Calis continued his pitiful words, perhaps hoping to evoke sympathy.
“A child… What a ridiculous piece of news.”
Cloe, who had been silently listening, burst into laughter at his words.
“A child? Between us? Are you out of your mind? I don’t wish for a child with your blood. Don’t speak falsehoods.”
Due to the deteriorating relationship between the Duke couple and the disfavorable public sentiment towards the Duchess, the royal family persuaded them to have a child together. They argued that if a child were born, Calis would also develop paternal affection, and there would be nothing to reproach for the Duke in continuing his lineage.
Pushed into such a situation, Cloe, who demanded a union, responded with insulting words.
The man, who had acted that way, now expressed a desire to become a good husband and a compassionate father.
“Back then and even now, I have nothing but apologies for you. So, can’t you reconsider? Helena is innocent, right? Although the child may be hateful to you, she hasn’t done anything wrong. The culprit is me, not Helena.”
“I have committed no crime. Duke, for whom do you think I would end up like this?”
In response to Calis, who was teaching right from wrong, Cloe answered with a chill.
If Helena has done nothing wrong, what about Jane, whose body and mind have been scarred in a blink of an eye due to their discordant relationship?
To claim innocence in the matter that harmed an innocent person due to their discordant relationship was daring.
“The Duke’s wife tried to kill someone for the whims of changing fate. That’s what abominable nonsense is.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Calis asked, completely unaware.
Even if he were skilled in acting, he wouldn’t have been able to pull it off perfectly. Calis seemed to have no involvement in Jane’s incident.
Even so, he is not entirely innocent.
Looking at his nonchalant demeanor, Cloe replied coldly.
“Until the couple who ruined one person’s life atones for their sins, I won’t forgive you.”
“…”
“So, don’t keep coming and acting pathetic. Calis Argent.”
Kneeling before a pitiful woman, returning without any gain was humiliating.
An inefficient visit that ended in disappointment. As Calis, who had gone back to his mansion, was about to return as a duke, Helena rushed over.
“Cal! Did you return safely?”
She noticeably brightened at the sight of her husband returning after several days, behaving like a dog meeting its owner after a long time.
“How was your work? Did it go well?”
“So-so.”
He pretended to have visited the empire for business. When Helena, who believed his words like steel, asked about his reaction, he had nothing else to say.
“Madam, you must maintain stability.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful!”
Shane briefly cautioned the uneasy mistress. It was because of the child growing steadily in her womb.
Calis carefully observed his wife, hiding an awkward expression.
Even though Helena was in the early stages of pregnancy and her belly wasn’t visibly swollen, she was already wearing maternity clothes. Unaware that it would take a while before she becomes a mother, she even bought and collected baby items.
“To be honest, last night’s dream was quite pleasant. Calis, choosing jewelry with a small child, it seemed like a lucky dream.”
“Perhaps both of you are lucky children.”
No matter how many times she mentioned that the dream was good, Shane responded familiarly.
“Yeah, it seems like a good omen. Shane, when is dinner?”
“Originally, there’s about two hours left, but if Your Excellency has summoned it, I will prepare it shortly.”
“No need for that. I’ll go at my usual time.”
“Understood. Would you like to take a bath before dinner? I will have warm water prepared for you.”
Upon Shane’s words, Calis glanced briefly at Helena.
“That’s fine. Until dinner, I have things to discuss with my wife.”
“Understood. Please call me again when needed.”
Afterwards, Shane tactfully left the room.
Having gone upstairs to the bedroom with his wife, Calis changed his clothes. As he unbuttoned his shirt with a straightened collar, Helena approached first.
“This is something the wife should do. Why is Cal doing it?”
Showing immediate consideration, Helena began unbuttoning the tightly packed buttons.
With a flick, the buttons began to loosen, revealing his chest beyond the undone buttons.
“Helena.”
“Yes?”
As Helena, concentrating on the task, leaned her head against his chest, Calis’ resentment quickly faded.
“I have something to say.”
“Say it! What is it?”
He looked around at the empty surroundings. Even a mouse shouldn’t hear this conversation.
“…Did you kill someone?”
In fact, until this moment, Calis was skeptical.
Sometimes, like a puppy, Helena did some annoying things, but he couldn’t believe that his pure wife had killed someone.
“W-what are you talking about, Cal.”
“…”
“The baby… you shouldn’t talk about dangerous things…”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
