Ten months later,
"What did you mean by that?" Her face was expressionless, yet one could feel an invisible black haze coming out of her. The cup she put down didn't make any sound.
Aisha didn't dare to look at her mother-in-law. She clenched her fist under the table and closed her eyes before responding, "My lord is going march for the southern border. I think I will be able to…"
"Able what?" Veronica interjected. She took the teacup before her lips, sniffed the aroma, and looked at Aisha. "What more will you be able to do than you did in the last few months."
"I am a five-star warrior. I can help him fight against those barbarians."
"Aisha, can you remind me why I allowed you to marry my son?"
Aisha bit her lower lips, failing to provide an answer.
"I didn't bring you to this house because you are a warrior. I brought you here because you said you would do everything to earn Danile's love."
"I am…"
"It is not good manners to interrupt when your elder is talking." Veronica raised her finger to silence her before continuing, "You said you would do anything to support him to become the next count. Are you doing your job?"
"Yes, mother. I am trying…"
"You are not trying hard enough."
"I am…" Aisha pleaded.
"How are you trying when Daniel never returned to your bed chamber after your wedding night?"
"That…"
"I heard one of Danile's concubines was going to give birth to his child soon."
"That…" Hearing about the concubine, she looked at Veronica. She was about to say it out loud. But looking at the maid standing behind Veronica, Aisha decided not to.
"Should I take my leave?" Anthera was quick to catch on. She could guess what Aisha wanted to say, but her hesitation made Anthera realize that her presence might hinder the talk.
With the wave of Veronica's hand, Anthera bowed and left the room.
Aisha ensured no one was in the room before moving closer and whispering, "Forgive me, Mother. I think the father of that concubine's child isn't my lord's. The father might be the third young master."
"And…"
Her breath got stuck to his throat. Aisha wasn't sure she heard it right, but she failed to notice any change of expression on Veronica's face.
Doubting that Veronica hadn't heard her right, she rephrased her words. "Fida used to be a maid at Young Master Dereck's courtyard before she was sent to serve my lord. The other maid had reported that she had even seen her leave during the night. I think…"
"What did you decide to do about it?"
"Sorry?" Aisha paused before reporting, "I have talked about her to my lord, but he didn't worry about it. So, I had warned the maid…"
"Not that…" Veronica looked at her, asking, "Those maids were spreading rumors about your husband's concubines. What did you do about that?"
"But it wasn't rumors. Even I have…" When her gaze met Veronica's, she felt something wasn't right. "But…"
"As his principal wife, it is your duty to ensure that no rumor could ruin your husband's reputation."
"What are you talking about?"
"I knew it was a wrong decision." Veronica put her cup down. "I should have looked for a woman who could better care for their husband's needs."
"Sorry?"
"You didn't just fail as a woman; you also failed to care for his courtyards. I should…"
*Bam*
Aisha slammed her hand on the table, spilling the tea from the cup she hadn't touched. "What are you trying to say?"
"Behave yourself. That is not how the future countess of the Longhorn family should act."
"I don't care." Aisha was fuming. Her eyes were bloodshot. Even if she wasn't supposed to do it, she glared at her mother-in-law, "Even you know what the problem is with your son."
"Problem?"
"Yes, problem. Your son is a problem." Aisha didn't realize she was even pointing her finger at Veronica as she repeated, "Your son… he doesn't like women. He likes men."
"Is that a problem you can't fix?"
"Huh!" Aisha was too angry to understand her reasoning. Even if she were calm, it would still be hard for her to understand.
"Though one of them died at birth and the other was yet to be born, aren't two of his concubines already bearing his children?"
"They are not his."
"Who said that?"
"What?"
"Who said that they are not his?"
Aisha opened her mouth, but not a single word came out. She stared at her, not in rage but in utter disbelief. Her body slumped on the chair, and the only word she could mumble was, "Why?"
"It is the duty of a mother." Veronica paused, adding, "You will understand when you have a son of your own."
"No, I won't." She shook her head as if she knew it for sure: "I won't be a mother, and I don't want to know."
"Do you want to remind me of what you said when I let you marry my son?" Receiving no response from Aisha, Veronica continued, "You promised that you would do anything to make Daniel the next count."
She held Aisha's hand, reminding her, "It is time for you to keep your promise."
"What promise? "How could I bear the offspring of a man who is averse to sleeping with women?"
"In the same way his concubines did."
"I won't. I won't play this dirty game of yours."
"Are you sure about that?" The tone didn't sound right to her ears. Veronica maintained her deadpan expression as Aisha glanced at her.
"What else are you going to do? You would make your sick son divorce me?"
"That could be one of the options."
"If you do that, I will expose your secret."
"Secret?" Veronica snorted, "Who would believe you? Think about it: the man who already got two of her concubines pregnant or the woman who couldn't give birth even after so many months of marriage?"
"You…"
"Your husband divorces you. Your husband marries another woman. The woman gives birth to a child within one year. Do you think people will believe you? Do you think Count Ryan would welcome you with open arms?"
Aisha could only glare at her. No matter how much she wanted to curse at that woman, she knew it was her reality.
"It is your decision to make." Veronica smiled for the first time. However, Aisha did not feel any warmth emanating from that grin.
"What are you going to do? Would you be willing to comply with my wishes, be a decent wife, have children (ideally a son), and keep your husband's secret? If you follow my orders and choose your path wisely, you will be the next countess. And you will be living in power and riches all your life."
Looking at her face, Veronica felt she still wasn't convinced. "However, if you fail to understand what is right for you, then I can promise you…"
Not just Veronica glanced at her; Aisha did the same. While one was grinning, the other was growing increasingly irritated. Even though no one spoke a word, the message got through.
Aisha grabbed the cold tea and drowned it in one go. She slammed the empty cup on the table, grunting, "What do you want me to do? Find a man, sleep with him, and bear your useless son a child."
Veronica shook her head. "Not just a child, but a son. And why should the child of an unknown man inherit the riches and title of the longhorn."
She frowned, failing to understand what she was talking about. However, the moment Aisha did, her eyes became bigger. She opened her mouth, but no sensible words came out.
"The night before Daniel will leave for the war, he will rest in your bed chamber."
"That sick…"
"To live a happy life, learn to control your emotions first. The face is a reflection of your heart. Your enemies…"
"Shut up." Aisha didn't care about showing her respect. "Just say what I have to do."
Veronica snorted but continued nonetheless. "After he departs from the capital the following day, you will also depart for the temple at the same time."
"Temple?"
"You will go there to pray over the next month for your husband's safe return."
"Pray? What should I pray for? For that man to die?"
Veronica ignored her remarks. "Dereck and the girl from the Draeh family will, along with people from both families, go to the temple for matchmaking."
"After the Draeh family leaves, we will stay at the temple for a few more days."
"Wow! What an elaborate plan!" Aisha clapped out loud. "As a result of my unwavering devotion to my husband, I was blessed with a child, and people will remember me as a devoted wife. You have planned for it for a long time, haven't you?"
Failing to get a response from the jab, Aisha continued, "People would know I was at the temple. So, no men would be around me. People will think it was my husband's child when his brother will…"
"Mind your words." Veronica couldn't bear to sit in front of her. "Remember, you are the future countess of Longhorn. Avoid tarnishing the name of the Longhorns."
Aisha also stood up, put her palms on her stomach, and bowed. "I regret to inform you, Mother, that I do not deserve the opportunity to sully the name any further than you have already done. I will do everything in my power to ensure that I am deserving of the dirty name of Longhorn."