It was an unusually good day.

Adeline stretched lightly with her body and left the bed, heading towards the window.

Adeline drew the curtains that had been closed all night and opened the window wide.

Adeline took a deep breath with all her might. The cool air tickled her nostrils.

It was the first refreshing morning she had experienced since entering the duke’s castle.

The sky was particularly clear and blue without a single cloud. It felt like only good things would happen today.

After enjoying the refreshing morning air for a while.

Becky entered the bedroom. She had come in to wake up Adeline, but finding her already awake, Becky’s eyes widened in surprise.

Seeing her enjoying the morning breeze, Becky greeted her understandingly.

“Oh my. You’re already up! It’s such a clear day today.”

“Ah, Becky. It’s a good morning, isn’t it?”

Adeline greeted Becky with a smile.

Becky brought a large shawl and wrapped it around Adeline’s body.

“Still, the morning air is quite chilly. You must think of the baby.”

Adeline smiled, tightening the shawl Becky had put on her once more, and hugged her lower abdomen.

It was a strange feeling, but it felt warm.

“It’s your check-up day today, shall I escort you there?”

“When it’s over, could you prepare tea time in the garden?”

Adeline had been receiving regular check-ups from her physician since her pregnancy was confirmed. Today was her third regular check-up.

Adeline planned to enjoy the refreshing air she had felt after a long time when the cold morning air subsided.

After Adeline finished her light grooming, there was another knock on the door.

The physician who quietly greeted her immediately began to examine Adeline.

“Fortunately, there’s no sign of a cold. Still, since you were in the water in autumn, you should be careful for a while.”

Carrying the heir of the ducal family, the physician was cautious about everything.

“I’ll check your pulse.”

The physician who checked her pulse tilted his head.

The hand stretched out to check the pulse didn’t seem to leave Adeline’s wrist.

“Hmm?”

The physician who had briefly removed his hand tilted his head again and checked the pulse once more.

“This is strange.”

The physician, who had been wearing a puzzled expression, continued speaking. Adeline’s wrist began to tremble slightly, caught in an inexplicable anxiety.

“The pulse is too faint.”

The physician who had reached out to check the pulse once more soon withdrew his hand.

“It wasn’t clear before, but it was definitely palpable, but now…”

The physician, who continued to express his bewilderment, stopped speaking at Adeline’s expression.

Adeline couldn’t hide her confusion at the physician’s words. Her voice began to tremble as she spoke.

“Has something gone wrong with the baby?”

Adeline asked the physician. Her face turned pale at the thought that the baby in her womb might have miscarried.

The refreshing feeling she had felt when she woke up was gone, and it felt like all the blood in her body was draining out.

It was a child she had just begun to accept. Adeline’s eyes trembled endlessly.

The physician, seeing Adeline’s pale appearance, hurried to calm her down.

“Ah, no! This happens sometimes. It’s probably nothing.”

Despite the physician’s words, Adeline’s complexion showed no signs of improving.

“Have you had any bleeding?”

Adeline shook her head vigorously at the physician’s question.

“Then it’s alright. Let’s just keep an eye on it while you take care of yourself for a while. Nothing is worse for the baby than the mother’s worry.”

Adeline’s trembling gradually subsided at the physician’s words. For Adeline, who still looked confused, the physician continued to offer words of reassurance.

“There’s no need to worry. If anything happens, please call for me.”

The physician stood up and added.

“It’s probably nothing, so don’t worry and rest well.”

The physician left the bedroom with a hearty laugh, as if trying to reassure Adeline once more.

Despite the physician’s words, Adeline couldn’t shake off her uneasiness. Her trembling hands had completely subsided, but her pale complexion showed no signs of returning.

Once the anxiety had bloomed, it was not easily erased.

‘The baby isn’t really in trouble, is it?’

Adeline’s mood plummeted as if she had never been in a good mood. Somehow, her stomach seemed to start aching slightly.

As time passed, Adeline began to find stability.

There really hadn’t been a day when her body felt as light as today, and Adeline constantly reassured herself that nothing worrisome would happen.

“Nothing is worse for the baby than the mother’s worry.”

Remembering the physician’s words that worry was not good for the baby, Adeline tried once again to lift her mood.

