* * *

“So, you want to turn my granddaughter into a public spectacle?”

“No, Madam. Quite the opposite. The daughters of the empire will aspire to be like Miss Dorothy. It’s not something just anyone can do.”

“Ha… You’re full of surprises.”

‘Got her.’

What grandmother wouldn’t be pleased to see her seemingly aimless granddaughter carve out a respectable life?

Dorothy would start as the face of Velon’s branch of Hotel Paradise, ensuring Duchess Velesa’s continued support for the project.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and I was confident she wouldn’t refuse.

Just as I awaited her final confirmation—

‘…Ah.’

My eyelids, heavy as lead, began to close.

My body tilted weakly against the sofa’s backrest.

Duchess Velesa, startled, rose from her seat.

‘Why now?’

The world spun like a pendulum. I could vaguely hear her shouting for a doctor, but I was powerless to respond.

Between bouts of unconsciousness, I caught glimpses of a concerned physician leaning over me.

This wasn’t the place to collapse, but at least it wasn’t out in the streets.

Even in my haze, Duchess Velesa’s worried gaze brought a small measure of relief.

Sympathy might work in my favor.

With that fleeting thought, darkness consumed me.

---

‘Damn it.’

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in a guest room at the Velesa estate.

I cursed under my breath.

What was I doing sabotaging my own efforts at the final hurdle?

If I let this situation spiral, all my careful plans could crumble.

Throwing off the blanket, I tried to get up, only to be stopped by Irina and a maid, their faces filled with alarm.

“Please, lie back down. You’re still so cold.”

“Yes, you mustn’t overexert yourself!”

Despite their protests, I had no time to rest.

“No, I need to go and apologize to the lady immediately—”

A commotion ensued as they tried to restrain me.

Just then, a short knock sounded at the door, and Duchess Velesa herself entered, accompanied by the butler.

“There’s no need for that. I came to see you myself.”

Her sudden appearance sent my heart racing.

I tried to rise, but she waved me down.

“Stay where you are. I came because we still have things to discuss.”

As she spoke, the intricate embellishments on her shawl swayed with each movement.

Fumbling for my glasses on the bedside table, I hurriedly apologized.

“I’m deeply sorry for my rudeness…”

But Duchess Velesa shook her head firmly.

“No need for such apologies. Let’s cut to the chase. What you want is the safety of that fledgling duke, isn’t it?”

I nodded weakly, anger bubbling within at my inability to remain strong in such a critical moment.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Duchess Velesa spoke with a faint smile.

“In that case, I can help you.”

Her voice was undoubtedly gentle, yet a shiver ran down my spine for some reason.

Like a Cheshire cat, her cunning eyes gleamed as the corners of her lips curled up.

“But the choice is yours. You see, I’ve found something I want from you in addition to what you’ve proposed.”

Even though I had come here to make a suggestion, a chill ran through me.

With trembling hands, I gripped the sheet and looked up at Duchess Velesa.

Her pale gray eyes gazed down at me, making it impossible to tell if she was being benevolent or merciless.

“What is it that you want?”

When I met her gaze with determination in my eyes, she let out a soft laugh.

“That child of yours. I’m quite curious to see how someone who’s caused so much trouble before even coming into this world will grow up.”

“…?”

What nonsense is this?

I looked to Irina and the maid in bewilderment, wondering if I’d missed part of the conversation.

But they only returned my gaze with faces full of worry, as if they knew something I didn’t.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Duchess Velesa frowned, as if annoyed by my confusion, her expression questioning whether I was pretending not to know just to gauge her reaction.

“Surely, you didn’t come here unaware? I assumed you knew, given how you’re trying to take care of that little fledgling.”

“What?”

Wait, what on earth are you talking about?

Shocked, I turned to Irina, who maintained a composed expression but seemed deeply flustered as she answered.

“Well… according to the doctor who came by earlier…”

What is it?

What could possibly have them acting so strangely?

As I leaned against the headboard, looking up at Irina, her next words hit me like a bolt from the blue.

“You’re with child.”

“Who’s—!?”

The maid beside me laughed awkwardly and drove the point home.

“Surely you didn’t really not know? Oh, come on, you’re joking, right? Who else could it be but Viscount Everdeen?”

---

A short while earlier, before the commotion at Duchess Velesa’s estate…

While Jurgen was holding himself hostage in front of Hernan as a form of coercion, a certain presence was reluctantly attending to an unwelcome duty on Velon’s behalf—a presence everyone had forgotten about.

[Honestly…]

From the moment Jurgen stepped foot into the Yudenet estate, it was clear to him.

The thing that had been faint and indistinct weeks ago had now taken on the unmistakable form of an egg.

[I warned you to be cautious and vigilant.]

Yudenet tried to stop Jurgen from storming out immediately, but no matter how much he shouted, his words didn’t reach either of them.

[Really! Two stubborn fools!]

By the time they were both beyond his reach, Yudenet could only stew in frustration.

He regretted making that accursed contract, which bound him to something that would soon turn to ashes.

Not that knowing the consequences would’ve changed his decision.

Watching them recklessly throw themselves into chaos, injuring themselves and risking everything to protect each other, he couldn’t help but sigh. It was pathetic—and enviable.

[What could possibly be so wonderful?]

He wasn’t in a position to criticize, having spent centuries tethered to a shrine for beings who wouldn’t even live a hundred years.

Hernan might outlive the average human, but his lifespan wasn’t so different from Jurgen’s.

Neither of them would ever realize how blessed they were to love someone with whom they could share their time and grow old together.

Instead, they would die clinging to meaningless things like royalty and borders, oblivious to their true insignificance.

The real fool wasn’t those two, but himself, who remained trapped here, hoping for a future where his lover’s soul might reincarnate within the Yudenet bloodline.

This generation had been a failure; he could only hope for the next.

[Honestly.]

Yudenet had once been able to foresee the future in part.

His abilities had diminished to a shadow of their former glory because he’d willingly abandoned perfection.

Even so, if it meant holding onto the fleeting bond he’d once had, he didn’t mind becoming an imperfect being—or even mortal.

Now, all he could do was watch as the two resolved the humans’ problems on their own.

---

Surrounded by three women, I asked in disbelief, “Wait, hold on. Me?”

As if my reaction were the ridiculous one, Duchess Velesa looked genuinely shocked.

“You didn’t know? I thought you’d been hiding the fact that you were an omega all along.”

“What? Me?”

Hide it?

Who hid what?

If that were true, the alpha heirs buzzing around me would’ve figured it out ages ago.

Repeating “Me?” over and over like an idiot, my face burned with embarrassment.

“No, there’s been some kind of mistake.”

Desperate to deny the absurd claim, I shook my head firmly, but Irina responded with a resolute expression.

“No, the doctor said there’s a faint but definite movement, unmistakably indicating pregnancy.”

Pregnancy?

Of all the words, that was one I never thought would be associated with me.

* * *