Dalia blinked rapidly as if trying to comprehend what she had just heard.

Her heart began to race as the blood in her entire body started to run cold.

“…I think I must have misheard. What did you just say…?”

“Pregnancy.”

The doctor drove the point home to Dalia, who was asking again in disbelief.

“We can faintly detect the pulse of the fetus. You mentioned ongoing discomfort, correct? That’s one of the early symptoms of pregnancy.”

The elderly doctor looked at Dalia while pushing up his thick glasses.

Normally, women would be overjoyed to learn of their pregnancy, yet seeing Dalia’s face turn pale, almost blue, he scratched his head in puzzlement.

“Anyway, since it’s early in the pregnancy, you should be as careful as possible. Try to rest at home as much as you can, and also…”

Though the doctor continued to explain various precautions, none of it reached Dalia’s ears.

She repeated the fact of her pregnancy in a half-dazed state.

‘Pregnant. Am I really…’

Dalia lowered her head, placing both hands on her stomach.

‘Pregnant…!’

It’s over!

It’s completely and utterly over!

While some might shed tears of joy at the conception of new life, she was different.

Rather, she felt an overwhelming urge to wail and lament her fate.

Who was it that said expectant mothers should think and speak positively for the baby’s sake?

Though she felt sorry for the child in her womb, only negative thoughts and curses came to mind.

Ever since learning of her pregnancy, it felt as if cold sweat was running down her back.

‘No. Let’s calm down first.’

They say even if you fall into a tiger’s den, you can survive if you keep your wits about you.

The pregnancy was now irreversible. Dalia soon steadied her breath and began to organize the situation.

‘I was possessed by the pregnant heroine of a novel, so of course I’d get pregnant, right? So it’s okay. It’s not like I didn’t expect this at all. I just need to execute Plan B.’

From now on, there was only one path she could choose.

A glimmer of intelligence began to return to Dalia’s previously dazed eyes.

‘Focus all efforts on seducing the male lead.’

What else could she do now that she was already pregnant? The only option was to make the male lead fall head over heels for her before her pregnancy was discovered.

Hadn’t she been working hard to gain the male lead’s favor in preparation for this situation?

She reluctantly attended social gatherings she didn’t even want to go to, making herself indispensable to him.

Now she needed to seal the deal and make the male lead completely fall for her.

Dalia seemed to ponder for a moment as if she had some special plan in mind, then looked at the doctor.

“Well, I have a question if I may.”

“Go ahead.”

Hesitating as if about to ask a difficult question, Dalia lowered her voice.

“Is it… alright for couples to be intimate during pregnancy…?”

It was quite a private question.

“…Marital relations, huh.”

The elderly doctor quietly murmured Dalia’s question.

The eyes behind his glasses seemed to regard her as somewhat pitiful for a moment.

“It’s best to refrain until you enter a stable period. Not just marital relations, but you should avoid any strenuous activities that could strain the fetus.”

“I see…”

Dalia’s shoulders slumped in disappointment at the doctor’s firm answer.

She had planned to win the male lead’s heart through physical intimacy, but…

Somehow, the days ahead seemed like they would be challenging.

* * *

Clayton’s study on the second floor.

As always, with thick curtains drawn, the room was shrouded in darkness, contrary to the bright weather outside.

Clayton’s fingers, which would normally be busy dealing with piled-up work, were just tapping idly on the innocent desk.

The man’s eyes were calm, as if lost in deep thought.

‘Dalia and Rose Hertz…’

He disliked the uncomfortable interactions between these two, and the fact that Dalia had secretly left the mansion with the help of the Grand Duchess just to meet Rose Hertz.

No, to be precise, it bothered him like a protruding stone on an otherwise flat surface.

Clayton had been in this state since yesterday. If their connection bothered him so much, he could have spoken directly to Dalia about it.

Yet he merely kept repeating the same thoughts to himself.

And Jason, who had been watching Clayton closely all this time, hesitantly spoke up.

