She had read the section on many times while studying for the medical school entrance exam at the academy. Not because she wanted to be an obstetrician, but because that part contained a lot of salacious content.

It wasn’t that she was uninterested in such things, even though she had lived a busy life.

Knowing the truth but having achieved her goal, Edith simply complied obediently.

“Now don’t send any men to me anymore. It’s dreadful. And don’t forget to take care of my share.”

“Of course.”

Sophia smirked, thinking that she had to quickly get rid of the distasteful second and third wives, and then the unsightly woman before her eyes.

(This is a time divider.)

Sophia planned a pregnancy celebration party to actively announce Edith’s pregnancy.

She sent invitations to local nobles with whom she usually had little interaction, and allowed merchants who had quickly heard the news and sent gifts to attend the party.

Indeed, Edith’s pregnancy was akin to a miracle in the Portrion Viscount family that had nearly been severed, so people did not think Sophia’s actions were in vain.

Thanks to her efforts, the news spread like wildfire throughout the territory.

“It is indeed a fortunate event from the viscount family’s perspective, since the lineage has not been severed…….”

“While a change in lordship brings various annoyances to the citizens, if the current wretch rules for another 40 years, that’s something else.”

Those who knew that the management of the territory had started to wobble from the moment Nicholas Portrion inherited the seat, did not really welcome the continuation of the Portrion line.

There were even significant opinions that it might be better if the lineage was severed and the territory passed to another lord.

But the story was different in the tavern.

“Nicholas is ingrained with drinking and gambling, so the child inheriting his blood will be a spendthrift too.”

“Ha, I wonder what kind of great prodigal son will emerge.”

“If he’s just not talented in gambling like Nicholas, that would be perfect.”

Those who had spent a lot of time with Nicholas at the gambling table were drinking beer from the early afternoon.

Smoking inside, breaking glass, and laughing loudly were surely annoying, but no one could stop them.

‘The Lord hasn’t passed away yet, so it’s fine.’

The tavern owner sighed while wiping a plate. To him, those people were exactly the culprits ruining the management of the territory.

Nicholas Portrion, who had never received his parents’ approval due to his upright and diligent older brother, enjoyed being with his flatterers.

“Lord, your generosity is unparalleled! You’ll bet on the thrilling side rather than the safe side this time too, right?”

“Only you, Lord, can raise this much stake. May I pour a drink in your honor?”

With just a little encouragement like a child, Nicholas would bet large sums, and the result was mostly defeat.

But the lord was the master of the territory.
In the territory, he, who was no less than a king, valued more those who diligently heeded his advice and rubbed their palms like the tongue in their mouths, than those who trusted their backs and swaggered from broad daylight.

Ting―

In time, a small bell hanging at the entrance shook, and one more guest had arrived. The tavern owner’s head was already throbbing.

‘That’s the rascal’s leader coming.’

But for some reason, Jeffrey was unusually silent.

The other gamblers flocked to him, exuding the smell of liquor, and spoke to him.

“Jeffrey. Have you heard the news of the pregnancy? Our respected lord seems to have conceived a late child.”

“I’ve heard.”

“Why such a lukewarm response? If the lord finds out that the reaction of the one he cherished the most is like this, he’ll be upset, you bastard.”

The others needlessly tapped his shoulder and spoke, but Jeffrey responded gloomily and ordered a beer, gulping it down.

He, who had received the lord’s trust more than the others, had one thing that caught him.

‘If it’s as Nicholas babbled while drunk, the child the woman carries might not be the lord’s.’

He recalled a conversation he had with the lord a long time ago.