‘Your child will become that warrior.’

But she couldn’t say that.

When she’d seen the future, Yelena had been alone and she had no other evidence to support that.

‘If that old woman was around now…’

Just where did that old woman disappear to?

As Yelena began to grow worried, troubling over the old woman’s location, Duke Mayhard spoke again.

Upon hearing Yelena’s answer, Duke Mayhard’s face looked like he’d been hit, but the tone he spoke in was firm.

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?”

“Sorry?”

If he was apologizing in this situation, it could only mean one thing.

Yelena became anxious.

As expected, her worries had turned into a reality.

“I can’t give what you want, my wife.”

“That means… You won’t spend a night with me then?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

Yelena had thought that was a natural course of action between married couples.

If he wanted to reject, he’d have to have a particular reason.

‘It couldn’t be that he can’t do it.’

Yelena recalled that some men worried about their physical abilities.

But that might not be related to Duke Mayhard in any way.

‘If he couldn’t, the old woman wouldn’t have told me that method in the first place.’

How could it be that having a descendant who was destined to be a warrior was impossible?

“Tell me the reason. Do you possibly hate me…? You don’t, right?”

Yelena recalled everything she’d done since she’d arrived at the Duke’s palace.

She didn’t do anything in particular.

Even if she did do something, it wasn’t anything that would incur the hatred of the Duke.

At least, that was what she thought.

At least, she thought so.

The events from last night flashed through her mind again, but since Duke Mayhard did not intend to sleep with her, it did not fit the condition.

“I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?”

Thankfully, Duke Mayhard affirmed it as well.

“You haven’t.”

“Good.”

She’d known it.

Yelena heaved a sigh of relief on the inside.

Of course, why would he dislike me? There’s no reason for that to be the case.

“What is it then?”

Duke Mayhard remained silent; either he was deep in thoughts or had no intention to continue.

‘No way…’

Yelena drew in a deep breath before continuing the conversation.

“I, as the opposite sex, am still attractive in your eyes, right?”

“That’s right.”

Duke Mayhard’s eyes grew wide as he agreed with her.

It looked like he never thought Yelena would have such thoughts.

“Alright then.”

Her heart fluttered.

Had his denial come slightly later, she would have felt hurt.

“So what’s the issue? You don’t dislike me, and I’m attractive.”

He didn’t have any critical issues either.

“So there’s still a reason for you not to want to spend the night with me?”

“I’m sorry.”

‘Does he mean that he can’t tell me the reason?’

Flustered, Yelena blinked rapidly, watching Duke Mayhard.

“I’m the problematic one. In case you might misunderstand, it’s not your fault.”

‘So what’s the issue?’

If it were not for the old woman’s words, Yelena would have misunderstood him.

Unsure whether or not he was aware that his words might cause misunderstandings, or if he was just not concerned about being misunderstood, Yelena stayed silent. Duke Mayhard did not go any further, though.

After a moment, he finally said,

“I’m not sure if this will suffice, but I will give you anything else you want in return.”

Yelena endured the snort that almost came out.

Anything?

She did not need anything else.

She only needed one thing, be it on their first day of marriage or now.

All she wanted was to bear the Duke’s child, who would save the world.

“I understand.”

Yelena pretended to back down for now.

If she pushed him any further, she probably would not hear what she wanted to hear from him anyway.

‘I’m taking a step back.’

Yelena decided to end the conversation like that. For now, anyway.

Of course, since things had turned out like this, Yelena had plans after this as well.

***

‘I’ll pounce on him.’

Yelena cautiously chose a book from the library.

He doesn’t want to sleep with me?

‘Sure, fine then.’

You don’t have to.

I’ll do it instead.