Abandoned Maid of the Grand Duke - Chapter 43
Epilogue 003. The Hunter and the Woodcutter
Starting this morning, she wasn’t feeling well. There wasn’t any grand reason for it, but he had been pestering her since dawn.
…No, considering she was a pregnant woman who had her commands ignored, this wasn’t just a minor issue. Even though she shot him a sharp look.
“But you still have to eat breakfast.”
Seeing him trying to coax her into taking a bite of soup only made her feel more uneasy.
“Julie, what’s wrong? Hmm?”
As the due date approached, her mind was filled with thoughts.
It was astounding how the brain kept functioning with so many unnecessary thoughts. If Ernst could look inside her head, he might collapse from the sheer amount of clutter.
“Tell me honestly. Do you regret leaving with me?”
As expected, Ernst’s hand halted at her words.
“……”
Remarkably, not a drop of soup spilled. Thankfully, he didn’t have a tremor. Right, he was a sniper. A sniper with shaky hands wouldn’t be professional. So, our child wouldn’t inherit tremors either, right? Or is it unrelated to genetics?
While her mind wandered off-track, Ernst, who couldn’t follow the erratic flow of her thoughts, asked in a somewhat perplexed voice.
“Why would you think I’d regret it?”
After spending more than a decade wandering in misunderstanding and delusion, he now preferred to clear up any curiosity directly with words.
Of course, he and Luina were still working behind the scenes with the Marquis of Elva to carry out some bloody and flesh-shredding backdoor maneuvers, but that was another matter for later.
Facing his question, she found herself at a loss for words. After hesitating for a while, she revealed something he probably wouldn’t know, but she did.
“You could have become the Emperor if you had stayed.”
This was something only she could know.
Although the Empire had suppressed the rebels and maintained the imperial family’s line, that was the situation for now. Soon, when Lillian is born and the current imperial family’s corruption is exposed, there will be another uprising.
‘In the original story, Lillian falls in love with the Crown Prince and mediates between the rebels and the imperial family, leading the Empire well in the end.’
So, in the current situation where no one knows about Lillian, the rebels are rampant, and the guerrillas are active, the current imperial family is incompetent.
Who would the people look for in such a mess? Especially when Lillian and the future Crown Prince are still infants.
“They would naturally seek someone who can replace the corrupt Emperor while maintaining legitimacy.”
That someone was the man in front of her. His mother was a direct imperial princess, making his succession claim strong, and he was a war hero who had quelled rebellions and civil wars.
In other words, rather than letting the rebels take over the corrupt imperial family, it would be better to install this man as the new ruler…
Thunk-
Just as she reached that thought, a flick to her forehead left her clutching her head, unable to cry out.
With tears welling up from the stinging pain, she looked up to see Ernst, arms crossed, asking incredulously.
“How do you think I could become the Emperor?”
“Because your mother is a direct descendant of the imperial family?”
“There are many branch family descendants besides me.”
“But you are the only war hero, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
Having imperial blood alone did not mean one could command everyone’s support. It required someone who had the people’s support and could stand against the rebels.
The only person who fit that description was Ernst.
“If you had stayed, you would have surely become the Emperor.”
Silence was affirmation. It was also the truth.
In the situation where neither denied it, Ernst mulled over a phrase he hadn’t heard in a long time.
‘Your Highness. Your Highness the Grand Duke.’
Hearing that title spilling through Julie’s lips, Ernst sighed and put down the spoon he was holding. Then he asked again.
“Then let me ask you.”
“…?”
“Do you have any regrets?”
Julie turned her wide eyes towards him, not understanding what he meant. Ernst gave a bitter smile.
“You wanted a stable life. With that guy, Paul.”
“Oh, that…”
“If it weren’t for me, you would have had that.”
If, by unfortunate chance, you hadn’t caught my eye that day.
You would have married a stable groom at the duchy, had a happy family, and lived a stable, comfortable life without having to wander around.
“Not trembling, wondering when someone might spot you like this.”
“Ernst… I…”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? You’re regretting it right now.”
Even if she didn’t realize it herself, she cried every night.
In her dreams, she clutched her belly and reached out, crying out for help. Help me, there’s a baby in my belly. Save me. Please help!
