Chapter 228
That the great Duke Krygen of Obelit was actually a street orphan.
That he deceived everyone by wearing the mask of the heir to the Krygen family who had died from illness.
It was hard to accept even after hearing it.
But recalling Macy’s consistent words, it began to seem plausible.
No wonder she had accepted the role of mistress. She had already fallen for Eren before realizing the Duke’s true identity, and she couldn’t simply blame herself.
Thinking about how Macy must have suffered in silence made Anna’s heart ache.
“Tell Hils and Kieran about this too. Drop me off here.”
“Why?”
The carriage was speeding through the forest. Macy asked to be let off in the middle of a deserted field.
When Anna asked, puzzled, Macy smiled bitterly.
“I won’t live long after being separated from my Name master, Anna. There’s nowhere in Obelit the Duke’s reach can’t find me. I left for your sake.”
From the moment she decided to flee Duke Krygen, Macy had been prepared to die.
“I told you Eren would harm you if I died, but if you know his secret, he won’t dare touch you. If anything happens to you, ask the guild to spread the word.”
“No! You have to survive somehow! I came to save you! No way! If you die, I’ll die too! Don’t do this, Macy. Don’t leave me alone, sob…”
Anna hadn’t been surprised by such thoughts. Dia brought Anna to prevent Macy from killing herself after escaping.
Dia thought that if Macy’s best friend Anna clung to her, Macy might change her mind.
Anna had recently lost her ailing mother.
Her brother had been gambling away the money Anna gave him for hospital bills, hiding the truth.
Anna had become estranged from her family and left home, crying and begging that only Macy remained for her.
Yet Macy showed little sign of understanding, and when Anna threatened to jump from the carriage and die if Macy died, she reluctantly accepted the situation.
“And I have something to say to you too.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t change your mind after hearing this. You must live with me. Understood?”
“Why?”
Only after Anna got Macy’s firm agreement did she reveal Macy was pregnant. Macy rubbed her belly in disbelief and muttered, “So that’s why Eren said those things…”
Her expression darkened instantly. For a while, she couldn’t speak. Then, with a somewhat unfamiliar look, she asked,
“…Can it be terminated?”
“Well… it’s been too long now to terminate it. If the birth goes well, I’ll take responsibility. So it’ll be okay, Macy. Everything will be okay.”
From the moment Anna heard this from Dia, she had decided she would take care of Macy’s child after Macy’s death. So she was okay with it.
But Macy’s attitude toward the baby seemed strange. Anna knew Macy loved small and fragile things.
Anna’s dog, the baby rabbit that sometimes appeared on the hill, a newborn at Hils’ house—all of those she adored and cared for deeply.
So Anna expected that even if it was Duke Krygen’s child, Macy would love it and want to live for the wonderful life growing inside her.
“But if I die before giving birth…”
Yet Macy’s face showed no joy. Her expression was troubled, as if the baby’s life was a burden.
She had initially asked if it could be terminated as if it was obvious. Removing a fetus was a risky surgery that could cost her life.
Macy did not welcome the child.
At the time, Anna simply thought the Duke must have been so terrible to Macy. She soothed Macy repeatedly, telling her it would be okay in case Macy tried to kill herself again.
She left the issue buried, not knowing it might cause worse trouble later on.
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