‘And what? I’m going to be the mother of his child? Why can’t he say that I’ll be the future empress? The end of this novel is already decided! That demonic woman will die in a fire, and I will become the empress!’

Even though she had found someone she loved and was carrying his child, she didn’t feel happy.

Instead, she grew increasingly anxious about Henri’s cooling demeanor.

‘What if the child is a girl? Will I get a second chance?’

‘What if I miscarry? They say you have to be careful in the early stages of pregnancy. I absolutely cannot miscarry!’

“Ugh… Uweaek!”

Morning sickness had started.

The morning sickness that had begun yesterday was continuously tormenting Valliere.

In the end, after vomiting, Valliere lay down on the bed, exhausted.

She heard a maid announce that it was dinner time, but she had no appetite.

‘I’m suffering like this, it better not go wrong. And you must be a boy. Only then will you be useful to me.’

Despite her anxieties, Valliere continued to indulge in luxurious items.

The money from the royal family and the suddenly generous funds from her own family were all converted into expensive jewels and flashy dresses.

She decided not to care about her reputation among the servants or anyone else’s views.

After all, wasn’t she the one carrying the emperor’s child?

The day after hearing Henri’s admonitions, Valliere put on airs to mask her rising anxiety and sought out Ermedillin.

Valliere had assumed that the atmosphere in the empress’s palace would naturally be miserable and gloomy.

To win in this novel, capturing the heart of the male protagonist, Henri, was of the utmost importance.

And since Ermedillin was not merely favored but was carrying the protagonist’s child, Valliere assumed she would be drowning in a sense of defeat.

“Ahahahaha! You idiot, spouting nonsense again!”

“What? Idiot? Aren’t you the fool? Basic military studies are so useful in real life!”

“Your Highness, the Empress, look at him. He’s an idiot, isn’t he? How do you always manage to speak nonsense?”

“Ah, calm yourselves. While military studies might not be the most appropriate foundational subject, it wouldn’t be bad to teach it selectively to children who wish to become soldiers.”
In Ermedillin’s quarters, where a sense of defeat and gloomy silence was expected, a somewhat noisy conversation was heard.

Intermittently, curses were audible among the clamor, but the high volume of their voices alone revealed how lively and joyful the atmosphere inside was.

‘What is this… Why are they so cheerful?’

Contrary to his expectations, Vallier entered Ermedillin’s drawing room with a slightly sour mood.

“Ah, you’re here?”

While mediating a verbal battle between Belelrest and Pellio, Ermedillin was the first to recognize Vallier and greeted him with a bright smile.

“Congratulations on your return!”

For a moment, Vallier felt chills at Ermedillin’s smile, where not a shred of malice could be found.

In response to Ermedillin’s greeting, the others in the drawing room reluctantly bowed their heads toward Vallier.

But everyone’s expression was so sullen that anyone could see they held ill feelings toward Vallier.

So naturally, Vallier, who was on the receiving end of those gazes, could fully feel their emotions.

‘Why are Belelrest, Liena, Biella, and even Countess Grania here?’

People who had never visited him while he was confined.

Those who had only given him cold indifference whenever he tried to win them over.

Why were they here laughing and talking joyously with that evil witch?

The protagonist is pregnant with the Emperor’s child, after all.

Seeing the people sitting cozily next to Ermedillin, Vallier felt his anger rising to the point where he almost forgot the reason for his visit.

‘Shouldn’t that devilish woman live a lonely life and die in a fire?’

Countess Elion, sensing Vallier’s explosive mood, fanned the flames by giving a side glance to Biella and Countess Grania.

“The change of heart is quick. When did you stop hating her enough to incite a regicide?”

At Countess Elion’s words, Biella scowled and retorted in a displeased tone.

“I visited her only once upon the Countess’s request; how is that a change of heart? And weren’t we originally maids to the Empress? Thus, I am merely fulfilling my duties.”

At Biella’s words, icy stares from six people, including Ermedillin, focused on Countess Elion.

“I see. However, I am no longer a maid to the Empress and intend to fulfill my duties for the future of the Trevian Imperial Household.”

“Yes. That indeed seems like a conclusion you would come to.”

Biella sarcastically responded to Countess Elion.

And Vallier thought that her reply was ignoring him.

‘Is that a conclusion this batlike woman could come to?’

“You bitch!”

Before Ermedillin could jump up in surprise, Pellio had already grabbed Vallier’s raised wrist.