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T/N: I feel the most relieved to know that Daphne wasn’t really pregnant with Edmund’s child 😌
And Edmund’s audacity to say ‘You love me’ like bruh? Really? 🙄
E/N: His ego is higher than the heavens lol. ‘You no longer have authority over your body’ bruh what is this 😦 I don't know why Daphne even likes this man. Girl run away with someone else!
Indeed, would a man who lacked emotions feel affection for his own kin? Even his actions now seemed to be driven by someone else’s push. For Edmund, the criteria for making decisions excluded any emotions. It was purely about profit and loss.
Suddenly, Daphne felt as if she was waking up from a deep sleep.
“There’s an interesting rumor going around,” she said, cutting off Edmund’s words as she raised her lowered head. “They say I ran off in the dead of night, abandoning you for another man.”
Edmund’s brow furrowed sharply.
“That ridiculous rumor will die down.”
“Why do you think it’s ridiculous?”
His unwavering certainty baffled Daphne. She wasn’t sure, but she had heard that there was even irrefutable evidence about the rumor. Daphne placed a hand over her flat stomach.
“I can’t be sure either.”
“…”“This baby... might not be yours…”“Even if you conceived with another man, it doesn’t matter.”Daphne stopped caressing her stomach.
“I will raise the child as mine and give them the Winter family name.”
“...Why are you doing all this? I... I really don’t understand you. You’re…”
“You love me.”
He was so confident. He said it didn’t matter if the child belonged to another man, yet he was absolutely certain Daphne hadn’t been in another’s arms. More than the fact that Edmund knew she loved him, what was harder for Daphne was that he was so certain of her feelings for him – and that he was right.
Daphne looked at him, her eyelashes trembling. He was unbearably beautiful, yet so cold, like a distant winter night.
“Get well soon. You no longer have authority over your body.”
With those words, Edmund left, and Daphne lowered the hand that had rested on her belly.
‘He is everything to me, but I am not everything to him. He is my only one, but I am not his only one.’
Daphne felt relieved.
She hadn’t conceived a child. If she had truly been pregnant with Edmund’s child, and if this was the only reason for his behavior, Daphne knew she wouldn’t have been able to maintain her sanity.
She was relieved. So much so that tears spilled from her eyes.
She was relieved.
There was no other reason for her tears. There couldn’t be.
* * *
“Your Excellency.”
“Say that again.”
“...The tattoo you mentioned is the same as those carried by the servants of Sergei Bled. It is highly likely that Sergei Bled sent the assassin.”
“As expected.”
It was indeed Sergei Bled’s doing.
Johann was puzzled. Why would they try to assassinate Daphne, who was once the family’s most cherished treasure? The more he learned about his Madam, the more baffling it became.
Johann shook off his thoughts and looked at Edmund. Edmund was listening to Johann’s report as usual, but today, Johann felt he wasn’t fully focused.
“Your Excellency?”
“Is there more to say?”
“I heard that Madam is pregnant... along with rumors of an affair.”
“So, what do you think is the truth?”
Johann was taken aback by the unexpected question. Of course, he wasn’t sure. He had no inkling of the truth, nor he had any idea if there was any truth at all between the rumors.
From what Johann understood, Edmund must have known something. Otherwise, how could he be so certain that the child was his, despite not having been in the same bed with Daphne for five years?
“The vassals are confused,” Johan reported. “To reassure them, we need decisive proof of the Madam’s pregnancy. Perhaps having a physician examine her in front of the vassals…”
“Why should I go to such lengths?” Edmund furrowed his brow.
“Why must I explain and prove myself to the vassals?”
“With the Grand Mistress arriving, things are unfolding differently now.”
Sophia had been with the family since Edmund first took his position as the Head of the Household. Her influence was far from negligible. If she were to stand up and incite others, half of the vassals would be swayed.
“Given the timing, nothing good will come of this,” Johann added.
Edmund let out a soft sigh.
“I will take care of it.”
Edmund pulled the bell cord. When a servant arrived, he gave an order.
“Tell Benjamin to bring me some wine.”
“You’ve been drinking a lot lately.”
“...Have I?”
Edmund seemed surprised, as if he hadn’t noticed. Just as Johann said, Edmund had been reaching for alcohol nearly every other day lately.
