Dalia quickly blinked, as if trying to comprehend what she had just heard.
Her heart raced, and the blood in her body began to feel cold.
"…I think I misheard you. What did you just say…?"
"You're pregnant."
The doctor confirmed it firmly to Dalia, who asked again in disbelief.
"The fetal pulse is faint but detectable. You mentioned persistent discomfort, correct? That's one of the early signs of pregnancy."
The elderly doctor adjusted his thick glasses and looked at Dalia.
Usually, women would leap for joy upon learning of their pregnancy. Seeing Dalia turn pale—almost blue—the doctor scratched his head awkwardly.
"In any case, as this is the early stage of pregnancy, you must be very careful. Try to rest at home as much as possible, and also…"
The doctor continued listing precautions, but none of it registered in Dalia's ears.
Half dazed, she kept repeating the fact of her pregnancy to herself.
"Pregnant? Am I really…?"
Dalia placed both hands on her belly and bowed her head.
"Pregnant…!"
She was doomed!
She was completely, utterly doomed!
While some might shed tears of joy at the news of a new life, she was different.
On the contrary, she felt an overwhelming urge to wail and lament her misfortune.
Who was it that said a mother needs good thoughts and words for a healthy pregnancy?
She felt sorry for the baby in her womb, but all she could muster were negative thoughts and curses.
Ever since she learned she was pregnant, it felt like cold sweat was trickling down her back.
"No, calm down first."
They say you can survive even in a tiger's den if you keep your wits about you.
The pregnancy was an irreversible fact. Dalia began to steady her breathing and organize her thoughts.
"I possessed the heroine of a novel about getting pregnant and running away, so it's only natural I'd end up pregnant, right? It's fine. This wasn't completely unexpected. I just have to execute Plan B."
From now on, there was only one path she could choose.
Determination began to flicker in Dalia's previously blank eyes.
"Focus all my efforts on seducing the male lead."
What could she do now that she was already pregnant? She had to make the male lead fall deeply for her before the truth came out.
Hadn't she been working hard to win his favor in preparation for a situation like this?
She had forced herself to attend social gatherings she didn't even want to, making herself appear indispensable.
Now, she just had to seal the deal and make the male lead fall head over heels for her.
Dalia appeared to be contemplating something special before turning to the doctor.
"I have a question, then."
"Go ahead."
Dalia hesitated as if about to ask a difficult question, lowering her voice.
"Is it okay to… maintain marital relations during pregnancy?"
It was a somewhat embarrassing question.
"…Marital relations."
The elderly doctor murmured Dalia's question quietly.
Behind his glasses, his eyes seemed to glance at her with faint disapproval.
"It's best to refrain until the stable phase. Not just marital relations, but also any strenuous activity that could strain the fetus."
"I see…"
At the doctor's firm response, Dalia's shoulders drooped in disappointment.
She had planned to capture the male lead's heart through physical intimacy.
Somehow, it felt like difficult days were ahead.
* * *
On the second floor, in Clayton's office.
As always, the thick curtains were drawn, and the room was enveloped in darkness, in stark contrast to the clear weather outside.
Normally, Clayton would be busy handling his backlog of work, but now his fingers merely tapped idly on the innocent desk.
His eyes were calm, as if immersed in deep thought.
"Dalia and Rosé Hertz…"
He was displeased not only with the uncomfortable exchanges between the two but also with the fact that Dalia had sneaked out of the estate with the Grand Lady's help just to meet Rosé Hertz.
More precisely, it irritated him like a stone jutting out on a smooth path.
Clayton had been in this state since yesterday. If the connection between the two bothered him so much, he could have spoken to Dalia directly.
Yet, he simply repeated the same thoughts to himself.
Jason, who had been observing Clayton closely, finally spoke with some hesitation.
"Your Grace, how about asking My Lady for an explanation about sneaking out of the estate yesterday? If you continue to feign ignorance, she might keep doing it, and that could lead to issues regarding her safety."
Finding out why Dalia was sneaking out was important, but preventing any unforeseen issues that could arise from her wandering the capital unaccompanied was equally crucial.
Clayton raised his head as if he had already considered Jason's concerns.
"For now, just observe. But keep a close watch on Dalia. If it seems like she's sneaking out again, assign someone to follow her."
"Yes, understood."
"Where is Dalia now?"
"She said she was going to Madame Louise's boutique and left just now. When asked, she mentioned she wasn't meeting anyone in particular."
At those words, Clayton leaned back in his chair instead of responding.
Then, as if feeling suffocated, he loosened his tie.
As the tie loosened, it became easier for him to breathe.
Jason, noticing the darkness on Clayton's face as he let out a low sigh, continued speaking.
"Your Grace, you don't look well. Could it be that 'that day' is affecting you?"
At Jason's concerned words, Clayton's eyes grew troubled.
"Yes. That day is approaching."
The day of the full moon.
That was the day when the curse of the Seyer family grew stronger, and Clayton found it most difficult to suppress his impulses.
For that reason, the ancestors of the Seyer family had traditionally avoided going out as the full moon approached.
They never knew where, when, or with whom a conflict might arise.
Around that time, they would deliberately drink plenty of blood to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. However…
"Of all things, His Majesty's birthday falls on that day… It's concerning. Perhaps you should reconsider attending the imperial palace…"
"To be subjected to more petty tricks?"
In fact, he had once missed the Emperor's birthday banquet for the same reason in the past.
After his father, the previous Duke Seyer, passed away early, he had to attend official events alone from a young age.
Since younger age made it harder to suppress impulses, he skipped the Emperor's birthday banquet just once after the previous Duke's death, to prevent any incidents.
Yet, despite politely explaining his situation and seeking understanding in advance, the old Emperor's grudge had been annoyingly persistent.
"If I don't attend this time, the connections I've built with the Philogean people will be for nothing. That would make things complicated, and I hate troublesome matters."
It was more efficient to just go to the palace and humor the old man for a few words.
Jason nodded, seeming to agree with Clayton's reasoning.
However, realizing the Duke's pale complexion was linked to the approaching full moon, Jason made a suggestion.
"Shall we send someone to the Hertz family?"
Jason knew why Clayton had been avoiding Dalia recently.
It was fear of inadvertently drinking Dalia's blood under the influence of that day.
So Jason recommended drinking blood from the Hertz family as a precaution.
With the bloodlust soon to intensify, he judged it safer to drink to his fill now.
"...."
Clayton hesitated at Jason's suggestion.
"If Rosé Hertz were to come to the estate…"
He might run into Dalia again. Even if she wasn't at the estate now, there was a good chance she would return in time.
No matter how deep into the forest he went to drink blood away from prying eyes, they had already met once. Why not twice?
He wasn't sure why, but the thought of them meeting again by chance didn't sit well with him.
After considering various scenarios, Clayton lifted his head, as if having made up his mind.
"No. I'll go myself."
"…Pardon? You're going to the Hertz family yourself…?"
"Yes."
Jason's eyes widened at the Duke's statement about going to the Hertz family personally.
Of course, it wasn't impossible.
However, rumors between the Seyer and Hertz families had been circulating for a long time, so they avoided drawing attention whenever possible.
Clayton, in particular, had always been especially cautious about such matters.
That was why Jason was slightly taken aback when Clayton said he would go to the Hertz family himself.
However, Clayton ignored this and rose from his seat.
"Prepare the arrangements."