The moment he heard the word ‘miscarriage’, it was as if Delphius’s blood had been drawn away.

It was as if the nerve that the Duke of Lukehardt had been deliberately scraping at had finally snapped.

Even as the blood drained from his body and grew cold, his mind burned with restless agitation.

The more his limbs grew cold, the angrier he became.

“There are dozens of attendants who exist solely to serve you. A physician who will come the moment you call.”

He simply couldn’t understand.

“And yet—you speak of a miscarriage?”

“Delphius, I…”

There were so many people devoted to her care and yet the words she spoke sounded no different from the Duke’s.

Hearing her utter something so ominous herself stirred an unbearable surge of anger within him.

“Who put that thought in your head? Was it Daniel? Or… Ariella?”

“No. It was just… a possibility. Things don’t always go the way we want them to, so I thought—”

“Don’t even entertain that possibility, Ilenia.”

On their first night together, she had spoken so easily about having his child.

And now?

Did she no longer want it?

Perhaps that was it.

Once the child was born, she would be tied to him for life.

Or had Daniel said something to her while he was away?

Had he told her to get rid of the baby in exchange for securing his claim to the title?

The vile thoughts that had long festered beneath the surface began to stir and spill over.

Ugly emotions he had buried and ignored twisted through his mind — filthy, jealous suspicions he could no longer suppress.

Even though he knew—

— as long as he held her adoptive parents in his grasp, she had no choice but to remain obedient and meek.

“Miscarriage is not an option.”

Whatever happened, the child could not be lost.

This was different from when he first found out about the pregnancy.

To build the family he had always longed for — the perfect family he had envisioned — he needed that child.

Until he took back his authority from those despicable people, there could be no miscarriage.

“Do you understand, Ilenia?”

His goal had never wavered.

He had fought tirelessly to reclaim what was rightfully his, and he was now on the verge of succeeding.

He could not allow his hard work to be undone over something as insignificant as a few months.

“You don’t need to imagine it. Don’t even think about it. It won’t happen. A miscarriage will never happen.”

Ilenia’s lips pressed together. It felt as though her eyes were on him—but she closed them before he could be sure.

Delphius noticed, just before she lowered her gaze, the faint tremor in her hands.

“…Alright. I’ll do my best to protect the baby.”

“Good.”

His expression softened slightly as he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she quietly rested her head against his chest.

Before dawn, she woke with a start, her eyes flying open as a suffocating fear tightened around her chest.

Ilenia wiped her tears away with her sleeve and tried to calm her breathing.

Outside, the sky was still wrapped in deep darkness, with no sign of dawn yet.

Blinking slowly, she wrapped her arms around herself.

She was cold.

Despite having changed into a nightdress suited to the weather, the chill clung stubbornly to her.

She needed warmth — something to hold onto, to stop her from falling apart.

Someone she could burrow into, someone who would tell her that everything was going to be all right.

But when she reached out, her hand met nothing.

There was not even the faintest trace of warmth left, from either him or the sheets.

She sat up abruptly.

Grabbing the small bell beside her, she rang it.

In the stillness of the night, the clear chime echoed sharply.

After a moment, a maid wearing hastily thrown-on clothes entered hastily and bowed her head.

“Did you call, Milady?”

“…Where is Delphius?”

“Master had an urgent matter and left.”

“When?”

“Th-that is…”

“No, it’s fine. You don’t have to tell me.”

Seeing the maid hesitate, she shook her head. She was afraid to face the truth that she had been unconsciously avoiding, whatever it might be.

Whether it was work-related or not.

But still—

“…I just wanted him to stay with me. Just for today.”

The words she had never wanted to say escaped her lips anyway, sounding weak and unbecoming.

She had tried to understand.

But she couldn’t.

If only he would soothe her like he used to, hold her and show her warmth, even just once.

“…This is strange. Why do I keep crying…?”

“Milady…”

She took the handkerchief that the maid had silently offered her and pressed it to her face.

But once the tears started falling, they wouldn’t stop.

She felt so alone.

So unbearably lonely.

The invisible walls surrounding her seemed impossibly high, and the cold of the estate seeped into her bones.

Everyone cared for her, and yet no one could truly reach her.

She couldn’t even see Meg or Amanda.

So she endured.

