Chapter 3
The rumor that the baby brought by the master’s fiancée still had no name quickly spread throughout the mansion.
In fact, Jeremias Mansion was like a small community. The kitchen, stables, north wing, south wing, and the knights stationed outside were all divided like a village. But since they lived together in one large mansion, interesting facts spread easily.
The rumor quickly grew.
The fiancée, Veloce Artemio, was not as scary or cruel as the rumors said. On the contrary, her cheerful smile won the trust of the mansion’s servants quickly.
It’s always more effective to experience something firsthand than to hear rumors.
Veloce’s human side showed when she worried about giving the baby a good name.
During the past week, while Veloce and the baby recovered their health and rested, the mansion buzzed with their story.
“So, people say that the baby is His Excellency’s child. Have you met Lady Veloce without my knowledge?!”
Eden Daunis shot a suspicious look at Maynus Jeremias.
Maynus was so stunned that all he could do was laugh bitterly.
Surely Eden knew that Maynus hadn’t even exchanged a glance with Veloce in the past ten years. What nonsense was this?
Besides, Veloce had been chasing after Alexand all this time and never once looked at Maynus.
Maynus sighed deeply.
“Where on earth did such nonsense come from? That Lady Veloce came alone with a baby. And the Artemio family supposedly has no interest in Veloce’s whereabouts?!”
Maynus hadn’t just accepted Veloce with folded arms. He had spent a week trying to find out the latest about the Artemio family.
“Yes. They seemed so distracted mourning Lady Ellice’s death. Maybe the rumors about Veloce being persecuted by Artemio are true.”
Maynus frowned and scratched his temple. He swallowed a headache pill from the desk. The bitter taste filled his mouth. It seemed to ease his headache a little.
He thought it would be enough to let them stay briefly. But it felt like the fiancée’s stay would last longer than expected.
Maynus was humane enough not to throw out a fragile woman and a child in this cold weather. But suddenly, more worries piled up.
Eden, still suspicious, asked Maynus.
“…So what about the baby?”
“Not my child.”
But that didn’t calm Eden’s suspicion at once. Maynus gritted his teeth at Eden’s gaze.
“That’s why you don’t just let anyone into the mansion!”
Maynus’s heart softened because of Veloce’s frozen fingers. That was a mistake.
“It really isn’t. Eden Daunis. Have I ever lied to you?”
Eden reluctantly dropped his suspicious look.
“It really isn’t my child, Eden.”
Maynus emphasized once more.
Just as Maynus clenched his teeth, thinking he should tell the servants clearly who the baby’s father was, someone called out.
“Your Excellency!”
It was his secretary, Kahir Loterric, who had been on a business trip around the territory for the past two weeks. Being a former knight with strong arms, the door he threw open slammed loudly against the wall.
“I’m back. But I heard you got married while I was gone? And that it was a shotgun wedding? Rumors say you suddenly got a wife and a baby!”
What was this now?
Maynus covered his eyes with his large hand.
He already had so much to do, but the visitor who came to the mansion had shaken his daily life in just a week.
Maynus controlled his rising irritation.
Then he took a deep breath and muttered.
“Get out.”
“Excuse me?”
“Both of you, get out!”
Of course, he failed to calm down.
He huffed and threw down the file he was holding. Eden Daunis and Kahir Loterric quickly ran away.
‘When on earth will that woman leave? When will the Artemio family take her and the baby away? How can they throw out their daughter and grandchild in this weather? Are those people sane?’
Maynus got up abruptly to ease his frustration and started pacing his office.
He had spent a busy week traveling the territory to finish repairs before the heavy snow came.
He had thought the woman would be taken away by Artemio after he returned…
Maynus gritted his teeth.
Instead, the unwelcome guest was spreading strange rumors in the mansion.
‘Could it be on purpose?’
Actually, that suspicion wasn’t strange.
No one knew the baby’s identity, but rumors said Veloce was a very promiscuous woman.
If the baby really wasn’t hers, then why carry it around?
That label would stick to Veloce for life.
Anger toward the baby’s father surged.
How irresponsible must he be to abandon his woman and make her get kicked out?
Maynus felt pity for Veloce’s life.
Maynus’s own life wasn’t easy, but now he saw that Veloce Artemio didn’t seem to live comfortably either.
Still.
He didn’t want to take responsibility for Veloce Artemio. Especially since the Artemio family had close ties with the royal family!
She had to have a place that suited her.
Of course.
Ten minutes after composing himself, Maynus opened the door and came out.
It was a short time, not even enough for tea. He had made up his mind and headed to the room where Veloce was staying.
To see his fiancée whom he hadn’t seen even once in a week.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
What on earth should I name her?
The mansion’s doctor, introduced by Eden Daunis, ordered me to rest for a week. I didn’t want to be a burden, but I agreed with Jewel Indique’s words that it was better than collapsing from exhaustion.
But even after a week of thinking only about the baby’s name, I hadn’t decided on a single character.
I wanted to give the brightest and best name, but nothing came to mind.
I felt sorry for the baby who smiled even when I just called her “baby.”
“Baby, what name would you like? What would make your mother happy?”
I kept asking while worrying, but the baby just looked at me with bright eyes and tapped my cheek with her cotton-soft palm.
I sighed and straightened up from the cradle where I had laid her down.
Roen? Entak?
While gently rocking the cradle and pondering, someone spoke.
“Miss, um, the Duke has arrived. What should I do?”
Of course, I had to open the door.
“Let him in quickly.”
The door opened. Maynus entered with a fierce look and said,
“…It’s been a while, Lady. Do I have to ask permission to sit here in my own mansion?”
He came in with a sour attitude.
What happened?
“No, Your Excellency! Please sit.”
Maynus slammed the door behind him and sat down.
His gaze shifted to the baby in the cradle behind my shoulder. After staring at her for a while, he asked me,
“…Who is the father of that baby?”
Why ask that all of a sudden?
“Are you asking if it’s your child?”
Maynus looked me up and down.
“No!”
Even though I denied it, Maynus didn’t seem convinced.
Look at this guy?
“I said no! The baby’s father is Alexand. The war hero, you know?”
“Ha. Are you talking about the husband of your younger sister?”
“Yes! That’s right.”
“Then who is that baby?”
Why ask something so obvious?
Ellice’s appearance was famous in the empire. The baby resembled Ellice’s blonde hair and blue eyes.
Maynus tilted his head and said,
“Of course, it’s Ellice’s child.”
“…Ha.”
Maynus chuckled bitterly again and covered his eyes with his hand. Clenching his teeth, he seemed full of complaints.
What on earth happened?
“But why do the servants believe that baby was born between you and me?”
“Oh my! That happened?”
I burst out laughing.
No wonder people have been cautious around me lately.
Finding answers to the strange things made me happy. Maynus’s gaze was not kind as he watched me laugh.
He looked back and forth between me and the baby and sighed deeply.
“Lady, I don’t think you plan to stay here long.”
“That’s right.”
I spoke while watching Maynus carefully. Surely he wouldn’t throw me out?
“I don’t think it’s rude to ask when you might leave. I don’t want to be caught up in any more scandals.”
I swallowed hard.
The moment had come.
