CH 5

“My lady, you can’t keep this up.”

“……”

“You have to eat on time, and move a little bit.”

It’d been a while since Herace locked herself in her room. Her doctor stooped to the level of begging her to take care of herself.

“This is a problem. Think of your baby and please cheer up.”

Herace was unwilling. But she forced herself to rise when she was told to think of the baby in her stomach.

“That’s good!”

“Oh, Anna, you seem to like this more than I do.”

Anna smiled broadly and nodded when Herace said that she had eaten her meal and offered to go for a walk outside.

She was excited seeing Herace’s progress, having taken care of her for so long, so Herace felt a little sorry for giving her trouble.

“Of course, it’s good. It’s been a long time since I’ve been out with my lady.”

“True…”

“Walk slowly… Carefully… Slowly…….”

When she came outside, she felt much better. Although the wind was still a little cold, it was immeasurably refreshing compared to her room, and most of all, the green sprouts made her feel like it was finally spring.

“I’m sorry. You must have been frustrated…”

The child seemed pleased, too. Maybe it was just her imagination, but Herace put her hand on her stomach and pitied the baby inside. She apologized many times.

“Are you tired?”

“It’s nice to be here.”

The garden of the annex where the two of them were walking was smaller than the main one, but it was enough for a pregnant woman to walk in moderation.

Herace’s steps gradually became joyful.

Little birds chirped overhead. As Herace walked from the garden to the annex, she saw a little white bird caring for its young in the nest. The fluffy baby birds had their mouths open while their eyes were still closed. The warm and peaceful scene drew a smile on Herace’s lips.

However, Anna could not enjoy the garden as comfortably as her Lady. As she recalled the story of Charlotte, she muttered, inaudible to Herace, “For that girl to come to this place…”

Charlotte had decided to stay in the room next to Ezekiel’s study until she delivered the baby. Thanks to this, the neat and tidy annex was still quiet. Anna grumbled from time to time as to whether this beautiful garden was to be taken over by the mistress, but Herace tried to ignore it and enjoyed the relief that had come after a long time.

“Oh, so embarrassing. Don’t do this, Ezekiel.”

But their peace was short-lived. They heard an unwanted voice when they almost reached the front of the annex beyond the garden. Anna shifted behind the shrub, looked forward and clenched her teeth.

“No way, they are laughing and talking right in front of us… I can’t believe this…” Anna mumbled.

Ezekiel and Charlotte. The two, who had always chatted in the garden outside Herace’s bedroom, somehow came to the annex. As always, they stuck close to each other whispering. Herace, who briefly saw the two, whispered to Anna.

“…Let’s just go back.”

Anna quickly looked into Herace’s eyes. What if she got shocked again?

But contrary to expectations, Herace was calm. She didn’t falter or show tears.

“Now…”

When she saw the two of them through the bedroom window, it felt like she was watching them secretly, so it was painful, but when she faced them openly in the same space like this, strangely, her heart was calm. Of course, that didn’t mean that her heart didn’t hurt, but… it was bearable. Yes, it was just bearable.

Herace turned quietly. But before she could walk, a high-pitched voice called her.

“Oh my God, Lady. Where are you going?”

For some time now, Ezekiel and Charlotte had been watching Herace. Anna frowned at her. How dare the mistress speak to the Duchess first? No matter how favored the mistress is, this was absurd. She immediately wanted to run over and pull all her hair out.

“You’re not running away because you don’t want to see me, are you?”

It was time for Anna to contain her anger. Although she felt Anna’s gaze, Charlotte smiled softly. Her slightly raised red lips that asked the question, was the kind to anger people. Anna trembled and took one step ahead.

“T-That’s……”

“….I’m fine, so be quiet.”

Herace gestured to Anna to stop. There’d be nothing good about her dealing with this.

“I hope you will just stay in your room. Away from Charlotte’s sight and mine.”

Recalling those words, Herace bowed her head slightly to Ezekiel. Ezekiel did not greet her back. Instead, he stared intently at her. His gaze was so bitter that her body stinged.

“So uncomfortable to look at.”

Herace, who understood Ezekiel’s intentions, turned away, suppressing her sadness.

But as she tried to walk again, Ezekiel caught her.

“Come here for a second. It must have been hard to walk all the way here.”

“…….”

“Come on.”

As Herace hesitated, Ezekiel urged. They were short words, but his voice was almost coercive. Herace approached Ezekiel without making eye contact with him.

