything seemed dark, and he couldn’t think of anything.

“Mother… What on earth… What has happened to Lia? Neither Diana nor Ferrell will tell me anything.”

“Well…”

“No… No… Without Lia, the Rockbellion Dukedom will end with me! Lia is all I have, Mother.”

Seeing Frey’s sad expression, Anthus staggered, looking as if he was about to collapse, and shouted.

“It’s okay. No matter what happens, I have no intention of giving up on Lia. Even if she’s afflicted with some disease, I’ll do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it costs me my life!”

Frey looked at Anthus with pity, then turned her back, speaking with a trembling voice.

“Go in. Lia is waiting for you.”

It felt like the sky was falling for Anthus.

He opened the door and approached Yuliana, who was lying on the bed. The room was filled with the scent of peaches.

“Yan.”

Her cheeks looked pale as she opened her eyes and rose. Diana and Frey, who had followed him in, watched the two gazing at each other earnestly.

“Lia, are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Anthus held Lia’s hands tightly, struggling to hide his tearful face, and spoke. Yuliana, who had raised her upper body from the bed, looked at Anthus and said.

“I don’t know what kind of illness it is, but I’ll make sure to cure it. I have no intention of letting you go.”

In this world…

“They said it’s not a serious illness. Why are you crying?”

Anthus desperately clung to Yuliana, sobbing. Diana approached Anthus, who was crying as if the world had ended.

“Diana, tell me about Lia’s illness.”

Yuliana gently stroked Anthus’s suddenly haggard face.

“You should be prepared. Duke, you might die.”

“If I could die in Lia’s place, I’d offer my life to God.”

Could the medicine to cure the disease be in a dragon’s lair? 

Hearing that he should be prepared for death, Anthus steeled himself and spoke. Yet tears welled up in his eyes again and fell in droplets.

“I’ve calculated… Lady Yuliana seems to be about five weeks along.”

“Are you saying she’s been sick for five weeks? Why haven’t we noticed until now!”

“That’s not what I meant.”

At Diana’s words, Anthus jumped up and dragged Diana and Frey out of the room.

“Does Lia only have… five weeks to live? I’ll find a way to get the medicine to cure her in five weeks, no matter what! So please tell me how to save her. I’m begging you, Diana.”

Diana shook her head. Seeing this, tears began to pool in Anthus’s eyes again.

“I don’t care what happens to me… As long as Lia can be saved…”

Anthus clutched his heart and sobbed. It was the worst feeling.

What use is being a Sword Master, having money, or power! When I can’t even properly treat the illness of the woman I love… 

Anthus lamented, thinking he was the most worthless man in the world, and hung his head.

Re-entering the room, Anthus staggered towards Yuliana and cried again.

Yuliana looked at him, who was crying in distress. The atmosphere in the room was engulfed in seriousness. Then, the silence was broken by Diana.

“It seems the Duke has misunderstood, so I’ll explain properly.”

“Yes, please explain.”

“She’s five weeks along.”

“Yes, five weeks.”

“Fortunately, it seems there’s no morning sickness, which is a relief.”

“Morning sickness?”

“Yes, when pregnant, nothing is better than not having morning sickness and eating well.”

At Diana’s words, Anthus stopped crying. Yuliana just blinked.

“What did you just say?”

“She’s five weeks pregnant.”

Anthus looked blankly between Diana and Frey.

“Pregnant?”

“Yes, pregnant. Damn Young Master.”

“Pregnant? Lia? No… Then you should have told me sooner! Mother! Diana! I thought Lia was sick, and I was…”

“You’re commendable, son.”

“Lady Frey, what is commendable about this? Even though they’re engaged, they haven’t even had their wedding yet!”

“We should hurry the wedding, shouldn’t we?”

Anthus’s lips began to twitch. His eyes, once filled with sadness and tears, began to fill with joy.

“I’ll say it again, I clearly sent a message that something significant had happened to Lia, but you assumed it was an illness.”

“Do you know that your tears amplified my assumption as soon as you saw me?”

“They were tears of joy.”

Yuliana herself still couldn’t realize it. Five weeks? Pregnant? She couldn’t think of anything. The only thing that came to mind…

“Uh… Luda.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

“Could you bring me some peaches?”

“Yes.”

Luda skillfully peeled the peaches and brought them on a plate to Yuliana. The peaches quickly disappeared into her mouth.

Yuliana couldn’t think of anything. Her mind became complicated.

She saw Anthus and Frey rejoicing and Philip and Ferrell, who had entered at some point, tearing up with emotion.

“Lia, if there’s anything else you want to eat, please tell me.”

“Yan, peel me some peaches.”

“What? Okay.”

Anthus hummed as he peeled the peaches and placed them on the plate. As soon as the peaches were placed on the plate, Yuliana put them into her mouth.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yan.”

“Yes.”

“I heard I’m pregnant, right?”

“Yes. Lia, you’re becoming a mother, and I’m becoming a father.”

Unlike the joyous Anthus, Yuliana couldn’t be happy. The faces of her father and Louis, who would learn of the pregnancy, came to mind automatically. How to tell them about the pregnancy… Everything seemed so dark.

<Duke, you might die.>

And she finally understood what Diana had said earlier.

Anthus might be killed by her father and brother. Yuliana looked at Anthus, who was happily peeling a peach, with a bright smile. It was the happiest smile she had ever seen on his face.

Anthus gently pulled Yuliana into a hug. His heart was overflowing with emotion. He felt nothing but gratitude toward Yuliana.

Although his mind was cluttered with countless worries and joys, above all, he was thankful to God that it wasn’t an illness.

“Lia… I.”

Anthus unknowingly shed tears again.

“Yan… Don’t cry.”

“I was… so heartbroken thinking something bad had happened to your body.”

Yuliana carefully wiped the tears flowing down Anthus’s cheeks with her fingers and said.

“I was fooled for a moment too. But when they said it was a curable illness, I thought it would be okay… I was a little anxious.”

“To think I made a pregnant woman anxious… I really didn’t expect to be pranked like this.”

Anthus gently kissed Yuliana’s forehead, then her eyes, and finally looked at her lips. He cautiously overlapped his lips with hers.

“Lia.”

Just thinking about her always made his mouth sweet… Being apart for even a moment was painful… He could never let go of this person, this love.

“Lia, you always make me happy.”

With just Yuliana’s existence, he felt an uncontrollable great happiness. But now, a greater happiness had come.

“I will do my best to make you happy.”

Anthus opened his magical space. He took out a small wooden box and knelt on one knee in front of Yuliana, opening the box to show her. Inside the box was a beautiful ring.

“Lady Yuliana Loengrin… I sincerely love you. Please marry me.”

Anthus had long been deeply captivated by Yuliana. He always dreamed of this moment of offering the wedding ring… proposing, and her accepting it.

“When did you prepare the ring?”

“I prepared it together with the engagement ring.”

“I can’t say no, can I?”

“I will propose as many times as it takes.”

“Anthus Rockbellion… I accept your proposal.”

With Yuliana’s acceptance, Anthus kissed her with the happiest face in the world.

As the kiss deepened, so did the joy.

“Stay in bed… Lia, I’ll be right back. And is there anything you want to eat?”

Anthus asked Yuliana.

“I want juicy, fatty meat. I ate three plates of venison yesterday…”

“They say tastes change when you have a child. Fortunately, there’s no morning sickness, so I’m relieved. If there’s anything you want, Lia, please tell me. I’ll prepare everything.”