“Your Grace. Wouldn’t it be wise to ask the Madam to explain why she secretly left the mansion yesterday? If we just pretend not to know, she might continue to leave secretly, which could pose a risk to her safety.”

While it was important to find out why Dalia was secretly leaving the mansion, it was equally crucial to prevent any variables that could arise from her wandering alone in the capital without escorts.

As if he had already considered Jason’s concerns, Clayton looked up.

“Let’s just observe for now. But keep a close eye on Dalia’s movements. If it seems she’s about to sneak out of the mansion like yesterday, have someone follow her.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Where is Dalia now?”

“She just left, saying she was going to Madame Louise’s dress shop. When I asked, she didn’t mention meeting anyone else.”

At those words, Clayton leaned back in his chair instead of responding.

Then, as if feeling constricted, he tugged at his tie.

As the choking sensation around his neck eased, breathing became easier than before.

Noticing Clayton’s darkened expression as he exhaled deeply, Jason continued speaking.

“Your Grace. You don’t look well. Could it be that you’re feeling the effects of ‘that day’?”

Clayton’s eyes filled with concern at Jason’s worried words.

“Yes. That day is approaching.”

The day of the full moon.

It was a day when the curse of the Sayer family grew stronger, and when Clayton found it difficult to control his impulses.

For generations, the ancestors of the Sayer family would restrict their outings as the full moon approached.

They never knew when or where they might encounter someone and cause a conflict.

So around that time, they would intentionally drink a lot of blood to prepare for any potential situations. However…

“To think that His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday coincides with that day… I’m worried. Perhaps you should reconsider going to the Imperial Palace…”

“And suffer what petty treatment this time?”

In fact, he had once before missed the Emperor’s birthday celebration for the same reason.

Due to the early passing of his father, the previous Duke of Sayer, he had to attend official events alone from a young age.

The younger he was, the weaker his ability to control his impulses, so to prevent any possible accidents, he had missed the Emperor’s birthday celebration just once after his father’s death.

However, despite politely explaining the situation and asking for understanding in advance, the old man’s grudge was more than just annoying.

“If I don’t attend this time, the connections I’ve made with the people of Philoze Duchy will be rendered useless. That would make things quite complicated. And I absolutely detest troublesome matters.”

It was more efficient to just go to the Imperial Palace and listen to the old man’s few words.

Jason nodded in agreement with Clayton’s words.

But having realized that the Duke’s pale complexion was related to the approaching full moon, Jason made a suggestion.

“Then shall we send someone to the Hertz family?”

Jason knew the reason why Clayton had been distancing himself from Dalia recently.

He must be afraid of unknowingly drinking Dalia’s blood due to the influence of that day.

So Jason suggested drinking Hertz’s blood as a preventive measure.

He judged it safer to drink blood to satiety now, as the blood impulses would soon grow stronger.

“…”

Clayton pondered for a moment at Jason’s suggestion.

‘If Rose Hertz comes to the mansion…’

She might encounter Dalia again. Even if Dalia wasn’t at the mansion now, there was a high chance she would arrive in time.

No matter how discreetly he drank blood deep in the forest, away from others’ eyes, they had already met once – could they not meet again?

For some reason, the thought of the two of them meeting again by chance didn’t sit well with him.

After considering various scenarios, Clayton finally raised his head as if he had made up his mind.

“No. I’ll go myself.”

“…Pardon? You mean you’ll go to the Hertz family… personally?”

“Yes.”

Jason’s eyes widened at the Duke’s words about going to the Hertz family in person.

It wasn’t impossible, of course.

But given the long-standing rumors between the Sayer and Hertz families, they usually avoided anything that might attract public attention.

Clayton, in particular, had been especially cautious in this regard.

So Jason was a bit taken aback by Clayton’s sudden decision to go to the Hertz family himself.

But Clayton paid no mind and stood up from his seat.

“Prepare everything.”