Even If It’s Depraved - Chapter 30

“Emily is already with child. This one will only become the seed of discord.”

“The more direct heirs of Brandt there are, the better. Please don’t say things like that.”

At his gentle words, Brunhilde’s trembling violet eyes filled with tears. Carlos wrapped an arm around her small, fragile shoulders.

“I told you, Mother—you may decide as you wish. If you want to have the child, nothing else matters.”

“But still…”

“Even if it were discovered that you’re pregnant, who would ever guess the child is mine? They’d simply assume that the lady of the house, long alone, found comfort in another man.”

“…Would they?”

Only then did a faint sense of relief reach her. Brunhilde asked timidly, and Carlos nodded. She looked at his gaze as he wiped the tears from her eyes, giving a small, reassured smile—only for her expression to crumple again.

“You shouldn’t have taken my medicine from me that day.”

“…I’m sorry, Mother.”

“If I had still had that medicine, this… this sinful thing would never have happened. To carry my own son’s child in this body…”

“It’s all my fault. Please… don’t cry.”

Overwhelmed, Brunhilde broke down, sobbing. Carlos pulled her thin, shaking body tightly into his arms.

“How could you do this to me… after all I’ve done to raise you?”

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry, Mother.”

“If it was going to be like this, then you shouldn’t have given your seed to Emily either. Why did you have to make your wife carry your child too, and leave me this wretched?”

Her situation was so unbearable that the words spilled out without restraint. Even knowing they were wrong, she couldn’t stop the resentment rising in her chest.

If he was going to plant his seed in her, then why give another woman his child as well? What was she supposed to do with this child—one that could never be properly acknowledged, even if taken in?

…Even if she tried to push it away now, the seed of sin already planted would only grow into its consequence.

Striking weakly at his chest as she cried, she soon ran out of strength, her breathing turning ragged. Carlos, who had silently endured it all, pulled her close once more.

“It’s all my fault. I’m lacking—I’ve only hurt your heart, Mother.”

“Sob… hh…”

“From now on, I won’t lie with Emily. So please… don’t cry.”

“Th—that’s not…”

Brunhilde tried to shake her head.

That wasn’t what she wanted. She didn’t wish for her son’s marriage to fall apart because of her. It had only been words spoken in anguish.

“You know, don’t you? From the very beginning… there’s only ever been you for me.”

Before she could protest, his hand cupped her cheek with tender affection. His low voice fell like a lullaby.

“From the start, the child I wanted as my heir was one born of you, Mother. Emily is only a wife I took under your command. Then which child do you think would matter more to me?”

…No. Was that not what she had wanted, deep down?

His words—that the child in her womb mattered more than Emily’s—poured into her like something sweet and intoxicating. In the end, Brunhilde could not refuse. She nodded.

Like soothing a child, Carlos held her and gently patted her back. Pressing her head against his shoulder, he wiped away her tears and murmured.

“The more I love you, and the closer I am to you, the more the child inside you will be loved by me as well.”

“I… I want this child to be blessed…”

“Don’t worry. You know how much I love you, don’t you?”

As if soothing her, Carlos lowered his head further and pressed his lips to his mother’s limp, exhausted mouth.

Brunhilde’s shoulders stiffened for a moment, but she did not push him away.

Encouraged by her lack of resistance, the kiss grew bolder. Between Carlos’s slightly parted lips, his tongue slipped out. He licked her lips slowly, deliberately, with that wet warmth. Then, carefully, he moved inside her mouth into the quiet, unresisting space.

“Haah…”

It had been so long. The taste of her saliva was intoxicating. He rubbed the back of her neck reassuringly, tangling his tongue with hers. As he licked her tear-damp lips and drew her tongue into his mouth, she—who had been completely still—began to give a slight reaction.

“Nngh…”

That small moan sent a rush of heat to his head. Carlos adjusted the angle of his lips and began kissing her in earnest. Just as he did when they lay together, he traced, licked, and sucked every sensitive spot inside her mouth. Before long, her breathing had grown pleasantly shallow.

“I’ll make you feel good.”

“Th-that’s not—don’t—ngh!”

Ignoring her weak protest, he pressed down on the place where her n****e lay beneath her clothes. Sensitized by the unfamiliar touch, Brunhilde gasped reflexively. Her throat bobbed. Carlos swallowed his own excitement and lifted her skirt.

“I just want to make you feel good.”

“Carl, we shouldn’t…”

“You won’t be able to sleep like this. I’m just helping you rest. All right?”

“Hnngh…”