Chapter 49
Around lunchtime, Agail was in Richard’s office listening to him talk about his recurring pain.
“Are you saying you’ve been having back pain since you came to the capital?”
“That’s right.”
“Then let’s see where you feel the pain.”
As Agail said, Richard took off his shirt and showed him his back.
Agail was amazed by Richard’s back muscles that were exposed in front of him.
Just by the outline of the shirt, he guessed that it was a well-trained body, but when he actually saw it, he was astonished.
It wasn’t an overly muscular body, but basically, it looked daunting and hard because it was solid muscles built on top of a skeleton larger than others.
His back muscles, which rippled whenever he moved slightly, were enough to even overwhelm a man like Agail.
Agail, who was startled for a moment, soon regained his composure and examined Richard’s back.
As Richard said, nothing stood out from the outside.
“There’s nothing that stands out. When does the pain get worse? When you do certain things you get a lot of pain… something like that.”
“Maybe it’s just me, but it’s getting worse without Elisha.”
Agail, who had expected muscle pain, widened his eyes at Richard’s answer.
‘Isn’t that just because you feel separation anxiety from madam…?’
Like, lovesickness.
Thompson would have said what he thought, but Agail talked in a roundabout way.
“If we’re speaking practically, Madam is not going to relieve the pain. If she doesn’t have the power to purify or heal, it’s just something psychological.”
“I suppose so.”
“I’ll look into it in case there’s another reason.”
“Don’t tell Elisha.”
“I understand.”
Then, a knock was heard and Grayson entered.
“Your Excellency, we’ve prepared lunch with food that’s easy to eat.”
It seemed hard to believe that Richard, who is indifferent to everyone and cold to everything, had morning sickness.
Thompson, on the other hand, burst into laughter as soon as he heard the story.
“It’s cute to think that a boy like him grew up to be a father.”
But Agail couldn’t agree with him.
‘How can you think of a big adult man like him as cute?’
To Thompson, he may be like a younger brother, but to Agail, Richard was still a stranger, and he was only a scary boss, who sometimes had a cold expression on his face.
On the other hand, the person Agail regarded as a younger sibling was Elisha, whom he had been looking after for the past 8 years, rather than Richard, whom he had just met.
So, on one hand, he was afraid of Richard, and on the other, he was displeased with him.
Whatever happened between them, he let Elisha run away anyway.
No matter how well things worked out, Agail was determined to keep an eye on Richard’s kindness to Elisha.
“Then enjoy your meal.”
Richard went to the dining room after receiving greetings from Agail.
Elisha, who came down first, was waiting for him.
“You should have eaten first.”
“No. I just came too.”
Richard sat at the table.
There were salads and sweet and sour fruits.
It was a dish he didn’t like very much, but he felt fortunate to be able to have a meal with Elisha nonetheless.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Elisa muttered to herself and raised her fork. Salad and fruit went well, as always.
Then, suddenly, she remembered that Richard had morning sickness and looked at him.
At that moment, her eyes met with Richard, who was also looking at her.
‘Ah.’
An awkward atmosphere passed between the two of them when their eyes met. No, to be honest, only Elisha felt that way.
Richard looked at her with calm eyes.
As if it were natural.
Elisha, who blinked absentmindedly as if caught in his gaze, belatedly avoided the strong eye contact and turned away.
“Um, how did the work with Viscount Roxas go?”
“I captured him alive, but I didn’t get any income. I’m going to interrogate him until today, and if there’s no other information, I’m thinking of releasing him tomorrow. Then, Marquis Felice will k…”
Kill him, Richard, who was about to say that, stopped talking when he saw Elisha looking at him with her eyes wide open.
There was a child in her womb. Cruel words would not be good for prenatal education.
[e/n: I guess they mean that the child will understand what is happening outside, so they don’t want to talk about or do things inappropriate for children lol]
Richard refined his words as much as possible.
“…Marquis Felice will take care of it.”
The reason he said ‘I will execute him in the name of Rubellin’ in front of the Emperor was to provoke him, but he had no intention of actually killing him.
Of course, if he did, he would be able to show off Rubellin’s influence to other nobles as he had told the Emperor.
But, as the Emperor said, it would instill insecurities in the young nobles.
Elisha, who was still listening to his story, opened her mouth.
“Why don’t you let him live instead?”
“Why?”
“As far as I know, Viscount Roxas has been working under Marquis Felice for quite some time. But he doesn’t have close contact with him. He’s just running errands for profit.”
Elisha’s ‘close contact’ meant a relationship established by marriage or a relationship of close cooperation.
However, Marquis Felice and Viscount Roxas had a light relationship with a thorough hierarchical relationship.
“That also means that if you just remove that light contact, the relationship will break easily.”
“Remove the contact…”
“If you let him go and let him live frightened about his potential death, he will realize that the Marquis has completely abandoned him. That’s the right time to conciliate.”
“But, is Viscount Roxas worth it enough?”
“As he has worked for Marquis Felice for a long time, he must know quite a bit of vital information without even realizing it. Wouldn’t it be helpful if he turned to us?”
After quietly listening to Elisa’s story, Richard realized it again.
Elisha knew how to solve most problems peacefully.
Moreover, she knew not only how to keep the peace, but also how to use situations more effectively.
He felt it while watching her handling the manor’s business, but she has become a wonderful hostess, unbeknownst to her.
Richard slowly raised the corners of his mouth and nodded.
“I think you’re right, Elisha. I’ll try that.”
Elisha was proud to have helped him and started eating again.
But she barely had an appetite.
It was her favorite salad, but she had been eating salad ever since she started having morning sickness, so she got tired.
However, it was the only thing she could eat, so she was just eating it reluctantly.
