“Vice Guild Master. Are you there?”

Someone knocked on the door of the Vice Guild Master’s office where they were.

The three people briefly looked at each other and then simultaneously turned their gaze towards the door.

“Come in.”

As Hayley gave permission, the door opened with a creak.

The employee who poked his head in saw the two men sitting inside and hurriedly entered, bowing.

“I have a report, Vice Guild Master! I’ve received word that the Duchess of Arte you were looking for has been safely escorted to her lodgings!”

Duchess of Arte.

At that name, the eyes of the three people sitting there widened.

“So mother-in-law was here.”

“Why didn’t we think of that?”

As Viscount Vermerian sighed, Leoprick also slapped his knee.

Pregnancy often resembles the mother.

Then, even without Amelia’s mother, wouldn’t there be similar cases with grandmother and great-grandmother?

The three of them slapped their knees and stood up.

“So, where is she now?”

Wherever she was, they had to bring her even if they had to go to the end of the empire.

The place the three rushed to was one of the safe houses of the Jenit Guild within the capital.

Following Amelia’s initial instructions to accommodate the Duchess of Arte as comfortably as possible, the guild members had respectfully and safely escorted her here as soon as she entered the capital.

And less than an hour after everyone had safely arrived here, all the big shots of the empire barged in.

“V-Vice Guild Master…, no, I mean, Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince…”

Not one, not two, but three.

Moreover, the Crown Prince, the husband of the first Guild Master, and even the Vice Guild Master who rarely leaves his office.

For the low-ranking guild employee in charge of the house’s security, these were overwhelmingly important people.

Feeling dizzy, he deeply bowed his waist.

Bowing his head almost to the floor, he waited for the word to rise.

…But strangely, it was quiet in front.

When he raised his body with disbelief…

“Are you certain she’s inside?”

“Yes, I’m certain. The employee you just saw was the last one to follow the procession. She must be inside.”

The three great individuals were all moving away with one mind.

Leading the way was Leoprick.

Because he needed to find any way to help her, who must still be struggling even now.

Rushing inside almost at a run, he grabbed someone who looked like a butler and asked about the Duchess of Arte’s whereabouts.

“Where is the Duchess of Arte?”

“Ah. If you’re asking about the Duchess of Arte…”

Just as he was about to turn his gaze, it happened.

Suddenly, a firm and resonant voice was heard from above.

“Are you looking for me?”

A voice he was hearing for the first time.

But somehow, it felt similar to Amelia’s.

Leoprick let go of the butler he was holding and turned his head towards the source of the voice.

There stood an elderly lady with snow-white hair.

No, she was someone with too much spirit and liveliness in her eyes to be called just an elderly lady.

Someone who would naturally catch your eye even if you met her in passing.

“…Mother-in-law. You’ve arrived.”

And Viscount Vermerian, who had followed, confirmed her identity.

The Duchess of Arte.

Amelia’s grandmother and the mother of the capable and brave Jenit Vermerian who founded the Jenit Guild.

Leoprick watched the elderly lady slowly approaching them and reflexively bowed his head.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess of Arte. I am Leoprick Reinhart, Amelia’s husband.”

“I’ve heard the news, Your Highness the Crown Prince. I’m grateful that you’ve personally come to see this old woman.”

The Duchess of Arte graciously accepted Leoprick’s greeting.

Even the slight bow she made seemed to exude dignity, making Leoprick feel a bit dazed.

Thinking, have I ever felt this overwhelmed by someone’s presence in my life?

“So. What brings my busy son-in-law, the Vice Guild Master, and such an important person to this humble place?”

The Duchess of Arte turned her gaze to Viscount Vermerian and Hayley with the same intensity.

Just a single sentence thrown without any change in expression or tone of voice, yet the Viscount and Hayley’s shoulders visibly flinched.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess of Arte.”

“We came to see you on urgent business. How is your health?”

To the words Hayley and the Viscount offered in turn, the Duchess of Arte scoffed.

“That’s rich coming from the people who dragged me here as soon as I arrived in the capital. Well, I’m grateful you didn’t treat me like a hostage at least.”

“Um, Mother-in-law. There’s a good reason for that…”

Viscount Vermerian laughed awkwardly.

They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, but she struck a blow to that very face.

