“It appears to have been sudden infant death.”

It was a term he had never heard before.

“The exact cause is unknown. Even children who appear perfectly healthy can be taken suddenly like this.”

“…So even if we had known, there would have been nothing we could do.”

“Regrettably… yes.”

It was no one’s fault.

That was what the physician said.

But if there was no one to blame, what was Ilenia supposed to do?

Was she meant to live on, hating only herself, with no one else to resent?

“…Infants at that age are especially fragile—easily broken. Even when they seem to be growing well, they can leave suddenly like this.”

“……”

“That is why people often say that, at such times, God sends angels to parents for a brief while… as a test.”

“…A test.”

Delphius repeated the word under his breath.

The physician hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“Yes. It is a saying that such precious lives are only granted to those who are prepared. And if it seems they are not yet needed, the child returns to God’s side, with the promise of another time.”

“So… what are you saying? That we are unworthy?”

“Th-that is not what I meant. It is merely a belief, something said to ease the grief of parents who have lost a child too soon. At the very least, it reflects their hope that the child does not wander lost.”

Delphius frowned.

Even if it was nothing more than a baseless saying, he did not like it.

Unworthy?

If anything, Ilenia had more than enough right to hold that child.

…Or perhaps—

“…Perhaps it was because of me.”

Perhaps God had seen through him.

Seen that he had regarded the child as nothing more than a means to power.

A hollow laugh escaped his lips as he dragged a hand down his face.

An angel.

Perhaps that word was not so wrong.

When he thought of the tiny life he had once held in his arms, so small it barely filled his grasp, the thought only deepened.

Had it been wrong, that he had felt even more affection because the child resembled his mother—small and fragile?

Or perhaps, the child had left, resenting a father who could not even soothe his cries.

“Usually, for that reason, infants are left entirely in the care of a wet nurse until their baptism…”

“But Ilenia didn’t do that.”

“It’s not uncommon for parents to grow especially attached to their first child. Perhaps… that was the case for Milady as well.”

Ilenia had never let the child leave her arms.

Even with her wrists and body worn to the point of collapse, even while she was still bleeding after childbirth, she had stubbornly held the baby, soothing him, feeding him, pouring everything she had into him.

She had given him all of herself.

Unlike him.

Unlike the former Duchess of Lukehardt.

Watching her love the child so completely—without reservation—had felt, to Delphius, as though even his own past was being gently embraced.

And so, he had let her be.

Because of his own selfishness, because he had wanted to fill, through the child, the love and attention he had never received as a boy.

“You’re both still young. You can have another child anytime. Please don’t worry too much.”

Delphius gave a stiff nod.

“…By the way, when will Ilenia wake up? Even if she was given a sedative, isn’t this too long?”

It had already been two days since Ilenia had done nothing but sleep. By now, she should have woken, but she remained still, as if even her breathing had quieted, unable to rise from her sleep.

“Physically, there are no issues aside from some weakness.”

“Then there’s no reason for her not to wake.”

“…It may be that Milady does not wish to wake.”

The physician’s gaze fell on Ilenia’s long lashes resting over her cheeks.

The effects of the sedative had long since worn off.

And yet, she did not open her eyes.

There was only one possible reason.

The physician lowered his gaze, already dreading the reprimand that would surely come from Meg.

“For now, it would be best to wait. Milady’s heartache is far worse than her physical injuries.”

After prescribing a few more medicines, the physician left.

Delphius remained seated in the bedroom for a long time.

It had been so long since it had been this quiet.

Since their marriage, his chamber had never known silence.

Sometimes, it had been filled with Ilenia’s soft chatter. At other times, the sounds of their bodies brushing against one another.

And after the child was born, the room had often echoed with the baby’s cries.

Before his marriage, there had been times he longed for solitude, for the quiet of having a space that was entirely his own.

But never, never had he wished for a silence this dreadful.

Delphius slowly brushed his fingers through Ilenia’s hair.

Her cheeks, which had only just begun to regain fullness, had once again grown hollow—thin, fragile.

