Married Couple’s Qualifications

“If this continues, it’ll be really dangerous.”

The doctor put some nutritional supplements on Rivianna while he studied Bake’s face.

“Make sure you’re giving her the best and most expensive nutritional supplements.”

“Even the best nutritional supplements have their limits. And, most importantly, if the Marchioness came to her senses, she might refuse to take it….”

………”

“You’re a doctor and you can’t keep your patients in a good mood?”

“I’m sorry! But the Marchioness is adamant. It seems that she’s having a hard time psychologically.”

“She’s not the only one who lost her daughter, is she?”

Bake glared at the doctor, but all that came back was a deep bow.

Bake turned to the doctor and ordered him to leave without sincerity, then looked at Rivianna as she lay on the bed.

The woman lying there with a bloodless face did not look much different from a corpse.

Without the need for the doctor to mention it, Rivianna’s face was clearly covered with a shadow of death.

“What are you doing? Are you really going to die? Is Mariel all that matters to you? What about me? Can’t you see me in your eyes?” (Bake)

“….”

Bake roughly swept his hair, knowing that no reply would be returned.

Outside the window, he could see Duke Pierre’s carriage, which had not yet gone.

“… I guess this is what you really want after all …” (Bake)

“….”

“I’d like to ask you something. If Mariel was really my daughter, would you have gone this far?” (Bake)

“….”

“No, it doesn’t matter anymore. I knew everything.” (Bake)

Bake gently patted Rivianna’s cheek with the back of his hand, then slowly went down and grasped her neck.

His wife’s long, thin neck was too beautiful to be worthy of the title of social flower.

In the days when Rivianna was called the pinnacle of society, men didn’t whisper excitedly when they saw that white neck for no reason.

“No matter how many men fell in love with you, no matter how many men wanted you, in the end the winner was me.”

“….”

“So it’s okay if your heart is a little shaken. Because even if you don’t love me, I love you.”

“…”

“I’m not going to let you go to that man again.”

No matter what the price.

Bake slowly removed his hand from Rivianna’s neck.

He then put a smile on his lips as he straightened the crumpled sheets of bedding.

****

“Where is it? Why can’t I see it? Why?”

“My Lady, please calm down!”

“Why aren’t you here!”

Rivianna pushed aside the servant’s arm that held her and thoroughly looked around the room.

But she couldn’t see anything. There was no trace of Mariel that should have been there.

“My Lady should calm down.”

“Get rid of the nonsense and put it back to normal right away.”

This was Mariel’s room.

It was the only place where the most traces of Mariel remained.

However, there was nothing left now.

Moreover, there were no traces of Mariel anywhere in the room, except for the wallpaper that could not be opened.

“I’m sorry! His Excellency told me to clean up the Young Miss’s entire room before My Lady wakes up.”

“…He told you that?”

“Yes! Yes! If there are any traces of the Young Miss left, the Lord will….”

“Bake, where is he?”

“Yes?”

“Where is he!”

Rivianna growled, grabbing the maid roughly by the shoulders. The maid, still in tears, finally pointed in one direction with a trembling finger. At the end of the hallway, she could see Bake approaching. Without the slightest hesitation, she walked broadly in front of him.

“What, who are you to clean up Mariel’s room?”

“It’s all for your own good.”

“All for me?”

“It’s sad that Mariel is dead, but if you don’t let her go now, you’ll be in real danger.”

“No, it’s not! How can you say that when it’s not even long that Mariel died?!”

Rivianna glared at Bake, suppressing the anger that was building up in her.

It hadn’t even been a year since Mariel died.

It didn’t make sense that he could forget her that easily, and it was even more outrageous that he wanted to clean out the child’s room.

“Then what should I do?”

“What?”

“You skip meals, and you don’t sleep properly, and you always collapse in this room, so what else should I do?”

“….”

“It’s hard for me too.”

Bake sighed, putting his hand on his forehead.

Rivianna squeezed her hands together tightly, deliberately making an effort not to see the resentment in Bake’s eyes. Standing in front of her husband, she couldn’t erase the feeling of being a sinner.

“I’m sorry. From now on, I’ll eat properly, sleep properly, and if you want, I’ll even restrain myself from coming here.”

“…”

“I’m also sorry I got angry earlier. I guess I got over excited when I saw that Mariel’s room was cleaned up. So….”

“….”

“Please put Mariel’s room back the way it was.”

She let out a ragged breath and covered her face with her hands.

Everything was completely messed up.

There was no reason left for her to pride herself on being more rational than anyone else.

All she had was herself, at a loss, being carried away by the emotions that came and went every moment. The past eight years were too much for her to forget.

In all her time there was her daughter.

When she tried to eat, she thought of the child across from her who wanted her food, when she looked at the garden to soothe her mind, she saw the flowers her child loved, and when she looked in the mirror, it was the same.

Mariel was just like her, in hair color, in eyes color, in everything.

She could never forget her daughter.

“I will put the room back only after you keep your promise, okay?” (Bake)

“Don’t worry, just put the room back and I can do whatever you want.” (Riv)

There was no trouble at all in choosing.

Instead, she nodded hastily, hoping that Bake wouldn’t change his mind. She couldn’t afford to lose even this now. She had to protect at least a trace of Mariel.

