Chapter 3: That Child Is Not Mine
They had already spent so many nights together that Elise had lost count. That much time had passed.
Every time she woke up after spending the night with Huerion, Elise would jump up like a startled deer.
Because it still felt unbelievable.
But each time, Huerion comforted her patiently.
Even though their first night happened under the influence of alcohol, he told her the next morning—without any hesitation—that he did not regret it.
“I don’t regret it.”
Those words stained Elise’s heart deeply.
Since that night, Huerion had treated her gently and carefully, far more tenderly than she could have imagined.
“So, what’s your answer?”
His proposal overwhelmed her so much that she could barely breathe.
“…”
Do I… deserve to be this happy?
“Come on, tell me quickly. I’m getting nervous here, okay?”
But when Huerion’s hands gently touched her, all her hesitation disappeared.
“…Okay. Let’s get married, Huerion.”
Huerion rejoiced like a child, rubbing his face against her chest. In a joyful voice, he asked something he had been thinking about.
“For your coming-of-age ceremony… what would you like to receive?”
The coming-of-age ceremony—the grand Rose Banquet—was one of the empire’s most important celebrations. It was also where noble youths made their official debut to society.
Women wore red shoes, and men wore rose decorations.
Elise hesitated briefly, then answered.
“Hugh… Then will you give me the shoes?”
“….”
“I want to wear the shoes you gave me.”
Her shy, soft voice brushed by like the wind.
“If I go with you, I think it’ll be perfect.”
At her small but heartfelt wish, Huerion laughed brightly and hugged her tightly.
In his warm arms, she heard his answer: “Okay.”
***
“Wow, you’re finally getting your happy ending? Took you long enough.”
“Thanks.”
Upon hearing the news, Clemence sincerely congratulated Huerion and Elise.
But soon, he looked troubled.
“Hey… about you two getting together… maybe hold off on telling Lydiana for now?”
“Why?”
Elise blinked at him, tilting her head.
“I was going to tell her right away. Did something happen?”
“Well…”
Clemence scratched his head, clearly uncomfortable.
“It’s just… you know how she gets weird about our group. And… there’s something else bothering me, but never mind that.”
He was right—Lydiana loved the friendship between the four of them.
So, two of them getting together without telling her might hurt her feelings. Elise understood.
“Okay. Let’s wait a little, then tell her.”
But Elise also felt that the longer they delayed, the more Lydiana would be disappointed.
Still, as it turned out, they ended up telling her much later—because something changed for Elise.
Clatter!
A bowl of stew slipped from her hands.
“Milady?”
The maid frowned openly and called out, but Elise was too shaken to even notice.
‘Wh-what should I do?!’
Her stomach churned, and her hands trembled.
“Urgh…”
She covered her mouth, trying not to throw up.
‘Something’s wrong.’
Her senses had become overly sensitive—especially her sense of smell. She couldn’t stand many foods.
Sometimes, she’d wake up craving something random.
Her stomach was queasy all the time. She fought the urge to vomit dozens of times a day.
She placed a hand on her belly.
‘No way…’
But the “no way” turned out to be true.
She was pregnant.
After getting checked, her heart sank.
She lowered her head for a moment, then slowly looked up.
She wasn’t sure what she was feeling.
Huerion was a swordsman—an excellent one at that. Swordsmen could control their bodies with mana, including using it for birth control.
Clemence, also a skilled swordsman, had dated many times without any scandals. That’s why.
Also, it was a time when birth control techniques were advanced and widely used.
‘Was it… the first night?’
The only time they didn’t think about protection… was that first night, when they were drunk.
The child had been conceived that very night. Elise didn’t know how to feel.
‘What should I do?’
He had proposed to her, so wouldn’t he be happy about the child, too?
But worry mixed with her joy.
They had agreed to marry after the coming-of-age ceremony.
Until then, Elise had to stay in the Fitzroy estate, so she decided to keep the pregnancy a secret.
‘I need to lay low.’
She didn’t know much about pregnancy, but she knew early stages were risky and needed care.
‘Luckily, no one in this house pays attention to me.’
Even her mother wouldn’t bother her as long as Elise stayed quiet and hidden.
So for about a month, she stayed in her room, being careful and hiding her morning sickness.
Thankfully, nothing major happened during that time.
Except for one thing—Lydiana suddenly stopped visiting.
‘That’s strange… she used to come by all the time.’
Huerion and Clemence were both away in different cities.
Feeling burdened by her secret, Elise decided to confide in Lydiana first.
“…You’re pregnant? With Huerion’s child?”
Lydiana’s eyes went wide.
“Uh… congratulations.”
After blinking a few times, she awkwardly congratulated her.
“Ah, right… pregnancy… you and Huerion’s…”
Elise looked at her with uncertainty, but Lydiana quickly shook her head.
“No, no, no! Don’t be surprised. I’m just really shocked right now, that’s all. Okay?”
