Chapter 82

“Yes.”

“Really?!”

“What else could it possibly be if not genuine? I’ve always yearned for an heir.”

“Yearned…” Elise lapsed into silence, lost in contemplation for a moment.

“Aren’t you intrigued?!”

“About what?”

“About your… well, our progeny. How they might manifest, the essence of their being, and other such musings.”

Elise hesitated, grappling with the words that eluded her. She recognized the futility of such concerns given her circumstance. Nevertheless…

After their passionate union concluded, superfluous thoughts danced through her mind as she rested against him, her weary body seeking solace. The intensity heightened, particularly when Rezette didn’t assertively withdraw from her, and each realization that a fragment of him lingered within her left her with an undeniable curiosity.

If she were to conceive a child, what sort of child would it be? What gender would they assume? Whose features would they inherit? Questions like that waltzed through the corridors of her imagination.

Elise turned her head, hoping to catch a glimpse of his expression, and let out a quiet sigh. Rezette, in response, appeared to raise his eyebrows, reacting to a distant sound. His reply was cool and indifferent.

“I’m not particularly curious.”

Surprised, Elise questioned, “Not at all?!”

“We already know it won’t be something ordinary,” he replied coldly, his words pointing to the potential offspring of a dragon-man, delivered with an unbelievably icy demeanor. In reality, that statement alone conveyed enough information.

Rezette acknowledged the excessive sensitivity in his tone. He despised providing justifications, even to himself, and for him, certain questions required little consideration. However, there was no need to intentionally respond harshly. Eventually, he tempered his tone with restraint.

“If it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have committed the folly of presenting to the world the being who inherited a part of me.”

“Nevertheless, I don’t regret the need for a successor in various ways, even though that time has passed,” Rezette admitted. However, Elise remained unaffected by his sentiment. Rezette, assuming her darkened complexion stemmed from fear, reassured her:

“Since you’re a Gallian descendant, there shouldn’t be any major issues during your term. Above all, as long as I’m by your side, the child won’t harm you. Don’t worry.”

“I was prepared for that from the beginning, so it’s okay,” Elise replied. She refrained from expressing that such matters were unimportant and decided against casually inquiring about her preference for a son or daughter, deeming it another pointless curiosity.

But still… I thought I would want a child, Elise thought silently. She couldn’t fathom his reaction, given his deep-seated aversion to a child born from his bloodline.

“Complicated,” Elise murmured.

“What is?”

“What exactly you want… ah.”

Elise’s murmurs didn’t seem to capture Rezette’s interest. As her lips and hands once again encountered the warmth of his neck and abdomen, she emitted a soft sound. It was then that a realization dawned upon her.

Perhaps, from the outset, Rezette harbored little concern for the fundamental purpose of their relationship. Despite his casual remarks about needing a successor, there was no indication of a fervent desire for an heir. Even though he emphasized ‘our’ baby, there was a noticeable absence of deep contemplation about the child’s existence. In fact, he had recently admitted that, in his own words, the child was merely a means to address peripheral and troublesome issues.

While Elise viewed the union of man and woman as a sublime process to bring forth the fruit of life, Rezette seemed to attribute a different significance to the union itself. More precisely, he appeared to find pleasure in the physical aspect of their connection.

So, if I have a child and leave, you won’t love that child, will you? Elise pondered silently, hoping to avoid the usual disdainful tone from Rezette. Although she hadn’t anticipated much, the bitter taste of disappointment lingered.

Elise worked through her thoughts with a sense of awkwardness. The optimal solution still seemed to involve prioritizing contraception, even if she had to manage it on her own. Contemplating the possibility of pregnancy, she resolved that if it happened, she wouldn’t give birth to the child in Rotiara, nor would she leave the child behind.

If I become pregnant before autumn comes…

In that scenario, Elise decided she would depart with the unborn child.

***

Despite Elise’s internal concerns, everything proceeded smoothly. A week after leaving Rotiara, the investigation team reached the borders of the territory. Rezette’s initial plan was to focus on surveying within and around Rotiara, and the location they had reached marked the furthest point Elise could reach during this inspection.

“Then, is the farm across the river not part of Rotiara?”

