IHTN 00

Prologue

“Your Highness, the reason I came to see you like this is…”

“Relax.”

At Cassian’s interruption, Yulia clenched the hands she had neatly placed on her lap.

She had to stop what she was about to say for a moment, but she tried her best to remain calm.

What she was about to say next was extremely important.

Keeping her gaze fixed on the antique carpet spread across the reception room floor, Yulia spoke again.

“I know this might come as a shock…”

“Speak comfortably.”

For the second time, her words were cut off, and Yulia’s expression twisted ever so slightly.

She couldn’t help but think it was ridiculous that Cassian was nitpicking her tone when he had no idea what she was about to say.

This isn’t the time for this…

Letting out a small sigh so he wouldn’t hear, Yulia opened her mouth again.

“What I wanted to tell you is…”

“Yulia.”

At the sound of his low voice by her ear, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Don’t use unnecessary formalities. Just speak comfortably.”

“Ha…”

Yulia finally raised her head and looked at Cassian’s expressionless face.

Without any change in expression, he simply stared at her with his deep dark green eyes.

“…Why does the way I speak even matter right now?”

“That’s much better.”

Cassian smiled with satisfaction as he looked at her frowning face.

It was a perfectly beautiful smile.

At that moment, Yulia felt a twisted urge to wipe that perfect smile off his face.

“I’m pregnant.”

She hadn’t intended to say it so bluntly.

But seeing him sit there looking perfectly fine—so different from herself, who had agonized over this countless times—made her feel slightly irritated.

A heavy silence fell between them across the table.

“….”

Without taking his eyes off Yulia, Cassian lifted his teacup to his lips.

He appeared calm, but the slight crease in his brow revealed his unrest.

Even a man who seemed unshakable in the face of anything couldn’t remain completely composed when a woman told him she was carrying his child.

Yulia felt a faint, inappropriate sense of satisfaction bloom within her.

“Get married and move in.”

After a long silence, Cassian finally spoke.

It was the answer she had expected.

Though it wasn’t one she found satisfying.

* * *

“Your Highness, Duke and Duchess Dubert have arrived.”

A knock sounded, followed by Avil’s voice from beyond the door.

“Mm.”

Cassian replied vaguely, removing the thick cigar from his mouth.

As Avil opened the door, two people who had clearly been waiting anxiously rushed in.

The couple, who entered in a fluster without regard for dignity, exchanged uneasy glances at the room filled with cigar smoke.

“Sit.”

Cassian spoke without even looking up.

They sat down in the chairs Yulia had occupied earlier, trying to catch their breath.

“Y-Your Highness, greetings. I am Duncan Dubert, and this is my wife, Catherine Dubert.”

Cassian took a drag from his cigar.

“W-We came because… we have something to tell you about the girl who just left this room…”

Duncan pulled out a pristine white handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Unable to hide his anxiety, his trembling hands kept rubbing at his smooth brow.

Cassian nodded, signaling him to continue, and exhaled white smoke.

Duncan stiffened as the smoke drifted toward him.

How insolent…

Barely managing to speak, he continued.

“Y-Yulia may have told Your Highness something, but… it was all a l-lie…”

At the mention of Yulia’s name, Cassian lifted his head.

His gaze fixed on the pitiful duke sitting before him, swallowing nervously.

“The truth is… w-we… that is, our son…”

Catherine jabbed Duncan sharply in the side.

“Your Highness, for certain reasons, we gave Yulia a drug. One that makes her believe she’s pregnant.”

“T-That’s right! We had a plan, so that’s how it turned out… b-but Yulia is absolutely not pregnant.”

It was as if a ray of light had broken through the dark confusion clouding their minds.

“Of course she isn’t! As soon as she leaves the estate, we’ll capture her and give her the antidote.”

“Yes, th-that’s right! We’ll resolve everything quickly. She is absolutely not carrying Your Highness’s child, so please don’t worry! We apologize for causing unnecessary concern.”

Duncan stammered as he bowed deeply.

“I know.”

Cassian stubbed out his cigar in the glass ashtray on his desk.

“…Y-You knew? What do you mean…?”

Duncan lifted his head in confusion.

“But I’d prefer it if she continues not knowing.”

A slow smile spread across Cassian’s previously cold face.

* * *

Yulia stood in front of a large door.

She turned her head and shot Emma a resentful look.

Fighting!

Emma, the experienced head maid who had served the Ishade estate for over 50 years, winked repeatedly at her.

Behind her, Avil clenched both fists in encouragement.

Just go right in!

Their sparkling, expectant gazes were more pressure than support.

Reluctantly, Yulia turned back.

“Ha…”

Meeting him itself wasn’t difficult.

But lately, his attitude had been so different from what she knew that it made her uncomfortable and awkward.

Swallowing once, she lightly knocked on the study door with the edge of the marble tray she was holding.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

His low voice came through the thick door.

As Avil opened it, Emma pushed Yulia from behind, practically shoving her into the room.

What a perfect duo.

Grumbling, Yulia walked toward the large desk.

Behind her, she heard the door shut firmly.

“…I brought some snacks. Coffee… and… are these butter cookies?”

You could’ve at least told me what I was bringing, Emma…!

Cassian lifted his head and looked at her.

Suddenly feeling awkward, Yulia stopped in the middle of the carpet instead of approaching further.

“…Are you planning to throw the snacks from there?”

“N-No… that’s not it…”

“Come closer.”

Cassian extended one arm as if beckoning her.

He looked clearly tired, having been shut in his office since morning.

Once she came close enough, he took the tray from her and placed it on his desk.

“Did you rest well today?”

Turning fully toward her, he looked up.

He took her hands and gently pulled her closer.

“Yeah… I guess. I just stayed in bed all day.”

Here we go again.

Holding her hands, Cassian slowly began stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.

The soft touch made her shoulders tense slightly.

“I’m a bit tired.”

He muttered.

Glancing down, she saw piles of documents stacked precariously on the desk.

He had been working for days without proper sleep, organizing information on newly appointed high-ranking nobles.

“Yulia.”

Not liking that her gaze had drifted away, Cassian frowned slightly.

“Hm? Ah, wait…”

When her eyes returned to him, his expression softened.

Interlocking their fingers, he suddenly asked:

“Want to bathe together?”

“…What?”

“My head feels heavy. I think I’ll work better after washing up.”

“I already bathed earlier…”

A bath together?

Yulia blinked in confusion at the sudden suggestion.

“A book said that the fastest way for a married couple to grow closer is to bathe together.”

“…What kind of book teaches that?”

“I’ve been studying whatever I can. The child is growing, but the parents don’t seem very close.”

Yulia was taken aback by his unexpected answer.

Despite being so busy, Cassian was trying to find ways to grow closer to her for the sake of their child.

But me, the mother…

She placed a hand over her still-flat stomach.

A sense of guilt and apology filled her toward the child growing inside her.

Seeing this, Cassian pulled her closer, supporting her back.

“Yulia.”

She awkwardly placed her hands on his shoulders as she moved closer.

Cassian gently rested his face against her flat stomach.

Sometimes, he would do this—trying to make his presence known to the child.

He would place his hand on her stomach, listen with his ear, or press a light kiss.

Yulia silently looked down at his black hair resting against her.

A few strands sticking up made him look unexpectedly cute.

She felt a faint urge to reach out and stroke his soft hair.

Before she knew it, a month had already passed since their wedding.

In other words, it had also been a month since Cassian started acting like a gentle husband.

This strange and unfamiliar marriage began…

On that cursed graduation banquet night.