“Why are you looking at me like that?” Hersis, who noticed Liz’s peculiar gaze, asked.
She couldn’t say whom he resembled. Not in her right mind.
“Oh… I just looked. It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face.”
“Is that so? Well, I’ve been returning late for quite some time, so maybe that’s why.”
“…”
“Sorry for being neglectful, using busyness as an excuse.”
It seemed like he had unintentionally shifted into a scolding position. Liz raised her head diagonally and said, “No, I know it’s not an excuse.”
“After this is over, let’s stick together.”
Hersis, even in the darkness, showed a bright smile. Liz didn’t want to disappoint that smile, but… she had to say it.
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
“…Why?”
“After this is over, it might not be the two of us but three.”
At that moment, there was a soft squirming under his hand. It seemed like Cain agreed with Mom.
Hersis burst into laughter. “It seems it’s already like that. I thought there was still a long way to go.”
To say that with a pregnant belly in front of him…
“Your lordship would be as big as a month-old baby if born now, wouldn’t he?”
Seems like worry had unconsciously seeped into her voice.
Hersis asked, “So, are you worried?”
“…A bit.”
Liz couldn’t lie.
In the childbirth education center, not only had she not seen someone with a bigger belly than hers, but Mirabel also sent detailed letters every day, preparing various events and responses for Liz to face the worst situations.
Most of them were terrifying events. For example, situations where she had to choose between the mother and the baby…
And such situations surprisingly occurred quite frequently.
“Hey, Hers…”
Since they had started talking about it, she thought it was necessary to make things clear.
“I have a favor to ask.”
As if saying he would listen to anything, he nodded. Liz spoke with relief.
“If, hypothetically, I had to choose between the child and me, please choose the child.”
“…”
Seeming like he would listen to anything, Hersis remained silent. Not only that, his laughter disappeared.
With a chilling expression, he said, “That’s a difficult favor to grant.”
Not only the expression but also the temperature of his voice dropped. Liz asked, “Why?”
“Because I can have another child.”
But there were cases where it wasn’t possible. It was written in Mirabel’s letters.
“What if we can’t have another? What if this child is our first and last?”
“Then you don’t have to have it.”
“Hers!”
“Liz.”
Hersis’ stern voice made Liz involuntarily flinch.
“You are more important than the child. So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say such things anymore.”
“But I…”
“What are you… saying?”
Hersis’ gaze shone sharply like an icy spear. His hand had long been withdrawn from her belly.
“I guess you wouldn’t say that the child is more important than me, Liz.”
It felt like her heart was freezing.
‘No, that’s not it. Definitely not. I just…’
She tried to say that the child had become more precious to her than herself.
But her voice got stuck in her throat and couldn’t come out. So, as she was just moving her lips, he stood up.
“If that’s the case, there’s no need to hear more.”
Liz tried to stand up, following him.
“Stay lying down.”
Hersis said. It was hard to distinguish whether it was consideration or an order, but her body involuntarily followed his words.
“Liz.”
His voice suddenly took on a gentle tone.
“Why do I think I love Cain?”
“…”
Suddenly faced with the question, Liz didn’t know what to answer. So, as she just blinked her eyes, he continued.
“Because you’re carrying him.”
“…”
“But if that child were to chew up your life and come out, could I still love him?”
Liz understood what he was talking about. He made her realize it herself, more clearly than scolding or yelling.
And… desperately.
“I can’t guarantee that. I feel the same way. That’s why I can’t choose the child.”
“…”
“I’m afraid I’ll end up killing the one who took your life.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hersis’ steps returning to the office were heavy.
‘If I had to choose between the child and me…’
There was no need to choose. Hersis had already considered that thought a long time ago. He had already informed the doctor.
‘Save the empress. Sacrifice the child.’
Considering why they had the child in the first place, it was an obvious choice.
The child was the fruit of their love. It was the child they had for their own happiness.
But somehow, the child had become the top priority.
It seemed like Liz was willing to sacrifice her life for the child…
‘She doesn’t even think about her own thoughts.’
Despite saying no, absolutely not, through her eyes, Hersis knew.
The fact was somewhat bitter.
‘It seems she doesn’t have much affection for the child.’
‘I’ll love the child for you, too.’
Who was it that said such things in response to her words?
It felt as if someone else had come in, spoken on behalf of him, and left.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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