Droit du Seigneur: His Lordship's Right of the First Night - Chapter 9
“And postponing the wedding? That’s not possible! What about the baby? According to imperial law, if we don’t get approval for the marriage now, the child will be forever labeled as illegitimate. Are you okay with your only nephew being treated like that?”
“Louise, how can you be so cruel…? Poor baby…”
Cherinia sniffled, looking hurt. Helio patted her shoulder and spoke in a grave tone.
“If my arm were fine, I would of course handle the marriage tax through labor. But in this condition… There’s only one option left: offering the right of the first night to the feudal lord.”
“……”
“Cherinia volunteered to go, but you know how fragile and pure she is, especially now that she’s pregnant. If she experiences any shock, it could harm the baby…”
Helio spoke slowly, casting glances at Louise’s face.
“So, Louise, can you go to the castle in Cherinia’s place?”
“Helio!”
Louise turned to him with an incredulous look at his outrageous request.
“That’s absurd! You want me to go instead? You know that substituting for the first night is a serious crime!”
“What else can we do? The new lord is said to be a fierce war monger. Do you want to risk Cherinia and the baby facing harm? They say women are each other’s worst enemies… Don’t you feel any pity for Cherinia?”
“Louise, please, Cherinia’s begging you! Just this once, help us out, okay?”
Cherinia clasped her hands together, looking tearful and desperate. But asking her to spend the first night with the lord in place of her brother’s lover was something Louise could never agree to. Cherinia, apparently never considering a refusal, immediately burst into tears with wide eyes.
“Hic, Louise! You’re so heartless… Cherinia’s begging you like this, how could you…?”
“Fine. I guess that’s how it’s going to be.”
Helio, who had been comforting the sobbing Cherinia, now turned to Louise with a harsh look.
“Tomorrow, I will use my authority as head of the family to send Mildred to the orphanage.”
“…Brother!”
“You know the law allows the head of the family to give up support if they deem someone terminally ill and beyond recovery.”
“You’re going to abandon your sister? Are you out of your mind? The orphanage won’t provide any treatment, just basic food and shelter. She could really die!”
“Cherinia is family too! You were the one who refused to help first. So I have no reason to go easy on you. If something happens to her at the orphanage, it’ll be all your fault, understand?”
Helio’s words were unreasonable, but legally he was the head of the family, meaning he had full authority over Mildred’s fate. Louise couldn’t hold out any longer.
She didn’t care what happened to herself, but she couldn’t send innocent Mildred to an orphanage.
“…Fine.”
She struggled to suppress her boiling anger.
“I’ll go.”
“Really? You’ll take Cherinia’s place and offer the first night to the lord?”
“Great, great!”
Cherinia clapped her hands excitedly, almost jumping with joy. Helio patted Cherinia’s head, looking proud and relieved.
“See, I told you there was nothing to worry about.”
“Helio, don’t tell Mildred anything. If she finds out or if anything happens to her while I’m gone, I won’t let it slide.”
“Alright, alright. I’ll tell you the date, so get ready.”
Ignoring Helio’s bragging and Cherinia’s delighted chatter, Louise hurried outside. The cool night air helped calm her flushed face a little.
It’s okay. Just one night, the first night… If it means protecting Mildred, it’s nothing.
Under the dark sky without even a moon, Louise kept whispering to herself.
***
“Please give my regards to the Empress and Leo. I wonder how adorable the new princess must be.”
“Her hair and eyes look just like the Empress’s. You should come see her once things settle down in your fief.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Although he replied obediently, Richard had no intention of going to the capital anytime soon. Leonhart had nagged him about marriage throughout his stay. If he went to the palace now, Leonhart might parade all the eligible noblewomen in the capital before him.
‘Perhaps if I stay away for a while, Brother will eventually give up.’
The butler delivered a message just as the banquet was about to end.
“Milord.”
“What is it?”
If it wasn’t something important, it would usually be conveyed later. The fact that the butler had come in while the emperor was still present suggested it was an unusual matter. The butler hesitated, looking reluctant to speak. Richard raised his dark eyebrows slightly.
“A resident from the village is here to see you.”
“A resident? Do they have something to report about the fief?”
“No, not that…”
“Then what is it at this hour?”
It was far too late for a scheduled audience. Checking the time, Richard frowned lightly.
Moreover, this visit from the emperor was unofficial and known only to a few close aides. If someone knew and planned an assassination…
Richard’s nerves sharpened.
“She claims to have an appointment.”
