It was almost instinctive.

Catching the hand that reached out toward him, he pulled her into his arms. Only then, recognizing her, did his eyes widen in surprise.

“Ilenia?”

Even when his body stiffened, she ignored it, only tightening her grip on him. Burying her face in his neck, she took a deep breath. Only then did she feel as though she could finally breathe.

Delphius naturally supported her, his arm steady beneath her as he lifted her. Yet his gaze, still filled with confusion, shifted towards the maid hurrying after them.

“Ilenia.”

He gently reached for her, his hand moving to cradle her cheek as his fingers brushed along the nape of her neck.

At that familiar touch, Ilenia’s head tilted downward, as though drawn along by his hand.

“No matter how happy you are to see me, you should at least look at me.”

Only then did she slowly and hesitantly raise her gaze to meet his.

Delphius looked her over once more.

Her golden hair. Her pink eyes. Only after taking in each detail did he let out a quiet breath.

The woman in his arms was undoubtedly his wife, Ilenia Lukehardt — the one and only woman who belonged to him.

But why…?

Recalling the news he had received, he furrowed his brows. The Ilenia before him did not match the description at all.

“Did I hear it wrong?”

“…Why do you ask?”

“You welcomed me with open arms, and yet… it doesn’t seem like you even wanted to look at my face. I wondered if my wife had done something wrong.”

“It’s not that I did something wrong…”

“Then why are you avoiding my eyes?”

Delphius lifted her chin.

Their gazes drew closer and closer until her pink eyes began to tremble violently. She tried to shift away, but he held her firmly in his arms.

With nowhere to go, Ilenia’s shoulders slumped.

“Ilenia.”

There was a hint of urgency in his voice.

“Was what I heard… not true?”

“…May I ask what it is you heard?”

“That you are pregnant.”

“….”

“Is that not the case?”

Her lips hesitated once more.

There was no sign of joy on her face.

“…And if it is?”

“And if it is?”

“How do you feel… right now?”

“You’re asking me that? When I don’t even know for certain whether it’s true?”

She nodded carefully.

She knew it was an absurd question.

After all, she hadn’t even properly confirmed the pregnancy — she had only hinted at it — and yet she was asking him how he felt. It wasn’t the right way to go about it.

It was impulsive. Instinctive.

But the fact that she had demanded an answer like this meant that—

—that she truly wanted to hear his answer.

Even she didn’t fully understand what kind of answer she was hoping for.

After all, Delphius had repeatedly asked her to bear a child, and their agreement was based on that condition alone.

Still—

She wanted to hear it.

Just one gentle word would suffice; something to ease her anxiety. If he gave her that, she felt as though she could endure anything.

Pressing her lips together, Ilenia looked up at Delphius.

Delphius slowly parted his lips.

“…To be honest, it didn’t feel real at first.”

He looked straight at her.

“Unlike what I expected, it took quite some time before you conceived.”

Having a child was not as easy as he had once thought.

Perhaps that was why people said children were granted by the will of the heavens.

At some point, the urgency to have a child had slipped to the back of his mind. More often than not, when he held Ilenia, it was no longer out of obligation, but rather from a more instinctive and personal desire to be with her.

For this reason, when he first heard the news, he felt nothing.

No sense of accomplishment. No surge of excitement at taking a decisive step towards his goal — not at all what he had expected.

And yet, his body moved of its own accord, preparing to return home.

A child.

The final piece that would complete the image of a family — the very thing the Duke of Lukehardt had spoken of so often.

Regardless of what kind of child it was, once it was born, it would secure Delphius’s place as the Duke of Lukehardt.

And yet—

Other, far less important thoughts kept crowding his mind.

Not grand plans for after he claimed his title, but small, immediate concerns.

His current schedule.

Ilenia, who was now carrying his child.

Even after boarding the carriage, his thoughts remained in disarray.

The documents in his hands might as well not have existed.

He had abandoned his work and rushed home without a second thought.

Delphius laughed hollowly at the absurdity of his actions. Yet, before long, his gaze drifted back towards the window.

A child.

A child between him and Ilenia.

If it took after her, it would grow up to be steady and sincere.

If it took after him, however, it would be sharp-minded and calculating.

