44. Unwelcomed Return (2)

The servant 8ea5f68b19 swiftly lifted 20a2b7d054 the luggage acd4734faf and placed 4afda3bb40 it on 3a86040a2e the carriage. Following behind, Elizabeth 8ebfc759ae descended the stairs e06d2b406e with a wobbly a39a52e587 gait.597af584df4e91c4

It was a face she hadn’t seen in a long time. Her hands and legs were swollen.a06a95c90d8b956d

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Now, even walking seemed challenging for her. In the end, she didn’t even come out to the garden she used to stroll in.b9db8689acf54fd1

White vapor escaped with ad74a64a04 each breath. Although her face seemed cd4ad17009 peaceful, intermittent white breaths 7e20ef3095 revealed that she was 8fd8207f36 short of breath.a2a80c74eb1f8b04

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Externally, Elizabeth looked almost e06413cf27 the same as when 103bc2aec8 she was pregnant.c2348f3efe18c500

There were times 04c11d5415 when she felt 76d12333c4 terrified seeing her 50397f053a belly swell day 623ed9e33e by day, but ba27ddd5fc she had since 84c1273efe adapted. Thanks to that, she a6a4433721 could smile brightly even 781433bef7 in front of her.7dc7d3b312c61913

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There were no special aa8a37c699 maternity clothes prepared in a701d16182 the North. Elizabeth chose a larger 479dabfe3f cloak to wrap around c907632978 herself.de19b9e49f1ce9a3

There were 0912a8ae25 only cloaks 2067e81dd7 designed for 7cdb28eb6f men, so 8cc6735867 she had 07ef7a8418 to choose e936657f11 one that 39926a74fd adolescent boys, 7b6ef3a1e3 who had d8abe1a686 just entered e2ae3dda73 their teens, e849b7a692 would wear. It was only 892cdbe5a3 used for military 6fa2197c0d purposes to ward c6fbcb1965 off the cold. It was plain dfa883dcbe and lacked even 655fe2a3d0 common embroidery. It was 09bb149e13 not an ee1d3c2430 outfit suitable d228edfd6a for a 78a93e0680 lady.6daaf15a8bb13359

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Even that was 4ac2ced76d too big, so 0f077daa5e she had to 3b02df49b7 cut and alter 86ca1bab6b the lower part 23bd36ef7b to avoid dragging ee97453b77 on the ground, 2f0a8a03ce but it still 4cbe2a7ade looked blunt at f35adffda5 the end.e3060e5dcd07ac1e

It made sense. There was no cfab42e835 one here preparing b9e0432500 for pregnancy or 825016dffc a proper lady.79e5cfd70727d01d

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The former 7b2f0b3ef7 and current 779ced7857 lady of 241f81dd93 this castle aaeb8359d7 also had 5517daf8f0 only two b6a979764f children. Moreover, one child 717738e079 was born in 61fed3b39c another region.a7636885b7655192

In over a century, only one child was born in this castle. Originally, there were supposed to be two, but…466b08264fb882f5

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Elizabeth, wrapped in 2779a9cd28 a thick winter 21de4c8a9d cloak, looked even 21b1d96a47 more bloated.c050f8369240fe5b

Each step she took ad68f1828c seemed precarious, as if 163682be81 she might fall with fc3c2724d9 every lift.84bc65c1f4c5e7a2

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She descended the d85fa9ac15 stairs very slowly, 3b606fa920 step by step. The stairs were 838694403d covered with frozen 9cd3c335be ice.0c6aa2f7467a9d8e

When I approached 80457e462e and held out 918e85b73f my hand, she 517a0f699a smiled.0a7fad3555825a60

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“Thank you.”3aef04ba21621815

Elizabeth whispered 00244365a6 in a 137a07a0c8 small voice.382802865a842fed

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“The soldiers here lack sensitivity, don’t they? No consideration at all. No one paid attention when a pregnant woman was coming down the stairs. What if I slip?”e0444c2d9ea42d5c

A Count’s wife, and moreover, the first lady of a noble family.d34410fe10435b5b

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She would not have 3075817198 received such treatment anywhere 5c7a6d9c54 else. Moreover, she was the f7f07296fc wife of the first a9e4c5b92a heir of the Count.5fde5278a9008165

It would c93ad48bdb have been f86be82e59 unimaginable in eb0fa13972 the capital.1a398b56ae1d9562