Richard, who was looking at Elisha frowning, asked.
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
It didn’t matter if she could only manage to eat a little of what they provided, but he was worried that Elisa, who was already weak, couldn’t eat properly.
According to the book, mothers usually have one or two foods they want to eat strongly.
Elisha was going to get whatever it was if she wanted it.
However, Elisha, who seemed to be pondering for a while, soon shook her head weakly.
“I don’t feel well yet, so I can’t think of anything. I’ll tell you when I think of it.”
Elisha said with a smile as if not to make him worry, but Richard’s expression on his face hardened with concern.
Seeing his expression like that, Elisha reassured him, thinking that he was worried about the child.
“A bad bout of morning sickness means that the baby is growing healthy. Even if I can’t eat, I don’t have to worry too much because the nutrients are going well for my baby.”
However, contrary to Elisha’s intention to reassure him, Richard’s expression was rather stiff.
Then, Grayson came in after knocking.
“Sir, Madam. The Imperial Palace has sent a letter to you.”
Grayson handed Richard a letter with the imperial seal.
He knew the contents of the letter without having to open it. At this time, there was only one letter that could come from the palace.
Richard opened the stationery and took out the letter. As expected, it was an invitation to a hunting festival held in the Imperial Palace.
Having quickly confirmed the clichéd invitation, Richard told Grayson.
“I will attend, and the Duchess is ill with a cold, so I’m afraid she won’t be able to attend, send the reply.”
It would be best for Elisha, who was early in her pregnancy, to stay and rest.
But contrary to his idea, Elisha called Grayson again.
“Grayson, say I’ll assist, too.”
“Elisha?”
Richard called Elisha with a voice full of concern, but she didn’t change her decision.
Since it was decided that the child in her womb would inherit the Rubellin’s name, she had no intention of letting the Emperor keep him in check.
‘This power struggle is the reason I’ve been taking care of Rubellin for the past eight years.’
It was time to show them Rubellin’s influence.
In spring, Sornetti was full of flowers in full bloom.
Occasionally, the sea breeze blew and the petals fluttered, creating a spectacular view of the blue sea, greenery, and five-colored petals.
A handsome brunette stood in the middle of the magnificent view.
It was Ansel who had grown up and led the guild of Arden, and the Arden’s County.
“It’s about time for Elisha to come…”
Ansel tapped absently on the pocket watch as the porters put new furniture into the cottage.
At that time, he felt a presence nearby.
“Finally, someone is coming to this mansion.”
When he turned around towards the voice, an old gray-haired gentleman stopped walking and stood looking at the mansion.
Although he was wearing an old suit, he still exuded a certain dignity.
Ansel, who was staring at him, replied with a smile.
“Since teacher knows that this mansion has been empty for a long time, you must have lived here for a long time.” [e/n: not really his teacher, Ansel is just being respectful since the man is older]
Although he knew that there was no nobleman of a higher rank than the count himself in this small town, Ansel nevertheless talked to the unknown old man formally.
The young boy, who had been stuttering back in the day, became a businessman who knew how to carry out business skillfully no matter who he met.
The old gentleman replied with a smile as if he was in a better mood due to the title ‘teacher’.
“I’ve lived in this village all my life, taking care of the sick.”
That meant that the old gentleman was the village’s doctor in his old days.
Ansel narrowed his eyes.
There was nothing wrong with building a relationship with those with professional skills.
In addition, people who have lived in this village for a long time will have a wide network of people, and it will be helpful in many ways.
Ansel praised the old gentleman as a way to open up a network for Elisha.
“I thought your face was full of virtue, so you were a doctor.”
“I’m embarrassed to hear that. This isn’t my hometown, but it’s like my hometown.”
“Is that so? Maybe you know my friend who’s going to live in this mansion soon.”
“Oh, the one that lived in this town before?”
As Ansel expected, the old gentleman showed interest in Elisha.
Ansel brought up Elisha’s story as if he had been waiting.
“She’s the only daughter of Viscount Loengrin, who owned this mansion about ten years ago, did you know them?”
However, contrary to Ansel’s expectation, the eyes of the old gentleman, who heard the name Loengrin, shook violently.
‘Is it possible that he is an enemy of Elisha’s parents…? I shouldn’t have brought it up.’
Ansel began to think about how to deal with the situation.
The old gentleman who was looking at Ansel with trembling eyes asked.
“…Did you just say that she’s the only daughter of Viscount Loengrin?”
“Yes, is there a problem…?”
“That can’t be… that can’t be right…”
The old gentleman’s expression was not that of dealing with an enemy, but of seeing a ghost.
“Miss Elisha must have died of lung disease eight years ago…”
Ansel’s eyes began to shake at his words.
He, who looked at him in disbelief, shook his head as if it was an absurdity.
“Dying? Elisha is now the mistress of the Duke of Rubellin, and she’s doing fine. I guess teacher got it wrong.”
“No, it can’t be.”
The old man denied Ansel’s words once more. There was certainty in the light in his eyes as he looked at Ansel.
“Because I am the doctor who confirmed the death of Miss Elisha.”
Ansel’s eyes widened at his words.
Elisha could not have died then. Because the Elisha he knows is still alive.
‘Then the Elisha I know, isn’t it Elisha Loengrin?’
So who was his friend, Elisha?
Ansel headed straight to the corridor on the second floor of the villa to check the truth.
The portrait in the corridor must have painted the figure of ‘Elisha Loengrin’ who lived in this mansion.
When he opened the door of the corridor and went inside, he saw the wall of the ruined corridor. The frames that were being repaired were still placed aside in the hall.
Ansel approached a pile of frames covered with a velvet cloth.
After hesitating for a moment in front of the truth, he removed the velvet cloth as if he had made up his mind.