Obviously, It’s My Child

It is not common to discuss and make an engagement ring with a wedding date set, so the agent made an awkward face.

“As a gift, this alone is not enough. There must be more of them prepared right?”

“Ah, yes. I have some diamonds that I have been collecting to make into the Elder Madam’s necklace. Of course, all of them are of the highest quality. There are also colorless diamonds that could be used as focal pieces.”

“Plan out everything you can prepare in a month and bring it to me.”

“Are you going to make all of your wedding jewelry new?”

“I guess that will be for the priest to decide. Most of the family’s jewels are now in my mother’s hands.”

“With all due respect, the Elder Madam will never give it to you.”

“Hmm.”

Erich had also thought about that problem. She had to get the mistress’s key from Louisa.

But he needn’t rush. Claire had no interest in old family traditions, and Erich had no desire to be bound by customs that were not particularly worthy of continuing.

‘She said she would run a diamond business, so she must have a plan.’

As Claire said, it was the marriage of the century, and it was also a marriage of love. Seeing that she even asked to buy out the newspapers, she must be trying to be the signboard herself, but she probably has other ideas about what jewelry to wear.

Erich didn’t find it very pleasant. The Klausener Duchy was not lacking enough to go to the forefront and do advertising or something like that.

He wasn’t happy about more and more people knowing Claire. It felt a little strange, so Erich looked into his heart for a while.

Wasn’t he always dissatisfied with her trying to live without doing anything, getting buried as if she was never there? But he was now also unhappy that she was coming forward?

“Your Grace.”

“Hmm. Even if you use the family’s jewels, there is nothing wrong with making new ones, so prepare as much as you can.”

“Yes.”

The jewelry that Duchess Klausener would use as they were gifted to her. Could it be completed in one month, as a set?

But it was the duke’s order. Erich said, ‘as much as she can’, but he still had to do it. The agent turned pale and bowed his head respectfully.

Knock, knock.

Then someone knocked on the door.

“What is it?”

“The Elder Madam returned from an outing and is not feeling well. She continues to cry while calling out the name of the former Duke.”

“…….”

“Miss Maria said she came back from meeting Baron Delford.”

Erich let out a deep sigh and stood up.

* * *

“How could she talk like that to me? How…!”

Louisa sobbed under the blanket. She cried so much that her throat was now hoarse.

Johann, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, soothed her in a soft voice like a cat.

“Stop crying. My heart aches for fear that your beautiful cheeks will be ruined tomorrow.”

“You don’t know. How can that shrewd thing shame people like this?”

Louisa groaned.

She was disorganized and it was difficult for her to understand what had happened. Johann tried to hide his irritation and gently caressed her forehead.

“What on earth did you hear?”

He inquired about it from the maid and found out that Louisa had rushed out because of a problem with House Klausener’s diamond mine.

More information was needed.

Since Claire Delford was perusing the assets of the duchy and was making a business out of them in earnest… This meant that their marriage, which seemed irrational, was not just a matter of love, but may be an important decision for the future of the Klausener Duchy.

‘I need to know the Duke’s thoughts, at least half a step faster than others.’

It was something the empress was showing an interest in. Everyone would be watching. The spy would not just be him alone.

And he stuck by Louisa’s side under the empress’s direct instructions. If he were to get the news late, he would lose the empress’ trust.

Not only that, but he also needed the information. Diamonds weren’t completely unrelated to the Krozik County.

‘The owner of the Weaving Guild is dabbling in the industry of diamonds now.’

But Louisa only sobbed and refused to say a word.

Johann patted her on the covers and gave a furtive look at the maids. One of the bribed maids flicked two of her fingers lightly at him.

It means that someone was coming that he would prefer not to meet.

‘It would be quicker to ask the maid.’

Johann concluded. He may have frequented the boudoir, but the mistress’s bedroom was another matter.

“Hiiic, Franz, ah, Franz! Do I have to live with this shame!”

Wailing sobs as Louisa called out the name of the deceased duke filled the bedroom.

“I begged you so much to take me with you!”

“You shouldn’t say things like that. The late duke will grieve more.”

Johann consciously sweetened his voice. He slipped his hand through the side of the quilt and caught Louisa’s sprawling hand.

“Stop crying. I will be sad too if tears take the jewel-like color from your eyes.”

“Hiicc…”

As he gently removed the covers, Louisa’s face turned a cherry-blush of a different kind than those caused by sadness.

She stretched out one of her arms. Seeing her attitude of yearning for a hug and the intent to fool around, Johann decided to respond.

Although he did not prefer skinship, it was the most effective means of calming Louisa and keeping her heart shackled.

He needed to comfort her quickly and leave.

It was then.

“Milord is coming.”

The servant who arrived one step ahead informed them.

Johann gently stroked Louisa’s hair once. She wept, but she did not hold Johann back.

Even though she thought that she was not crossing the line and that it was friendship, in the end, it felt as if her heart was being stabbed.

Johannn stepped back and walked out the bedroom door so naturally that he did not look like he was running away.

And as the maids were gathered in the bedroom, they were unable to speak carelessly and unable to leave the room comfortably. They just stood there, lined up at the doorway.

It was the same disposition that they took whenever they lined up in front of the main gate to welcome the household head home.