“You’re acting quite suspiciously.”
Eric grinned as if he had caught a weakness.
The doctor glanced at Eric with a displeased expression.
“I was just surprised, that’s all. What brings you here?”
“This is my fiancée’s house.”
“Ah, right.”
“Are you keeping it a secret? Your identity as the Prime Minister?”
“I have a personal connection with Count Lancaster, so I’m looking after them. But what if rumors spread that the Prime Minister is personally making rounds like this? It would be troublesome if accusations of favoritism arise.”
Seeing Eric’s still dubious expression, the Prime Minister cleared his throat as if caught.
“Anyway, there are circumstances, so keep it a secret from Alicia-.”
“I have no secrets from Alicia.”
“Hey now. You should reconsider that. It’s not a good idea, even for a harmonious marriage.”
“You don’t usually say things like that, do you?”
“Come on. I’m telling you I have my reasons.”
Eric sensed from the Prime Minister’s attitude that there was something more.
If favoritism accusations were the issue, the Prime Minister wouldn’t be so flustered with him like this.
“……Alicia, over here!”
“Hey, hey, hey, hey. Is this how you treat me after how I raised you?”
“When did you ever raise me?”
“What’s with this attitude? I’m the Prime Minister. All children born into this world should be embraced with love-.”
“Alicia!”
“Fine, fine. Let’s talk later. Right, after the grand banquet. I’m busy until then too.”
“Yes. Take care on your way back, doctor.”
The Prime Minister glared at Eric, who had instantly changed his attitude with a displeased expression.
“This guy. I even saved your life last time.”
“Ah, I thought you were embracing me with love.”
“Watch your mouth.”
After politely seeing off the grumbling Prime Minister into the carriage, Eric came inside.
Unlike his mischievous behavior towards the Prime Minister, his expression was somewhat stiff.
[This is the timeline separator]After talking with the Countess and seeing off Eric returning to the Russell estate, Alicia stopped in front of the second floor balcony on her way up.
“Is that butterfly going to lay eggs here? It’s here again?”
The blue butterfly that she had chased away last time was sitting on the balcony railing, gently fluttering its wings.
“Isn’t it a moth? Since it’s here during the day.”
She tilted her head and was about to pass by when she looked at the butterfly again.
The fluttering of the butterfly’s wings seemed to be getting slower.
Then the sound she was hearing faded away and her vision blurred as her mind became distant.
“Hello?”
“Ah. You-.”
“It was difficult, but it’s good that it ended well. Right?”
“Pardon?”
“Now that we can talk like this, it seems you’re getting weaker. Well, it’s been a long time.”
“What do you mean by getting weaker?”
“Then that child will be returning soon too.”
“You’ve been saying only what you want to say since last time. What’s your purpose? Why don’t you clearly state it?”
A small laugh was heard at Alicia’s curt words.
“I’m sorry. It’s because there’s no use in talking now. You won’t remember anyway.”
“Isn’t it strange to deliberately speak like this when you know that?”
“Hmm. That’s true too. Then what should we do? How about I tell you everything when you remember?”
“So if I won’t remember anyway, saying such things in itself-.”
“Sister, what are you doing there?”
“Huh?”
Alicia’s mind returned at Emma’s voice.
“Oh, Emma. Why, do you need something?”
“No. I was thinking of having some warm milk.”
“I see. Ah, did you finish your homework?”
“No, I still have some left. What were you doing here, sister?”
“Hm?”
But as that voice had said, Alicia couldn’t remember anything.
She didn’t even realize that she had forgotten something.
“The balcony door was open, so I was about to close it.”
Saying that, Alicia closed the balcony door and drew the curtains.
With the curtains drawn, Alicia couldn’t see, but the blue butterfly was still sitting there, gently fluttering its wings.
The fluttering wings seemed to be in a good mood.
[This is the timeline separator]“You called for me, Mother.”
“Come in, Harry.”
The Empress welcomed her son gladly, but Harry remained silent.
Although he was inwardly anxious about being called at such a late hour, Harry intended to stay quiet no matter what his mother said, planning to end this quickly and return.
“I heard Russell Count entered the palace today.”
“Is that so?”
“They say he’s fully recovered and returned to duty.”
“That’s good.”
“Did you know he ended up like that trying to save young lady Lancaster?”
“I heard.”
The Empress picked up her teacup.
“Those two must have become even closer.”
“……What are you trying to say?”
“Harry.”
The Empress put down her teacup and looked at Harry seriously.
“When you become Emperor, you can do anything.”
“Mother.”
Harry sighed.
He had intended to stay quiet, but as expected, the Empress wouldn’t leave it at that.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not interested in the Emperor’s position.”
“Harry.”
“Brother is more suited for that position.”
“Harry!”
Harry frowned at the raised voice, and the Empress took a deep breath to calm herself.
“Didn’t this mother tell you earlier? That you can do anything if you become Emperor.”
“……”
“Alicia Lancaster. You can make that girl yours too.”
“Mother!”
As Harry flared up, the Empress raised her hand to stop him.
“If you really want that girl, you shouldn’t be picky about means and methods. Acting like a gentleman won’t get you anywhere. You’ll just end up being a fool who loses something precious with your eyes wide open.”
“……Why do you think I want young lady Lancaster? I-.”