Suddenly, the words he had once said to her came back to him.

“Once you give birth safely, everything will be placed at your feet.”

Placed at her feet?

A bitter twist formed on his lips.

Ilenia had never been someone who could fully accept what he gave her.

Even though he had intended to allow her to act freely and indulge her without restraint, she had never done so.

Instead, all she ever did was try—again and again—to be someone worthy in his eyes.

And now, it was truly over.

He had believed that, from here on, he, she, and their child would have nothing left but happiness ahead.

“…I was planning to tell you a little later. Once everything was settled, when nothing could stand in our way anymore.”

“……”

“It’s the place you longed for so much. I was going to present it to you properly, as the Duchess. With your name alone, you could have silenced your critics. Those who mocked and scorned you wouldn’t have dared to look you in the eye.”

“……”

There was no reply.

And yet, Delphius’s quiet confession, heavy with guilt, continued.

“I didn’t need anyone at the investiture. If I hadn’t needed to prove anything, I wouldn’t have even called my father. The only one I needed… was you, Ilenia.”

“……”

“Because you are my only family. If I were to raise a toast, I would want it to be with you. If I were to receive congratulations, I wanted them to come only from you. It would have been even more meaningful if our child had been there too. I thought we could go back together as a family of three, sit facing each other and say everything we’ve been holding in.”

“…That was what I had planned.”

Where had it all gone wrong?

Delphius gently took Ilenia’s hand.

Even when he wrapped his fingers around it, her wrist felt so thin—far too light in his grasp.

What was the point of saying any more?

She couldn’t hear him anyway.

He slowly rose to his feet.

He would tell her everything when she opened her eyes that she had done well, that she had endured so much.

Everything.

They could have another child.

The quiet murmur slipped from his lips as he carefully smoothed back her bangs.

Then, he turned and left the bedroom.

***

“I ask that you grant me the honor of serving Milady once more.”

The hand flipping through documents came to a halt.

Delphius looked down, expressionless, at the person kneeling before him.

“And why should I?”

“…I have heard the news.”

“……”

“Milady is in an extremely unstable state. It would be better for her—if even a little—to have someone close to her by her side.”

It had already been over two weeks since Ilenia collapsed.

Aside from the rare moments she woke to eat, she spent nearly all her time asleep.

Even when the maids tried to coax her, even when Delphius spoke to her—nothing changed.

She remained completely cut off from the outside world, as though she were using only the bare minimum strength needed to keep herself alive.

Even when she ate, it was the same.

Her empty eyes held nothing at all, her lips moving mechanically, without awareness.

Watching her like that, Delphius felt as though his insides were burning.

He tried to soothe her gently, then tried urging her more firmly—but Ilenia’s sleep did not lessen.

Because of that, he postponed his plans to enter the main estate, focusing entirely on her instead.

“Please… I beg you.”

“And what exactly do you believe you can offer… that would make me consider granting your request?”

“Once Milady regains her senses, you may cast me out. If she can only stand again as the lady of Lukehardt, I will accept any punishment you give.”

Cold eyes examined Meg closely.

The emotions on her unfamiliar face were startlingly sincere.

And yet, wasn’t she the one who had dragged Ilenia’s peaceful life into ruin?

A chilling gaze settled on her.

“Are you thinking of using this opportunity for revenge—”

“That will never happen!”

She cut him off firmly, shaking her head.

“If anything improper happens while I am attending to Milady, you may accuse me—and execute me without hesitation.”

A long, cold silence fell between them.

After a while, Delphius’s lips finally parted.

“…Very well.”

***

As the long winter passed and spring fully arrived.

Ilenia slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze, emerging at last from the depths of a thick fog, was clear and bright.

She took in the room before her, feeling the gentle warmth of spring against her cheek.

The scent of vivid spring flowers in the vase lingered softly in the air.

It was the season she had longed for so dearly.

She drew in a quiet breath, then carefully wrapped her arms around her abdomen.

A soft smile touched her lips as her hand gently caressed it.

“…This won’t do.”