The only thing she held onto was the hope of seeing her husband again. She endured it all, even when nausea rose to her throat, bile burned her mouth and her gums throbbed and bled.

Because once he returned, once Delphius was by her side, everything would be all right.

As long as he stayed with her, the child would settle and she could finally feel stable again.

But there was a limit to how long she could live like this, trapped in isolation.

Ilenia couldn’t go on like this.

She had known for a long time that Delphius did not love her.

Everything between them was bound by a contract and built on calculation and careful intent.

His actions had never amounted to more than courtesy — the bare minimum owed to the Lady of Lukehardt.

It had all been a misunderstanding born of her own foolish, childish feelings. And yet, even knowing that, she couldn’t simply tear those feelings away.

Love.

Somehow, without realizing it, she had come to love him.

“…No. No, I can’t.”

She forced down the emotions welling up inside her and swallowed hard.

She remembered the words of the physician: pregnancy could bring waves of shifting emotions.

If the child could feel these tears as well—

Ilenia quickly wiped them away. She didn’t want the child to be affected by her despair. She would carry her broken, tattered heart alone.

She wanted to show the child only warmth and good things.

But just as she began to steady herself, another wave of nausea surged up.

“Ugh—”

“Milady, please—take this.”

Something was urgently pressed into her hand, and she forced it into her mouth.

The sharp, intense sourness made her wince—but for a moment, it dulled even the nausea.

“It must be because your stomach is empty. I’ll have some soup brought right away.”

Ilenia gave a weak nod. She didn’t want to eat anything—but she forced herself to move her tongue, to swallow.

Each time she began to grow used to it, the sourness surged again, making her tongue ache.

‘Ah… I hate this.’

She chewed, pouring her tangled, weary emotions into the sharp taste.

She hated the sourness, just as much as she hated the heaviness in her heart.

***

“Oh my! You finished it!”

The maid exclaimed with delight as the cup was emptied.

“…Yes. This one doesn’t make me nauseous.”

The tea she had been drinking every day recently was a gift from Daniel to celebrate her pregnancy.

He said it would help with morning sickness, and indeed, it eased her hunger pangs whenever she drank it.

“It’s a relief that the baby doesn’t reject this one.”

“It really is. It seems the baby likes it.”

“I should ask where it came from. If we try something similar, the baby might refuse it.”

For the first time in a while, it was a tea that didn’t make their lady retch from nausea. The maid, who had been worrying daily over what to prepare for her, smiled brightly.

“You’re right. I should ask Daniel. And thank him properly for such a thoughtful gift.”

After a brief tea time, Anna gathered the empty cup and brought it down to the kitchen.

“She finished it again?”

“Yes. Without any nausea this time.”

Anna set the tray of teaware down, her expression satisfied.

“That’s a relief… but what kind of tea is it?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps it was imported from overseas? Otherwise, there’s no way we wouldn’t recognize it.”

“Right? Anyway, if anyone finds out, let me know. Milady really likes it—I want to stock up on it.”

At that moment, a voice cut through their light conversation.

“What kind of tea is it?”

The servants’ chatter stopped instantly.

A strange tension filled the air as they exchanged silent glances.

Meg had already stepped close before them, her expression calm as she spoke again.

“Would you mind showing it to me as well?”

“Ah… yes, of course.”

Anna handed over the cup, her expression uneasy.

“If you recognize it, please let us know. Milady seemed to like it very much.”

Meg studied the cup for a long moment.

Then her face twisted.

“…You’re saying Milady drank this?”

“Yes. Why?”

“And after she drank it… what did she say?”

Her tone carried a sharp edge—like she were still the head maid, issuing orders.

Anna’s expression hardened as well.

“And what do you need that for? It’s none of your concern anymore, is it—”

“Now!”

“…Why are you shouting like that? She said it made her feel full—like it settled her stomach.”

What is wrong with her…?

Anna muttered under her breath, but Meg’s expression remained grave as she spoke, her voice low and firm.

“…Throw it away.”

“What are you talking about?”

Anna cried out in shock.

“That tea was a gift from Lord Daniel! If servants like us handle it carelessly, who knows what kind of trouble—”

“Now! Do it immediately—and send for Milady’s physician.”

Cutting her off, Meg raised her voice, urgency breaking through her composure.

“There’s no time! Hurry! Do you want to be accused of killing the child?”