Seeing Adel turn pale in an instant, the head maid gave a knowing look.

“Since it may be your first time, you might be surprised. I’ll assign a skilled lady to assist you in that area.”

“L-Lady?”

“It’s about seeking advice from someone experienced. A man’s—”

Adel hurriedly spoke, as if about to cover the head maid’s mouth in shock.

“R-Really, there’s no need for that. Grita has been taking good care of me so far. And… I-I know the basics.”

“Are you sure?”

The head maid’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. Adel nodded with a crimson face.

“I don’t need many maids. It’s not like I need to dress up. Just help me on the day the priest chooses as auspicious. Besides, His Highness needs to rest for now…”

“Auspicious day?”

“Wouldn’t it be enough to help with grooming only on set days?”

“Ah.”

The head maid nodded, seeming to understand the source of the misunderstanding.

“I’ve heard rumors that in the Bayern region, they set auspicious days for couples to consummate, but in the north, we don’t particularly choose days.”

“Y-You don’t choose days?”

Adel’s light green eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

“But… I mean, if there’s no auspicious day, how do you… that…”

“Consummation?”

Unable to utter the word herself, Adel had been beating around the bush. At the head maid’s direct speech, she tightly closed her mouth and barely managed to nod. The head maid answered matter-of-factly, as if Adel had asked something strange.

“Well, the two of Your Highnesses should do it whenever you feel like it, of course. That’s how you’ll conceive a child quickly.”

“W-What…”

Adel’s neck and cheeks flushed bright red. Although Margaret was the one speaking, it was Adel who felt overwhelmed with embarrassment. She felt as if her hair was standing on end.

It was problematic enough that such words were spoken so casually, but the idea of doing… that… without receiving an auspicious day from the priest and at any time was an even greater calamity.

‘So the rumors about them coupling indiscriminately were true.’

Margaret, who also looked quite shocked, added emphatically:

“Setting a specific day to do it? Honestly, before Your Highness mentioned it, I would have thought it was a made-up or exaggerated rumor. It’s not natural, after all.”

It was astounding. If anything, it seemed that this side was the one being promiscuous and lacking self-control, but it was obvious that arguing about such matters would lead nowhere.

As Adel alternated between blushing and turning pale, Margaret gazed at her with an indecipherable look.

“Your Highness seems to be more honest with your emotions than I thought.”

Was it a compliment, or sarcasm disguised as admiration? Though unsure of the exact meaning, there was a faint hint of goodwill in Margaret’s voice. Adel noticed that the corners of her mouth had turned up slightly.

Margaret quickly composed her expression. Returning to her stiff and businesslike manner, she continued:

“Anyway, if you didn’t know, you should prepare yourself from now on. Try to produce a suitable heir as soon as possible.”

“S-Such words…”

“Though it may not be my place to say, while His Grace the Grand Duke cherishes you now, in the end, there’s only one way to secure your position as the mistress.”

Adel met Margaret’s resolute gaze. Though unsure what had opened this loyal head maid’s heart, she felt that the eyes looking at her had softened a bit in that short moment.

Adel nodded obediently.

“…Thank you for the advice.”

“Then, please rest now.”

As Adel nodded once more, the head maid carefully closed the door and left. She moved her tired body and collapsed onto the long couch.

‘The head maid is right.’

If there was no suitable heir between her and Valentin, Adel’s position would be difficult to guarantee if a similar situation arose in the future. She would lose the right to refuse if Oscar demanded her according to the old laws.

Moreover, if she was unlucky, Raihenau might claim that the marriage was invalid since the wedding night hadn’t taken place, and try to sell her off to someone else for a high price.

The problem was that the ‘Grand Duke of Ansgar’ who hated her would never want to see a child from her body, even if he died. It might be possible now, but there was no guarantee that Valentin, whose memories had returned belatedly, would welcome her and her child.

‘In fact, I don’t know what His Highness is thinking.’

Insisting on spending every night together, calling her ‘wife,’ this mountain of gifts and the lavish boudoir…

The more eccentric Valentin’s behavior became, the more people whispered that the Grand Duke cherished her unusually. In reality, their relationship couldn’t be more bizarre.

According to the original plan, Adel had intended to leave the castle as soon as Valentin returned. Whether by entering a convent under the pretext of chronic illness, obtaining a villa, or hiding in a forest keeper’s humble cabin.

Even if Valentin were to display her like an ornament and bring in an illegitimate child, she had resolved to accept it quietly.

‘The damage I’ve caused in his life is not insignificant. I should compensate as much as I can.’

However, all these carefully thought-out and prepared plans became useless in an instant. Because Valentin Ansgar had changed too much since his resurrection.

Whether it was a temporary phenomenon, or truly,

‘If something else is inside him…’

It was a thought that chilled her to the bone. Adel paced the room anxiously.