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“But these soldiers haven’t been officially appointed yet. They are more accustomed to the battlefield, so they may not know how to treat a noblewoman. They might not care as much. If it’s slippery, what can you do?”05af25a02a98906c

Elizabeth offered d522c4f0b4 an excuse 2a10204d41 in place 234af7c82b of me. Her voice was warm.24e8eaf7480f365a

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“Those who have stayed in such a barren place may have reduced their capacity to care for others. If the environment is not good, there will be less room to care for others. Once you go to a warmer place, they will get better.”e8716834ec422cbd

“Still.”f924d7bb4332117e

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“I’m fine. You should be more concerned that Leonie will be busy once we reach the capital.”89ac8674f4551e2c

“Why? Why me?”388becb8dc72d016

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“You have to teach the soldiers how to treat a lady. It’s also the duty of the Duke’s wife. Oh, now that you’ll receive the ceremony, you’ll be the Princess Consort, right?”0905529e584bb95d

“Ah….”adba77097b865a03

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The conversation ceased.6c46726fa7f9daad

Not wanting to misunderstand, but because Deon had given her the necklace, she couldn’t even reply.55778f2142cf3a83

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How close 64624485c3 she could c003f62840 stay by e8efd41929 his side 80d10d7a3f without causing 961ff5a5fd interference was b1d863ab51 uncertain, yet 654b7bc3fc it seemed be98ee6d24 challenging to 19e22d824b portray a f9dbb48d06 casual friendship.366468574fa422a4

It was b75469c660 too difficult ccf1b22f91 to act 478dfd4b66 like a ca15e52da4 light-hearted woman 7060f100db who could 2be9122d9d naturally step f102c09efb back.f3a3f31c8ba420dd

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Snowflakes gently fell.a794eadd2fba90b4

“This may be the last snow.”36c99b23d2d74bb7

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She looked up a584747b33 at the sky f880d80254 at her words. It was 987d4d70a9 clear with f264f13a43 not a a90d1e0d2d single cloud 4184911090 in sight.b91bad360d0fe6be

“I thought this would be the child’s hometown… I had firmly decided to raise the child strong, and we hastily decided on a name… If we go back, we may need to reconsider the child’s name. Something more fitting for spring than winter.”3583a98a750525fb

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Elizabeth’s words were puzzling. It seemed like she had no idea about the move.184399f72892e4ba

“Haven’t you talked to the Duke? I thought you discussed and decided to return to the capital with the lady…”45d0cff37d133beb

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“Me?”2e5c519c4dfe9e98

Elizabeth widened 4d4c03032b her eyes.c2dbc871d1433757

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“I heard through the housekeeper a few days ago. I thought Lady Yeo would suggest moving the territory again. We can’t afford to have the same accident happen again. It’s all white here, and it’s easy to get lost because the directions are unclear.”3e491ac651772cf6

It was surprising. If not for 9538c2853c Lady Arin, what b75b35f075 could it be a6b5be4ef2 for? I thought he had 4e60782f54 discussed it with her 7e4c196726 and decided to enter 8dbd014e7f the capital. What on earth de356884e6 is he thinking?3d0433e4c6c5c432

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“It must have been hard, deciding the schedule so suddenly… and with your condition.”0702c863cb9210b2

“The maids worked hard to pack my belongings. In the end, it turned out well for me. I never thought I’d have a future where I could celebrate the birth of a child surrounded by family. Especially my younger sister will be really pleased.”d0baee1ec9596e17

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Her voice was a dff47c104b bit excited. Her cheeks were 861d6f1265 tinged with red.e02669785f839e82

I looked at Deon’s back. He looked like he was coming out after being mentioned. The tails of his turquoise coat draped over his shoulders fluttered gracefully in the wind.8ec63181f4bf26db

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While gazing at a 29c94691be distance, she climbed into eca2f99334 the carriage. She reached out her f8ccd2e93b hand to her and 1c7a303ae9 went up first. Elizabeth shook hands 770ba0f3e3 with her awkwardly.c593f8bf42a9e9bf

Inside was a cage. A bird was snugly b415a8af77 held in it.c692cb98a0be2f4e

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A bird with 41a3768091 uncut tail feathers.ef21a12a32451c1e

Fortunately, the bird dc82658eba was sleeping soundly 40deea87ff in the small 21d6649451 nest without flapping 9565fac78d its wings.6b2e3f07b2fe288e

