Before meeting the man, Leila stopped by the information guild.
In the past, her father frequented the information guild, and taught her how to visit.
Fortunately, that method has not changed over the years.
‘I don’t want to spend a lot of money for nothing.’
Fees here are too expensive. But now it didn’t matter.
“Duke Serios? No children. They’ve been married for a while.”
“Actually, Duke Serios was the talk of the people when he just married his wife. Everyone said that his wife has been weak since she was young, it would be difficult to reach the age of 20.”
“Maybe that’s why they’re still struggling. It’s top secret, but it’s been over half a year since she’s been sick.”
“The people of the family say that he can’t have children because of his wife, and they tell the Duke to take a mistress.”
“But the Duke treats his wife specially and ignores those words.”
“The people of the family want the Duchess to die soon, because only then will he take a new wife and have a successor.”
“It must be worrying. The previous duke also suffered from the problem of succession. Everyone is afraid that the Duke will die suddenly like the previous duke before he even makes a successor.”
The receptionist she met at the mercenary guild was like that, but the person she met this time from the information guild was very talkative.
There was no additional charge for telling Leila the things she didn’t even ask.
“You must be glad that there’s a lot of talk regarding this. So, does the information satisfy you?”
Leila might not be aware, but her great looks often make men feel foolish.
In any case, from the information she had heard, Harsian only wants a child between him and his wife.
But his wife is in a difficult situation to have children.
If so, what is this? Disguising Leila’s child as their child?
The hair color and eye color of Leila and the Duchess were almost identical.
‘I’m not even sure why they would want to do that.’
It was not an idea that would come from an aristocratic family who valued bloodlines. Also, doesn’t the House Serios have the ancient power in their blood?
In particular, Harsian was also the person who inherited the strongest blood among all dukes.
‘Come on, Leila. The other flowers may be worse, but they’re still pretty, right?’
Leila had witnessed Harsian’s power firsthand many times when she was young.
However, since Harsian knows how great the power he has, will he really try to make a child who has nothing to do with the duke’s family as his successor? Leila doubted it. However, based on the circumstances and the information she had gotten, this was the only conclusion.
***
Leila arrived at the appointment on time.
In her seat yesterday, someone else was sitting and eating some food.
She slowly moved her steps, found an empty seat for herself, and sat down.
“I was very rude yesterday.”
And then a man appeared.
‘So you showed up today with excuses?’
Leila sneered lightly.
“Have you thought about it?” The man asked.
“I want to ask just one thing.” Leila asked a question instead of giving an answer.
“I hope this is a question I can answer.”
“Does the child’s gender matter?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
As soon as Leila finished speaking, the man answered.
In response, Leila erased one hypothesis from her mind.
If he was trying to dig into the power of the Marquis, he would have wanted a boy.
There is a background to the Imperial aristocratic society being dominated by men.
It began with the practice of the Imperial family and several families with blood power.
It was because most of the children who could express the power in the blood were boys.
There was a time when the power was also extended to girls, which was a very dire probability. Almost once every few hundred years.
For this reason, the Imperial family and some families only established boys with their own powers as successors, and as the years passed, that became the rule of the aristocracy as a whole. However, in fact, in a family that did not have the power of blood, it did not matter if the daughter inherited the family.
They invented a shortcut, the marrying in son-in-law system.
“Does it matter what the child looks like?”
Leila asked another question again. Unlike before, the man did not readily answer.
“If, for example, a child with dark hair is born.”
“…!”
Leila opened her mouth again to the man who turned his head to her in bewilderment.
“Please let me meet Duke Harsian.”
‘He came from the Serios.’
Leila decided to ignore this warning.
Since she doesn’t accept the offer, she won’t be safe anyway.
She doesn’t want to sell her child to live her life.
Oh, what a wretched life this is.
In an instant, her parents died, her property was taken away, her title confiscated, and she suffered misery.
The outstretched hand was like rotten straw, and even though she knew it, she was afraid of being alone, so she had no choice but to hold onto it. And became someone’s mistress.
Even now, her childhood friend, whom she once trusted, pushed her to a cliff.
She wanted to end this tragic life.
She had no regrets about her life.
The only thing she’s worried about is the life in her stomach.
As long as they fall into the eyes of the Serios family, the child has no choice but to be taken away.
Leila was willing to risk her life for her child, as she would have no regrets if something had to happen because of her decision.