Delphius found himself quietly hoping that the child would resemble Ilenia. He hoped that it would inherit as little of Lukehardt’s detestable nature as possible.

It was a meaningless sort of daydream. But not an unpleasant one.

At last, he would have a real family.

Not the cold, distant family he had experienced as a child when he was cast aside. But a true Lukehardt family: himself, Ilenia, and their child.

“You asked how I feel about your pregnancy.”

Lost in thought, he got out of the carriage without properly looking where he was going.

What he saw was her.

The vague image he had imagined began to sharpen as he looked at her standing before him.

That abstract, distant future slowly took shape, becoming something tangible.

“I’m happy. So happy I could go mad.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Delphius pulled her tightly into his arms.

“I’m glad it’s you who’s carrying our child, Ilenia.”

‘Our child.’

The weight of those words sank far deeper than she had anticipated.

Only then did she feel a sense of relief, and tears began to fall.

She couldn’t quite put a name to her feelings, but one thing was certain.

She was relieved that he had acknowledged the pregnancy.

Like the tide slowly receding, the confusion that had overwhelmed her began to fade.

That single word — ‘happy’ — gave her the strength to face the child growing inside her.

Finally, she could direct the joy and love she had been holding back towards the life inside her.

‘I’ve finally done it.’

‘I’ve finally found my place in this estate.’

She laughed as she cried.

And then, at last, she whispered it softly by his ear.

That she was pregnant.

***

“You there. Stay a moment—we need to talk.”

For a moment, a hint of irritation flashed across the physician’s face.

Madam Meg.

Although she was no longer the head maid and didn’t hold the same authority as before, she still looked at him with that same strict, unyielding gaze.

He could have ignored her.

She no longer held any real influence.

And yet, instead of walking past, he let out a quiet sigh and stopped.

After all, they had spent ten years crossing paths like this.

It was more than mere professional familiarity — a bond had formed between them over time.

Ten years was more than enough time for that.

“How is Madam’s condition? Is she truly well? There’s nothing wrong with her, is there?”

“She’s fine. Aside from her pulse being a little unstable, there was nothing concerning.”

“And her mental state?”

“She didn’t seem any different from usual.”

“That can’t be right. Lately, she’s been staring off into the distance far too often. Someone who used to be lively and full of laughter—now she barely even leaves her room.”

It was difficult to picture Madam Meg with such a worried expression.

Like Master and Head Maid, she had always been rigid and strict to a fault. And yet, if she looked like this, perhaps Madam wasn’t as bad as he had once thought.

Recalling the young mistress, who was still so naïve and unpolished, he shook his head.

“No. I didn’t notice anything like that.”

“…I see.”

She spoke in a low voice, still unconvinced.

It was actually Meg who had urged the maid to inform Delphius of Ilenia’s condition.

She had recognized at once that something was wrong, but she could no longer approach Madam directly.

Ultimately, she even gave money to Anna, the maid who was attending to Ilenia, asking her to speak on her behalf.

Within the Lukehardt estate, Madam Meg’s position had fallen greatly.

Ever since she was removed as head maid, she had been seen as having lost the master’s favor.

The maids who had once followed her began to distance themselves. Many now openly ignored her.

She was like a kite with its string cut.

Such was the reality of the former head maid.

Sometimes, it was better to sever ties completely.

But Ilenia did not know that.

Meg had hoped for Delphius’s mercy.

She did not realize just how devastating it was to lose one’s position and connections within the estate.

Yet Meg did not blame her.

In fact, she had chosen to remain on the estate of her own accord, even though she could have left without looking back.

It was all because of Madam.

The young mistress, who had already lost the few allies she had begun to rely on, now lived in quiet isolation.

To Meg, she seemed far too fragile.

“Perhaps it’s just because she’s in the early stages of pregnancy. It’s a time when emotions can become complicated—especially since it’s her first.”

“So, in the end… it’s just a matter of mood.”

The physician shrugged lightly.

“It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry too much. She’ll be receiving regular checkups, and if anything happens, it’s my job as her physician to be there immediately.”

“That may be so, but…”

Meg slowly turned her head, her gaze settling on the southern wing of the estate where Madam’s bedroom was located.

Although she could no longer stand by her side, Meg could only hope that the lady of the house would remain safe and free from trouble.