The atmosphere had changed.

That was the first thought Margaret felt in the restaurant.

There wasn’t much conversation, and what little there was, was scant. Yet, the air surrounding them was not chilly, but rather stifling.

“Rest up today. I’ll try to get back as soon as I can.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Or, maybe we should just stay in today? Yes. That’s a good idea. There’s nothing urgent today, so we should just stay put.”

“You don’t have to. I don’t want to get in your way for no reason.”

“Get in the way. As if that could happen. Or, should we go ride the horse we talked about last time? The weather is good, so it will be nice for horseback riding.”

The hidden hand of Margaret under the table tensed.

I thought he would have at least come once.

Even if he didn’t care about her, the child in her belly was his only offspring. It wasn’t just about taking her to the doctor, she thought he would stop by, even if it was late at night, to ask about her.

‘She was surely shaken……’

Although it was a bit premature, Duke Pieren had been thoroughly rattled.

Having dropped a hint to fuel suspicion, he should not be blushing like a bashful young bachelor and wagging his tail around Liviana, he should have run to her.

‘But, why on earth?’

Because he didn’t believe her? No.

It wasn’t a story she originally intended for him to believe. It was enough to just make him anxious.

Doubt is like a weed, once the seeds are sown, it sprouts and spreads throughout the mind until it becomes unbearable.

In particular, Bake had the habit of holding onto every word, unable to say anything while he contemplated on his wife’s feelings, then disgorging them only after they had festered and rotted within him.

And she was the only woman who could give such a man some breathing space. There was no need to tell how often a desperate Bake, drunk on alcohol, sought her embrace.

Bake’s wife may have been Liviana, but his woman was her.

“Horseback riding wouldn’t be bad, but I just want to rest today. I’m a bit tired.”

“Ah, yes. I see. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. You should rest. You are fragile, and yesterday was too much.”

“Bake.”

Liviana quickly cut him off, but that was enough.

Margaret finally realized the identity of the sweet atmosphere and gritted her teeth.

‘Why was he wagging his tail like that, just for that reason……’

It was well known that there had been no relationship between the two for a long time. Therefore, Bake was even more insistent on making Margaret a replacement for Liviana, and so far, Margaret had thoroughly catered to his taste.

But now, to embrace Liviana? That couldn’t happen.

What could he gain from embracing a woman as stiff as a log? A woman who can’t even have a child, what kind of a woman was that?

“Are you still feeling unwell? If so, I should have sent the meal to your room.”

But she couldn’t say anything.

Liviana was the Duchess of Creighton, and she was only a temporary guest.

A newfound fact or the memory of yesterday made her feel even more nauseous.

‘…This won’t do. If things go on like this, I’ll eventually be usurped.’

Holding onto her stomach, Margaret clenched her teeth.

“Did you really sleep with her?”

“Why should I have to tell you that?”

“Bake.”

“As I said yesterday, please, stop nagging.”

Bake held his head high.

The presence of Duke Pieren was unpleasant, but conversely, his relationship with Liviana was gradually improving. He didn’t want to lose a recovering, or perhaps even a better relationship.

He didn’t remember well due to the drunkenness, but they had finally started. That would be a catalyst, and with time, more sweet moments would come.

Bake swallowed a dry gulp at the stingy sensation from the welts on his back, which he felt every time he forgot about them.

He didn’t like the wounds, but the welts he saw in the mirror this morning were quite satisfactory.

The welts that were blushing on his back were in the shape of fingernails.

“I am the mother of your child.”

“Mother?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Margaret emphasized, straining her voice, but Bake just laughed.

Margaret might be carrying his child, but that didn’t mean she could become a mother.

“That’s already been agreed upon.”

“….”

“Having a child has made you start to climb up lately, but don’t be mistaken. The child is a child, and you are you. Nothing will change.”

“….Nothing will change?”

“Yes, nothing.”

Margaret’s lips trembled at Bake’s firm shake of his head.

But Bake didn’t care about it at all.

Who would care for a toy’s feelings while playing with it?

Initially, Bake didn’t keep Margaret by his side because she was particularly beautiful or charming. It was simply the most convenient for him.

An unimpressive woman from the countryside, few were interested in the wife of a commoner. Most importantly, she was outwardly a friend of Riviana.