Silent tension filled the drawing room.

Schwerly spoke confidently, but her face flushed red as soon as the words left her mouth.

“What are you talking about, ma’am?”

Finally, Lucas gestured to his wife to stop talking. He had wanted to keep the reason he rejected a marriage with Hertian a secret for a lifetime.

He didn’t want the Duke to find out that he’d been scammed. That’s why they’d vowed to keep it a secret between them every night. And yet, Schwerly dared to confront Hertian herself.

Lucas wiped his cold sweat with his sleeve as he excused himself.

“I apologize. My wife has been rather moody lately. Perhaps she’s uneasy since we married off Anette…”

Smack!

Instead of a reply from Hertian, a stern palm struck his back. Lucas shifted his bewildered gaze toward his wife.

She took a deep breath, her face resolute. Uneasiness wrapped around Lucas. He felt that stopping her now would only lead to trouble later on.

“Your Grace, please respond.”

Schwerly’s audacious question followed.

Hertian shrugged as he answered.

“Whatever Lord Melson said, I assure you there’s nothing wrong with me.”

It was a matter of course.

All of Melson’s words were lies, a scam to rob the nobility.

“Why do you complicate matters by asking the obvious, my lady?”

Lucas was frustrated, watching his wife make things difficult.

“So, why…”

Schwerly began to speak but bit her lip. Lucas took the momentary pause to attempt to persuade her.

“What is the problem? His Grace is in good health, isn’t he? Isn’t that a great thing?”

Just keep your mouth shut, please.

But Schwerly wouldn’t listen, no matter what he said.

“What happened? Please, speak freely. Am I not a part of this noble house too?”

“It’s really nothing. My wife must be worried about Anette’s health after seeing her after so long.”

“If there’s any misunderstanding, I’d like to clear it up. If my health concerns you, I’ll go to the capital hospital for an examination right away.”

“No, no. An examination! Don’t be absurd!”

Hertian was the victim here. How could Lucas ask such a thing?

Lucas was at the height of his dilemma.

“Then why is nothing happening between Anette and you!”

Another bomb dropped in the drawing room.

“Anette looks too healthy!”

Her voice trembled greatly.

“To be honest, we were so worried when we heard that Anette would be coming back after just a month of marriage. Surely… surely…!”

Schwerly blurted out.

‘So talking about Melson was to lead up to this?’

Apparently, more than her health, her concern was about Anette.

“Isn’t that right, my lord? Think back to our honeymoon.”

“That… that’s true, but that’s a matter between two people.”

Lucas kept glancing at Hertian. It could be considered an insult. Besides, he had more pressing matters, like the queen or the prince’s faction.

So Lucas quickly apologized in place of his wife.

“I keep causing awkward situations. Please forget what my wife said.”

Schwerly sent a sharp glare his way, saying, “My Lord!”

Hertian had been silent for a while now.

All he did was mumble her words over and over in his mouth.

‘Isn’t it a good thing that Anette is healthy?’

At first, that’s what Hertian thought. They had promised to prioritize Anette’s health, so her being healthy should be a good thing. So why was the countess angry?

But he soon understood the meaning.

‘Considering the person who fainted the other day, the countess seems too agile.’
“Why do you look so displeased?”

“Shouldn’t newlyweds be unable to walk or eat properly?”

Osen’s words suddenly came to mind.

At the time, Anette’s adjustment to the North had been his priority over other people’s opinions, so he had brushed off the comment.

Moreover, everyone in the duchy saw them as a loving couple, so no one doubted them. Except for Liriman.

“Never thought the Countess would trip over that.”

“Your Grace?”

Lucas called out to Hertian, who seemed lost in thought.

Then, Hertian abruptly lifted his head, looking more serious than ever.

“I apologize for causing such a misunderstanding with the Countess. The issue that my wife is worried about is indeed true.”

Shuwelri shut her mouth.

“My goodness. So it’s halfbroken…”

“My lady!”

She choked back tears, recalling the medical report Melson had brought. Was it true that the female relationships were complicated and that’s why they got sick?

“It’s not halfbroken, so don’t worry. However, it is true that nothing has happened between my wife and me.”

Hertian laid it out honestly.

“Why… why?”

A worried expression filled Shuwelri’s face. No progress despite being newlyweds meant their love had already cooled. She feared her daughter might be abandoned. Lucas, too, swallowed his words, fearing the same.

“It’s my fault for not being to her liking.”

Contrary to the worry, Hertian blamed himself.

“Anette dislikes Your Grace? But she was in love at first sight and even agreed to marry.”