Conflict [2—2]

Lucia hoped to look natural as she avoided his gaze and withdrew a little in his arms but he was watching her with sharp eyes.

"Ha. Right. The contract."

Hugo gave a fake laugh and frustratedly swept a hand through his hair.

It looked like it was just him who thought of forgetting about the contract and pushing it to a corner. She was obviously still bound to its tenacious ropes.

"I can enjoy freedom in my private life and you would keep the door to your heart locked. That was our contract, wasn't it?" (Hugo)

Again, he narrowed the distance she tried to make and grabbed her waist, pulling her towards him. With this, her efforts were very easily undone. She was once again positioned in his embrace.

"But did you know? We didn't decide on what would happen when someone doesn't keep to the contract." (Hugo)

"Are you worried that I won't keep to the contract?"

"Really, why are you like this? Why do you exaggerate my words like that?"

"…I'm sorry. I guess I twisted it a little."

For a while, Hugo looked at his wife who seemed unfamiliar. It was not his usual wife that listened to him obediently. Moreover, she kept avoiding his eyes, showing rejection and separation.

'The first time I met her…I didn't say any word of encouragement but she just went ahead and spoke.'

Perhaps this was also her.

There was no way he could have seen the sides of her that she had never shown to him.

Initially, he didn't like that their conversation was being prolonged but now, he was rather pleased to see a new side of her.

It felt like he was seeing the real her for a moment other than when she was giving him a gentle smile or laugh.

"If…I give up on my freedom in my private life… will you also release the lock on your door?" (Hugo)

"…What?"

Lucia's eyes widened as she looked at him. She couldn't understand his intention behind saying that. Was this a playboy's trick? He—

"I mean��"

He had an awkward expression and slurred the end of his sentence.

"Get treated."

Lucia was disappointed at the change in topic.

"I do not want to."

"Vivian!"

"I cannot have a child so it's okay for me to not be able to get one. But if I get treated, is it okay for me to have a child? Will you allow it?"

"…"

Hugo sighed and massaged his temples with his fingers.

Even if her body got better, she couldn't get pregnant. His Taran bloodline made it impossible for him to get just any woman pregnant.

Without fulfilling specific conditions, the bloodline of Taran would not grow in any woman.

Which was why Hugo had enjoyed himself with several women and never worried about the dangers of impregnating them.

Only a normal woman, one that did not possess the blood of Taran, could meet the conditions to conceive the blood of Taran but as to what those conditions were, only the old man knew.

Hugo drove the old man to live outside the castle walls and looked through the old man's documents but there was nothing related to that.

Maybe it was just in the old man's memories or maybe there was another document hidden somewhere nobody knew about.

And so, to find out, Hugo simply and easily caught the old man and beaten him up.

The old geezer claimed that he would not divulge the secrets of his family and held on without speaking but once he was imprisoned and realized that he would never see the light of the day again, he opened his mouth:

[The Taran male that will become the father of the child has to steadily administer his blood to the woman for over a year, then take her virginity.]*

It was a really sickening condition. That condition also had to be completed before the woman was deflowered.

His wife was already on the wrong path. Even if it was possible to get pregnant regardless of such conditions, he never intended to leave a successor behind.

Just imagining an existence left behind in the world with his blood made him feel like he had stepped on shit.

Even though he wasn't at risk of impregnating anyone, it was his habit to ejaculate outside since he hated the idea of descendants resembling himself.

However, he had unexpectedly met her. From the beginning, she was different. Why was she an exception?

She was the first to make him hug, release into her and enjoy the after play. He had felt the satisfaction at planting his seeds inside of her.

Hugo acknowledged that his indifference had hurt her. Under normal circumstances, she was very likely to be pregnant.

He had forgotten that she couldn't have a child and did not show any concern as to whether or not she was pregnant.

Her words asking why he was suddenly curious was full of resentment and bitterness.

It was fragmented but being able to see her wounds made his heart feel tingly.

"If I get treated, I want to have a child. Even so, is it okay?" (Lucia)

She could not get pregnant anyways. He could tell her that it was okay and that she was allowed to have any amount of kids she wanted.

That any amount she wanted was good. If he said that then she couldn't blame him afterwards if they didn't have any children.

But he didn't want to deceive her that way. Even if he couldn't say the truth, he didn't want to lie to her.

"…I don't need a child." (Hugo)

"If it is because of the succession issue, then I can write a memorandum. I do not care if I have to sign a contract that excludes my rights to the succession."

"It is not because of that. I…I don't want to leave my mark."

"You already have a son."

"That one—!"

There was too much to explain for that. The only one alive who knew that he wasn't Damian's biological father was the old man.

There was no end to it once that dam was opened. He did not want to share the secrets of Taran with anyone.

He was not going to tell Damian either. He was going to keep that knowledge alone and bury it with himself.

"He is…He's a little different. You…I didn't know you wanted a child that much."

Hugo realized that he had really only been looking at her exterior. He didn't know what was in her heart at all.

"I'm sorry. I know the wife you want should not be such a woman." (Lucia)

"Vivian."

Hugo sighed heavily.

"I don't mean to criticize you. I just didn't know so I am surprised."

"When we first talked about marriage, you said you don't care if I bear a child."

"That's…"

It wasn't that he didn't care but he knew that she couldn't get pregnant anyways and he didn't feel like explaining it, after all at the time, he only needed the status. A wife was just a freebie.

"You said you wouldn't divorce me."

Instantly, Hugo became alert, his eyes flared and he snarled.

"Divorce? That is impossible."

Hearing the word 'divorce' come out of her mouth, his insides gradually began to boil.

"I told you from the start. No divorce. I definitely said that even if you die, you won't be able to escape." (Hugo)

"I know. The tradition of the Taran family. Of course I remember. But there is no tradition of having no children." (Lucia)

"A child or a divorce. Are you asking me to choose?"

Her amber eyes trembled intensely and she turned away from him. Her eyes stung like tears were about to fall. To her, it seemed like he was asking her to choose one of the two instead.

"I…didn't mean it like that."

"Vivian, why can't we just keep being like this?"

"It is just my greed. I wish to have someone with me when I am alone."

"Why would you be alone?"

"Surely, you aren't saying you will be with me forever?"

"…What?"

Looking at his expression akin to someone hearing a foreign language, something ignited deep within Lucia's heart.

His manner of speaking as if to pacify her was also irritating.

'Even though he has no interest in what I think! Even though all he wants is an adequate and comfortable wife he can push to the side!'

She wanted to see him wounded and hurting.

Even if she couldn't hurt him no matter what she did, then at the very least she wanted to make it awkward and difficult for him.

Such wicked thoughts uncontrollably rose in her heart.

"You don't love me and I will never love you. So, what is there between us? How long do you think this type of relationship will last?"