Chapter 1

Chapter 1

In this world, no one could savor the sweetness of tea while drinking it with their mother-in-law.

“So, there’s still no sign of pregnancy?”

Gulp. I didn’t savor the tea but choked on it. The tea, which welled like a fountain in my mouth, spurted in the air, directly towards the noblewoman full of elegance and nobility sitting directly opposite of me.

“…..”

I looked at the former duchess’s beautiful face, which was covered by the tea that I spat out. Before and after being covered by the tea, there was no change in the countenance of my mother-in-law, the former duchess. Just the slow trickle of tea running down her face.

From her gracefully raised forehead to her nasal bridge, drops of tea were flowing down in a beautiful arc. The tea that flowed down there finally began to drip from the tip of her nose.

Drip. Drip.

Nothing was heard in the room except the sound of the tea dripping. As if time had stopped and only silence remained.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

Shocked, I got up from my seat quite late.

Camilla waved her hand quietly to me while looking for something to quickly wipe the tea. Without saying anything, she took out her handkerchief and wiped her cheek. I looked at her figure.

That elegant, restrained movement was something that could hold a person down. Ah…Is it because of the blue blood? I was impressed once again. Every little action and word overflowed with grace, even at the very moment she spoke harshly to me.

“Didn’t I tell you? Our family needs a successor.”

Camilla’s words brought me to my senses. I straightened my posture, sat with my legs neatly gathered, and answered.

“Yes…you did…”

My voice was so tight that it sounded like the ducks making a ‘peck peck’ sound from a distance. Hic. When I swallowed my words in embarrassment, the hiccup came out. Due to the former duchess’s cold gaze, the hiccups got worse. Hic, hic.

The former duchess frowned for a moment, looking at my manner which was not ladylike at all.

“Anyway…”

Even without hearing more, I knew what she was going to say. I hastily gulped down the tea and bit my lips. As my throat tightened and the hiccups gradually faded, the former duchess said,

“It has been two years. Two years…since the day I let you into this family. Not only has a variety of healthy food been served, but the astrologers also chose special days for sharing a room. But why couldn’t you still get pregnant?”

The former duchess stopped talking and looked at me pathetically as if she really couldn’t understand. I managed to stop my hiccups, but it felt like they were about to start again, so I hastily covered my mouth with my hands.

Watching her daughter-in-law’s actions, the former duchess’s anger surged up. “What kind of luck do you think you have to deserve the duchess position? How dare you think that you deserve to be next to my son?”

Again, and again. I already knew what words would come out next. One. Two. Three.

“That’s why I chose you. From a family famous for its inherited high fertility, you! From a poor and low noble family that is not even comparable to our family!” The former duchess’s voice peaked exactly at the words she wanted to emphasize. It was almost awe-inspiring to see her speak so gracefully and nobly even when she was enraged.

“I chose you solely based on your family’s birth rate. Otherwise, why would I let you into this house? Into our family, which boasts a long history comparable to that of the royal family!”

Bang! When the former duchess hit the table, the teacup floated in the air for a moment and landed. At the same time, my butt also floated away from the chair for a moment and sank down.

“But what on earth did you do when you came to this house? You should have fulfilled your duty (to give birth to a successor)!”

“…..”

I couldn’t say anything. I kept my mouth shut and hoped that this moment would pass quickly.

“You didn’t forget the promise you’ve made with me or the deal, did you?”

“…Of course. ”

Camilla stared at me for a long time and leaned slowly against the back of the chair. “Don’t forget our deal. I trusted your family’s inherited fertility and brought you into this house.”

“…Yes.”

“I believed in your promise to give birth to a successor, and I agreed to support the lives of your younger siblings on that condition.”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten.” I nodded vehemently. But inside, I was saying something else. ‘That deal, I’m not the one who accepted it.’ I could barely hold back the words. Things haven’t progressed that far yet.

And I couldn’t even say that I didn’t do it. It was none other than Selena, who accepted the deal. However, the current me had changed a little, compared to that time. But I couldn’t tell anyone about that. When the nightmare of the past two weeks came to my mind, I shivered at the sudden chill that ran down my spine.

“…feeling cold?” Camilla, who saw me shaking slightly, asked as if she saw something strange. It wasn’t a concerned voice. It seemed that she was more anxious about my hand that had been reaching for the teacup.

“No.” I quickly smiled and lifted the teacup. It was an act to prevent Camilla from being offended, but it seemed to have upset her.

She frowned as she opened her mouth while looking at me. “Useless.”

“…..”

Barely able to contain myself from replying harshly, I had no choice but to bite my lips softly. ‘Actually, I’m dying to tell you the truth.’ My lips were itchy and I couldn’t stand it. I felt wronged.

I want to say that Selena, the Duchess of Efret, was wronged. The reason was…I couldn’t bear to say it. It was said that, ‘You have to look up at the sky in order to pick the star.’

(t/n: A Korean expression that means achieving a certain result requires effort, preparation, opportunities, or adequate conditions provided.)

I’ve never even touched your son’s fingertips…No, I’ve touched them. Well, just the fingertips. How can I tell you that I’ve never slept with him before?

“…..” So instead of saying it out loud, I bit my lips gently. It wouldn’t be appropriate to open up about a couple’s private life. Because there wasn’t one. ‘No, never.’ Above all, if the former duchess finds out about this, I would be in a dreadful situation. So, I chose not to let them know that I was no different from before I was married. (t/n: she means that she is still a pure virgin.)

The former duchess, Camilla Efret, my mother-in-law, raised her teacup gracefully again and said while looking at me favorably. “You look like you have a lot to say, don’t you?”

If you have something to say, just say it.

“Ye…no?” I swallowed back the actual answer that almost popped out unconsciously and smiled.

Camilla stared at me doubtfully, but she didn’t ask further. “Not too long ago, you seemed so out of mind, but today you look calmer.”

Pulled out from my thoughts due to her remark, I answered hastily, “Thank you for regarding me like that.”

“I didn’t say that to receive your thanks though.”

Instead of replying, “I didn’t say that out of gratitude,” I just gave a light smile. For the past two weeks, I’ve been out of my mind, so anyone who saw me in that state would call me a “crazy woman.” Thus, I didn’t have any complaints.

“You must bear a successor as soon as possible. It’s already been two years.”

Camilla immediately began her second round of nagging.

I listened to the nagging absent-mindedly and nodded my head. Now I even have the knack of agreeing at the right time without even listening to each word. “Yes, yes. Yes, of course.” There was only one reason why she was so obsessed with her son’s successor.

Right at that moment…Thump. The sound of someone running was heard from the hallway. It was getting closer to the room where I and Camilla were. At the same time, my heart began to pound. That sound wasn’t a good sign.

Bang! The door was opened wide without a knock. It was the butler who rushed in.

“Madame! Milady!”

I got up from my seat immediately.

“What’s going on?”

The calm face of Camilla, who sensed the ominous premonition, immediately turned pale. It was the same for the butler.

“The…the duke, the duke…huff huff…”

The considerably aged butler shouted breathlessly while clutching the door frame. “The duke collapsed again!”

Thump. The former duchess slumped on the floor.

“What did you say?”