We’re Married, After All - Chapter 86

The Count of Veloce’s brow twitched.

“Even when I called his name or used the cologne he used to wear, he showed no reaction. He didn’t even glance my way.”

Danel’s emotionless voice recounted the events. The Countess’s face grew increasingly pale as she listened.

Moments later, her body swayed dangerously. The Count caught her just in time, preventing her from collapsing to the floor, though she had already lost consciousness.

Several maids rushed over and supported the fainted Countess. I assumed the Count would follow them to her room, but he stood silently beside us until the commotion finally subsided.

Only then did he speak, directing his words to me.

“Thank you for taking time out of your day. I felt it was inappropriate to summon you like this, especially given your condition… but we couldn’t think of a better option. I promise to repay this favor someday.”

With that, he placed a hand over his heart and bowed deeply.

His sincerity surprised me, making me realize that even someone like the Count could feel guilt over summoning a heavily pregnant woman.

After expressing his gratitude, he turned and headed to the Countess’s room. It suddenly occurred to me that he hadn’t exchanged a single word with Danel—but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Danel immediately urged me to take a walk in the garden.

As we strolled toward the estate gardens, I quietly observed Danel.

Dealing with Petios’s situation had been Danel’s responsibility, so I didn’t know the exact details.

I wasn’t particularly curious about whether Petios had truly lost his memory or was merely pretending out of self-preservation. The thought that such a d**g might exist did cross my mind.

But from what I could tell, Petios still retained every memory. He also seemed acutely aware that revealing even the slightest hint of recognition could get him killed—by either me or Danel. He wasn’t lost in oblivion but trapped by terror.

‘For him to remain silent like that… Danel must’ve done something.’

As soon as we entered the garden path, Danel dismissed the servants following us. He adjusted his pace to match my increasingly slower steps and spoke in a calm tone.

“You don’t need to worry about Mother. She’ll get used to the situation soon enough.”

I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to bring up something that had been bothering me since we arrived at the estate. It felt a bit awkward to realize that Danel never used honorifics with anyone but me.

In the end, I chose to ask something else.

“If you were going to leave him like that, why were you so concerned?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve been keeping tabs on Petios all this time. But in that state, he’s no threat at all.”

At last, Danel met my gaze. His violet eyes were filled with dissatisfaction.

He had returned Petios to the Veloce estate because of me. While Danel would’ve preferred to get rid of Petios entirely or send him overseas, I insisted on keeping him somewhere visible. As long as he was breathing, I had no desire to kill him.

“I just don’t like it. That man still being a part of your life.”

“I thought you would’ve turned him into a mindless fool by now. If I’d known you’d let him off so easily, I would’ve been worried too.”

“I despise him far more than you think. But when I realized he’d suffer more seeing us regularly, I decided to put in the extra effort.”

I let out a soft chuckle. Whenever Danel spoke so candidly about his thoughts, it reassured me that our past struggles hadn’t been in vain. It felt strange to find comfort in such a twisted situation… but comforting nonetheless.

We continued down the forest trail together, though our walk didn’t last long.

We hadn’t even made it halfway before exhaustion overtook me. I’d wanted to enjoy the fresh garden air, but with my heavily pregnant body, even sitting on the grass seemed impossible. In the end, Danel carried me back to the estate in his arms.

“I wanted to visit the old cottage again.”

“There’s nothing left but ashes.”

“Oh, right. I wonder whose fault that is.”

“……”

His immediate silence was surprisingly endearing, making me laugh again.

But before long, my laughter turned into a soft groan. The brief burst of laughter had caused a tightening sensation in my lower belly.

I gently rubbed my stomach as though comforting both myself and the baby.

Perhaps because this child had endured so much chaos already, it seemed in no hurry to come into the world despite being overdue.

‘Maybe… since I caused the baby so much trouble, it’s trying to make me suffer a little too.’

I brushed off the dull ache, thinking little of it.

The pain I thought would pass quickly persisted even as we left the Veloce estate and headed back to Lapecia Castle. The ache that had stayed in my lower abdomen gradually intensified and moved downward. By the time we passed through the castle gates and made our way up the estate, cold sweat poured from my body.

Before the carriage even came to a full stop, Danel jumped out. Amidst the deafening ringing in my ears, I vaguely heard him shouting for the midwife and the physician.