~Chapter 136~
Richard looked at the doctor, wondering what was happening. The doctor calmly explained the situation.
“The baby is coming earlier than expected, but the baby isn’t small. It looks like the pregnancy is almost full-term.”
The doctor bowed, as if ready to accept any blame. But Richard spoke in a cold, emotionless voice, as if none of that mattered.
“How is my wife?”
“Huh? Oh, she’s very tired from the long labor, but the baby will be born soon. The real labor is starting now.”
“Only now?”
Ancia had been suffering for hours already. Richard, desperate, had even asked if they could just cut open her stomach and use a healing stone. The doctor thought about it seriously, but refused, saying things were still normal and they weren’t ready.
“That’s all I can tell you, Your Grace. From now on, I need to focus on the duchess. Please wait, even if you’re worried.”
“Alright. Please… take care of my wife.”
After the doctor went back in, Richard stood in front of the tightly closed door, listening to Ancia’s cries, clenching his teeth.
He had never felt so powerless. Even though Ancia was in pain, he couldn’t help her.
‘I just want her to be safe. I don’t care about anything else.’
He prayed over and over in his heart, not even sure who he was praying to.
When it got dark, everyone except the doctor and midwife was sent out of the room. Anna, Ellie, and Bianca, who had stayed with Ancia, now stood behind Richard with their dirty aprons.
Soon, there was a sound of celebration and a baby crying from inside the room.
The maids tried to go in, but Richard stopped them.
“Everyone, wait outside.”
They were confused but obeyed. Richard opened the door just enough to slip inside without letting anyone see.
The old midwife was holding a baby wrapped in cloth, and the doctor was taking care of Ancia.
Richard saw Ancia’s red, swollen face and realized just how hard it had been for her. As he came close, Ancia gave him a faint smile, her face wet with tears and sweat.
“Honey, our baby…”
“Thank you for being safe.”
Ancia saw Richard’s eyes wet with tears as he held her hand. She was surprised, but she smiled.
“You should see the baby.”
“No, I want to see you first. You must have suffered so much, and I couldn’t help.”
“You stayed with me outside. Knowing you were waiting gave me strength.”
While the two looked at each other with love, the doctor took out a healing stone and used it to heal Ancia’s injuries after giving birth. Thanks to the healing stone, Ancia quickly felt much better. She remembered what she needed to do and whispered to Richard as she leaned on him.
“Your Grace, now you need to act.”
“I’ll handle it. You rest.”
“Okay, I’ll leave it to you. I’m so tired now. I want to sleep with the baby.”
When Ancia reached out her hand, the midwife brought the baby to her. The baby had been cleaned, and it was clear he had black hair and blue eyes—just like the duke’s family. There was no doubt he was Richard’s child.
Even though Richard trusted Ancia, he was speechless for a moment, remembering all the times he had doubted her.
He felt so ashamed of himself. He wanted to kneel and apologize at her feet, but right now he had to do what they’d planned.
Richard’s gentle gaze turned cold as he looked at the doctor and midwife.
“You must not say anything about the baby’s gender or appearance.”
“Huh? But…”
They had been warned about this before, but only thought it was needed if the baby didn’t look like the duke and duchess. If the baby looked like Richard, they thought they could celebrate openly.
The midwife nodded quickly.
“Yes, I can’t see colors very well anyway, so don’t worry.”
“…I won’t talk about the baby’s looks. But…”
“Just say yes!”
The midwife scolded the doctor, but it didn’t help.
“If we keep silent, people will misunderstand. Bad rumors will spread.”
The doctor had seen Ancia many times and respected her honesty and kindness. The baby was healthy and born at the right time. There was no doubt. But if they kept quiet, people would suspect something.
Richard didn’t like the doctor’s resistance, but he understood it came from concern for Ancia. He brushed his hand through his hair and spoke firmly.
“It’s not your concern. Just keep quiet for a few months and stay inside the tower. After that, you’ll be rewarded, so be wise.”
“Y-yes.”
The doctor and midwife were frightened by Richard’s cold attitude.
Richard turned back to Ancia, and even in this tense situation, he gently touched her sleeping face. Seeing the baby move his lips as if about to cry, Richard felt a strange warmth in his heart.
‘The baby is crying, but I don’t dislike the sound at all. I want to hear it again and again.’
The doctor misunderstood Richard’s look and picked up the baby, thinking he should calm him down.
“I’m just calming the baby so he won’t cry.”
“We’ll hire a nanny soon. For now, please help.”
The doctor was surprised by Richard’s soft voice, but also confused by being asked to care for the baby. Ancia had delayed hiring a nanny until now.
After watching for a while, Richard covered the baby’s head with cloth and told the doctor to turn around so no one could see. Then he left the room quickly.
Ellie and Bianca, who had been waiting to go in, were surprised to see Richard leave so soon. He frowned and motioned to the door.
“Only one person can go in.”
“Me!”
“I want to go in too!”
Bianca quickly raised her hand, and Ellie was just a little slower. Richard warned Bianca in a low voice.
“If you go in now, you won’t be able to come out for a while. Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ll take care of my lady and her baby.”
Even though she left Richard out, it was better than Ellie, who hesitated at the idea of being stuck inside. Richard opened the door just enough for Bianca to slip in, then closed it.
“From now on, this door will not open unless my wife, the duchess, asks. Understand?”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
The knights answered loudly and stood firm.
Ellie felt nervous about the serious mood but couldn’t speak to Richard, who seemed cold as ice.
After Richard’s order, the whole mansion became tense again.
Even though a new heir was born, there were no celebrations or gifts as usual.
Those who had stayed with the duchess during her birth didn’t leave the room for days. When staff brought food or clean sheets, they left them at the door. The guards were strict, so no one saw the baby’s face or even knew if it was a boy or girl.
The meaning was clear.
‘The baby must be kept a secret.’
Even if all the staff kept silent, the rumors still spread.
At first, everyone was careful, but as days and weeks passed without anyone coming out of the tower, the rumors grew.
No matter how careful they were, it was useless. People started guessing the duchess’s baby was not fit to be the heir.
At first, the rumors were only inside the mansion, but it wouldn’t be long before they spread outside.
With the tense atmosphere, even Ellie was banned from the tower. Now, Julie was called to the tower and felt very nervous.
