Liz still couldn’t believe it as she tilted her head.

“How did this happen…”

As she muttered to herself, something finally clicked in her eyes. René was sitting leisurely on a long chair, idly sharpening her nails.

Unlike Liz, who couldn’t accept the current situation, René looked too relaxed.

Liz was curious.

“Aren’t you bothered at all? The situation is unfolding in a completely unexpected direction. Yet you’re not surprised?”

“Yeah. Not surprised.”

René said, opening her eyes.

“Instead, annoyed.”

“…”
“One of my pleasures has flown away, hasn’t it?”

Liz realized that her perspective and René’s were different.

There was no reason for René to sympathize with her confusion. The only emotion she felt now was dissatisfaction because she couldn’t enjoy her own pleasure to begin with.

René started to tidy her nails again. The lazy movement of her sharpening the edges looked like a siamese cat sharpening its claws to catch a mouse.

“Now there are only two left?”

Suddenly, René said. After a while, Liz, who understood the meaning, answered.

“……Yeah.”

Now, there were two things left that must be done to prevent the tragedy of the original work.

René continued to file her nails and said, “The remaining tasks should have no variables.”

From her elongated tone, Liz could already sense that René’s expectations had been somewhat dampened.

Suddenly, René stopped filing her nails.

“But there is something.”

She got up and sat facing Liz, then asked abruptly.

“Didn’t you really know it would turn out like this?”

“…….”

“Amelda Lapeur escaped and died, the war ended with the enemy’s blunder, and your husband’s reputation will continue to rise. Didn’t you really know that?”

“I didn’t.”

Liz was surprised that René had such suspicions.

“I really didn’t know. Especially about the undercover operation.”

“…….”

“We saw everything at the theater that day. You watched how surprised and awkward I was, right?”

“I did. But people, from the outside, can’t really tell. There can be very convincing acting, too.”

“Not acting. I really didn’t know anything.”

Liz put strength into her eyes as if trying to prove her words. René looked at her with the same look.

“Pfft!”

She suddenly burst into laughter.

“Why are you taking it so seriously again? It was just a joke.”

“…….”

She chuckled as if finding it amusing, then looked up at the wall clock.

“I’ve filled two hours, so I’m leaving now.”

René got up from her seat. As she elegantly crossed the room, she suddenly turned around as if something had occurred to her.

“But there’s one thing.”

“…….”

“If you ever lie to me, even just once… Can I do whatever I want then?”

Somehow, Liz’s expression stiffened at her stern tone. In response, René laughed mischievously again.

“Why are you getting so tense? If there’s no lie, that’s it, right?”

“Right. Do as you please.”

Liz sighed.

René shrugged satisfactorily and left the room.

Click. The door closed, and Liz, left alone, showed a subtle fluctuation in her eyes.

⭐⭐⭐

As compensation for causing the war, Lusencia received a territory the size of a small kingdom from the Terendis Kingdom.
The trust of the Imperial citizens in Emperor Hersis had increased even more.

There was nothing lost. Everything went smoothly. Yet…

“It feels off.”

Liz wasn’t in a refreshing mood. First, it was because of the feeling that she owed something, and second, it was because of René. She was a nuisance. An unpredictable nuisance…

Liz wanted to briefly escape from her complicated thoughts.

Looking out the window, the sunlight filtering through the pine trees seemed warm, like spring sunshine. She wanted to bask in the sun, breathe in the refreshing air for a change.

Liz pushed the armrest, rising from her seat.

“Ugh!”

The suddenly heavier body indicated that it was close to delivery. Liz firmly supported her waist with both hands, then stepped out of the room.

Since she wanted to stroll alone, Rosa didn’t call her. René didn’t want to be called even more.

She slowly crossed the corridor and arrived at the central staircase. When she firmly grasped the railing and took a step down, she suddenly felt a discomfort.

Her stomach stiffened like a rock.

Although she had occasional stomachaches, it was the first time it was this intense. It seemed better to go back to the bed.

As soon as the stomachache subsided, Liz tried to turn her body. However…

“Ugh!”

Before letting go of the railing, another strong contraction hit her. This time, it didn’t ease quickly.

Suddenly, the doctor’s advice came to her mind.

“Frequent contractions could be a sign of premature birth.”

“Ugh…”

Cold sweat formed on her forehead. She couldn’t let go of the railing. She couldn’t take a single step.

It felt like if she even lifted a foot, amniotic fluid would pour out.

“It’s not supposed to happen yet. The due date is still two months away.”

Everything went dark before her eyes. It felt like her heart was being squeezed.

It was a desperate moment, and that’s exactly when…

“Is there a problem?”

A voice reached her ears, and Liz’s vision became clear.

There was a man standing on the lower staircase, looking up at her. His face couldn’t have been more welcome.

Liz heaved a sigh of relief and opened her mouth.

“Sir Eishar. My body… Ugh!”

At that moment, a different, intense contraction attacked Liz. Unconsciously, Liz covered her lower abdomen with both hands.

Because it looked uneasy to be standing at the end of the stairs, Eishar quickly ran up and supported Liz.

“What’s wrong? Please tell me.”

“The child… The child… seems to be coming out.”

At her words, Eishar’s eyes widened.

He knew very well that this shouldn’t happen yet.

“For now, let’s get you to bed.”

Without hesitation, he picked up Liz. Then, with a calm voice, he added.

“Nothing will happen. Please be at ease.”