“Duchess.”

“Speak.”

“As you know, I’m in no position to wander around outside the ducal residence freely.”

At my words, the Duchess’s brow momentarily furrowed. However, her puzzled expression quickly changed to understanding.

“Don’t worry about that, Lienne. No one will know you’re the lady of the Pannel family. It’s an invitation from our family, so carrying it will ensure no one can stop your entry.”

I took the invitation she offered. It bore the name of Pola Gardarelli Rochester, the Duchess.

“Aren’t you attending, Duchess?”

“I should be there, but today the Duke hurt his wrist while playing pallium.”

“Is it a severe injury?”

“No, just a slight one. But His Highness dislikes it when I’m away when he is unwell.”

I just responded with a short “Ah….” There was no escape for me.

I asked one last time in desperation.

“If only nobles can enter, and I must go, wouldn’t it be better for one of your maidservants to deliver it?”

“Of course, I’ll send a maid with chaperone experience. How could we send a noble lady alone to a ball? But entrusting a family’s handkerchief to a maid doesn’t make sense.”

“….”

“Besides, sending just a maid wouldn’t be proper for the host. Right?”

She tilted her head inquisitively, but it was I who was truly baffled.

Just a maid? The Duchess’s maids were mostly women from baronial families or higher.

Did her words imply another meaning for the handkerchief?

“But I’ve never been to such a gathering. If I go with the Duchess’s invitation and make a mistake, won’t it be a huge inconvenience for the Rochester family?”

“Lienne.”

She called my name tenderly, as if my desperation was no issue. I wanted to lean on her kindness and ask.

Why! Why are you sending me there? What’s the real reason?

“Carrying the Rochester invitation means that whatever you do there is right.”

“Even if I stand on my head in the middle of the ballroom?”

“Even if you dance on your head. Because…”

The Duchess, who was smiling like a gentle breeze just moments ago, was suddenly not there. The seamless transition between warmth and chilliness instantly reminded me of Ricardo.

“Pola de Serhen, my name is synonymous with the Dermaire Empire’s social circle.”

Her proud lips pronouncing her name captivated me.

“Pola Gardarelli Rochester, this family’s name is equivalent to the law in the empire.”

I swallowed my dry throat. There was no further rebellion I could muster. I could only nod obediently.

How could I defy the command of a woman who was the law and the social circle itself?

After more than an hour of preparation, I finally boarded the resplendent carriage of the Duchess.

The ride was smoother than any carriage I had ever been in, yet it felt as uncomfortable as sitting on pins and needles, making my head throb.

In the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom.

Pola lay in bed, waiting for her husband. It was dinner time, but she had no appetite and had retired to the bedroom early. A few hours ago, Freddy had informed her that Lienne had left for the Enehaz Count’s estate, so by now, she should have arrived.

Pola mulled over Lienne’s strange reaction from earlier.

‘Could she really not know?’

Just then, the Duke entered the bedroom.

“You’re in bed already?”
“Yes, I had no appetite for dinner. It seems your meeting ended early.”

“Yes, I was planning to have dinner together, but since my wife was in the bedroom, I came here directly.”

He promptly pulled the bell cord to order a simple meal. Knowing her husband would skip dinner if she didn’t eat, Pola got out of bed and sat opposite him.

“The children won’t be coming today, will they?”

“That’s likely.”

She wasn’t keen on the annual ball hosted by Count Enehaz, but at this point, there was no choice. The ball, catering to the base desires of nobility, continued every year despite criticism from some conservative nobles.

The Enehaz family, strategically located in the heart of the empire’s capital, held these grand balls yearly, supported by generous donations from nobility.

Moreover, the ball was a periodic meeting place for heirs of the crown prince and the three major ducal families. What started as coincidental had become a significant income source for the Enehaz family.

“Not even a month left to the engagement, and yet the fiancée has not been introduced to society. How does that make sense?”

“It’s not a typical engagement.”

“Not typical, so all the more reason to be careful.”

Pola sighed, and the Duke rose to stand behind her, massaging her shoulders gently. She suddenly remembered something and called him urgently.

“Honey.”

“Hmm?”

“If by chance you meet Lienne, don’t use your arm. I told her you hurt your wrist, so I need to stay by your side.”

Amused by her cute lie, the Duke chuckled softly.

“I had prepared to take her with me to the ball, thinking it was the only one before the engagement.”

“…”

“It’s regrettable that it’s such a distasteful ball, but it can’t be helped.”

Recalling the panic she felt upon hearing Ricardo had left the ducal residence alone, Pola shook her head.

“That’s true.”

“And moreover…”

Pola trailed off, causing the Duke to pause his caressing hand.

“Moreover?”

“It seemed she didn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“That she’s getting engaged.”

The Duke’s brow furrowed.

“That can’t be.”

“No, I’m sure she didn’t know.”

Pola sighed deeply, adding that they might know less about their son than they thought. The Duke, smiling at her endearingly, didn’t notice.

“Are you sure it’s alright to send her off so abruptly?”

“She won’t be ignorant of the significance of the family handkerchief, will she?”

“She might be. She didn’t grow up in the empire.”

“True. But I couldn’t just blurt out the engagement without knowing the full situation. If she really didn’t know, that would’ve been quite rude.”

“…”

“What will the servants think? They’re already buzzing about the engagement preparations at the autumn estate.”

Pola shuddered at the thought.

“I wonder if the Pannel family’s staff have been properly relocated to the Camellia estate.”

The Camellia estate was the most beautiful residence in the winter zone of the ducal residence. While the relationship with the Pannel family was uncertain, they were engaged to the Rochesters, so treating them well was natural.

However, it was traditionally viewed as unfavorable for families engaged in matrimony to be located too close to each other. Hence, the Pannel family was moved to the winter zone, the farthest from the main estate located in the spring zone.
“Winter is a place you can only reach after a long carriage ride from Spring.”

“Freddy must have managed everything well,” Pola said, continuously holding her husband’s hand, which was gently massaging her shoulder. He then slowly leaned in to kiss his wife, a kiss filled with respect and fidelity.

“Don’t worry too much, my lady. Miss Pannel seems very smart.”

“Yes, Lienne is a clever girl. She’ll soon realize the meaning of being asked to personally deliver the handkerchief.”

“I’m sure she will.”

Despite her husband’s assertive words, the Duchess’s worries did not easily dissipate. But the deed was already done. Pola quietly thought of Lienne, and also of her son, who couldn’t take his eyes off the girl. Thus, the arrow she had fired would in some way reach its target.

Meanwhile, at Count Enehaz’s estate, Crown Prince Stuart Reid Schneider and Ricardo were standing side by side on the balcony of the second floor, looking down at the ballroom where people danced in circles. They saw much, but their minds were empty, not registering any particular scene.

“Yellow roses, really nauseating.”

Crown Prince Stuart Reid Schneider was an individual with rich emotions. Although this trait often didn’t align with Ricardo, in this moment, Ricardo shared the Prince’s sentiment. He extended his glass of Chardonnay wine towards the Prince.

“That’s why they only serve wine made from Chardonnay grapes, isn’t it?”

When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman

“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.

Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”

Synopsis:

Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends,  transmigrates to a female-dominated country.

Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?

Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!

Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!

Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.

_____

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