Chapter 3
“Dahlia.”
“Haah……”
“Don’t turn your head.”
Leonard lightly lifted Dahlia’s chin, making her meet his gaze directly.
“Tell me.”
“W-wait. This is too…!”
“How it feels.”
Moving roughly, he gently pressed his lips against her flushed ones.
At that moment, a wave of ecstasy washed over Dahlia—enough to make her forget the exhausting reality of her life.
And then, suddenly, her eyes snapped open.
As if waking from a nightmare, Dahlia jolted upright in shock.
Of all the dreams to have—why something like that?
‘What is this, some kind of frustration…?’
Rubbing her eyes, she let out a small sigh as she woke.
“Dahlia!”
Right then, Count Nuaroze entered, carrying water, his face lighting up as he called out to her.
“…Father.”
“How is your body? Do you feel a bit better?”
“Yes. I think I’ve been overworking myself lately.”
“…Not overwork…”
He poured water and held the glass out to her.
“It’s called pregnancy.”
“…What?”
Clink—
The glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
“What are you talking about? Pregnancy? That’s not something you’re hoping for, is it?”
Her hands trembled uncontrollably as her voice rose in disbelief.
But Count Nuaroze only stared intently at his pale daughter.
Her usually calm pink eyes were now visibly shaken.
“…Dahlia.”
In the calmest voice he could manage, he explained,
“The physician came by. He says it’s been about two months.”
“That… that can’t be true.”
Dahlia shook her head, swallowing dryly.
Neither of them had any intention of marriage, so it had been only natural to take precautions before spending the night together.
Leonard had done so—but more than anyone, she herself had been meticulous.
Had there been some oversight she failed to notice?
Her head spun so badly she could barely think straight.
Pressing her throbbing temples, she bit down on her trembling lips.
Watching her carefully, Count Nuaroze spoke again.
“This is something to be congratulated. Yes, certainly something to celebrate…”
For a moment, the corners of his mouth twitched.
Though he tried to appear composed, he was clearly inwardly delighted.
“…Congratulated?”
Her stomach churned again.
Whether it was truly from pregnancy or from the men of this hellish Nuaroze household, she couldn’t tell.
“You’re congratulating me for having a child without being married?!”
Even if her father lacked sense, how could he say such a thing in this situation?
“Do you have any idea how an unmarried woman with a child is treated in noble society? I won’t even be able to continue my research funded by the imperial family!”
Furious, Dahlia shouted at the top of her lungs.
At her outburst, Count Nuaroze hesitated for a moment before muttering,
“…I say that because I think I know who the father is.”
“What?”
“It’s obvious. The Duke of Lancaster.”
Dahlia bit her lip hard, struck at the heart of the matter.
“No.”
“No?!”
For the first time, he raised his voice at her.
“The only man you’ve been seeing is the Duke of Lancaster, isn’t it?!”
“He’s just a friend. You know that!”
“A friend? What kind of friend looks at you like that…!”
It seemed he had more to say, but he changed his words instead.
“Enough. You’re getting married immediately.”
Dahlia stared at him in disbelief.
“…Marriage?”
A hollow laugh escaped her as a sneer spread across her pale face.
“And the dowry? Do you have one prepared?”
She twisted her lips mockingly.
“…Dahlia.”
At that, he paused as if considering something before continuing.
“You know the Duke of Lancaster well—I’ve watched him since he was young. He knows our situation, so he won’t demand an excessive dowry. Besides, you won’t find a better match than him.”
“I won’t marry.”
Dahlia growled through clenched teeth.
“The Duke of Lancaster has no intention of marrying anyone.”
“No intention of marrying? Then he shouldn’t have touched my precious daughter!”
“Precious daughter?”
Tears began to well in her eyes.
“Not a slave?”
“D-Dahlia!”
Count Nuaroze’s face twisted as if wounded.
With reddened eyes, Dahlia glared at him fiercely.
He had always been like this, but today, more than ever, he seemed utterly despicable.
“Dahlia, listen to me—”
“I’m going to get rid of the baby. No matter what it takes.”
“Dahlia!”
“So don’t say anything ridiculous. If you so much as breathe a word to Lancaster…”
Though her body was still weak, she forced herself out of bed with all her strength.
Then, in a low voice filled with killing intent, she muttered,
“I’ll just die.”
Dahlia stormed out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
The moment it shut, tears streamed down her face.
Her trembling hand moved to rest on her abdomen.
‘What do I do…?’
No matter how hard she tried to hold them back, the tears wouldn’t stop.
Her life had been miserable enough—but this?
In her exhausting and difficult life, the nights she spent with Leonard had been her only pleasure.
But now, that very pleasure had become the blade that would sever their relationship.
At the same time, it would destroy her life as well.
‘What do I do…?!’
Her mind went blank.
She could never tell Leonard about the baby.
Knowing how much he despised her family’s bloodline, how could she possibly tell him that a child carrying that blood was growing inside her?
‘Never… I can never tell him…’
Dahlia hurriedly wiped away her tears with her palm.
At times like this, she had to stay composed.
‘I’m sorry, little one.’
She had to handle this on her own, somehow.
‘I… can’t give birth to you.’
Leonard would never want a child, and even if she gave birth alone, there was no way a child could be happy in this wretched household.
She went to the dressing room and quickly found a shawl to wrap around herself.
She intended to find some kind of solution—any solution.
After hastily patting powder over her tear-streaked face, Dahlia headed downstairs.
As soon as she reached the bottom, she saw Mrs. Bailey—the only maid of the Nuaroze household and its head maid—walking slowly toward her from the end of the corridor, her hands trembling.
“M-Miss…”
“…Mrs. Bailey.”
The only reason this woman could remain here was because she was too old to continue working elsewhere; any other maid would have long since retired.
Though it had been the worst birthday and lunch imaginable, Dahlia greeted her as if nothing were wrong.
“…Good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon, Miss… hoho…”
With her characteristic wavering laugh, Mrs. Bailey handed her a letter.
“A letter… has arrived…”
The moment Dahlia saw the seal stamped on it, her expression froze.
“…Thank you.”
Composing herself, she accepted the letter knife Mrs. Bailey offered and split the seal in half.
In the Imperial Empire, a silver seal could only be used by members of the imperial family.
She pulled out the contents and began to read.
No—it wasn’t a letter, but an invitation.
‘…Princess Arabella.’
Dahlia ground her teeth.
Arabella Merrily Dien Imperial—the only princess of the empire.
For reasons unknown, she had disliked Dahlia from the very beginning.
She would ignore her, then suddenly pick fights, hurling insults and mockery without hesitation.
Moreover, she never invited Dahlia to her banquets under normal circumstances—but without fail, the month after Dahlia’s research funding was cut in half, an invitation like this would arrive.
And as the daughter of a mere count, Dahlia couldn’t possibly refuse an imperial invitation.
‘Looks like I’ll have to wear the same dress as last time again.’
Returning the letter knife to Mrs. Bailey, Dahlia let out a quiet sigh.
‘On my birthday… a cabbage feast, pregnancy, and now news of the princess’s banquet…’
A wave of sorrow surged up, enough to make her want to break down crying on the spot.
But Dahlia didn’t have the luxury of wasting time.
‘Get a grip.’
She lightly slapped her cheeks a couple of times.
They said that even if a monster bites you, you can survive as long as you keep your wits about you.
There had to be some way—there had to be.
‘Pull yourself together…!’
With burning determination in her eyes, Dahlia immediately headed out of the estate.