“I’m sorry, my Lady. Normally, you should say hello first…. As you can see, my body is so heavy…. Do you understand?”

Unlike her words, there was no sign of remorse. Herace didn’t answer Charlotte’s words.

What was the use of getting involved with her husband’s mistress?

When Herace looked down without saying anything despite Charlotte’s rude remarks, Ezekiel’s lips thinned. He called a maid and a knight.

“Take Charlotte in.”

“Ezekiel!”

Charlotte, who had been smiling this whole time, exclaimed sharply. She looked at Ezekiel with tears in her eyes, and acted like a wounded lover.

Anna breathed out, “Huh?”, which only Herace could hear.

“It’s because I’m worried about you. Go inside.”

“But I still want to be with you…”

When Ezekiel stroked Charlotte’s hair as if to soothe her, she pouted her lips and held his hand. Ezekiel smiled and kissed her forehead without saying a word, then gestured to the maid again.

Noticing his firm decision, Charlotte followed the maid and the knight without saying a word. But until the very end, the way she looked at Herace was so sharp that Herace thought it might turn into a dagger and stab her at any moment.

“You send the maid for a while, too. I have something to say.”

Herace didn’t want to be with Ezekiel. She was too afraid to be alone with him. Ezekiel was speaking calmly, but in Herace’s eyes, he seemed angry.

“…Anna is good. I’ll leave soon anyway, she’s with me to take care of myself, so please understand.”

Only then did Ezekiel’s gaze reach Herace’s belly. He looked at Anna’s hand, which was supporting Herace’s arm, and made a slight frown.

“I’ll help you.”

“It’s fine. Anna’s enough…”

“Ha… I’m speechless.”

Ezekiel did not hide his displeasure. Anna’s face turned white at his sight. Herace noticed her trembling body.

“I was being polite to you, Duchess, to save your face. Take your hand off right now.”

When he asked who gave her Charlotte’s name last time, it was just a speculation, but now, it became clear that he was dissatisfied with Anna. Herace beckoned her to step back in a hurry. Anna looked worried for a moment and disappeared behind a bush. As soon as she disappeared, Ezekiel strode closer to Herace.

“A little while ago, don’t you remember what I said?”

“…… ”

“I must have told you not to come in front of Charlotte.”

After all… She understood why he was angry. Herace felt her eyes tingle and whispered quietly to Ezekiel.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Even Charlotte, a mistress, obeys me immediately, but you’re the Duchess and you don’t think of me at all.”

“I didn’t know you were here. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.”

Herace’s voice was a little hoarse. She came here to escape them, who were in the garden all the time, and Ezekiel made fun of her.

“Why? Are you angry that I’m saying this?”

“…… ”

“…You’re not answering again.”

Ezekiel came closer to Herace and grabbed her chin as he leaned his head down. It wasn’t strong, but Herace was startled by the sudden touch. It was their first skin-to-skin contact since he returned.

“Hey, you always do this.”

“Stop it. I told you I wouldn’t have come if I had known.”

“If that’s all you want to warn me about, then, I’ll leave. It will be convenient for each other.”

As the sarcastic words continued, a small hand struck Ezekiel’s hand.

Something dropped from the sleeve of her dress to the floor.

“Oh…”

Frustrated, Herace picked up the item in a hurry with her hands on her stomach. But Ezekiel narrowed his eyes as if he had already seen it fall. A finely folded handkerchief was crumpled at Herace’s hand.

“Globe Amaranth embroidery… who are you going to give it to?”

In Anais, a handkerchief with Globe Amaranth embroidery was given only to lovers or couples. When Ezekiel asked, Herace kept her mouth shut.

Although the handkerchief was crumpled in her hand, the beautifully embroidered Globe Amaranth was of high quality to anyone’s eyes. It was natural. The handkerchief dropped by Herace, was something she had struggled with for two months, thinking of Ezekiel.

‘Of all things…’

Herace put all her heart into the handkerchief to give him a gift when he came back, and after completion, there was never a moment it was away from her body. The same was true even after her relationship with Ezekiel. Herace carried the handkerchief around her like a habit. She hadn’t told him, but her feelings for him are still there.

“I don’t have anyone to… give it to… It’s just… ”

Herace, who couldn’t say it was for him, hesitantly made excuses. With the handkerchief hidden behind her back, her face turned red as she bowed her head. Her demeanor of not being able to tell lies was so obvious that even a five-year-old would notice it.