My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 42

Chapter 21.2 — How to create a child (12)

“You can at least consider it!”

“It’s a waste of time to consider. It’s a choice not even worth considering.”

“It’s not that simple! Listen to me. As I said before, I might not be the cold, intelligent, and political woman the Grand Duke desires, but I can definitely fulfill the most important condition.”

Finally facing each other, she raised both arms to her waist and gazed at Cain proudly in the eye.

“Because I won’t love the Grand Duke!”

“….”

His blue eyes grew cloudy, resembling a somber lake veiled by mist from a winter shower, as they seemed to lack clarity. Simultaneously, his chest felt heavy, as if a piece of lead had fallen from his tongue and settled into the pit of his stomach.

That gaze… it was genuine to anyone who saw it.

“Naturally, the other conditions aren’t too bad either. Being a princess, my status is acceptable, and I value my family the most, so of course, I can keep family secrets…”

“If I were to accept the proposal, the Princess would become a divorced woman after a year. Have you considered that aspect?”

His blue eyes, more serious and somber than ever, fixed on her, observing her gingerly.

“Furthermore, if you were to marry me, you’d have to fulfill the duties of the Grand Duchess. I have no plans to bring in a mistress, nor do I intend to remarry. That’s why I said it’s a proposal not worth considering. If the Princess were to become a temporary couple with me, then…”

He kept his mouth shut as if the words wouldn’t come out. A gulp from swallowing dry saliva made his throat move noticeably before he finally finished his words.

“…It means that in order to have Acheron’s heir, you would have to maintain the relationship of a married couple. Do you understand what that implies?”

“Of course, I know. If the Grand Duke were to agree, I had planned to have a premarital pregnancy.”

In that moment, Cain felt like Riette’s words had set off a bomb in his brain. It was such an unconventional remark.

The impact was so profound that the shock impacted with a slight delay.

‘…Oh, my God.’

Closing his eyes tightly, he covered them with his large hand before taking a deep breath. His broad chest expanded and then contracted rapidly as he exhaled.

“I’ve actually given it a lot of thought. Going through the proper procedures would take a very long time. My mother, being on His Highness Narkissis’s side, would definitely oppose it, and she might not want me to leave as well since my sister is already married.”

A strange silence clenched Cain’s lips tightly as Riette sensed that words were swirling on the tip of his tongue.

After a while, at the edge of his chapped lips, his lips parted as a fractured voice flowed from his mouth.

“Princess.”

“Yes, Grand Duke.”

“Do you… understand the process of… it?”

For him, it was a crucial point that should never be overlooked.

What would happen after she gave birth? Would she just abandon the child?

It was important matters that needed to be addressed beforehand. In an era where even princesses and nobles were afforded the liberty to pursue love, he hadn’t fathomed the day would dawn when he would pose such questions. Considering the Princess’s penchant for unconventional conduct so far, he had to be proactive to prevent a future disaster down the line. At the same time, he wondered how much weight the Princess herself placed on the words she uttered.

“I don’t know the exact details, but I have a general idea.”

“What does that ‘exact’ mean, and how far does ‘general idea’ go? Please explain in more concrete terms, not too detailed, but reasonably specific.”

“….?”

Although she wasn’t sure exactly how to explain, Riette understood his intent. Was he implying that he thought she was completely clueless, as if she didn’t know anything?

‘I’m twenty years old!’

Furthermore, she already had a sister who had conceived a child out of wedlock. Thanks to Bea, she had learned for the first time about the possibility of having a child without being married.

“Even if they’re not married, if lovers share a deep love, they can have a child.”

Then, Riette confidently explained to him the ‘way a child is conceived through deep love’ that she had heard from Bea.

⌈ When you share an intimate love with a man, he will try to enter you very deeply. It will hurt on the first day because your body is tight, but it will eventually open up. Still, it only happens then, so you can trust him. From then on, it will feel warm like a spring sun under a blanket and a gentle excitement like sunlight. It’s his love. If you willingly accept it, one day, a miracle will happen, and a child will be born. ⌋

“….”

As Cain covered his eyes with his large hand and lowered his head deeply, his thick eyebrows furrowed under his hand.

“Princess.”

A rough voice like sandpaper seeped out from between the large hands covering his face. It was a clear voice that seemed to suppress and endure something to the limit.

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