Then this isn’t the time for us to be idly playing with clay!
Before Gillian arrives tomorrow, we absolutely must hide the royal crest on Kian’s nape.
To do that, we need to persuade Reidox—but the child’s mother dies around tomorrow afternoon. If Gillian arrives before then, there’ll be no way to conceal Kian’s true identity.
Even amid all this, I urgently asked Sikar Blake, who was expressionlessly reading a message bird.
“When is Gillian supposed to arrive tomorrow?”
“He says he’ll have dinner here tomorrow.”
At least if it’s dinner tomorrow, we still have a little time. I sprang to my feet.
“Then we should go meet Reidox right now!”
Sikar also nodded and stood up abruptly alongside me.
“As it happens, I was just about to do that.”
Our sudden standing startled everyone, who turned to stare at us.
“What’s the matter, Duke?”
“I need to step out briefly with my wife.”
“I’ll hurry and prepare the carriage.”
Durion immediately dashed off to ready the carriage. I told Kian I’d be back soon and to play with Vika Lamberst, then headed toward Yukanadar.
“You’ve been visiting quite often lately, Duke.”
This time, Reidox’s reaction was different from before. He didn’t welcome us, but neither did he regard us with the same wariness as previously.
“Let me speak plainly. Tomorrow, Gillian’s royal guard will come to Yukanadar searching for a blond child—and during that search, they’ll kill the child’s mother.”
“Are you going to bring up that prophecy again?”
I gently stopped Sikar, signaling that I’d handle the next reply.
“If you don’t believe us, then tomorrow, search for the blue-eyed child living in the shabby slum. Around just after noon, the royal guard will raid the child’s home. As Marquis, you bear responsibility for the safety of your domain’s residents. Please, don’t dismiss what I’m saying.”
Reidox frowned, as if confused by my words.
“A shabby slum? There’s no slum in our Yukanadar.”
“No, it appeared recently. Not long ago, due to the civil war against the deposed king, wandering refugees increased—and some who lost their homes came to Yukanadar. Now they’ve settled in a dilapidated, ruined village, which has become a slum.”
“If such a thing had occurred, I would’ve already received a report.”
“You can probably guess why the steward didn’t report it to you.”
Reidox’s expression turned thoughtful, startled. Yukanadar’s steward had previously caused trouble through embezzlement, but Reidox had let it slide because the steward was his father-in-law.
From Reidox’s face, I could tell he was beginning to waver.
“Most importantly, the reason we’ve come here is to ask for your help. By tomorrow evening, the king will come to Blake Manor to verify Kian’s identity. We need your assistance.”
I made the most earnest appeal I could, while Sikar silently watched.
And Reidox said nothing. Apparently, he couldn’t make a decision easily.
By the next afternoon, with still no word from Reidox, we—or rather, I—grew anxious. Sikar, however, remained expressionless and languid, as if this were someone else’s problem.
“Sikar. What should we do? We still haven’t heard from Reidox.”
“If he has any sense, he’ll come.”
Sikar looked so calm that my own restlessness felt strange in comparison.
Sikar frowned, seeming more bothered by Kian sleeping on his lap than by Reidox’s lack of contact.
“By the way, how long must I keep Kian on my lap?”
“Shh. He’s asleep. Leave him until he wakes. Oh! By the way, can’t you alter Kian’s nightmare?”
“I can’t penetrate the mind of sacred royalty—but since Kian mentally relies on you, I can attempt it together with you.”
“Oh…”
“However, Kian is still a child, so examining his dream requires caution. If I’m not careful, I might completely dominate his mental world.”
“What happens if that occurs?”
“He’d turn into an idiot. An idiot can’t lift my curse, can they?”
“But still, he’s royalty—wouldn’t he be different from an ordinary eight-year-old?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never entered a royal’s dream before.”
It’d be nice if Kian could help me, just as Sikar has helped me.
Kian’s brow furrowed fiercely again—perhaps having another nightmare—so I smoothed it out gently.
“Bring me some water.”
Is he asking me to run an errand? When I gave him that look, Sikar lowered his gaze pointedly toward his hands.
“As you can see, I currently have no free hands.”
Of all times, the servants were all taking their rest breaks. So I fetched water as Sikar wished and placed it before him.
“Do you expect the water to magically pour itself into my mouth if left alone?”
Ah, so I have to feed him the water too.
I lifted the cup, half-tempted to pretend to trip and splash it on Sikar’s face—but not a single drop could fall on Kian’s peacefully sleeping face, so I carefully helped him drink.
“Why does this kid sleep so much? Seems like he takes naps religiously.”
“No, it’s not that. Children this age all nap, but Kian refused, so Vika summoned the spirit of sleep and forced him to nap.”
“He’s astonishingly frail. Even at my age, I never needed anything like that.”
“That’s why we must raise Kian to be happier. Today’s truly the perfect afternoon for a nap.”
“And a very boring afternoon too.”
“Aren’t you anxious?”
“Must I be anxious…?”
“Gillian will storm in here tonight, and we still haven’t heard from Reidox.”
“Being anxious won’t change the situation.”
I approached this too emotionally. What was I thinking, saying such things to Sikar, who’d remain calm even with Gillian’s blade at his throat?
Suddenly parched, I gulped down the water Sikar had left. At that moment, I recalled Sikar’s nagging about not gulping water so hastily—and when I glanced at him, sure enough, he was watching me with narrowed eyes.
“There’s just the two of us here, so I drank like this—cut me some slack.”