****

“Have she eaten?”

“I made sure she emptied all her plates again today.”

“Is she having any problems sleeping or otherwise?”

“No problems, but she can’t seem to get any meat on her plate, probably due to the psychological effects. According to the doctor’s findings, we should keep a closer eye on her while she’s on some more nutritional supplements and food at the same time.”

“I don’t care how much money it costs, just prepare with the best. Oh, and I’ll prepare some more nutritious food as well.” 

Bake stroked his chin with a satisfied smile.

He thought he pushed it too far, but now he thought about it, it was an excellent choice.

 Since the closing of Mariel’s room, Rivianna had returned to her old self and her health had gradually improved.

Right now, she was still not fully recovered, but as the days went by, she should get better little by little.

“But, will it be okay?”

“What is?”

“Your daughter’s stuff.  I’ve already burned it.”

“If you don’t want to get in trouble, keep your mouth shut, and if something goes wrong with Rivianna, I’ll finish you first.”

Bake’s expression faltered for a moment, and his second-in-command, Septer, hastily rubbed his hands.

There was nothing to offend his superior.

“Of course, I’ll keep my mouth shut, but if she finds out anything unusual…”

“How would she know, since it was made by the same craftsman anyway? If only you had kept your mouth shut, that is.”

“Don’t worry, my mouth will be as tightly shut as a shell.”

“If you don’t want to die, of course you will, and you’ll have to prepare for that too.”

“Well, then-“

“Are you still talking?”

Septet turned his head reflexively at the sudden interruption of the beautiful voice and stepped back.

Perhaps she just had a bath, Margaret was wearing only a thin chemise, with her wet hair hanging over her chest.

“No, I’m done with the important stuff.” (Bake)

Bake turned to Septer and gave him the order to leave, then extended his hand toward Margaret.

Margaret placed the tea on the table, and as if she had been waiting, she naturally sat on Bake’s lap.

The woman knew that the man would not be able to take his eyes off my skin reflected behind the wet and see-through dress.

“How is Rivianna?” (Margaret)

“Not bad. And she’s doing better.” (Bake)

“See, I think my advice helped.” (Margaret)

Margaret smiled and released Bake’s cravat.

Bake’s eyes curved up as he gazed at the woman’s red lips. He was in a very good mood.

“Yes, it was quite helpful.” (Bake)

“What did I say? I told you there are not many people who know Rivianna better than I do.”  (Margaret)

The cravat fell to the floor, and Margaret’s white hand penetrated through the open shirt.

“Do you like the house?” (Bake)

“You bought it for me so I love it.” (Margaret)

“Stay here and rest until you have the baby. You have to give birth healthily. This is a child who will be the future Marquis of Clayton.” (Bake)

“Don’t worry. This will be a child that will live up to your expectations. A child that perfectly resembles you, your real child.” (Margaret)

Margaret’s hand gradually went lower, and the buttons were loosened one by one accordingly.

Bake let out a thin breath as he nuzzled his face into Margaret’s neck and kissed her collarbone.

It wasn’t conditional, appearances, or spirituality, but it wasn’t a bad thing to enjoy for a while. Most importantly, doesn’t the woman have what he needs? Bake touched Margaret’s slightly swollen stomach.

Margaret smiled as she noticed Bake’s gaze.

****

*Margaret’s POV*

‘Foolish Bake.’

Margaret smiled and took off the cape on her head.

The foolish man may have been satisfied with the situation at hand, but she was not.

She had a right to be compensated for the years she had spent.

And in order to earn that right, obstacles had to be removed.

Margaret’s eyes lit up as she looked at Rivianna’s back.

Perhaps the couple was both foolish, and Rivianna had been staring out the window blankly without knowing that Margaret had come.

“Rivianna.”

“….”

“Hello, how are you?”

Their gazes met at the sluggishly moving pass.

Margaret swallowed hard at the jewel-like eyes she could see between Rivianna’s lush lashes.

Unlike the last appearance, Rivianna was nicely dressed, but in fact her appearance was more doll-like and bizarre than human.

“…Margaret?”

Rivianna murmured slowly as she looked into her eyes for a while.

Unlike Bake’s statement, Rivianna didn’t seem to be in the best of shape.

Margaret hesitated for a moment, but soon approached.

It was even better. It would have been annoying if Rivianna was sane, but looking at Rivianna right now, Margaret was sure she could handle the job much easier.

The only thing that came back instead of a reply were Rivianna’s unfocused eyes, like the light from a candle that was about to go out.

Margaret moistened her dry lips with her tongue and reached out to Rivianna with a trembling hand.

“I came because I thought you were having a hard time. I would like to help you get comfortable and not suffer any more.” (Margaret)

“….”

“It’ll be better for all of us.” (Margaret)

If Rivianna was here, as two suns cannot exist in the same sky, Margaret would never have been able to achieve what she wanted.

In order for her to become a Marchioness and stand proudly beside Bake, she had to be rid of Rivianna.

Margaret stared at her stomach, a smile on her mouth.

It was almost time.

A little longer until she wins the life she has long hoped for.

She lived a miserable life, but her child shouldn’t have to inherit that life. Her child was supposed to have everything.

Her child would be the perfect heir of Clayton.

She could do anything for that.