“Now that I think about it, you haven’t had time for training either,” Johann pointed out.
“Tell Alec to prepare,” Edmund replied.
Johann left to relay Edmund’s message. Shortly after, Benjamin entered with wine.
Edmund pulled up his shirt. As the bandages were removed, the blood-soaked cloth slipped off. Benjamin inspected the wound on Edmund’s shoulder. The injury had healed well.
“As long as you maintain this pace, it will heal quickly. You haven’t been training, have you?”
“I will be sparring with Alec.”
“What!?”
Benjamin glanced between Edmund and his large wound.
“Are you saying you’ll spar in this condition?”
“It’s better than being doubted. Do you think I will lose?”
“That’s not what I’m worried about. If your injury becomes known, like before…”
It had been only a few years since.
An employee bribed by Edmund’s enemies leaked information about his injury, and dozens of assassins had ambushed him. Normally, Edmund would have taken them down without batting an eye, but at that time, his injury left him in poor condition, and he barely survived the attack. His condition was so dire that he was on the brink of death.
Benjamin continued treating the wound.
“If the wound reopens, it will be even more difficult for you during that crucial moment.”
The time was fast approaching.
“Please, don’t get hurt again.” With that plea, Benjamin left the room.
* * *
Damian encountered Daphne purely by chance.
“Mother?”
He blurted the word before he could stop himself. Though he quickly covered his mouth, Daphne had already turned around. Their eyes met.
“...It’s been a while.”
“...Yes.”An awkward silence fell between them.
Damian rifled through his memories, trying to recall how he used to react when he encountered Daphne in the past. However, most of the time, he had simply passed by without saying a word. Now, he looked her over. Her gait and posture were normal. Contrary to the rumors brought by Vent, she seemed unharmed.
It was only after confirming this with his own eyes that Damian felt relieved. At that moment, the sharp sound of soldiers shouting filled the air as training began.
“Are you on your way to training?”
Daphne glanced at his attire. The training grounds were just ahead.
“Yes.”
“I see.”Daphne took a step back. “Then, I’ll be on my way…”
“Watch out!”
Damian and Daphne turned their heads sharply towards the shout. A sword, slipped during training, was hurtling toward them directly at great speed.
“Mother!”
Thud!
At the same time that Damian reached out, there was a dull thud. He realized that Daphne had shielded him.
“...Father.”
In front of them stood Edmund, who had just knocked away the sword with his bare hand. Damian sighed in relief. His heart was still pounding.
“Your Excellency! Are you all right?”
Lowering his arm after deflecting the sword, Edmund ordered, “Alec, bring me the person who let go of that sword.”
Alec had been right behind Edmund and headed towards the training grounds. Damian felt Daphne’s trembling hand on his face and turned to her. She was pale and scanning him for any signs of injury.
“Thank goodness, thank goodness…”
Once Daphne confirmed that Damian was unscathed, her strength seemed to leave her body.
“Mother!”
Damian hurriedly caught Daphne as she collapsed in his arms, blacking out.
— — —
Benjamin sighed heavily.
“Your Excellency, it hasn’t even been half a day since I asked you. I thought at least you’d last a day…”
You didn’t even last a full day.
Benjamin sighed again as he examined the well-reopened wound.
Instead of sparring with only Alec, Edmund had decided to spar with all the knights. Naturally, none of them even grazed Edmund with their swords, but there were so many of them that the well-healing wound had torn open again.
Without a word, Edmund pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
“It hurts, doesn’t it?”
Benjamin’s words were sharp, but Edmund didn’t respond. As Benjamin stitched up the wound again, he prepared salves and bandages.
“What’s that for?”
“Your right hand, Your Excellency.”
Benjamin glanced at Edmund’s right arm, which was still covered by his shirt.
“I heard you blocked the sword with your bare hand.”
It was a miracle his bones weren’t broken.
“I can handle it myself.” Edmund rubbed his aching arm. With a sigh, Benjamin placed the salve and bandages on the table.
“The vassals and the Grand Mistress are waiting for you at the banquet.”
“...”
Edmund remained silent.
“Are you planning to skip again today?”
“No.”
Edmund rose from his seat. Benjamin, who hadn’t expected him to attend, was surprised.
“It’s the Grand Mistress’s last banquet. I’ll go.”
“Wise decision.”