“Even if it’s just us two, to share an indirect kiss like that—you really are a sly one.”
Indirect k… I can’t even be bothered to say it anymore.
Speaking of which, is Reidox really not coming? Unable to endure my anxiety any longer, I started to rise from my seat—when Durion rushed abruptly into the room. He was panting slightly, having clearly run very quickly.
“Duke! Marquis Reidox has arrived.”
“Oh?”
“What should I do? Kill him and bring you his head?”
When Durion, normally composed, occasionally blurts out villainous lines like this, he truly gives off a murderous aura befitting a true antagonist.
“No, he’s a guest I invited. Bring him here.”
“Here… to the study?”
“Yes.”
Though Durion had driven the carriage to and from the marquis’s estate, he didn’t know what conversations we’d had—so he still seemed hostile toward Reidox. He might jump in shock if he learns Reidox will become our ally.
As we waited, Durion arrived, gripping Reidox’s arm and dragging him along—while Reidox came with a resigned expression.
If I hadn’t known their history, I might have asked Durion to treat Reidox more kindly—but knowing the hostility they’d felt toward each other, all I could do was wear an awkward expression.
Reidox sat down with a weary smile.
“As Lady Duchess said—indeed, the king’s guard is searching for a blond boy in the slum. Now let me ask: what do you want from me?”
“We want the help of your friend—that mage fellow, Jeremi Iker.”
“And after that?”
“Are you so bold as to question my plans?”
“I must at least understand the picture you’re painting.”
“Oh, right—I just remembered one more thing. You must personally tutor Kian in crown prince studies.”
“You’re telling me to serve the royal heir as my sovereign? I cannot accept that yet.”
“So you’re saying you’ll accept Gillian as your sovereign instead?”
“I mean I cannot immediately accept His Highness the royal heir as sovereign.”
“That’s my choice to make.”
“I cannot allow that.”
Time is of the essence, yet these two are locked in a battle of wills. I pushed off the table and stood abruptly.
“Wait! Let’s do this: first, help Kian. Then watch—observe how Gillian governs the realm. Sikar will step back one step.”
Hearing me, Reidox turned to Sikar and asked,
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me ask one thing: even after placing His Highness the royal heir upon the throne, will you truly step back and observe from a distance?”
“I must observe whether he governs well—that’s why I’m here.”
“Understood. I’ll summon Jeremi immediately—he’s outside. As for the crown prince tutoring you mentioned, I’ll need more time to consider it.”
Sikar frowned and tilted his head toward Reidox.
“Jeremi is already here? Then Durion couldn’t possibly have failed to report that.”
Reidox calmly pointed toward the window.
“He’s right there.”
Looking toward the window, we saw a white bird flapping its wings frantically.
“As you can see, I’m holding the child—so you go open it.”
He could’ve called a servant, but Sikar commanded Reidox like one of his subordinates. Yet Reidox didn’t seem offended—he replied expressionlessly, as if accustomed to it.
“Understood.”
The moment Reidox opened the window, the white bird fluttered in wildly—then instantly transformed into a cute-looking man with short, cropped hair. Cloaked in a hooded robe, he unmistakably appeared as a mage.
Without waiting for anyone to invite him to sit, he brushed snow off his head, collapsed onto the sofa, and trembled all over.
“Whew. Duke. Ah, ah, hello… achoo! Have you… achoo!… been well? Do you know h-how c-cold it is o-outside? Reidox suddenly c-called me to c-come q-quickly, so I t-transformed and flew here without time for a c-carriage… achoo! I thought I’d f-freeze to d-death!”
Sikar frowned as if annoyed by Jeremi’s noisy chatter, waved his hand once, and said,
“So what do you want?”
“A warm cup of tea!”
Just as in the novels—he really is very cheerful. I stood up and addressed Jeremi.
“I’ll bring you a warm cup of tea.”
Jeremi gave a half-hearted “Yes” when he saw me—then immediately widened his eyes in astonishment, as if seeing something mystical.
“Wh-what! Y-you—your h-hair and eye color?!”
Ah. Black hair and black eyes must be a first for him.
“A bit unusual, right? I’m a foreigner.”
He seemed quite flustered—his gaze wavered noticeably. Reidox sighed and lightly tapped Jeremi.
“Jeremi. ‘You’? She’s Lady Duchess.”
Yes. That’s me.
I smiled gently at the flustered Jeremi, signaling it was alright, not to be so surprised.
“S-sorry, L-Lady Duchess. I committed a breach of etiquette.”
“It’s alright. You couldn’t have known. I’ll go get that warm cup of tea now.”
“Yes, Lady Duchess.”
Even after apologizing for his rudeness, Jeremi couldn’t take his eyes off me. Is it because he’s naturally so curious? Sikar, apparently displeased with Jeremi’s staring, pulled out a small jackknife and threw it toward the sofa where Jeremi sat.
“How dare you stare so blatantly at my wife? If you do that again, next time the knife will fly straight for your neck.”
Only then did Jeremi snap to his senses, hastily bowing his head.
“S-sorry, Duke. I-I didn’t mean to… it was just so fascinating…”
Given Sikar’s personality—unforgiving of any challenge to his authority—the fact he threw the knife at the sofa rather than Jeremi’s limbs was likely because of Kian.
Jeremi must realize too—that by a hair’s breadth, he might’ve lost the use of an arm or leg today.
Wait a minute. Earlier, didn’t he say he couldn’t drink because he had no free hand? Is that hand some kind of magical hand that only appears when needed?
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