‘Let’s not think too deeply for now. There’s no way to know even if I worry and fret now. If it’s really a demon, Father Padre will surely reveal it clearly.’

No matter how wicked and evil a demon might be, it couldn’t resist the holy power of the Grand Priest. So once the priest arrived in Bitzleben, it was only a matter of time before the true nature of this strange incident would be revealed.

Adel resolutely made the sign of the cross.

* * *

Grand Priest Padre arrived in Ansgar territory of Bitzleben exactly three days after Adel had sent the letter. Adel, who had been examining Grita’s neck condition, hurriedly descended the stairs upon hearing the news that the Grand Priest’s carriage had passed through the main gate of Ansgar Castle.

“Father Padre.”

The weather was cold enough to make the tip of the nose sting with winter’s chill. Padre, who had just stepped out of the carriage, smiled brightly upon seeing Adel.

“Adelheit. Have you been well?”

“How did you arrive so quickly?”

“I happened to be on a pilgrimage. I was just passing through Schleicher territory when Your Highness’s messenger cleverly found me there.”

Schleicher was a territory bordering Ansgar. If someone of the Grand Priest’s stature had visited Schleicher’s temple, it would have been bustling with believers seeking blessings. Only Adelheit, who had no way of receiving such news, was unaware.

Even now, Ansgar people who recognized the Grand Priest’s attire were bowing their heads in succession. Consequently, the gazes directed at Adel standing before him also changed.

Adel exhaled in relief.

“Thank you for coming right away. I was actually giving up, thinking it would take weeks just to hear any news.”

“What have I done? It’s all thanks to Morrigan’s arrangement.”

“Morrigan…”

Adel rolled the words in her mouth. Finally, she looked up.

“You’re right. Please come inside. It’s lunchtime, have you eaten?”

“Not yet. Just a warm cup of tea would be nice.”

“Please prepare tea in the reception room right away.”

At Adel’s order, a maid who had been following closely quickly curtsied and disappeared. She was a woman whose faith had reportedly deepened twice as much as others after losing her son. She seemed thrilled to closely receive the Grand Priest, whom one could hardly see even from afar in the capital.

“This way, please.”

Adel said, opening the door to the reception room. It was worth giving a heads-up that an esteemed guest was coming; the interior of the reception room was pleasant. A fireplace blazing with fire, clean carpets, and a large table placed in the center.

On the walls hung tapestries, portraits of past Grand Dukes, and taxidermied animal heads. Instead of sitting down immediately, Padre spent a while admiring the portraits on the wall.

When the tea was finally ready, he sat at the table and smiled.

“I’m relieved to see you’re doing better than I worried.”

“I know… you were very concerned when I took my vows.”

Marriage. It was a word she couldn’t quite utter, but Padre seemed to understand her feelings and replied gently.

“The prosperous south may disparage Bitzleben as a land of barbarians, but this place has its own order and discipline. I’m sure you know that by now.”

Adel slowly nodded. It wasn’t just empty words; Padre had truly worried about Adel.

Unable to turn a blind eye to her misfortune, Padre had eventually broken his vow not to interfere in worldly affairs. Because of this, there were once even dirty rumors circulating about their relationship.

‘A love affair between a maid suspected to be a count’s illegitimate child and a candidate for the next Pope…’

Rumors without even a single witness were as cunning as snakes and terribly persistent. It was clear that behind them were forces opposing Padre’s ascension to the papacy.

Because of this, despite Padre’s earnest plea for Adel to write immediately if anything became unbearable, she hadn’t sent any news for three years.

Until this incident broke out.

“Ah. And this. When Charlotte heard I was going to the north, she asked me to send her regards to you.”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Padre pulled out an elaborately wrapped package from his chest. Adel hesitantly unwrapped it.

“…”

What emerged from the packaging was a hair ornament adorned with lace and bright ribbons. A peacock’s tail feather caught the eye, and several roses made of finely twisted velvet cloth were attached. Everything else was black, black, and black.

It was an ornament that would only be used at a funeral. Only then realizing the situation, Padre blushed, showing a rare look of embarrassment.

“Oh my.”

He explained with a flustered expression.

“I left Bitzleben twenty days ago, so the news Charlotte had heard must have been only of your husband’s tragedy. Even in Schleicher territory, the news of the Grand Duke’s revival was circulating only as a rumor.”

“…”

“In fact, if I hadn’t received your letter, Adel, I wouldn’t have believed it either.”

“Do you have the letter with you now? And did you read it all carefully?”

“Of course, I did.”

The priest’s gentle eyes looked directly at Adel.

“I told you to write anytime if things got difficult, but I never expected to receive such a letter.”

“…”

“What I read in your letter was your fear, Adel.”