A butler was approaching Askal, who was conversing with the nobles. I carefully said to Rublion, whose eyes were sparkling.

“You need to play a little and go to bed early.”

“Okay.”

“You’re going straight to your room from here. Can you promise?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“You have to play in your room, not wander around. Okay?”

“I got it.”

Even after saying that, I wasn’t reassured. Then Anna spoke with a smile.

“I’ll take good care of him. So don’t worry, my lady.”

Still, the uneasiness didn’t easily disappear. I glanced at the crown prince couple and held Rublion’s hand.

“It can’t be helped today, but let’s sleep together tomorrow, the three of us.”

“Yes, mom.”

I felt I had to promise something before leaving so the child would feel less disappointed. And so my heart would be at ease too.

Forcibly moving my feet that didn’t want to leave, I returned to my room and started bathing with the maids’ assistance. Seeing the soap I made for the first time, they each commented on how good it smelled.

After finishing the bath, I thoroughly removed my makeup and neatly combed my hair that had been tied up all day. I put on soft undergarments and a large robe, then examined myself in the mirror.

‘I-I’m nervous!’

My breathing sounded louder than usual in my ears. My heart was pounding wildly.

“You look truly beautiful, my lady.”

“Thank you, you’ve worked hard.”

One maid stepped back with a satisfied expression. The others agreed and had the same look.

“Now I just go to the duke’s room, right?”

“Yes, the duke should be in his room by now.”

Don’t show that you’re nervous. Don’t forget to breathe, Schmidt.

‘Act naturally. What’s so difficult about this?’

But contrary to my thoughts, my legs were trembling as I headed to Askal’s room. A distance that would normally take less than 20 seconds felt far today.

I finally arrived. The tightly closed room was the largest and widest in the mansion, and it was the master bedroom that Askal had been using alone until now.

‘Deep breath.’

After taking several deep breaths in and out, I clenched my fist. I was planning to knock and enter in case he might be inside.

‘What should I say first? Should I say I was waiting? Or ask if he waited long? Or should I say I’ll be in your care…’

While I was thinking hard, frozen like a statue.

“My lady.”

“Ahhh!”

I jumped in surprise at the voice from behind. Turning around, there stood Askal.

Wearing the same robe as me, with a natural look and no product in his hair.

His slightly flushed face and calm eyes gently gazed at me.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Thump thump. Thump thump.

You may not have meant to, but I’m already startled.

My mind went blank and the greeting I had decided on evaporated.

“L-Let’s go inside first.”

I said, placing a hand on my chest and taking a deep breath. Askal came to my side and opened the door. I hurried into the bedroom like a leaf swept away by water.

Askal followed and locked the door. Now it had become a perfect space for just the two of us, where no one from outside could enter.

Realizing this, my mind went even blanker. As I stood there not knowing where to be, Askal walked steadily to the bed, sat on the edge, and gestured.

“Come here.”

Thinking I should act calm, I lifted my chin and walked haughtily.

But my body wouldn’t cooperate. I belatedly realized my hands and feet were moving together and hurriedly walked properly.

Askal chuckled. While I’m trembling like this, why does he look so nonchalant?

For someone who’s never even held a woman’s wrist, isn’t he too natural?

Thinking this, I carefully sat beside him. Now what will happen?

“My lady. I’ve entrusted Rublion to Baron Deli and Princess Teravita.”

“Ah, I also asked Anna.”

“So please set aside your worries about the child for now.”

I’m sorry to say, but right now I couldn’t think about Rublion at all. Askal stood up and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. Then he went to the wall and turned off the chandelier.

With the main light off, only the soft glow of the lamp illuminated the bed. I was glad he turned off the lights first, as it had been too bright and awkward.

He approached with steady steps. With his incredibly handsome face and glimpses of firm abs visible with each step, he was seducing me.

As he sat beside me, I felt this was finally the start and my breathing quickened. His large hand gently stroked my nape and shoulders.

“Relax. I’ll make sure you have only good memories.”

“…I-I’m not nervous.”

Askal chuckled. In any case, he’s a man who plays with my heart.

As he was massaging my shoulders, he gently laid me back. Then, propping himself up on his arms, he said:

“My lady, I promise you this one thing.”

He whispered, brushing away strands of hair stuck to my face.

“You will be my first and last.”

“…”

“I’m not saying this caught up in the moment. I love you. Enough to dedicate my whole life.”

How do I look to him right now? What expression should I make?

“Askal.”