“Reasons or not, it’s not right to rush an old person like this, Viscount.”

At the voice that cut off firmly, albeit with a faint hint of laughter, Viscount Vermerian closed his mouth.

Leoprick was inwardly very surprised as he watched this scene.

This was none other than Vermerian, the Iron Chancellor.

Before being a viscount, as the country’s chancellor who had resolved numerous major issues without much fuss, for him to close his mouth like that in front of his mother-in-law.

Although he had come here worried about Amelia, he became curious about this person called the Duchess of Arte.

“So. What are your reasons for bringing me here in such a hurry?”

She asked, looking around.

Leoprick, after meeting that gaze, unconsciously gulped.

“Sour things are best for morning sickness.”

This was the first thing the Duchess of Arte said after hearing the story from the three.

“By sour things, do you mean lemons?”

When Viscount Vermerian asked, she nodded and raised her hand.

“Water with lemon, meat or fish sprinkled with lemon juice, and oranges or limes are fine too, not just lemons.”

I’ve heard that some people dry sour fruits to eat frequently or make vinegar with them.

The Duchess of Arte recited such examples as they came to mind, and Leoprick diligently took notes.

Thinking that he should tell the palace chef to procure sour fruits as soon as he returns to the palace.

“But even these things might not be very effective sometimes. They work to some extent, but it’s not like you can eat normally.”

“What? Then how…”

“You just have to get through it, Your Highness. There’s not much you can do about morning sickness. The most important thing is to rest enough and keep the stomach comfortable, as even slight discomfort can trigger morning sickness.”

She said time would solve it, and that making too much fuss around her could unsettle a calm mind.

“Keep her comfortable, Your Highness. When the mind is at ease, the body naturally rests.”

It was obvious. It was obvious and something he had always heard, but to hear it from the Duchess of Arte, whom he had believed to be his only hope.

Leoprick was a bit taken aback by his own unexpectedly gloomy mood.

“Amelia can’t even keep water down properly, Duchess of Arte.”

“Doesn’t she drink tea? Both Jenit and I got through it with tea when we were pregnant.”

“But still, she needs to eat something…”

“Both the child in the womb and the mother are not that weak. They will endure well.”

She was firm.

Saying that this is something every woman goes through, and that it’s the men making such a fuss that makes women experiencing this for the first time more stressed and anxious.

“Just a peaceful mind solves half the problem. I understand your worry, but it’s not right to come rushing in like this and trouble an old woman.”

She said that if Amelia herself asked for help, she would meet her directly, but otherwise, she couldn’t tolerate the people around not being able to reassure the expectant mother and instead making more of a fuss than her.

The Duchess of Arte delivered a sharp rebuke to those huddled together.

“Don’t you really understand how anxious Amelia must be, just by the three of you being here like this?”

Her sharp gaze pierced through each person one by one.

The first to stand up under that fierce gaze was Hayley.

Hayley, who had been quietly listening to the lady’s words until now, immediately stood up and bowed deeply.

“I’m sorry, Duchess Arte! I’ll go see the Vice Guild Master right away!”

“Good. You must have received direct orders from Amelia, and it’s not right for you of all people to be acting like this.”

“I will rectify it.”

As Hayley was about to turn and leave after bowing, the Duchess added one more thing.

“On my way here, I saw Philippa County. Is the Count doing well?”

It was a brief comment.

A casual remark that might seem insignificant.

Depending on who heard it, one might wonder why she was asking Hayley about Count Philippa’s well-being.

But Hayley stopped in her tracks, and the Duchess kept her gaze fixed on her.

Hayley, who had been standing still for a while, didn’t answer and left with just a bow of her head.

The Duchess watched this with a sigh, and Viscount Vermerian also had a heavy expression.

Leoprick, whose mind was filled only with worry for his wife, just thought he should hurry back to Amelia.

“Then I’ll be going back too, Duchess of Arte. I should first relay the news to Amelia.”

“That would be good. Don’t forget that Amelia’s feelings are the most important above all else.”

“Yes. Thank you for your advice.”

With that, Leoprick stood up first, and Viscount Vermerian was about to follow when…

“You must have something to discuss with me.”

The Duchess of Arte, who had been sitting quietly, made the Viscount sit back down.