“From there onward, it belongs to Count Septimon. It’s almost adjacent to the central wilderness and is mostly left abandoned. It’s an area that requires careful investigation. …Would you like to go there as well?” Rezette inquired.

“Yes,” Elise nodded. “I want to cross the river. I’ve never been on a boat before.”

In truth, it was a bit intimidating. The river’s current, observed up close, proved quite formidable. Memories of the carriage and herself plunging down below the cliffs resurfaced, sending a shiver down her spine.

Nevertheless, given Elise’s ultimate destination in the southern part, she would inevitably need to traverse this river. Not only was it beyond Rotiara’s territory, but it also lay in an abandoned area, distinctly separate from affiliated territories. Wasn’t this an ideal setting for concealing oneself? Such places were perfect for individuals with many secrets, much like Elise herself.

Fearing seemed like a luxury at this point. Elise took Rezette’s hand and confidently stepped onto the gangway.

“While we’re at it, it would be beneficial to engage with the boatman or the fishermen.”

The river breeze conveniently tousled the edges of her cloak. Elise, pretending to adjust her hair, slightly dampened the hood. She cast a glance at the boatman, quietly waiting with paddle in hand.

Then, she froze.

“Elise.”

Rezette, already on the boat, turned to look at her. Elise had turned her head halfway toward the boatman. In a moment when the golden sunset resembled crashing waves, Elise casually shifted her gaze.

Reaching for Rezette’s extended hand, she expressed her gratitude as she approached.

“Thank you.”

The moment Rezette’s small, white hand connected with hers, he pulled her firmly. The hem of Elise’s dress lifted as she staggered, drawn into his embrace and onto the boat. Confusion painted her expression as she was about to frown.

“What’s the matter?” Rezette asked.

“It’s nothing,” replied Elise.

Was that golden wave just now an illusion?

***

In less than an hour, they arrived on the other side of the river. During the river crossing, Elise sat like a figure in a painting, her gaze fixed solely on the transparent currents. Rezette’s half-removed hood was conveniently put back on, providing an effective shield for her eyes, which betrayed a subtle tremor.

On the opposite side of the Tene River, small farms unfolded. Whether news of the investigation team’s dispatch had been conveyed in advance or not, people who appeared to be the owners of the farms had gathered on the opposite riverbank.

Upon disembarking from the boat, Elise promptly spoke up, “Rezette, I don’t feel well.”

“Feel well?”

“Yes, I think I have motion sickness.” Her lack of familiarity with riding made such declarations highly convincing, sparing her the need to feign discomfort. Rezette’s expression immediately stiffened.

“Should we go back?”

“No. I’ll be fine if I rest for a moment. Maybe I just need some fresh air.”

Rezette fell silent momentarily. After Elise reassured him that she didn’t want to impede his work, had no intention of venturing far, and merely sought to sit nearby and enjoy the scenery, he slowly gave his permission.

“Wait for a moment.”

After gesturing to Ivetsa, Rezette turned away. It appeared that he didn’t harbor much suspicion, as even a slight turn of the head would render someone visible. The wait would be no more than an hour or so. Elise settled herself on a rock near the riverbank.

A short distance away, the boatman was in the process of lowering the anchor. It was neither too far nor too close, his faint voice barely reaching and riding the wind back and forth.

Elise’s heart skipped a beat, and a clear light flickered in her golden eyes hidden beneath the hood.

“That dream was real,” Elise muttered inaudibly, prompting Ivetsa to instinctively cover her with her body. The boatman, mid-action in pulling the rope on this side, halted. Neither Elise nor the boatman exchanged glances.

Struggling to speak, Elise recalled the face she had glimpsed on the gangway.

“I didn’t know if you were alive. I didn’t even know you were… this close.”

The man, frozen like a statue for a moment, finally breathed as if releasing a sigh deep from his throat.

“Barnon…”

Blue veins bulged on the back of his clenched hand. Barnon Conrad, the leader of the Conrad Duchy and Elise’s long-time friend and mentor, sighed as if lamenting.

“The Lord has not abandoned us.” Elise remained silent, stunned. “Forgive us for not recognizing, Elizabeth…”