When news came that the tea Adeline had asked Becky to prepare was ready, Adeline took a deep breath.

She intended to erase the fleeting anxiety while drinking tea.

Adeline’s eyes widened at the lavishly decorated table as she headed towards the garden.

“Oh my.”

As if anticipating Adeline’s expression, Becky wore a very proud look.

What Adeline had requested from Becky was a simple tea time in the garden. But the scene spread out before her eyes was like a tea party for noble ladies.

The white round tea table was filled with colorful desserts. It seemed as if all the desserts Adeline had ever found delicious had been prepared.

That’s not all. Silk awnings around the tea table fluttered in the wind. It was Becky’s ambitious work considering the time approaching noon.

As Adeline sat down in admiration, tea slowly filled her cup.

“The tea is as splendid as this beautiful place. How lovely.”

The tea, shimmering with a ruby glow, was so clear without any cloudiness.

It was so beautiful that it seemed it should be admired rather than drunk.

“The duke specially prepared it for you. The desserts too. It’s said to be very good for lifting spirits.”

At Becky’s words, Adeline felt her sunken mood gently bouncing back up.

Casius seemed to have quickly heard the news from the physician. To be so considerate, knowing Adeline’s low spirits. Adeline’s heart fluttered.

Watching the moved Adeline, Becky quietly whispered in her ear.

“We baked a lot of desserts. How about giving some to the duke?”

Adeline nodded, pretending to give in to Becky’s suggestion.

Adeline was on her way to the office. With a picnic basket full of desserts, that is.

Everywhere Adeline passed, the sweet scent of desserts filled the air.

Casius had always seemed busy dealing with the backlog of work since returning from the villa.

Just as she had been comforted by sweet desserts and tea today, she hoped that his weary heart would also be eased a bit by the sweet desserts.

Adeline reached the front of the office with pleasant thoughts. Full of anticipation, Adeline reached out to knock on the office door.

At that moment,

“Do you really intend to accept her as the duchess?”

Eric’s voice flowed through the crack in the office door.

Adeline stopped her hand that was about to knock. If they were discussing the duchess, it was surely about her. Adeline could imagine the awkward situation if she entered. As she was about to turn away.

“It can’t be helped.”

At Casius’s voice from beyond the door, Adeline couldn’t bring herself to leave.

Although she knew it wasn’t right to eavesdrop secretly, she couldn’t move away.

Adeline carefully leaned her back against the office door.

“She’s a commoner. You know that clearly, don’t you? The imperial family is mocking you.”

“Doesn’t she carry the bloodline of the ducal family?”

“If you needed an heir, you shouldn’t have broken off the engagement with the Estillen family. That would have been the proper course.”

After Eric’s words, Casius did not respond to him. Unable to contain his frustration, Eric asked Casius again.

“Do you love her?”

“…She’s carrying my bloodline.”

Adeline felt a strange sense of disappointment. As if she had hoped to be loved.

Even though she thought they had grown a little closer, Adeline looked at her flat stomach.

‘If it weren’t for this child, we would still be resenting and despising each other.’

Adeline’s mood hit rock bottom after overhearing the conversation in the office. The depression was momentary as Adeline listened to the continuing conversation.

“They say the pulse is faint. What do you plan to do if she miscarries?”

“That must not happen, Eric. I won’t let you off easy if it does.”

The words “won’t let you off easy” seemed as if they were directed at her. Adeline’s heart sank as if something had suddenly dropped.

“Ah.”

Was it because of the sudden shock? A sharp pain suddenly rose from her lower abdomen. Adeline unknowingly let out a groan from the pain.

Adeline was quickly trying to leave the office, worried that her voice might have been heard inside.

“My lady?”

Adeline’s steps halted at the voice calling her from behind.

It was the butler Gwen, walking towards Adeline from the end of the corridor.

“Were you looking for the duke?”

Adeline immediately shook her head at Gwen’s words. She didn’t have the confidence to face the duke and his secretary now.

“No. Could you please deliver these desserts?”

Adeline handed over the dessert basket to Gwen as she spoke.

Leaving Gwen, who seemed to be saying something, behind, Adeline quickly moved away from the office.

Adeline hurried towards her bedroom. Somehow, the sharp pain seemed to be intensifying.