Chapter 143

Proofreader: somnium

For this reason, Grand Duke Roygar concluded,

“It’s not something Cedric did.”

From the point of view of Grand Duke Evron, the successor is not something that can be sacrificed for political reasons.

But it wasn’t just for that.

Cedric and Grand Duke Roygar themselves were in a similar situation, although their lives were different.

They were of the imperial family, but the noble family could not be called blood ties.

The weak maternal family was destroyed altogether when the sisters were framed and executed.

Cedric and he were close relatives. However, there was no opportunity to build affection enough to be called family. Moreover, before they could grow up, each became the master of a different family.

Instead, Marquis Luden served as his strong familial support for a long time.

Even now, with his wife and children, he was the closest relative.

Nevertheless, his relationship with Marquis Luden was still a transactional one.

Therefore, the existence of a wife and a child was very meaningful to Grand Duke Roygar.

Even if he dies, the child who inherited the blood will live and succeed him.

If he survives and gains something, there is a child who will inherit it.

The meaning of life has been completely renewed.

Before the birth of the child, Grand Duke Roygar lived to survive.

And after he had children, he was living to have more in his hands.

So the wife who gave birth to the child was precious.

It was only after he had his own children that he understood the reality of the responsibilities involved in his bloodline and family.

When one has children and a wife, people are bound to change.

So he thought Cedric would compromise;to protect his wife.

Conversely, it has now crossed the negotiable limits. Otherwise, Grand Duke Roygar would have done it himself.

Grand Duke Roygar looked at Marchioness Camellia and said,

“I regret not heeding sister-in-laws warning of execution. Sorry.”

Perhaps this was the work of the ambitious Artizea herself.

He never thought she would sacrifice the child in her womb.

The thing to watch out for was Artizea, as Marchioness Camellia said.

It was an apology with that meaning.

“No, Your Grace. I think that maybe even the Grand Duchess herself did not know.”

said Marchioness Camellia.

“Because, at a young age, she has never had a married sister or experienced birth from her mother. She doesn’t even have a nanny or an adult she can trust.”

“I see.”

Marquis Luden followed the advice of Marchioness Camellia with his own.

“In any case, His Majesty the Emperor has received this cause. The problem is that.”

It happened for the second time after the requisition of supplies to be sent to the north.

It was not known how far the attack would come.

Grand Duke Roygar concluded.

“It is not good to confront Cedric now or to protest the treason itself. Let’s leave him alone for the attack on the Dowager Marchioness Rosan to punish her for treason.”

“Your Grace is correct. He cannot claim any justification in itself. Just because Grand Duchess Evron was persecuted by the temple does not remove the fact that the Dowager Marchioness Rosan cursed Her Majesty.”

“It would be ridiculous to come and change our attitude now. So let’s just leave it alone. Completely, let go. That is enough.”

The Emperor will understand Grand Duke Roygar’s will that he will not push any further on the Dowager Marchioness Rosan’s incident.

Marquis Luden nodded his head.

Grand Duke Roygar changed the subject.

“The problem is on the temple side.”

Grand Duke Roygar looked at Marchioness Camellia and said,

“I’m going to have to cut the loss*. The sooner the better.”

“Don’t worry. Everything has already been prepared.”

Marchioness Camellia said politely.

“As expected, sister-in-law is the most reliable.”

Grand Duke Roygar smiled.

*) Originated from an economic term to stop an activity, business, etc. that is failing in order to prevent more losses or damage. Now used in a more daily life: when someone does not want to get their hands involved anymore or to end friendship or any kind of relationship

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And while all that was happening, Grand Duke Evron’s residence was quieter than ever.

Cedric went out early in the morning to get things done. His knights were put into operation.

The employees whispered even the most essential words, lest to interrupt the rest of the sleeping Grand Duchess.

Artizea opened her eyes two days after she collapsed.

It was a familiar bed. She was also familiar with the sight of the late afternoon sunlight coming through the curtains and brightening the bedroom.

Artizea buried her face in the pillow. She had laid down looking at the ceiling for a long time, her hips and backs were hurt and her bones were sore.

For a while she was extremely tired and seldom slept well. This was the sweetest sleep she had tasted in a long time.

So a little bit more.

There was nothing particularly urgent. No, was there?

In a daze, Artizea mentally counted the things she had to do one by one.

Then she opened her eyes.

Heat surged from her body, perhaps because she had forced herself to wake up from her sleep. Her stomach ached.

Artizea looked around the familiar bedroom.

‘In the prayer room……. Did I take it?’

Her memory was unclear.

Artizea let out a long sigh.

Even after all those years of living, worrying about her subordinates, lying in bed and never being able to get up, she had never lost her memory like this.