“My, what a clumsy lie.”
The Empress looked at her son as if he was pitiful.
How did such a frustrating child come from her.
“Your eyes are so tender when looking at that girl. It’s heartbreaking for this mother to see.”
“Mother.”
Harry looked at the Empress with an anxious expression.
He knew well that his mother would do anything for what she wanted.
“Mother, what are you plotting now? What are you trying to do to Alicia?”
“Plotting? That’s harsh, Harry.”
“……”
“Besides, Alicia? Since when did you call her by name? She doesn’t seem to remember.”
“……I didn’t expect Mother to remember.”
“How could I not? I’m the one who prevented you from meeting that girl.”
The Empress smiled crookedly at the surprised Harry.
But Harry was curious.
“Why do you dislike the Lancaster family so much?”
At Harry’s question, the Empress was silent for a moment.
It was a story from her younger days.
A story from her immature days when everything except herself was considered trivial.
The Empress frowned at the memory she recalled and drank her tea.
When she put down her teacup, she had returned to a relaxed expression and smiled at Harry.
“You misunderstand, Harry. It’s not that I dislike them, I was just uncomfortable.”
“?”
“But now my mind has changed. What wouldn’t I do for you? Come to think of it, that child was quite cute when she was young.”
“What?”
Harry looked at the Empress with an uneasy face.
“Mother. What are you thinking?”
“I told you, didn’t I? That I’d do anything for you. In fact, I should say I’ve already done it.”
“Mother.”
“But she can’t be Empress. I think a mistress would be appropriate, but alright. If she becomes the Emperor’s consort, this mother won’t say anything.”
The thought of continually seeing that face in the palace, becoming more and more like that woman, is distasteful no matter how I think about it.
Actually, a nearby mistress would be appropriate at one time, but it can’t be helped.
If Harry just decides to become Emperor, becoming the Emperor’s consort is no problem at all.
Once she enters the palace, she falls under my control anyway, and there are plenty of ways to drive her out once Harry’s interest fades.
“So.”
The Empress picked up her teacup and leisurely savored her tea.
“What do you think, Harry?”
[This is the timeline separator]“It’s been a while, Madam.”
“Welcome, Miss Lancaster. My goodness, your face is in full bloom.”
Alicia smiled awkwardly at the dressmaker’s fuss and opened her mouth.
“I was surprised by your sudden contact. Is there a problem with the business?”
“No, no problem at all. Please, have a seat first.”
As soon as Alicia sat down, the Madam sat close and carefully opened her mouth.
“Actually, I have a favor to ask, so I called you here even though I know it’s rude.”
“?”
“Yes. What are you planning to do about your outfit for the grand banquet? Have you decided?”
“Not yet. Actually, I was in a dilemma because I thought it would be canceled and didn’t prepare.”
“Then, would it be alright if I made it?”
Alicia blinked at the unexpected offer.
It was a windfall when she was already worried.
She was concerned that the period was too short to make a dress for the grand banquet, but miraculously, a solution appeared.
“These days, all the parties are being canceled one after another due to various issues. The social world itself is so quiet, there’s really no work at all.”
The Madam sighed as she complained.
“Since it’s come to this anyway, we’ve had a connection for a long time, and our dress shop played a role in you two meeting, right? So I’d like to make it as an engagement gift.”
“Ah. Of course, I like the dresses here, but a gift is a bit…”
This dress shop is used even by the royal family, so the prices are not cheap.
Receiving such an expensive dress as a gift was burdensome anyway.
But the Madam waved her hand as if she expected Alicia to say that.
“Oh, don’t worry. When I think of all the help I’ve received so far, it’s not at all regrettable. Besides, you know the Gloucester ducal family is our regular customer? For such a big client, this much is just service, service.”
In fact, this opportunity was one of the Madam’s promotional strategies.
Perhaps because the social world was quiet, both gossip and scandals had significantly decreased.
So there was still no big topic to cover the news of Eric and Alicia’s engagement, which meant the two could still receive people’s attention.
Moreover, Eric and Alicia were people who originally didn’t attend parties, so there was definitely scarcity value.
For that reason, didn’t orders increase sharply thanks to the outfits the two wore at the garden party back then?
The Madam adjusted her posture and opened a design book to show Alicia, who was still hesitating.
Alicia’s eyes were naturally drawn to the various designs in various colors.
“I have a few designs in mind, take a look and give me your opinion.”
“Yes. I’ll be in your care.”
There was no way to refuse anyway since there was no time.
If it’s too burdensome, she can pay later.
Thinking like that, Alicia accepted the Madam’s offer.
She had to be mindful for the sake of the ducal family’s reputation, but more than that, Alicia was planning to dress up to the best of her ability this time.
She had never done so before and wasn’t interested, but this time, so as not to bring shame to Eric, her partner.
To be more honest, so that his eyes wouldn’t wander elsewhere.
[This is the timeline separator]“You contact me quite quickly.”
“I apologize. That’s how it turned out, Commander.”
Eric, who was appointed as the acting commander of the Zero Knights by the Emperor, entered a shabby back alley following Kibu.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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Daily Life of a Scumbag Man Giving Birth (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The way for a promiscuous scumbag man to atone for his sins is to let him get… pregnant.
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, scammed countless women, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to scam them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.