Chapter 135
Congratulations on Your Pregnancy
“Miss, may I come in?”
“Yes, please. Come in and sit, Sir Ernst.”
It took Eleanor a full three hours before her lips finally recovered enough for her to face Ernst again.
“I heard you weren’t feeling well. Are you alright now?”
As he asked in a worried tone, Hilda—standing beside him—struggled desperately not to laugh.
She simply couldn’t bring herself to tell Ernst the truth.
The reason Eleanor had stayed shut in her bedroom all morning until lunch was because her lips were swollen from an overly passionate kiss.
It was far too embarrassing to explain.
So instead, Hilda told Ernst that Eleanor had been unwell.
A small lie told out of kindness.
“Yes, I’m fine now. More importantly, I have something important to tell both of you.”
Ignoring Hilda’s twitching lips, Eleanor continued seriously.
“Yesterday, Karsian asked me to go with him to Royster. I accepted. And I wanted to hear your opinions.”
“W-wait… what?!”
Hilda stopped grinning and her mouth dropped open.
This was far bigger news than a simple kiss.
Being asked to return to the Grand Duchy together… that was practically a proposal, wasn’t it?
Her small face immediately filled with shock and delight.
But Eleanor instantly shattered her expectations.
“It’s not a proposal, so don’t get excited, Hilda.”
“What? But there might still be a chance—!”
“There is no chance he’ll propose to me. Even if he did, I could never marry him.”
Her voice was so firm and final that Hilda, though full of things she wanted to say, couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Meanwhile, Eleanor continued calmly, unaffected.
“What I really want to ask is whether the two of you can come with me to Royster. It isn’t just another region—it’s another country. I think it might feel like a lot to take on.”
Juvenile and Royster were very different countries.
The food was similar but not exactly the same, the noble party culture was different, and the clothing styles varied noticeably.
Juvenile was much larger in land and economy, but Royster was known as a good place to settle—mild climate, fertile land, generous people. That is, assuming the subjugation forces fully handled the monsters.
“So… Hilda, what do you think? Would you go to Royster with me?”
Eleanor asked Hilda first.
She expected Hilda to hesitate.
But Hilda answered instantly.
“Why even ask?! Of course I’d love it!”
“You don’t have to pretend just for me…”
“Royster-style lace! Jewelry! I’d get to see it all with my own eyes—touch it, study it, learn how it’s made! That would be amazing for our business! I might even be able to surpass Madam Corcos! A millionaire! I can already see it!”
“…Ah. I see.”
Eleanor laughed awkwardly at Hilda’s sparkling, star-filled eyes.
When she first mentioned business to Hilda, Hilda was so unsure and timid.
Yet now she was plotting to surpass her own mentor and become a millionaire.
What an incredible ambition.
“What about you, Sir Ernst?”
Eleanor turned to Ernst.
Unlike excited Hilda, Ernst looked troubled.
Of course he was.
He promised to stay by Eleanor’s side, but he probably never imagined he’d be crossing a national border.
Ernst was still a knight and nobleman of Juvenile.
He might not come from a powerful family, but as the eldest son, he was expected to succeed Baron Pavel one day.
Following Eleanor to Royster—when she was no longer even a noble—would mean giving up a lot.
He’d also have to think about his family, who remained in Juvenile.
“I’ll cover all expenses, and I’ll make sure nothing is inconvenient for you… but you really don’t have to force yourself. I’m already grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
Eleanor assumed he wouldn’t be able to follow her.
She thought it would be best to let him go, for the sake of his future.
“…Miss, do you not want me to go with you?”
“What? No! It’s just… your future is here. And your family too. I was thinking about that.”
“I’m not close to my family, so that doesn’t matter. And my future isn’t here. My future is at your side. So I will go with you.”
Hilda’s mouth fell open.
Wasn’t that basically a confession?!
Her blue eyes trembled with confusion, but Eleanor—who had just been confessed to—remained completely calm.
“I’m happy. I’m glad I can continue being with both of you.”
That’s your reaction?!
Hilda stared at her young lady in disbelief, then looked at Ernst.
He should’ve looked heartbroken at Eleanor’s cluelessness.
But no—his expression was perfectly calm, as if nothing was unusual.
“When are we leaving?”
He even continued the conversation casually.
Eleanor, who was oblivious to everything regarding Ernst, and Ernst, who found her reactions perfectly normal—Hilda finally decided to give up trying to understand them.
They were just… like that.
“We’re leaving next week. Sorry the schedule is tight—please prepare anything you need before then.”
“Yes, understood.”
“I could leave right now! Having no family or possessions is great at times like this!”
“…Hilda. That’s too depressing for Miss Eleanor to hear.”
