It was dropped when Skaha, the nurse, was pulled down from the carriage. Although he didn’t have a hobby of reading other people’s letters, the seal was broken, and it seemed to be something she had, so he was curious.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he read the letter, and it was filled with a sincere confession of love.

Saying, “I love you,”… “I miss you,”…

It was unbelievable that the Duke of Blachnat wrote such a letter.

Thinking about those top predator-like red eyes that could dominate the other party with just proper etiquette and a smile, he shuddered.

But, isn’t this illegal under the laws of the Parsad Empire?

Getting an unmarried woman pregnant, and having a fiancee separately before even holding a wedding ceremony, all of it.

“I heard that Parsad is very conservative in terms of romantic relationships, but it doesn’t seem so.”

He had been itching to speak for a while, but the boatman, who couldn’t casually talk to a man in noble attire, brightened up and spoke up.

“It seems you’re a foreigner. Although Lindcoem is governed by Parsad law, it used to be part of the old Ebern Kingdom, so the atmosphere is a bit different. My Lord doesn’t force Parsad customs either. Perhaps it’s because he has so many territories to govern.”

The deep blue eyes, like the melody of a stringed instrument, turned towards the boatman, who had been watching the gentle waves of the Rineva River. It seemed that he had understood it as a story about lovers enjoying boating.

Nodding, Abarta brought up a more direct topic.

“I see. So, my Lord also has a lover. Skaha, right?”

Before his words could finish, a numbness was felt from the boatman’s hand, which had been parting the water currents.
“Are you talking about that nurse? Our Lord is so perfect that when everyone was making a fuss about trying to find a flaw, whether it be the Crown Prince or the Royal Family, I don’t know how many times Lindcoem has been turned upside down. If you don’t know that name in Lindcoem, you’re just a concubine, a concubine. Has it been about three or four years? There were rumors among the ladies at that time, and that’s it. What lover? Lover.”

Abarta tilted his head in response to the boatman’s rebuttal and fell into thought.

Admiral in Chrome Hald clearly stated that the nurse was his lover, and it wasn’t even three or four years ago.

After all, what could a mere boatman know about the Lord’s love life?

Abarta quickly lost interest and fell silent. Boating was just an activity to pass the time while waiting for the new vehicle to be brought in.

When he returned to the Duke’s residence with the letter, there was an unmistakable tension circulating among the servants.

“What happened to that pregnant woman…”

It was a moment when he threw a question at Peron, whose complexion was unusually pale.

응아앙 [dash]!!!

From somewhere, the sound of a robust baby’s cry flowed, reaching the lobby of the Duke’s residence where Abarta was standing.

Seeing the sight of everyone’s faces turning pale, Abarta burst into laughter.

“Well, someone might think that the successor to the archenemy has been born.”

Although he didn’t feel as deeply, since it was Abarta who had momentarily harbored feelings for the woman and had them taken away, his expression was mixed with pure mockery rather than a genuine congratulation.

“Yes, since Princess Erwin has produced an heir for the Blachnat family, there’s no reason not to be happy.”

Unlike usual, Peron corrected Abarta’s expression with a serious tone.

…?

Clearly, the woman who got off the carriage was Skaha. She took care of Abarta, who was dying in Eben Baher.

Although she might be the Duke’s concubine, she wasn’t his fiancee, Princess Erwin.

However, it seemed that only Abarta was confused, and the faces of the servants were filled with a strange calm relief along with joy.

In fact, until a few hours ago, Peron also experienced a feeling similar to the Duke of Portugal.

Even though he knew that she was the Duke’s concubine when the Duke himself held her in his arms…

‘My fiancee, Princess Erwin, I hope you all do your best so that she can give birth comfortably.’

Peron conflicted.

Should he, as a loyal subject, wake the Duke up to the truth and bring the ill-tempered princess to be the Duke’s consort? Or should he follow the Lord’s order, which wrongly claims an irrelevant woman as the princess?

‘But, my Lord…’

In the moment when Peron, with great difficulty, mustered the courage to reveal the truth, the cold red eyes shone as if a beast had come to claim his life.

‘That… I… I’m worried that the Princess might not be satisfied with the urgent preparation of the birthing room…!’

…But still, life is precious.
As if proving the correctness of Peron’s choice, the call of “Parthad Mel” echoed throughout the entire empire.