Morgiana didn't dare to look at the woman sitting on the sofa before her. She didn't even dare to breathe, fearing it would agitate Veronica.
But the child, being the child, continued to suck on her milk jug like nothing happened.
'Daughter, it might be the last time you look at your mother. Consume as much milk you want, grow up healthy, and avoid making the same mistakes I did.' Morgiana kept her head down, fearing her end would come soon.
"Why didn't he assign a wet nurse for her? Wasn't he boasting about his pair of new concubines?"
'No, she is already looking for a wet nurse.' She closed her eyes but opened them quickly. 'No, it is good. Even if your mother died, you would be able to grow up healthy.'
"He had sent one for her. But one of the consorts also had a son, so she took her wet nurse, too."
Morgiana hadn't seen her before, but I think it was Veronica's headmaid. However, it was surprising that she was already aware of what was happening in the back courtyard.
"Didn't you say the count was here the night before tomorrow?"
"He was also spending his night here even the day before that."
"Still, he didn't send someone." Veronica mumbled, "he didn't change, had he? He is still using his dick as his brain."
Morgiana's ears started to give off steam. Veronica was one of the most sophisticated ladies she had ever seen. Yet, to think she would use such obscene language…
"Look for one and send her here by tonight."
Morgiana didn't realize that she was looking at Veronica in shock. Alas! Veronica had noticed it. "I think she had her full."
Only then did she realize that her daughter had let go of the breast.
"Take care of the child. I need to talk to her alone."
Morgiana knew it was coming. Still, she was reluctant to accept it. She couldn't help but grab hold of her baby as the maid tried to take her away.
"Don't worry, it will be over soon. She would take care of your child." Seeing that she was still clinging to the child, Veronica frowned, asking, "If you resist so much, the child might get hurt."
Morgiana let her go. As soon as the maid left with the child, Morgiana went on her knee, putting her forehead to the ground.
"It was all my mistake. I did it. That child has nothing to do with it. Please let her live a good life."
Hearing her crying voice, Veronica couldn't help but frown. "Get up."
"Please, my lady."
"If you say one more word without getting up, I will make your life as miserable as possible."
Morgiana jumped up but didn't dare to look at her.
"Did you use those ugly blobs to seduce my son?"
"Huh!"
"Even if he is innocent, he still carries the blood of that cockbrain."
Morgiana understood who was innocent and who was a cockbrain. Unfortunately, she missed the hint because Veronica was so harsh with her words.
"Why don't you put that thing inside your clothes? Or do you want me to order them to be cut off?"
"Forgive me, my lady?" She was quick to fix her dress.
"What do you want?"
"Sorry?"
"You were leaving well, feeding on the lust of that old man. Why did you suddenly decide to seduce my son? Did you think nobody would find out?"
Morgiana quickly went on her knees, only for Veronica to shout out, "Stand up right now. Do you think going on your knees would solve every problem for you? Is that how you seduced my son?"
Morgiana stood up, not daring to say anything anymore.
"Who took the first step?"
"Sorry? It was me. It was me who did it."
"Why?"
"I… I always loved Dereck. I just wanted to…"
"Dereck?"
"I am sorry, my lady."
"Did he ask you to call that?"
She hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded. Veronica took a deep breath as she massaged her forehead. "What do you think if other people learn about it?"
Morgiana didn't answer. So, Veronica spilled out for her. "If you are lucky, you will be whipped and sold to a brothel. But knowing him, he might not even let other people know where he had sent you."
"It will never happen again." Morgiana apologized. However, the reaction she was expecting didn't come again.
"I will make sure not to meet the second young master ever again. Even if he comes to my courtyard, I will ensure nobody will allow him to enter."
"Do you think that would be enough? You just let him taste the honey once and never let him see you again. What do you think would happen?"
There was no word exchanged for a moment before Veronica continued, "Knowing him, rejecting would make him more stubborn. What would his old man do if he learned about him?"
No matter what she wanted to say, Morgiana was sure that wasn't enough to satisfy Veronica.
"What if you conceive his child?"
Her heart skipped a beat. A part of her heart was excited if she really conceived Dereck's child; another part worried about what would happen if such a scandal got out in the capital.
