The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 59
A month later, Marquis Luke barely survived a severe illness. The moment he regained his strength, he hurried to the royal palace, driven by a burning desire to report Duke Herzen’s atrocities, fearing he would die of rage if he didn’t.
However, after reaching the castle gates, the guards immediately blocked his carriage.
“There is a royal decree prohibiting any members of the Luke household from entering.”
That day, Marquis Luke retreated and found lodging, assuming the King would refuse him a few times before eventually relenting out of obligation.
But no matter how many attempts he made, the guards repeated the same message like parrots.
Moreover, he couldn’t file an official complaint stating that the deranged Duke Herzen had castrated him. That was a humiliation he could never afford to put into writing.
Adding to his misfortune was the relentless pressure from County Copper. The Count had wasted no time, filing a lawsuit for damages resulting from the annulment of the marriage, unable to wait even a month for Marquis Luke to recover.
Marquis Luke knew he had to see the King to avoid paying the exorbitant damages demanded by the Count. The required sum was so vast that he would have to sell his estate to cover it.
In desperation, he tried to request an audience through letters, but only received a cold reply.
A noble who disobeys the royal command should not seek my audience.
Without a royal audience, Marquis Luke couldn’t avoid the lawsuit or bring Duke Herzen to justice. Matters of this nature required hearing both sides, but the young King was recklessly ignoring this.
Yet, the royal command was law. To see the King, Marquis Luke had no choice but to grant a name to the child he had never seen.
When the now-deranged Tobias insisted on naming the child personally, Marquis Luke almost fainted from exasperation.
Tobias, in his pitiful state, insisted that if he couldn’t see his child, he should at least be allowed to name her.
Louise Luke. That was the name of the child who had brought such misfortune to the Luke family.
However, even after reluctantly granting the name, the King’s vindictiveness persisted. He demanded heartfelt apologies and questions about whether Marquis Luke had seen the child, his interference was relentless.
The most shocking development, however, was the rumor circulating in social circles.
Somehow, the word had gotten out that Duke Herzen had castrated all the men of the Luke family. It was unclear how the information had leaked, as Duke Herzen was unlikely to boast about his criminal acts, and the Luke household certainly wouldn’t broadcast their shame.
Marquis Luke was evidently unaware of how the King operated.
* * *
“It seems Johanson’s father has finally sent a name.”
Carius managed to keep a straight face, though laughter threatened to spill out.
As expected, Evelyn’s eyes lit up with joy.
“Really? A name? What should we do? We’ve been calling her Johanson all this time.”
Carius, stroking Evelyn instead of Johanson, replied.
“We can use it as a middle name, so don’t worry.”
Johanson, nestled in Evelyn’s arms, wriggled to the floor. With the child crawling everywhere, the Herzen household was in a constant state of alert.
Evelyn, in her haste, had grabbed the mop handle a few times, only to be scolded by Beth.
Beth had insisted that, come what may, the Duchess never, ever handled a mop. Evelyn doing so was, according to Beth, the ultimate disgrace to her.
Although Evelyn couldn’t see why it was such a big deal, she assured Beth she understood for the sake of her feelings.
Watching the baby scamper down the long hallway, Evelyn smiled gently.
“So, what did he name her?”
“Louise Luke.”
A soft sigh escaped Evelyn’s lips.
“….He must have loved Lady Hestina. Her name was Hestina Louise, wasn’t it?”
Evelyn often heard stories about Hestina from Beth. Although it was mostly about how mischievous she was as a child and how much she fought with Carius.
Carius only ever regarded her as a cousin, so they both spoke of the late Duchess casually. Evelyn even followed Beth in calling her ‘Lady’ which seemed absurd.
“A man who abandons a pregnant woman out of fear? Such a man deserves to be struck by lightning.”
The Duke truly believed this, but Hestina’s pregnancy had indeed been a significant issue.
Had Herzen demanded compensation during Hestina’s pregnancy, the Luke family would have been utterly ruined. All this was a mistake Hestina could make only because she trusted Carius. But the departed do not speak.
Evelyn responded softly.
“It’s better this way, naming her since he’s alive and well.”
Carius chuckled at her timid reply and added slowly.
“Johanson Louise Herzen Luke.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened as she asked.
“You’re giving her the Herzen name too?”
Carius reluctantly replied.
“If I don’t, you’ll look at me as if I’m heartless.”
“Well, that’s…”
Unable to deny it, Evelyn looked at him. Carius tilted his head in, giving her a kiss as gentle as the melting first snow.
“Well, she’s also Hestina’s daughter.”
He added, cupping Evelyn’s cheek.
“When Johanson grows up… let her choose. If she chooses her bloodline then, we won’t be hurt.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn replied shyly, as a shadow fell over her once more. Beth, who was nearby, quickly picked up Johanson and whisked her away to give the couple some privacy.
Carius smirked.
“But then, what about Herzen? Who do we pass it on to?”
Evelyn buried her face in his chest, murmuring as if making an excuse.
“…It’s said that it’s hard to conceive while breastfeeding.”
“Really?”
Carius asked again, and Evelyn, uncertain, blamed Beth.
“Beth said so. She would know better than me.”
Then, blushing, she added.
“It’s your fault. Johanson could be weaned, but you’re the one who won’t let go….”
Carius captured her complaining lips in the darkness of the corner of the hallway.
“And who’s the one who tempts me every day with that sweet scent?”
His hands leisurely undid her dress with that excuse. His lips still attached to hers.
“Let’s go to…the room.”
Evelyn tried to protest, her face bright red, but as his knees bent, it was clear that once again, they wouldn’t make it.
Her exposed pale b*****s were adorned with droplets of milk. His tongue leisurely flicked her n–ple.
“Please, let’s go to the room…”
Carius’s lips parted wide, taking in the pale flesh. Evelyn closed her eyes, resigned.
The lewd sounds of sucking echoed down the empty hallway. The man nursing on her b****t seemed shameless and raised his head to meet her gaze.
“If we don’t have a Herzen heir, let’s let Johanson take both names. That’ll solve it.”
His words were blunt, but she knew it was his way of showing concern. He was thinking of her, the woman who had once been cast aside for not bearing a child.
A secretive smile graced Evelyn’s lips. Her white hand, like a mother’s to a child, caressed Carius’s cheek.
“…Then, suck more. Hurry.”
His low laughter mixed with the moist sounds, and a sigh escaped her lips. At this rate, she wondered if her milk would ever dry up.
But if she could, someday, she hoped to bear a child with Herzen’s blood. And if it were a boy resembling him, that would be even better.