***
“It’s not my fault.”
Har said bluntly.
“Her eyesight is too good. No, if you hadn’t asked me from the beginning, there would have been nothing to get caught.”
He ripped the eyepatch off his face and threw it roughly to the floor.
It was of no use.
“Who said what?”
Nivera answered calmly.
“I don’t know if this can become a problem later.”
Har’s face was distorted, then he flopped down on the sofa with a dignified motion.
“There won’t be any problem.”
Nivera was adamant.
Had it not been for Leila, she would not have used this method.
There were many ways that were much more secure, less laborious, and not costly.
Of course, the process would never have been clean.
From a young age, Nivera didn’t like Leila very much.
Still, thanks to her frequent encounters with her, she knew her personality to some extent.
Leila had never admitted it, but she resembled her father, who had a sharp and strong side.
If Nivera had dealt with her by putting pressure, Leila might have somehow cut her own stomach. Leila is that kind of person. Nivera did not want to harm Leila. She didn’t want to waste the opportunity she had been given after a long time.
How many chances she had blown away with her own hands in the last few years.
Moreover, Leila, the daughter of a merchant, resembled her father, and she always tended to act to her own advantage.
Therefore, she was sure it wouldn’t be a problem. She thought Leila would not act hastily if she let her know that this matter has something to do with the Serios family.
Nobody wants to die. Even after going through such things, Leila is a very independent woman.
“Since there won’t be any problem, why don’t you do it yourself? Why do you leave the trouble to me?”
Har got up with a grunt and picked up the eyepatch he had thrown at her.
The reason Nivera asked Harsian to do this was to warn her.
That they are from the Serios Duchy.
Who else can best demonstrate this?
But Nivera never told her brother her thoughts.
“You can contact her on your own. I’ve failed.”
Nivera pondered.
Can she meet Leila? Why did Leila ignore her warning?
Does she have something that can guarantee her safety that she doesn’t even mind seeing me herself? Enough that she can go out even with such risks?
Maybe she heard something strange from the information guild today.
‘That can’t be.’
That information guild belongs to the Serios Duchy.
There, she heard what Leila had asked and what had been said to Leila. It was vividly communicated to her.
Rather, Nivera thought it was good. Based on that information, Leila will easily infer why Nivera wants her child.
But, of course, Nivera expected that she would give her child up for a large sum, she didn’t expect it to be the contrary.
Or perhaps she believes in the Marquis?
Does she think Marquis Karsha can stand up to her?
“Let me ask you a question.”
“What else?”
Har replied with disgust.
No. His role is not over yet.
How can she easily let him, such an easy-to-handle yet convenient existence hidden from the world, go?
“When Brother meets Leila again, what do you want to say?”
However, it was not time to cover Leila’s, who may be heading to the Marquis, mouth.
Nivera didn’t know if the Marquis would be bothered by this matter.
It would be annoying to cover things up as if nothing had happened from the Marquis.
***
Leila entered a building and headed for the stairs without hesitation.
When an employee at the counter moved to follow her, she reached out her palm and refused.
She climbed the stairs alone and knocked on the door to find the room that had been written on the letter.
Before long, the door opened. The man who opened the door inside was someone Leila knew.
Harsian. Harsian Khan Serios, the head of the Serios family and the current Duke.
“Long time no see.”
The door closed, and Harsian stretched out his arm. He said to Leila as she stepped onto the sofa in the direction he was pointing.
“I’m sorry.”
Leila’s hand trembled as she sat on the sofa and took off her hat.
She turned her head and looked at Harsian, who was still standing there.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you then.”
Leila’s brow furrowed softly.
Right. It was likely for the Harsian that she knew to say this when they reunited.
“Do we need such a word between us now?”
But it was already too late for her to be moved by those words.
If he’s truly sorry, he will help without asking for anything in return now.
What’s the use of coming up and threatening like that when you need something?
“Let’s just say what needs to be said right now.”
Harsian’s face, like a blank sheet, had not changed.
He sat down across from Leila, expressionless.
“I was being considerate. I’m a bit disappointed.”
“You were being considerate? Oh you mean, you could have stolen it recklessly, but you decided to give a corresponding reward in return. Did you even reflect on your face?”
“Thank you for noticing.”
Leila felt strange.
Was Harsian’s voice so soft in the first place?