The king cast us a most lascivious glance when he saw us return from the Princess’s palace—me looking pale and wan, and Eric with a bandaged hand.
“Looks like the newlyweds had a rather
vigorous
night… Ah, I remember my youthful days...”
Spare me.
Suppressing a gag, I feigned nausea and ducked behind Eric’s back to hide my expression.
Eric, keeping his composure, quickly wrapped up the awkward audience with the king, claiming his wife’s health was not in the best state.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. My wife is in the early stages of pregnancy…”
“Ohoho, no need to explain! Why, my queen was the same when she carried Robert!”
Ella muttered under her breath, voice low with disdain.
“Your Majesty… Robert is not Her Majesty’s trueborn son. Please, do not spread such delusions…”
Ah, so that’s where she gets it. The royal shamelessness must run in the bloodline.
With an awkward cough, the king waved us away. The moment he gave his dismissal, I clutched my belly and fled the audience chamber.
It had only been a single day, but the memories of Rose—the “child”—were already etched into my mind.
“Careful now… Don’t jostle too much. Our little Rose might be startled!”
From time to time, I spoke to the imaginary child in my womb. And every time I did, Eric supported me with a pained, deeply embarrassed expression, whispering near my ear,
“Enough already… Please, I beg you…”
But I’ve been holding back a lot already…
I shot Eric a puzzled glance.
“This is all for Rose’s sake, you know.”
Eventually, perhaps due to my relentless dedication to the bit, Eric simply gave up.
“Well… either way, now that we’ve officially spent the night in the Princess’s palace, it’ll be assumed we consummated the marriage.”
My eyes widened.
“So the Princess planned to trap us there for that purpose?”
“…Probably. In part, yes.”
Eric clicked his tongue.
What a devious fox that princess is…
“So, does that mean we don’t have to pretend I’m pregnant anymore?”
I looked at him with hopeful eyes, but Eric shook his head gravely.
“No. If it’s discovered to be a ruse, we’ll be charged with deceiving the royal family. Not even Her Highness will be able to protect us then.”
Tch.
So that means I’ll have to keep up the act even at the Duke’s estate!
I gently patted my belly and muttered,
“We’ll make it through this together, Rose…”
As we approached the palace gates, Eric still looking thoroughly displeased as he supported me, we were met by the maids and steward from the Duke’s manor, who had come to escort us.
The moment they laid eyes on us, their hands flew up to their mouths in shock.
Especially the steward.
The middle-aged man gazed at Eric with glassy, emotional eyes, like a sect elder witnessing his most hopeless disciple finally marry.
“Our young master… has truly… taken a wife…”
I leaned in to whisper to Eric,
“What’s with him?”
“…He probably thought I’d never marry. Ever.”
I tilted my head. That surprising?
Even if the Duke's house was on the brink, surely marriage wasn’t
that
shocking.
I gave the steward a slightly awkward smile. In response, he beamed like sunlight bursting through a thundercloud.
“It is an honor to serve you, Young Madam.”
He truly looked honored.
Young Madam
, huh? I felt like I should act a little more refined now, so I lowered my voice and replied,
“Yes. It should be an honor.”
I gave him a dignified little smile.
The steward and the maids all exchanged odd glances, unsure whether to bow or burst out laughing.
Eric leaned toward me and sighed,
“If you’re not sure what to say, just say nothing. That’d be a thousand times better than this.”
“Hoho, how could I possibly do that, Eric? I am now the
Young Madam
, after all.”
Eric clutched his forehead in dismay.
Noble scoundrels of a strange land.
The moment Eric and I arrived at the duke’s estate, we were greeted by countless servants and the duke himself.
“Regardless, I hope you fare well, Emelin. From now on, the royal healer will come once a week to check your health,” the duke said with a courteous yet commanding tone. He also told the steward to take good care of me.
A royal healer?
An unexpected obstacle. I glanced at Eric with a bewildered expression.
Eric remained calm.
Just say you bribed everyone! Tell them we won’t get exposed for this fake marriage and fabricated pregnancy!
I looked at him pleadingly.
Fortunately, while the steward showed me to my quarters, Eric quietly whispered that the royal healer already knew our... situation.
“He’s the same one who’s treated my mother for years, so it won’t be difficult... but…”
“But?”
Eric and I whispered quietly so the steward ahead wouldn’t hear. The steward looked proud as he observed us exchanging our secret words and kept smiling whenever our eyes met. I almost got a cramp in my smile muscles.
Pretending to be an innocent southern rustic in front of Lily was already torture... now playing the gentle wife too...
Troublesome, troublesome.
I glanced at Lily trailing behind. Since her identity was revealed in the chapel, she had changed into full knight’s armor and was following us. The duke seemed displeased but had no official reason to stop her.
“But we’ll say we fell in love and had no choice but to deceive our families, so behave yourself,” Eric stammered awkwardly.
I smiled lightly, unfazed.
“That’s easy enough.”
“...?”
Eric looked at me as if to ask,
What’s so easy about that?
