I spent nearly ten minutes pondering what had just occurred to me.
I went to receive the wedding date, and out of nowhere, I faced opposition.
“What’s this all of sudden…….”
It was improbable that he had changed his mind in the meantime.
He must have heard something from someone else.
“I need to investigate.”
I couldn’t afford to wait until mother explained it to me.
I immediately sought out the butler.
“Butler, were there any visitors to the mansion today other than the Duke?”
The butler nodded.
“As usual, there were many. Would you like to see the guestbook?”
“Yes, please.”
The butler cheerfully showed me the guest book.
Blandiche Hertian
Milino Trade Company
Howl Bajor
Melson Borman
.
.
.
In addition to the Duke, from the merchants to the artists we sponsor, there were easily twenty people.
“Why did Mr. Melson leave without seeing me?”
The name Mr. Melson had been a while.
“The Baron said he had to go to a herb shop in the city, so he dropped by to deliver some medicine on the way.”
The butler, who had fortunately stored the medicine, handed it to me. I took the bottle filled with new pills and asked again.
“So, who met my father or mother and left?”
“Almost everyone, mostly for matters needing the Earl’s approval.”
Over ten people.
The Milino Trade Company seemed the most likely.
They travel through many kingdoms and have excellent information, so it wouldn’t be a stretch for them to have relayed a rumour or two. They may have picked up something about Hertian and mentioned it to my father. It must have been significant information if my father changed his mind so quickly.
“I see for now.”
“Yes, Miss. Your face doesn’t look too good. Did something happen?”
I shook my head at the worried question.
“It’s nothing. Have a good sleep. Butler.”
“May Miss Anette have sweet dreams.”
The butler looked tired, perhaps due to the sudden guests. I didn’t have time to confide in him. For now, I would have to search on my own.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]Late at night.
It was a late hour after my mother, who sighed as she watched me sleep soundly, had left.
Startled, I opened the bottom drawer in my father’s study.
‘It’s all for Father.’
I was not going to back down just because my father opposed. Given the situation, I had to confirm what this socalled evidence was myself.
My father had a habit.
He stored the most important documents at the bottom of the drawer.
“As expected.”
As soon as I opened it, a crumpled document envelope appeared. It was crumpled enough to gauge how angry my father must have been.
I crouched under the desk and opened the document envelope. I was even excited about what it could contain. And when I saw the content, my face turned crimson.
“He believed this kind of story?”
It was a medical record filled with unbelievable diseases.
What was soandso about the Duke?
There was a reason my father couldn’t tell me. He couldn’t tell his daughter such a vulgar story.
I made a short exclamation as I examined the rest of the record.
“I knew Father was gullible, but was he gullible enough to believe this?”
It was so ridiculous that I couldn’t even muster a hollow laugh. Misunderstanding Hertian with this nonsensical medical record. Besides, the name doesn’t even match. No, it was plausible for my father. He couldn’t see the situation properly whenever something happened.
“But this is a medical record…….”
Even if this is true, it’s a problem. It implies that the Duke’s health condition is serious.
And a commoner or noble wouldn’t know about this. Meaning, the person who would know about this treatment is…
‘Mr. Melson.’
Considering Mr. Melson’s words and this record, it was understandable that my father would believe it. However, it was hard to understand why Mr. Melson mentioned this record as the Duke’s.
“If Father is that gullible, then I have to play him the same way.”
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]The next morning came.
At the dining room, as my father and I finished our silent meal, I was the first to break the silence.
“Father. I’ve waited a long time. Please tell me now.”
He feigned ignorance of the medical records he saw in the study and indulged in my father’s reply.
“He’s quite impulsive.”
My father, wiping the corners of his mouth, chided me. His complexion was dark as well, perhaps he had not slept properly all night.
“Did you hear any talk while I was with the duke yesterday?”
“Yes. I did.”
Emerald eyes, identical to mine, stared at me.
“What kind of talk?”
My father took a sip of the coffee brought by the servant and said,
“I heard that the duke has a complicated relationship with women. I can’t give my only daughter to such a Casanova.”
I see.
Wondering why such a disease was written in the medical record, they spread a baseless rumor linking it to women.
“Who spread such a rumor?”
“It’s not a baseless rumor. I’ve seen the evidence myself.”
“What evidence?”
“I can’t tell you that. Not only the relationships with women but also other aspects… There are issues. So give it up.”
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
