Chapter 30

What Camilla said just now wouldn’t register, so I stared blankly at her—until a bulb lit up in my head.

“Oh, but that—it’s a misunderstanding…”

“If you can’t carry yourself with dignity, what do you think the employees would think?!”

“No. but…”

Though clearly, Camilla couldn’t hear anything.

“And besides…!”

She shuddered, horrified by her own imagination.

“What if Amoide was bitten?!”

At the end of the day, she still thought about her own son first.

“Ah, yes.”

I kept my mouth shut.

It might not mean much for her, but even so, would she care if I told her that I was the one who was the most in danger in front of the snake? And that the reason my clothes were torn like that was because it actually burrowed into my dress?

“What if Amoide collapsed after getting bit by that venomous snake?!”

‘But Madam, what about me?’ I wanted to ask that, but I was afraid of what she’d reply.

“It was an accident, Mother… I didn’t expect this either…”

I tried to make an excuse, but it seemed like Camilla still wasn’t even listening.

“Don’t take walks anymore, what use are they for my son’s health! You’re just walking around meeting snakes. What the hell are you doing…?!”

As I continued to listen to her, I felt something stab at my heart.

[ You’ve been having your communal nights together all this time, but it’s the first time you came back in this state… ]

Rona’s words from last time suddenly came into my mind.

“…But, he did regain some strength.”

“What?”

I breathed out a sigh and winced. “Please look at this. It’s a wound that was left by your son.”

“…Amoide?”

“Yes. He never approached me outside our communal nights together, but with what just happened…”

[ I’m sure your efforts are paying off, Milady! ]

I heard Rona’s voice again. I was so overcome by embarrassment earlier when I first heard it, though now, it felt like I gained a very efficient weapon.

“Isn’t it because he regained his strength that my chest is like this?”

Saying so, I placed my hand over my chest like a theater star.

“I didn’t realize back then, but—bam! Oh? I was pushed against a wall! Bam!”

“…Bam?”

Camilla covered her mouth with both hands, aghast. “I never taught my son to do anything like that.”

She raised her brows in an effort to keep herself calm.

“Of course.”

I nodded fervently and sympathized with her.

“Of course, Mother never taught her son such a rough method of courting.”

“Rough…?”

“Though… I wonder why this is happening? Isn’t this the result of my supervision over his meals and exercise?”

This time, I was the one speaking without letting the other person catch a break. I said all that without pausing, so I was a bit out of breath by the end.

“Who was it that dragged him out of the room after he collapsed?”

I went on with my moving speech.

“Who was it that changed his tasteless diet to the point that he now empties his plate?” I said, staring directly into Camilla’s eyes.

“That was me. It’s all the result of my efforts.”

I said each word with force.

“And, I can’t believe we could see these noticeable results in such a short period of time. I’m not asking you to praise me, but it’s not right to corner someone like this because of an unpredictable accident…”

I did my best to look pitiful in front of Camilla.

In return, she was taken aback by the outpouring of my words. It was exactly how she had explained to me about Amoide’s supposed loss of strength.

It was the second time in this room that Camilla looked like she had bitten off more than she could chew.

I maintained eye contact with Camilla after saying everything that I did, calming myself down in the process as I leveled my breathing.

“This is all for your precious son. If you’re going to tell me to stop these efforts after just a crisis or two, then you shouldn’t have let me be in charge of Amoide’s health in the first place, Mother. I’m disappointed that you don’t have any confidence in me.”

“Disappointed…?”

Ah. I regretted saying that just now because Camilla’s face suddenly twisted up.

“You’ve gone too far.”

At this point, I decided to take it down a notch.

“…Of course, I don’t think that’s what Mother was really thinking.”

I spoke again in a much more calm tone.

“Someone must have shaken Mother’s resolve.”

The time it took Camilla to call for me was too fast, no matter how I thought about it.

As soon as I came back to my room, news broke out quickly, leaving only enough time for me to bathe and put on my clothes.

Even though she knew everything that happened in the mansion, considering the size of this Ducal estate, the time frame should have been longer. Besides, the place where Amoide and I took a walk was quite far from the building where Camilla resided.

