A bright smile blossomed on Hershis’s face like the midsummer sunshine. It was truly a beautiful smile. Liz felt proud of her choice.

“Well then, since we’ve talked about it, let’s go in right now.”

As she tried to get up, Hershis pressed her shoulder.

“After catching a breath first.”

“It’s okay; I slept a lot yesterday.”

“I’m not okay.”

“I’m not okay… I’ve heard that a lot today.”
“I’m not okay… Liz thought. She followed Hershis’s lead and relaxed. Instead of stroking her hair, he gently patted her chest. Liz couldn’t help but smile at the way he resembled a parent putting a child to sleep.

“I’m an adult. Adults don’t fall asleep like this…”

Strangely, a yawn escaped, making her feel drowsy.

Was it because the rhythmic patting on her chest was similar to his heartbeat?

She closed her eyelids, and the intervals between opening and closing gradually extended.

Within the hazy consciousness, Hershis’s pleasant voice sounded like a lullaby.

“Shall I tell you an old story?”

Liz nodded with a dreamy expression, and he began the story.

“Once upon a time, there was a happy couple. They had known each other since childhood. At first, the wife was more active, but later, the husband became so obsessed that they ended up getting married.”

‘What… He said he would tell an old story, but he’s talking about us.’

Even as she drifted into sleep, Liz understood the essence of the story and chuckled.

“It was a series of happy days. They loved each other a lot. However, as happiness and love deepened, the husband became anxious. He couldn’t shake the feeling that his wife was hiding something from him.”

“……”

Liz remained silent. She didn’t laugh or open her eyes. Her consciousness was sinking deep.

Hershis continued the story.

One day, the husband went hunting and had a serious accident. He lay in a coma for several days. The wife never left his side. She fed him water and nutrition at regular intervals, and when he seemed to be spilling too much, she held it in her mouth and let it slowly trickle into his mouth. The husband couldn’t forget the moist lips and fragrant lavender scent he felt each time. In fact, he was awake.

The calm voice continued like gentle waves.

In reality, the husband woke up three days after the accident. But he couldn’t let her know. He couldn’t interrupt his wife’s story. Perhaps someone had told her to talk a lot, saying it would help him wake up faster. Well, it was an accurate prescription.”

The interval between chest pats was consistently steady.

“But the husband didn’t really listen to his wife’s story. Her voice was too soft, and the content was a bit confusing. Trying to listen properly felt like his head would explode. Still, there was one thing he distinctly heard.”

Hershis’s hand stopped patting. Then it slowly slid down and settled on her lower abdomen, moving up and down rhythmically.

“There’s our child here.”

Hershis’s eyes, looking down at her belly, shimmered with a soft glow. He couldn’t put weight on his hand, afraid it might harm something important.

“I won’t ask why you’re hiding the fact that you’re pregnant. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Hershis quietly leaned his head next to Liz.

“I’m truly fortunate to be able to save you and the child. I don’t know how you feel, but I am incredibly happy right now.”

A smile, filled with happiness just as he described, slowly lifted the corners of his mouth. Then…

“Having said that…”

His temperament suddenly changed.

“I can’t just let it pass without doing anything for the person who created this happy situation for me. I must repay. It’s a matter of courtesy.”

The smile felt strangely chilly. The golden eyes, nestled within smoothly curved eyelids, sparkled eerily, as if a piece of steel was embedded in them.

It was a face preparing for something peculiar.

Claire Berium couldn’t understand the reason.

“Did His Excellency the Grand Duke really go out without saying anything to me?”

“That’s correct.”

“Well, didn’t he at least say not to eat until he returns and wait for him? Something like that?”

“He did not.”

The steward replied sternly.

Claire suddenly couldn’t comprehend the changed behavior of the Montaner Grand Duke.

He used to report diligently every time he went out and returned, always asking affectionately without fail. Yet, he had changed so drastically in the past few days.

“What could have happened?”

It was a reasonable thought.

Since their journey together, he seemed busy. He spent most of his time in the office, even skipping meals, communicating only with the steward and his aides. Occasionally, individuals in white cloaks would linger around his office.

They all had dark expressions.

‘It’s clear. He must be in a difficult situation. That’s why he seems so lost.’

Suddenly, Claire felt sorry for the Grand Duke.

If there was anything she could do to help, she wanted to do it all. It seemed like she could do anything.

Thinking like that, she wandered from one end of the corridor to the other. Just as she was about to turn, she stopped abruptly at the faint sound of a cough from the end room of the corridor.

It vaguely sounded like the Grand Duke’s voice.

‘But he said he went out.’

She distinctly heard it from the steward. So it couldn’t be. It wouldn’t make sense. However…

When she came to her senses, Claire found herself reaching for the doorknob.

‘What am I doing now? This is not something a lady should do.’

Claire quickly withdrew her hand and turned away. At that moment, a voice from beyond the door echoed.

“Come in.”

Claire’s face brightened at the familiar voice.

‘It’s him.’