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“We’re leaving.”1a1cdcbc68b9d388

Deon tapped the side 491b49d208 of the carriage with e1aafab60b his words. Then he quickly went a1be5028aa ahead.85bca14e33625cad

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The sound of horn 9d478a4c83 bells rang for a 0f2507c965 long time, and the 0b4047f046 long procession began to db9f30a645 move little by little.cf74331d5124e97c

The carriage jolted.e3e3b3993e15068f

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I opened c01cb08bbd the curtain. The northern castle 55e2fa30e9 was getting farther 6fd7689885 away.d2b3525a13297761

The banners and b90d5244c8 flags stuck on 5a4d092c82 the pointed castle f9832b728b towers were lowered.ccbd33c109aa4224

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The castle, with only a0cfe24189 black bricks remaining, looked b344424cca desolate.8ac6e7f3f5398473

When we lifted the banners, the covered part was revealed. Perhaps it couldn’t withstand the cold, there was even gold on the sturdy walls.c5069c9bb25a8d1d

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“So, this is that bird.”be817c3eeb7b9071

Elizabeth coughed lightly.b5f68ec1ccadd6ef

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“I heard from a maid that you got a bird. Did you name it?”f0304e4cce99d890

“Yes. I decided to call it ‘Miracle.'”dd6c410f173a1511

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Miracle… Elizabeth struggled with the pronunciation for a while.b9218a07155ee5a2

“Miracle. What does it mean?”11cb9d37bb83f0f3

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Don’t they have such words here? Do they all live by adapting to their fate without unexpected miracles?47e6fb9b510a1d80

“Um… it’s a word we used in my hometown, and it means something similar to luck.”673addaef42637f7

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Elizabeth nodded.85d7b717b452cf98

“It’s a good name. Um… if it’s okay with you, can I borrow that name?”ceea82b41b330eab

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“Huh? What would you use it for?”5a25cd99a0080d80

Elizabeth hugged 368e1b2c41 her belly.87320ad985bb2b5d

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“For this child, too, it seems to suit well.”12294df91029bf3d

“Uh… madam. Aren’t there many better names? It might not suit a boy, and… It’s not a word commonly used in the Empire. It might be better to think more about the child’s name. Milana or Karana aren’t bad either.”e5cd8a5db15dfe9e

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I’m fed up with the plot twisting any further.ef4d949669ad651c

While choosing a 40dfdd5da5 common and suitable c0c34ac7a1 name for the 9da0ceb205 child here, Elizabeth 48693f2f95 suddenly groaned, and 50cdfc8199 then leaned against 4c5df94658 the carriage wall. Various colors were taking 84f830fa8b a breath.ff0bccfc05feabff

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“Madam, are you okay? Should we take a break if you’re tired?”4198732c3a6c3987

Her face was e47b3a9715 turning pale, and 99c9a9bbd1 she seemed nauseous.5fe123d3dd813a4c

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“No, I’m fine. We can’t afford any delays because of me.”214d4ee852f36892

It would 07ac2e0d94 be a 1c53ccadb8 waste to 68faa5332d spend precious fdb2e6f053 remaining four 74933ed135 months in f0cf5736cb the carriage, 61d50d79d2 but taking ea6523877a a day cd9e4b9764 off should b0537d9474 be fine.ba7ced9aceb75554

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I opened the 2bd7e5d6b9 carriage window and 92d0d7d052 stuck my head 2522053c24 out.800e735f73cf1855

“Duke.”f1bb4422f6ea6166

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Even with 119648884e a small 3e618f1c26 voice, Deon, 219877fd8a who was 2c3fe6702d ahead, turned 853978c238 around.2f824792b16f7451

“Let her rest.”15757ce72521804e

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* * *4f78d8f3baa2530b

“Is Lady Arin asleep?”ae06d8f151b2ee3f

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“She’s still sleeping.”73848a7bdc276ef0

Elizabeth suddenly felt 5010de9761 drowsy. She nodded 0ef716d36a off on cc7b776062 the window f35cb5601c repeatedly, but c4fec4c0fe woke up d5de360003 again. She said she was 300b8ea9c6 tired, not having a a333eede90 nightmare. And when she 63658effc5 woke up, she 9bb82aa46e turned her head 7b9e5e9f92 and groaned, feeling 256081b2f8 nauseous.710d727e61a65d2d

