I Never Wanted His Child - Chapter 213

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

Adrian smiled, lifting the corner of his mouth at her words.

“I see. I could give that to you as a gift. Haven’t we already had a long enough conversation?”

Click. Mikhail set down his knife and fork and interrupted.

“Your Majesty, it’s probably best that we return to the palace now that the meal is over. Staying here too long will only invite gossip.”

Mikhail made a statement to end the meal. Adrian nodded lightly and stood up from his seat.

“Before we go, I’d like to take a walk with Miss Dahlia. Will you accompany me to the carriage?”

“…Alright.”

Dahlia stood up and followed Adrian.

Mikhail narrowed his eyes at their movements.

Emilia, watching Dahlia and Adrian leave the dining room, made a confused expression at Mikhail’s decision to let her go without stopping her. She then asked, still watching them intently,

“Is it okay to not follow them?”

“Dahlia doesn’t believe anything unless it’s sworn. Adrian couldn’t have given her a blood oath.”

He drank the wine in one gulp.

“By the way, I thought you liked wine. You haven’t had a sip.”

At Mikhail’s question, Emilia tightened her grip on the glass in her hand.

“I came here reluctantly. I wouldn’t drink even if I had it in front of me.”

He stared intently at the glass she held.

“Is there another reason?”

His gaze seemed focused on her hand, not letting even the smallest movement slip by.

“…Another reason?”

Emilia furrowed her brow at his words.

He hadn’t noticed anything that would suggest pregnancy, nor had she shown signs of morning sickness anymore. The only thing was that she hadn’t had any alcohol.

If they’d been together, there would have been many situations where he could have noticed, but it had only been a day since she’d returned here.

So, he was just probing.

“Do you think someone who ran away to escape this place would calmly drink wine?”

“You came back yourself.”

“That was the only choice I had. Don’t mistake it. Just because I didn’t kill you doesn’t mean I want to stay here.”

“Why?”

Mikhail asked her. Emilia hid her hands under the table.

She gripped her dress tightly and spoke calmly.

“Is there any reason I’d want to stay here?”

“I thought there was. You didn’t kill me.”

“…That’s…”

“The spot you stabbed still hurts.”

“Did you think it wouldn’t hurt? You stabbed it so deep yourself.”

“I thought it would make me feel better.”

Emilia was taken aback by his attitude.

He, who had been unmoving, now seemed a bit anxious.

“Are you planning on forgiving me just because of your mother’s last words?”

Mikhail didn’t respond. Emilia stood up to leave the uncomfortable space.

“I’m tired, so I’ll go rest now.”

Emilia headed to her room before he could stop her. Seeing the sinking look in his eyes, she felt her heart soften.

“Madam!”

“Dell, you made it back safely.”

“I was delayed a little by avoiding attention. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“Thanks to you, I’m fine. You don’t know how worried I was when you weren’t there.”

“Did His Grace… notice?”

At his question, Emilia shrugged.

“I said no, but I’m not sure.”

“What if he finds out…?”

“I’ll deal with that if it happens.”

Dell left the room to bring tea.

Emilia sat on the bed and swept her face. Fatigue hit her all at once.

Perhaps it was because of the baby, but she found herself feeling sleepy at all hours. Her strength seemed to be weakening, and her body didn’t feel like her own anymore.

Even though her belly wasn’t showing yet, this much…

Emilia stared at her stomach. Then, she shook her head sharply.

Not long after, there was a knock and the door opened.

Thinking it was Dell, she turned her head but found Mikhail standing there.

Startled, Emilia quickly got up from the bed.

“Do you have something to say?”

“I do.”

He entered the room and closed the door. Then, he walked toward her, closing the distance.

“I only have one question.”

He was suddenly standing right in front of her, and he lowered his head, causing Emilia’s upper body to lean back.

“Did you take the medicine?”

He was asking to be certain.

Emilia nodded lightly.

“…Yes, I took it. I had no reason not to.”

To prevent an unwanted pregnancy, she had taken the pill. Though it had been in vain, she had wanted to break free of the burden.

“Then…”

Mikhail’s hand touched her cheek. The warmth of his touch made her body flinch.

Slowly, his hand moved down and stopped on her stomach.

“This child must be mine.”

Emilia almost screamed.

He had a look of certainty. He seemed to know she was carrying a child.

Unable to lie under his penetrating gaze, she bit her lip and remained silent.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

“I’m not even pregnant, and if I was, why would you think it’s your child?”

She had taken the pill, so logically, it shouldn’t be his child.

Emilia thought she had answered calmly, but the trembling in her fingertips was impossible to hide.

“You didn’t think something was strange about the medicine, did you? If the missing pill was returned, shouldn’t you have expected something different?”

“…Did you tamper with the pill?”