“Yeah, I understand. Thanks, Diana.”
Elise took Lydiana’s hand and beamed.
“I knew you’d be happy for me.”
As Elise smiled and swung their hands joyfully, Lydiana looked away.
Elise, unaware of what Lydiana was thinking, continued smiling brightly.
Maybe… that was when the tragedy began.
***
Huerion and Clemence remained busy for quite a while.
During that time, Elise often stayed at Lydiana’s house and spent time with her.
Sometimes, Iris Abecherene joined them.
Strangely, whenever the three gathered, Lydiana would fidget and glance nervously at Iris.
“Lady Fitzroy seems very kind.”
“Huh? No, not really.”
Elise waved her hand shyly, and Iris smiled warmly.
“You are. Not many people want to spend time with me.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. In the end, they always leave me. Maybe it’s because I want too much?”
Iris sometimes said odd, cryptic things like that.
But overall, she and Elise got along quite well.
Of course, Elise kept her pregnancy a secret—especially during that time.
After two months, once her body had stabilized, she made a decision.
‘I should tell Clemence too.’
Her belly would soon start to show.
She thought she might need his help too, not just Lydiana’s.
So Elise sent a letter to Clemence in his estate, sharing the news.
There was little risk of exposure, so they used a secret code they had between them.
A little while later…
“…Elise.”
Huerion returned.
Elise greeted him with a bright, happy expression.
But strangely, Huerion only smiled weakly. He looked pale.
“Why is it so hard to see you these days?”
“Sorry…”
“No, it’s okay. I’m just really happy to see you.”
Elise, beaming and excited, didn’t notice that something was off.
Blushing, she spoke carefully.
“Hey… Hugh. Do you remember the first night we spent together?”
“Huh? Oh, uh… yeah. I remember.”
His voice sounded hesitant, but Elise didn’t catch it.
“If we were just an ordinary couple, that night would’ve meant nothing. But we’re not, right?”
“….”
“Do you love me?”
Elise looked up at him… and then froze.
“…Huerion.”
“Ah… yeah? Can you say that again?”
His answer came a beat too late.
Elise finally noticed something was wrong.
“Do you… love me?”
“Ah…”
“….”
“I do. More than anyone.”
His answer was again a moment too late.
But it was enough.
The moment she saw his unfamiliar expression, her heart dropped.
No. This can’t be. No. It’s not true. Right?
Desperation swelled in her chest. Elise swallowed back the lump in her throat.
She grabbed his sleeve.
“Hey… what if…”
Her throat tightened.
“What if a child came from that night… what would you do?”
Huerion’s expression went blank.
He was silent for a long time.
Finally, he looked at her and gave an awkward smile.
“A child?”
Still beautiful… but now cold.
“Hah… That’s impossible. That child isn’t mine.”
Tears welled up in Elise’s eyes.
No. Don’t cry. Don’t let it fall.
“Elise?”
His hand touched her cheek as gently as ever.
“Why are you crying?”
With that same gentle face… he stabbed her heart with a cold knife.
“A child? Come on… why talk about something that isn’t even real?”
…Why?
Because the child was in her belly.
In the end, Elise parted from Huerion—without telling him anything.
***
‘I’m so tired.’
Elise returned to the mansion and froze when she saw her room.
‘W-what happened here…?’
The wardrobe had been overturned, the sheets were dirty.
Footprints were stamped on the fallen cloth. Her room was a mess.
BANG!
The door slammed open.
“Mother?”
It was her mother.
Before Elise could even ask a question—
SLAP!
Her head turned with a loud smack.
“Do you have nothing to say for yourself?”
She stared at her mother, not in shock from the slap—but from confusion.
“How dare you disgrace the Fitzroy name.”
“…What are you talking about?”
Her mother’s cold, cruel eyes sent a chill down Elise’s spine.
“Come in.”
A man entered the room in a white coat. A doctor.
While Elise stared at him in surprise, he sat down expressionlessly.
Her mother sneered.
“They say you’re pregnant.”
Thud. Her heart dropped.
She found out? But how?
Elise was so shocked she couldn’t even speak.
The Marchioness’s face twisted in rage.
“You filthy girl!”
“M-Mother! I can explain! I swear!”
Elise held her belly protectively as she backed away.
“A woman who isn’t even married, pregnant? Are you out of your mind?!”
But the Marchioness didn’t want to hear it.
She motioned with her hand.
Two strong maids grabbed Elise, holding her tightly.
“No! No! Please wait! Mother!”
Elise screamed desperately.
She couldn’t be found out. Not yet!
“Well? Diagnose her.”
“…Yes, madam.”
The doctor forcefully grabbed her wrist.
He brought out his stethoscope.
“Well?”
“She is indeed pregnant.”
His words felt like a death sentence.
That confirmation rang louder than anything else—cold and terrifying.
Elise shook her head violently.
“N-no! Mother! It’s not true!”