Just then, the steward opened the door to my chamber.
He picked up the bonnet I was about to discard and smiled softly.
“Though... the situation is complicated, all the staff at the estate welcome Miss Emelin… no, the young mistress, as the new lady of the duke’s estate.”
Did I just imagine hearing,
‘And thank you for dealing with that troublesome old bachelor,’
as well? Must be my imagination.
But
young mistress
?
I gawked at the spacious chamber, big enough for a game of tag.
Is this what social ascension looks like?
Maybe my mother’s logic isn’t entirely wrong—that marrying up is the fastest path for a poor girl to rise.
If I had earned money through scams or hard labor across the continent, no matter how much, I’d never have been able to afford a room this grand, let alone a whole house.
Mouth agape, I explored the room.
Even when dining or spying in the duke’s study, I’d felt the grandeur, but now in the living quarters it became undeniable.
Gold trimmings here, jewels there, ivory statues, paintings by famous masters.
If I could carry all this off, I’d strike gold!
In the midst of my joy, Eric gently wrapped an arm around my shoulder and bowed his head.
“Keep your mouth shut… and just enjoy the sight?”
“Sorry, my mouth won’t stay shut.”
“Emelin.”
“Yes.”
I quickly replied, then wisely kept my mouth shut.
But even that silence didn’t last long—because I, foolishly curious, pulled open one of the drawers beneath the dressing table.
“Uuuuurgh!”
The moment I opened it, I clutched my chest and staggered as if struck, collapsing in theatrical agony. Eric rushed over, alarm flashing in his eyes as he grabbed my hand.
“What’s wrong? Dizzy again?”
“Young Madam! Oh dear, shall I summon the palace physician—!”
The steward, clearly flustered, called for the maid assigned to this marital chamber.
Waving my hand frantically, I shook my head.
“No, no—it’s not that… The light just… it dazzled me… But all these jewels… What are they?”
I pointed weakly at the drawer's contents.
It sparkled like a dragon’s treasure hoard—countless radiant gems, each clearly of exquisite make. These weren’t mere ornamental stones; their craftsmanship bore the aura of true cultivation artisans, refined by the breath of spirit blacksmiths.
I turned with wonder to the steward and maid. They blinked, then turned toward Eric as if asking for translation.
Eric, clearly embarrassed, cleared his throat.
“She’s asking if all these jewels… belong to her.”
“A-ah! I see!” the steward exclaimed, relieved to escape the panic. “Indeed, yes! Most of them were left behind by the late Lady Emily, as a dowry for the young master’s future wife. We also still retain the bridal ornaments prepared for the wedding with Lady Helena… But those, of course, must now be discussed with the Duke…”
So… Lady Emily Orléans. These were hers.
I dropped my awestruck expression slightly and glanced at Eric. He leaned closer and murmured under his breath,
“Just wear them. You’ll need them if you’re to attend any of the noble gatherings.”
…I should’ve declined with a show of humility.
But my lips wouldn’t move.
Such is the nature of poverty. When you’ve lived long without, things like pride or dignity start to feel like luxuries afforded only to the rich.
Still—noble gatherings?
I recalled the social events I’d once attended at Helena’s side—tea parties, banquets, balls, all swarming with the likes of Vivian Cavendish and her ilk.
Ugh…
“Well then, since you must be weary from the journey from the palace, please take time to rest,” the steward said with a gentle smile.
It had barely been an hour’s ride, but sure. Let’s go with that.
The maid assigned to my chambers, a girl named Nina, explained how to use the bell cord and asked what meal I desired.
So I rattled off a list of what I thought were expensive dishes.
She smiled, as if charmed, and said with genuine admiration,
“Young Madam is truly frugal—such fondness for commoner fare!”
So that’s how someone can insult you with pure sincerity.
Still determined to maintain the image of a gentle noblewoman, I swallowed my bitterness and smiled faintly.
“Thank you. I’ll be relying on you.”
Ella, Eric—every noble or royal I would have to deal with from now on would probably be worse, not better. I felt that dread settle into my bones.
After Nina and the steward finally left, I moved to sit on the massive bed—only to stop and scowl at the man still standing dead center in my chambers.
“…What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you still here? I need to change clothes.”
I gave him a puzzled look.
Eric averted his eyes and coughed awkwardly.
“…This is the marital chamber.”
I blinked repeatedly, trying to process Eric’s words.
A conjugal chamber? Don’t nobles usually have separate bedrooms?
“My father said it’s hard to prepare a separate room for you right away, and since it’s your honeymoon period, he instructed to designate this room as the conjugal chamber first. My own chamber has already been converted into a study.”
Only then did I spring up from the bed, driven by a sudden, overwhelming feeling that I shouldn’t just sit there.
I glanced back and forth between the bed—and Eric.
The bed.
And Eric.
Ah, I’m married. And not just quietly—I stirred up a scandal that shook the whole realm.
So naturally, I’m supposed to share the conjugal chamber with my husband.
“I completely forgot that basic truth!”
Chapter 49