My emotions were boiling over. If anything, I seem to be the one caught up in the atmosphere.

“I feel the same way.”

I don’t know. Why do I feel drunk when I haven’t even had any alcohol?

“I like you.”

It was a confession I blurted out with my eyes tightly shut. A sincere admission made while lying under him, smiling shyly.

“I like you, Askal.”

His alluring lips slowly drew closer. The warmth of our bodies touching through the loosened robes was so hot yet comforting that it made me completely forget the hot air between late spring and early summer.

[This is the timeline separator]

Rublion, who had been brought to his room by Anna despite wanting to play more, lay on the bed and stared blankly out the window, turning only his head.

Unable to use a room in the main building due to etiquette, he found it hard to fall asleep in another room in the annex.

Finally, Rublion got up and shuffled to the balcony in his slippers. The laughter of people still enjoying the banquet could be heard in the distance.

“Ah, I want to become an adult quickly.”

Then he could play until late. He could drink wine like mom does.

As he was grumbling with such thoughts, he suddenly noticed the bright moon as the clouds cleared.

“Wow, the moon is so round!”

Rublion muttered that they had at least gotten one thing right on the wedding day. Then he suddenly remembered Lambert’s words.

[If you pick the flower that reflects the most moonlight on a night when the moon is round and put it by your pillow, a baby will be born right away.]

Although he had dismissed it as nonsense, he thought there might be a reason why people there do such things.

‘Maybe a younger sibling will be born.’

Rublion stared at the large, round moon. The clouds passing by slightly seemed to say that today was the only day to pick flowers.

“Doing nothing is a sin.”

It was a verse from the scripture of those who worship the primordial god. Rublion seemed to make up his mind and left the balcony.

The boy, busy imagining a newborn baby as his younger sibling, completely forgot Schmidt’s warning to only play in his room.

[This is the timeline separator]

Riena was still bothered. The unusually round and bright moon made it worse.

“Hey, you said if you pick flowers when the moon is round, a baby is born, right?”

“Didn’t you call it nonsense?”

“I take back calling it nonsense. So is it true that a baby is really born?”

“I told you it is!”

Lambert nodded vigorously.

“I said the effect is no joke. It’s what the knight said, no less.”

“…Okay, I got it.”

Riena paced around the room before turning around resolutely. Seeing his sister about to go out, Lambert asked.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“To pick flowers.”

“At this hour?”

Lambert shook his head.

“If you go out now, ghosts will appear. You might get eaten, you know?”

“Oh, you fool.”

“You said you were taking that back!”

“When did I say I was taking back calling you a fool? I said I was taking back calling it nonsense.”

“I’m going to tell our brother everything about you playing out late!”

Despite Lambert’s threat, Riena grabbed the doorknob. Then she showed her fist and said.

“I’m not playing. I’m going to pick flowers for the young master.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The garden a little away from the annex was a place people rarely visited. With no statues or benches, it was literally just a garden meant to be viewed from above.

Enduring the fear of the night and coming alone, Rublion slowly walked, relying on the faint noise from the banquet hall.

‘There’s so many!’

The moon was so bright that there were countless flowers reflecting the moonlight. Rublion thought picking all of them might increase the chances, so he squatted down and started plucking the flowers one by one.

That’s when it happened.

“…I …did…”

A human voice was heard from deep in the garden. Already a bit scared, Rublion thought this was good timing and moved to ask that person to stay with him for a moment.

“I didn’t want it. You knew that too, didn’t you?”

The voice became clearer. Rublion confirmed the identity of the person talking through the gap between large trees. Then he stood frozen as if his feet were tied.

“You had a child on your own and now you’re asking me to take responsibility?”

“Is a child made alone? And even if you didn’t want it, once a child is born, you have to raise it, don’t you?”

“How would I know? Do you have proof that the child you bore is mine?”

The back view of a woman in a lavender royal dress was clearly visible in the moonlight.

“Don’t you know the real reason we broke up? You haven’t changed at all. You’re still a person who only thinks about yourself.”

“You’re the same kind of person.”

Aron grinded his teeth.

“You’re a woman who hid the fact that you had a child and married another man. You even abandoned that child!”

“I didn’t abandon! I just left the child temporarily!”

“You’re talking crazy. The position you took after leaving the child is the crown princess, isn’t it?”

Red droplets of blood began to fall from the tightly closed lips of the boy who had heard a conversation between two people that he should never have heard. Tears flowed along with it.