“My life is depressing. Are you going to fix it, Sir Ernst?”
The two began bickering again—something that happened almost daily.
Watching them, Eleanor smiled softly.
She had worried that one of them might not come with her.
But now that both agreed, she felt truly relieved.
Now that I think about it… what do I even need to prepare?
She had no family, no real belongings—just the property she had taken when leaving Astria.
There wasn’t much to pack or sort out.
Still, when she tried to think harder, a few things came to mind—
People she wanted to see one last time before leaving Cardiff.
***
After her last meeting with Eleanor, Nora had to hitch another wagon ride to return to the ducal estate.
But even that was difficult.
Coachmen refused to let her ride with them.
I never had trouble like this even when I was a maid…!
Nora had always been cute and charming; people were naturally kind to her.
But now, every look she received was cold and irritated.
Is it because I lost everything?
Or because they can tell I slept with strange men and became pregnant with some unknown man’s child?
Ridiculous thoughts filled her mind as if they were facts.
In reality, people were simply avoiding her because she looked half-insane.
But Nora was too mentally exhausted to realize that.
When she finally reached home, she shut herself in her room, staring blankly at nothing.
Even after several days, her period didn’t come.
She wanted to visit a physician to confirm the pregnancy, but she was terrified of learning the truth.
So she did nothing—just chewed her nails all day.
The only fortunate thing was that the Duke of Astria, even while imprisoned, managed to hold onto a small bit of his remaining wealth.
All the mountains of treasure were seized by creditors.
Most of the servants were dismissed, and the luxurious lifestyle was gone.
But they kept at least enough staff to care for Damian, and the grand mansion—the symbol of Astria—remained.
So Nora at least had a place to stay.
But because there weren’t enough servants, the mansion grew dirtier every day, and no one prepared her meals. Nora had to cook and clean for herself.
She was a noblewoman in name only, living practically like a commoner.
“Ugh!”
While forcing down tasteless bread, Nora suddenly gagged.
Since yesterday her stomach had felt strange, but now even the bread made her sick.
Everything smelled unbearable.
Nora knew exactly what this meant.
She had seen a prostitute in the slums who threw up every day back then.
Morning sickness.
She had morning sickness.
“Ahhh!! AAAAAH!”
Nora grabbed her golden hair and screamed.
The thought of a living creature growing inside her was horrifying.
She wished someone—anyone—would save her.
But the few remaining servants ignored her completely.
They were used to her hysterics.
Then suddenly, a young maid approached with a disgusted expression.
“Um, Miss Nora… You have visitors.”
“Visitors?”
“Ah! Please don’t look at me like that!”
The maid flinched violently as Nora snapped her head around.
“Y-yes. Someone came to see you. They’re in the drawing room.”
Still trembling, the maid explained.
Fortunately, Nora rushed past her.
Tap, tap-tap-tap! Her quick footsteps echoed down the hall.
Who could it be?
Did someone finally come to help me?
For the first time in a long while, her violet eyes lit with excitement.
She imagined some prince-like savior from a fairy tale who had come to rescue her.
But when she reached the drawing room door, she noticed something strange.
…Miss Nora?
All the servants here called Eleanor “Miss Eleanor.”
The newly hired ones didn’t even know the name Nora.
Yet the visitor had asked for Nora.
“Nora!”
As she opened the door, the guest ran out to greet her.
“Oh my goodness, how long has it been? And look at you! A pregnant girl shouldn’t be this skinny. Are you alright?”
Nora stared blankly at the two people standing before her.
A fake sweet voice.
A mean-spirited face.
A plump body.
Even after five years without seeing them, she could never forget those faces.
“You… Why are you here?”
The people who abused her when she was only four, who treated her like a slave for eight years—
The detestable monsters from her past—
The Chestnut couple stood before her.
“Why? We came to help take care of you, of course!”
“We’re just doing our duty. Anyway, where’s our room?”
As they shamelessly lifted their chins, Nora let out a hollow laugh.
“When you raise a child, whether you like it or not, you need your parents’ help.”
So that’s what they meant.
She almost felt impressed.
How could they make her life even worse than it already was?
“Don’t even think of pulling any tricks. If your fiancé or your family learns about Lucresia, things will get messy.”
Smith Chestnut lowered his voice in threat.
His clenched fist made it clear—he was ready to hit her like he used to.
But instead of fear, Nora clutched her stomach—
“Ha… hahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!”
And began laughing.
Like someone who had lost their mind.
Even after the Chestnut couple backed away uneasily, her laughter didn’t stop.
I’ve lost. I’ve completely lost.
Her eerie laughter continued, mixed with muttering no one could understand.