There was definitely someone around Amoide and me to observe our behaviors at all times.

“….”

“Right, Mother?”

I spoke earnestly with a hand on my chest.

Ba-dump, ba-dump.

I could feel my racing heartbeat under my hand. It was proof that Camilla still very much kept me on my toes.

Maybe, I’ll be the one who will die first.

I heard that if a person was exposed to constant stress, it eats away at their lifespan.

“Shake my resolve?”

Camilla looked directly at me.

“Who dares to do something like that?”

Instead of answering her, I thought of the candidates.

It wasn’t just one or two.

Camilla had numerous eyes, hands, and ears throughout the manor.

Of course, the servants and maids would follow only Camilla’s orders, so they’d be able to monitor me whenever they wanted.

But, then why?

Did she really think that I’d harm her son? I really couldn’t ]understand.

“If mother attached someone to me, that could be the case.”

“Such a thing…!”

Camilla clutched the arm of the chair she was sitting on.

“Oh, but of course, Mother. You wouldn’t do such an inappropriate thing. Never.” I smiled pleasantly as I nodded. I watched Camilla grip the chair more tightly.

“An elegant, well-educated noble lady such as yourself wouldn’t ever do that. Of course, not.”

At that, I straightened my waist and placed my hands over my knees.

“I believe in Mother. So, I want you to trust me, too.”

I took a deep breath before continuing.

“I heard that today’s incident happens all the time. But, let’s make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

“What happened today was so nerve-wracking. I don’t think I can leave Amoide in your hands all day.”

“Are you afraid that Amoide would pounce on me?”

Camilla’s expression hardened at my nonchalant tone.

“Your communal nights must be organized by Raymond and the astrologers.* If you do as you please, then…”

“I will always keep this in mind. So, please don’t worry.”

“Really?”

“Certainly. My priority is to improve Amoide’s health until the communal nights we have together. Only then will we be able to produce an heir successfully and as quickly as possible. We’ll have a very healthy and cute son.”

“….”

Camilla’s lips twitched, as if she was really convinced by my reasoning.

“…A son.”

Her eyes twinkled.

“In fact, I’m very confident…”

…Not. Absolutely not confident at all. If we’re talking about a son or daughter, it wouldn’t happen in the first place!

Thud.

Camilla slammed the table.

“Yes, yes. A son. Latuz was never wrong about anything.”

Latuz was the astrologer’s name.

“He said that you and Amoide will definitely conceive a son on the day when Jupiter’s energy is the strongest.”

“…Yes.”

“You have to conserve your strength until then.”

“Of course, Mother.”

I nodded right away, urged by the unusual gleam in Camilla’s eyes.

‘If she finds out that I’m lying…’

Amoide and I had never once slept together. And, surely, it would never happen in the future.

I was already dreading what she would do to me if she knew that we never did anything during those nights together. Camilla, more than anyone in the world, heavily anticipated the birth of this household’s heir.

…Would my head still be intact once she found I’d been deceiving her?

“Are you cold?”

Camilla asked as she saw my trembling fingertips.

“No, Mother.”

I lifted my teacup and banished the thought.

One thing was clear from this conversation.

There was someone who was against my way of taking care of Amoide’s health.

I managed to convince Camilla that she should leave it in my hands. Even though I exaggerated a bit and added a few white lies and some smoke.

But, Camilla already gave permission because it involved the birth of the next successor of the Efret Duchy.

That someone was someone powerful enough to shake Camilla’s resolve, and the only thing on my mind now was the way she tightly gripped the handle of her chair.

…Who the hell was it?

After some careful consideration, one face came to mind clearly.

* * * 

A few days later, in the afternoon, Rona opened the door carefully.

“Milady.”

Rona, who had poked her head into the door opening, stepped inside. “Please excuse us. It’s time for your medication. Head maid Greta brought some medicine for you.”

“All right.”

Greta stood in front of Rona, who was holding a tray of vials.

“Leave it there.”

“I received orders from the Madam to make sure you drink it, Young Madam.”

Greta spoke in a pointedly haughty manner.

I slowly raised my gaze and looked straight into hers.

——

*TL/N: Astrologers are also consulted to know which days of the month she’s the most fertile.