She could only feel the traces he left behind in the bed, vaguely smelling the fragrance of tobacco that lingered.

‘What’s this? Why is it so hard to see his face?’

It was probably due to the verdict of Eshar’s innocence, conflicts with the Duke faction elders, and various other matters that kept him extremely busy.

But, she also thought there might be another reason.

‘Has he not forgiven me yet?’

Well, after careful consideration, there was enough reason for him to be angry.
If she knew how much attachment he felt for his people, she would have said what she had been holding back.

“Choose the child, not me.”

It was only after he coldly turned away that day that she realized how much she regretted it.

She wanted to ease his mood before it was too late.

Right after finishing lunch, Liz headed to Hersis’s office.

On the way, she saw a man running hurriedly. It seemed like he had just come out of Hersis’s office, and judging by his fleeing appearance, his current state of mind was undoubtedly not good.

“Will I come back later?”

She hesitated for a moment but was overcome by the reluctance to take two more steps and the heaviness in her body.

“May I come in?”

“Come in.”

As Hersis gave permission, Liz cautiously stepped into his office.

He was holding a document in front of him, concentrating on it. The stationery partially covered half of his face.

The uncovered eye seemed to glance at Liz for a moment, then quickly returned to the document.

“Are you busy?”

“A bit.”

Hersis dryly answered Liz’s question. His expression was stiff.

Staring intensely at the documents seemed to indicate that he was disturbed by her presence while doing something very important.

Perhaps, she thought, she should have just turned back earlier.

“I’m sorry. I’ll let you work.”

Liz said, stopping in her tracks.

“I’ll come back later.”

“Don’t go.”

At his words, Liz turned around but hesitated. Hersis had already put down the document he had been staring at and placed it on the desk.

“Stay since I’m not busy.”

In his seemingly quiet eyes, there was an urgency that she hadn’t known.

Puzzled, Liz responded, “You said you were busy a moment ago.”

“Everything’s resolved.”

“In the meantime?”

“Yeah, in the meantime.”

“…”

Though it was a teasing remark, it was too trivial to bother pursuing, so she let it go.

Liz looked around for somewhere to sit.

“Come here.”

Pointing towards her, Hersis said.

There was a stool placed by the window behind him. Liz, thinking that he wanted her to sit there, walked over.

As she approached the long rectangular desk to go around it to the window, he suddenly grabbed Liz’s wrist and pulled her towards him.

When she came to her senses, Liz was warmly embraced in Hersis’s arms, sitting on his lap.

“I-it’s heavy.”

“Not heavy at all.”

As Liz awkwardly spoke, Hersis responded.

Then he tilted her head, leaning it on his shoulder.

In his embrace, Liz felt much more comfortable than on a sofa or rocking chair.

“I’m sorry.”

Liz apologized. That was the reason she had come here.

“I won’t say such things again. Choose the child, not me.”

Upon hearing that, Hersis’s hand, wrapped around her shoulders, tightened.

“Thank you.”

His voice resonated deeply from the depths of his chest.
“And if such a situation arises, I’ll handle it all by myself.”

Liz knew well what that statement meant. However, she couldn’t easily nod her head in agreement.

Hersis didn’t force her to respond. He chuckled and redirected the conversation.

“When Cain is born, he’ll probably fear me. I poured harsh words that day, after all.”

“That won’t happen.”

“How do you know?”

Liz grabbed Hersis’s hand and placed it on her belly.

“Because I feel so good like this. Because it’s your embrace.”

Indeed, just as she said, Hersis could feel the squirming life under his hand.

Liz pressed his hand a bit more firmly and spoke with conviction.

“You won’t face a situation where you have to choose one of us. I’m sure I’ll give birth safely.”

A relieved smile spread across Hersis’s face upon hearing those words.

In the past few days, after all the concerns were settled smoothly, Liz finally had the opportunity to look around. She threw her gaze onto the desk and asked.

“But what document were you looking at?”

“Nothing important.”

Hersis laughed lightly.

“A bandit group has emerged in the Turen region. It’s a chronic problem in areas with poor security.”

“Turen… region.”

Liz’s expression subtly stiffened.

“So? Did you… perhaps ask for the Guards or something like that?”

“How did you know?”

Hersis widened his eyes, asking.

“Yeah, I requested that. This time, it seems quite significant. They asked to send as many as possible.”

Liz glanced down, struggling to push back the lower lip that kept drying up in her mouth.

“In my opinion, it might be better not to send them. Or at least, send fewer.”

“Why?”

Liz answered internally.

‘Because that report might be exaggerated. The moment you send the Guards there, the Duke might march in with military forces immediately. It might lead to rebellion.’

That was the last hurdle in the original work.

Of course, in the original story, the Duke’s rebellion was possible due to the dissatisfaction of the people whose lives had been ruined by several incidents.

In the current peaceful situation, raising a rebellion seemed somewhat out of place.

The Duke himself was well aware of that.

Unless he held some other advantageous card. Otherwise, it didn’t seem likely for the cautious him to recklessly provoke a crisis.

‘But it’s better to be careful. As long as the opponent is Damién Montaner, you can’t afford to let your guard down.’

Even in the midst of dire straits, he was the kind of person who could somehow find a way to turn the situation around. Liz thought that was the nature of this man.

“Liz?”

Hersis called Liz with an inquiring tone.

Returning from her contemplation, Liz suppressed her anxious feelings and spoke.

“Anyway, it’s just a bandit group. The territorial army should be enough to handle it.”
“Anyway, it’s just a bandit group. The territorial army should be enough to handle it.”

“The soldiers in the Turen territory are inferior in discipline and numerical strength. There’s no way they can properly stop it.”

“Still, just leave it be!”

She tried to speak with a light tone, but it was futile. A firm voice emerged.

Hersis stared intently at Liz. His gaze questioned why she insisted so strongly.

Liz couldn’t find suitable words.

“Well… I somehow feel it would be better. We need to protect the imperial palace too…”

“Alright.”

As a feeble justification was about to follow, Hersis cut in, pulling Liz close by her waist.

“I’ll do as you say.”

Stroking Liz’s head as he leaned on her shoulder, he spoke. Somehow, it felt like comforting words for a crying child, but Liz didn’t mind.

He promised.

It was a truly fortunate moment, as Liz was wondering what to do if he didn’t listen to her, considering even shedding tears.

“So don’t worry about anything, Liz.”

His affectionate voice and comforting touch gently soothed Liz’s anxious heart.

‘It’s okay. Nothing will happen now.’

Liz was convinced. He was a man who always kept his promises.