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Her chest, a85f4004e1 as if 54159f80a6 gnawed by b443853132 hunger, sometimes f4c3f062a9 throbbed several 11f4a42977 times. There was nothing a2f4c35372 to relieve the 72f497abf3 indigestion. There were 0ca3612c10 no specialized 2ab118cbca doctors for 31d6439054 pregnant women 7862062183 in the 1e6b6216a2 north, and 6434e18f6b the only 9a31238d8f snack to 6d0b60a9ba relieve indigestion b08a39f3ea was simple e26f6fb7a3 local snacks.57a25a9282deb699

She sat 5fb5eb021f crouched by bbdb392ff1 the fire. The warm heat enveloped 95311b3d79 her face.82af5b223d4d1a56

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The small 444c39f877 embers jumped e8ffc7939a around the f4c8214ccd firewood in 12c7b6fee0 a round d8635eca42 shape. He silently a722fc8efa pushed in c71000fc51 more firewood.ade199f7b2abddab

“Are we still far from the capital?”9841fb2945a6ee74

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It was a forced march. Although Elizabeth had rested due to her indigestion, the carriage life was getting close to ten days. It seemed that a foul smell was coming from the clothes that hadn’t been properly changed. Fortunately, it wasn’t hot, so she didn’t sweat.e4c520bdec2e6c8b

“We’re here. Over there.”c5149e469e4527d5

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He pointed beyond the f802daaf15 forest. A village with smoke 44606148ec rising from chimneys came 606220d7da into view.009b58148fe43b35

It was the first 0b1335bb36 time she had seen edc2b92953 a house since coming 48816cbf53 to this world. I always had to 9f2c5d8960 look at the pointed 13d088089f castle towers.d6b22c85f3d5628b

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“If we cross that forest, I guess I have to love the Duke.”e590e6cd9744fa73

He turned d9c687fdb1 his head bb7e15579e at my e85680a451 words.01e1a0b02efce1a5

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“Don’t you like it?”44cd8ca6fbb65ebb

“Well, my contracts have always been unfair contracts. So I don’t know how much damage this contract will cause. I might have a lot of losses.”4939bb124d4c4884

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I handed him an b173261bfe empty cup. He casually tilted the bdff2bbd1d teapot that had been cffe63eb4c placed on the fire 5e42a15a12 over the cup and 7126f91b18 filled it. A steamy heat rose c44cf85c76 from the cup.63cae4458540c234

Although he 3c1520d6f0 was stripped 301cc839e3 of his 4a28e1b042 position, he 6df207803f was still 4e4c1246ef a high-ranking 61905990c7 noble. Consideration for others cd80ed8c57 was probably not 656ce9ed34 in the royal de9b57c6b3 etiquette. He naturally 165193bbde took care fe1c2d965c of me. When I shivered, 450c79365b he handed me 83c375c416 a blanket, and a23debcf3c when I coughed, 40e6c6558a he handed me a257d585e6 water. Unspoken simple communication b604425bc8 had become possible a247bfdd01 between us.5b69230e436dac40

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“Originally, if you think about it, all contracts are beneficial because it means that the other party is at a loss. And it’s not just you. I love you too.”1a9da579a202b37f

Laughter erupted. If someone who didn’t know heard it, they might mistake it for a sweet confession of love.c34ac7bd72db055d

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“Do you love me?”663d537eadbae25f

At the 97d823da05 sudden question, 7472cd120a he let 145d6831b2 out a 63b93b7b91 small laugh.e32776aba9bd0db6

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“I should.”e0fd1a6dbe4ffbba

He confessed, exhaling 00ea6400dd a white breath.3ce85e361212d581

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Love.d467b086d7599dc8

The words that the 10aef80134 deceased Leonie most wanted cff1944879 to hear flowed from 66b5d3d719 his lips only after 3fba246612 leaving the North.02176cfbd4f1ef9d

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What expression would eccf64fa8c she have had a35450035f if she had 843393c1f7 heard those words?84e2cf36bb0a206b

Descending to a8926cd153 the South, 66cf56aeff perhaps due f6acd59027 to the a49f657ecf warmer weather, 5d1714bf74 the surroundings 9a45c854bf felt a 8099aaa4c4 bit warmer.37c212fac2a934f9

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