Chapter 121

When I was a mere puppet in Rotiara, or when I was helpless against Genovia Irrien’s manipulation, I was at her mercy. But now, having broken free, I’ve found a newfound strength. Those with nowhere to retreat often develop an unexpected boldness.

Elise drew a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Genovia. “Where did you take my maid?”

“Oh, the woman who collapsed beside you? I brought her along, but she didn’t seem to be in the best of health, so I had her laid down somewhere. All thanks to someone who can’t bear to see a maid mistreated, even if they endure hardship themselves.”

“How did you know I was here?” Elise demanded.

“Because a royal decree was issued,” Genovia replied with surprising candor. “All official documents in Norella must first pass through my hands. Of course, my father is still alive and well, but slipping a few documents past him is hardly a challenge.”

“A royal decree? Directly to Norella?”

“Yes. But it’s not just here. Haven’t you heard? A warrant has been issued throughout Van Yela for a pregnant princess on the run.”

Throughout Van Yela? The scale of the search far exceeded Elise’s imagination. Genovia’s words implied there was no safe haven for her within the borders of Van Yela. The emperor’s wrath was so terrifying, it sent a shiver down her spine.

“The decree stated that a heavily pregnant woman should be closely monitored,” explained Genovia. “It seems there was a misunderstanding between His Majesty and the Grand Duke. If that sharp-eyed girl hadn’t reported you in time, the Grand Duke would have abducted you.”

Elise groaned inwardly. Of course, it was Luisa. No wonder the child’s gaze had been so unusually persistent. But to search for a pregnant woman?

Genovia took a sip of her tea and openly appraised Elise’s slender frame. Her snake-like gaze was as repulsive as ever.

“What child could you possibly have?” she scoffed. “Your husband is quite cunning.”

Elise remained silent.

“He tried to negotiate a deal with my father using a nonexistent child. I never would have thought a man of such upright character could fabricate such a clever lie. If I were to speak, the truth would be exposed.”

Elise was completely baffled. “Explain yourself clearly. If you have nothing to say, don’t even start. Manipulating people is a vile habit, Lady Genovia.”

“What, you really don’t know?”

When Elise drew a firm line, Genovia looked genuinely surprised.

“Aren’t you aware of the deal struck between the Grand Duke and His Majesty? If you didn’t even know how I ended up in this situation, it seems your husband has been quite successful in deceiving you.”

Genovia chuckled humorlessly. “Your husband has made a complete mess of things. I, once the most esteemed woman in Van Yela and the future head of Norella, was so humiliated that my father stormed into the imperial palace in a rage. In the end, they reached an agreement with His Majesty: if you give birth, the child will be handed over directly to Irrien, not the royal family.”

Elise was dumbfounded. “What…?” She had vowed not to be swayed by Genovia’s words, but this was too much to bear. 

Genovia shrugged, “Even without marrying him, it’s a significant advantage for our side, as the heir will naturally fall into our hands. Don’t you think?”

Elise was horrified by the idea that such a conversation had taken place without her knowledge. What kind of twisted minds did these Van Yela people have to treat a life as if it were something to be bartered?

“What was the conclusion then?” Elised asked.

“The man who once disregarded even a royal decree reversed his stance as soon as he learned you had fled,” Genovia revealed. “He informed the royal family that ‘if they could capture the princess, he would hand over the child to Irrien.'”

“Did he really say that?” Her voice involuntarily rose. Her head was spinning as if someone had struck her from behind.

Genovia nodded brightly. “Yes, that’s why Norella agreed to cooperate with this search.”

Elise’s eyes widened. “That… that can’t be.”

“And why are you so certain? What makes you so confident in him?”

Elise opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out.

Why…? There was no way Rezette would have agreed to such a cruel deal. But then, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she lowered her head. No, that’s not true. There’s nothing unbelievable about it.

Rezette Kirsten had always been that kind of person. The strength drained from her tightly clenched fists.

He was a man who had never shown the slightest interest in the child from the beginning. To him, a child was merely a tool to solve the troublesome issue of succession, or perhaps even an unnecessary half-blood. That was Rezette’s fundamental attitude toward his own flesh and blood.

And besides, since the child didn’t actually exist, he had nothing to lose by using it as a bargaining chip.

But even if it’s a lie, how could he propose such a condition? It was a thought Elise couldn’t fathom. The very idea of trading a newborn child suffocated her with guilt and shame, making it impossible to lift her head.

It was a relief that she wasn’t pregnant. Yet, despite this, a dull, throbbing ache settled heavily in her chest, as if molten lead were being poured into her heart. It was the pain of immense disappointment in the man who had been her husband.

But somehow, it felt like there was more to it.

Suddenly, the smell of cheese made her nauseous. Her stomach churned, and bile rose in her throat. And once again, that ominous premonition crept over her like a consuming fire.

No, it can’t be. Not this time.

It’s just paranoia. Just…

As Elise’s complexion grew paler with each passing moment, Genovia was too engrossed in her own words to notice.

“You should be thankful that I didn’t inform His Majesty that your womb is empty. If His Majesty had known that everything the Grand Duke said was a lie, he would have already been imprisoned for treason.”

But Genovia’s amusement was short-lived. It was precisely at that moment when Elise covered her mouth with the back of her hand and made a small retching sound.

“In any case, he couldn’t deceive me with such a lie. A child… what—what’s wrong?”

A chilling silence hung in the air, as if time had stopped. Elise swallowed down the bile with a few more heaves, her face turning as white as a sheet.

“What’s happening now?” Genovia’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

In the ensuing silence, Elise’s breathing became increasingly labored. Another cramping pain twisted through her lower abdomen. Instinctively, she clutched her belly.

A sudden, urgent feeling overcame her. She could no longer remain here. Supporting herself on the edge of the table, she staggered to her feet.

“I don’t understand your interest in me, but if you have nothing further to discuss, please let me leave. You wouldn’t want me to return to Rotiara, would you? I’ll disappear from Van Yela, just as you desired…”

Genovia, who had risen abruptly to follow Elise, grabbed her shoulder as if to restrain her, “No, wait. Just a moment.” But in that instant, she froze, stunned by the expression on Elise’s face.

Elise shook her head as if she had lost her mind.

“No,” she whispered.

“What?”

“No… It can’t be.”

Her golden eyes, which had been trembling violently, suddenly filled with tears. She kept denying it, though she didn’t even know what exactly she was denying.

“It wasn’t supposed to be… Why…?”

As before, Elise couldn’t bring herself to utter the subject of her thoughts.

Genovia, her eyes wide with sudden realization, scowled and glared at Elise’s abdomen. The piercing gaze made it feel as though her insides were being twisted in pain.

Elise’s frail shoulders began to tremble visibly.

In truth, she couldn’t say that she had felt no sense of unease since leaving Rotiara and arriving at this point.

She had known that something was changing within her body. She was always more attuned to her own physical state than anyone else.

Meals that refused to go down due to constant nausea, the unbearable taste of briny water that even drinking couldn’t alleviate, the occasional low fever, her body feeling as if it were melting away like it was being boiled, the faint abdominal pain that came and went, the spells that repeatedly failed…

All these signs pointed to one undeniable fact that filled Elise with fear and despair. Tears fell from her unfocused eyes, dripping down her face.

I left everything of that man behind, so why now…?

Her vision tilted sharply, and everything before her went white. Genovia, who had quickly moved to support her, shrieked toward the door.

“Fetch the physician, now!”

No, I refuse to have everything about me exposed in front of you!

But before she could push Genovia away, the fragile thread of her consciousness snapped. Her body and mind had finally reached their limit.

Elise fainted.