Was this the side effects of the drug?

But it wasn’t too bad thinking about it. She had never lost her memory after taking the sleeping pill in the past.

She wants some more sleep, but that’s all.

‘Is Hayley doing well?’

She should get up and not worry Alice and Sophie.

As she moved with that thought, Alice, hearing her presence, jumped up from the corner of the room.

“Miss!”

Alice shouted in haste enough to forget even her changed name.

And she shouted outside.

“She is awake!”

The door swung open before the shouting was finished.

But there was no rush of people pouring in.

Alphonse, who moved first, stopped walking and took a deep breath. It was because he was afraid that he would make the bedroom noisy with excitement and shock Artizea.

Others, blocked by his large body, clamored. But thanks to Alphonse, it seemed only a little bother.

Artizea looked at him slightly blankly.

‘Ah, because I collapsed.’

She must have worried not just Alice and Sophie, but everyone else.

She knew it in her head, but hardly felt it.

The people who cared about her in the past were very rational.

They were worried about Artizea, but those worries were close to those worried about the control tower disappearing.

But the people here now are not.

Alphonse, Ansgar, and most of the other employees are just worried about her without knowing the real role she is playing.

That put Artizea in a terribly strange mood.

Alphonse only let the doctor pass first. And he said in a solemn voice.

“Everyone may be worried, but treatment comes first.”

Then he bowed to Artizea silently and closed the door.

Artizea was holding back a small laugh.

“What’s the big deal?”

“This is not the time to say that. You collapsed, passed out, and hadn’t woken up for two days.”

Alice arranged Artizea’s bedding and moved the cushions. And she let her sit leaning against it.

“Since you’ve slept for a long time, first drink some water.”

The doctor said cautiously.

Alice immediately handed Artizea a cup of warm water.

She brought the silver samovar to one side of the room, the water was kept boiling to keep the humidity in the room at an appropriate level and allowed Artizea to drink whenever she woke up.

After Artizea had wet her dry neck with the glass of water, the doctor examined her closely.

The doctor asked, while taking a temperature and a pulse.

“Is there any discomfort or anything?”

“I’m hungry.”

“It would be a good idea to start with a thinly boiled soup. I said it’s better for you to get a good sleep, but if you hadn’t woken up, I would have come up with a way to run the soup through a glass tube down your throat.”

After saying that, the doctor said,

“Do you have any stomach ache? I was checking that there was no bleeding, but I shouldn’t even miss a small abnormality.”

“Stomach?”

Artizea reflexively placed her hand on her stomach at those words.

“It seems to be pulling a little…….”

Artizea replied that way without much thought.

Since she ate a lot, there were not many days when her stomach was completely comfortable. There were quite a few times that it was aching or heavy.

She never paid much attention to it. She thought she had an upset stomach, because she ate more than the usual amount.

But the doctor said with a serious face.

“According to His Grace the Grand Duke’s words, it is estimated to be around 14 weeks, so it is natural. However, for the time being, do not get out of bed and take absolute rest. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take another look.”

“What?”

Artizea blinked her eyes.

Alice sat next to her and wrapped her arms around Artizea’s shoulders. It was a rude act that a maid could not dare to do.

But she was concerned that Artizea might fall, and she had no choice.

Seeing Alice’s attitude and Artizea’s bewildered face, even the doctor hesitated.

“You’re conceiving, but……. Did you not know?”

“Pregnant……?”

Artizea felt her head turn white.

Alice grabbed her by the shoulders and hugged her tightly. Artizea opened her mouth and then she closed it again.

The doctor tried to hide his flusteration.

Artizea caught her breath several times. The doctor rushed to her and, along with Alice, hurriedly laid her down firmly between the cushions.

“Take a deep breath. Calm down. Now is the time to be really careful.”

“I’m, pregnant? Is there not anything wrong?”

Artizea grabbed the doctor’s arm. She gave strength to her fingers till it turned white, but there was no grip in the thin branch-like fingers.

“You must’ve missed the moon, did you really not know?”

“I didn’t know. In the beginning, I almost never had any.”

Artizea said, trembling.

Her first moon was later than others. And after that, at most once or twice a year, but it completely stopped in her early thirties.

In the beginning, there were hardly any moons on a regular basis. She thought it was because of the stress, and she didn’t think much of it.

“Of course, it’s infertility..….”

“Not necessarily. The odds are very low, though.”

The doctor said in a soft voice.

“It was a very difficult-to-get baby. I have to congratulate you.”

Artizea hardly heard those words.

She said half-dazed. Her head was blank and she couldn’t think of anything.

“Go away.”

She only said that one word.

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