"You had done it with that old man the night before tomorrow, don't you?"
Morgiana hesitated but nodded in the end.
"Good. He won't be here for the week."
"Huh!" Morgiana had no idea why it was good.
"I will change your servant and send two soldiers to your courtyards. Make sure nobody knew what had happened between you two."
"Yes, my lady."
"Make yourself presentable. Do whatever he wants you to do."
"Sorry?"
"What Sorry? Don't you understand? Act like the whore you are. There would be too many eyes during the day. I will send him here during the night. Entertain him and bear him a child."
Morgiana was too shocked to understand why she was saying such a thing. She did not remember the capital nobility having such a superstition until Veronica said, "It is bad luck if the man did not give a child to the woman he had lost his virginity to."
The noble countryside family she was from didn't have such a rule, nor did the common people. However, she could not help but feel a little happy when she heard about such a superstition. However, her happiness was short-lived.
"If anyone doubts the child's origin, what would you do?"
"I…" She wasn't sure how to react.
"You will deny every acquisition and say it is that old man's."
"But…" Morgiana was about to say something, but Veronica raised her hand to stop her and continued, "I will make one of the guards confess. You just match his words."
Only at that moment did she realize her fate would be sealed no matter what she did. The more she fought against her destiny, the more helpless she became.
"If you follow my instructions, I guarantee your daughter will grow well. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lady."
"And if you ever try to harm him…" She didn't need to complete her words. The glare was enough for her to understand that Veronica would do anything to keep her silent.
Veronica didn't wait for her response and walked to the door. However, she stopped before opening the door.
"Dereck is an innocent one. The only reason he was sticking to you was because he had never had the taste of a woman before. He might mistake it for love because he had tasted your honey."
The glare made her skin crawl when she heard her say, "Don't dare use your body to manipulate him to climb up the rank. You are no better than the whore from the whore house. Just roll over and let him have his way with you when he comes."
The door opened and closed, leaving Morgiana in the darkness of the grave that she had dug for herself.
**************
A week later.
"How much longer?" Dereck emptied the plate in front of him before mumbling.
"That is not how a noble should act." Veronica scolded him.
However, Dereck didn't care. Out of every positive and negative aspect of this world, traveling is the thing that she hates most.
Well, he hated the numerous rules a noble lady had to follow. However, now that he had become the opposite side of the spectrum, he didn't need to care.
There are sometimes teleportation circles or skills in the world of swords and magic. However, it was too costly to use in most of those worlds.
Like in this world, he had to ride in a horse-driven carriage for two weeks to travel just about four hundred kilometers.
Although the endless vastness of the world had entrained her for the first few hundred times, now it all feels the same. More than the uncomfortable journey, it was the boredom that was more unbearable.
After five days of riding, they reached the city of Touton. A relatively large city where they could get the nobility treatment.
"I heard you have become a four-circle magician?"
"Yes."
"You have become the youngest four-star magician of the generation. Keep up the good work, and keep raising the fame of the Longhorn."
After a thousand rebirths, he knew magic like the back of his hand. On top of that, he had been in this world before.
Given his couple of passive skills, which remain active in any world, the task was rather easy for him to complete. If he wanted it, he would have been a five-circle magician.
"Hmm…" Dereck didn't delve into the topic.
To begin with, Longhorn is a warrior family. They are good at producing generations of mana soldiers instead of mages. So, he was neglected before. But the results speak for themselves.
"Your father is very happy with your improvement." Veronica didn't even look at him as she spoke, "Is there anything you want as your reward?"
"I miss Morgiana."
And the knife in Veronica's hand missed its mark and hit the plate.
'Like father, like son.' Veronica glared at him. When she learned Daniel was a cut sleeve, she wanted Dereck to be normal. Who would have thought that he would grow up just like his father?
She took a deep breath before saying, "There will be a party at your grandfather's house. It's his fiftieth birthday."
"I know."
"If you find someone you like, let me know."
"Why?"
"So I can pull out that wh…" Veronica somehow controlled herself before finishing the sentence. "It's time you get a consort."