The Conditions for Pregnancy

"Is this all the material?"

"Yes. This is all the information about the former Dukes that you requested."

Clayton's desk was piled high with old parchments and ancient books. They were materials on the Seyer family that he had ordered Jason to gather since returning to the capital.

"But may I ask why you requested these materials? If you let me know, I can assist you in any way possible."

Clayton, rummaging through the stack of papers at the top, sighed deeply and pressed his temples with his fingers.

"It's about Dahlia."

"Do you mean Madam?"

Jason tilted his head, surprised by the unexpected mention.

"To be precise, I don't know if I'm the problem or if Dahlia is."

"Have you encountered any problems recently?"

"That is..."

He hesitated, as if it was not easy to confide even in Jason.

But Jason's family had loyally served the Dukes of Seyer for generations.

In fact, Jason's father had served both the previous and the one before that Dukes, making him likely more knowledgeable about the Seyer family than Clayton himself.

After a brief hesitation, Clayton began to speak.

"There's a strange scent coming from Dahlia."

"A scent? What kind of scent, specifically..."

"It's hard to describe, but it's a very pleasant scent. The more I smell it, the more it feels like I'm drunk, in a hazy way..."

At first, he thought it was just a coincidental scent or that he had mistaken it.

However, as the scent grew stronger day by day, he began to suspect that it might somehow be connected to the Seyer family.

"A scent, huh..."

Based on what Clayton had said, Jason began to search his memory. Then, as if something suddenly came to mind, he raised his head.

"I faintly remember hearing something from my father long ago."

Jason had grown up following in his father's footsteps, destined to become the butler of the Seyer family.

To ensure that Jason knew everything about the family he would serve, his father would often tell him family secrets, treating them like bedtime stories.

So, upon hearing Clayton's concern, one of those old stories came to mind.

'But that story...'

Jason hesitated, unsure whether to share the story or not, but eventually began to speak.

"The Seyer family is said to perceive an irresistible, enchanting scent from pregnant women."

"What...?"

As expected, Clayton's face twisted immediately upon hearing Jason's words.

"Pregnant?"

"...Yes. So, I was wondering if Madam might be pregnant."

"That's impossible."

Clayton responded firmly, even before Jason could finish his sentence.

"There's no way Dahlia is carrying my child."

To conceive a Seyer family child, certain special conditions needed to be met, and that was only possible through Clayton's will.

"I have never given Dahlia my blood to drink."

A Seyer child could only be conceived if both partners drank each other's blood during intimacy.

However, not only had Dahlia never drunk his blood, but Clayton had never consumed hers either during their nights together.

In fact, it hadn't been long since Clayton had begun consuming Dahlia's blood. Yet, the thought of a pregnant woman's scent disgusted him deeply.

However, Jason seemed to have a different perspective and began to persuade Clayton.

"Your Grace, you shouldn't be so certain. There could be other, unknown ways to conceive a child..."

"Our family has existed for hundreds of years. Do you think it's possible that we wouldn't know about any other methods by now?"

"Still... if Madam is truly pregnant, what will you do?"

"Then it wouldn't be my child."

Jason swallowed nervously as he watched the Duke show not even a sliver of doubt that it might be his child. Clayton's conviction was unwavering.

"Then, what about the child and Madam...?"

"They must die."

If Dahlia truly was pregnant, and if it was indeed his child...

He would only kill the child in her womb. Because that was no child, but a monster that would kill its own mother to be born.

The energy around Clayton, which had been calm for a while, turned sharp. His gaze was filled with horror at the mere thought.

"Your Grace..."

Jason sighed sorrowfully as he watched his master tremble with disgust at the idea of his own child being born.

Neither of them realized that the study door was slightly ajar, nor that Dahlia's maid, Samantha, was eavesdropping on their conversation through the gap.

* * *

Today was the day of the tea party hosted by the Marchioness of Landrophil.

Having just returned from a trip, Dahlia was sitting in front of a mirror, getting dressed up for her first social gathering.

Dahlia glanced at Samantha, who was fixing her hair, and casually asked through the mirror.

"By the way, Samantha. Was it today? The day you mentioned you'd be stepping out for something?"

At her question, Samantha, who was combing Dahlia's hair, looked up.

"Yes, today I have a prior commitment, so I need to step out to the city for a bit. I'm so sorry, especially on a day like this when I should be by your side. But Jessie will accompany you. She's very capable, so you don't need to worry."

"Oh, you. Do you think I'm a child? I'm fine, so take your time."

"Yes, Madam. Thank you for understanding."

Samantha stepped back, her work on Dahlia's hair apparently finished, and offered her a brief word of thanks.

"How does it look? I went with a half-up style today."

"Thank you. It looks good."

Dahlia smiled contentedly, seemingly pleased with Samantha's handiwork.

With her hair and makeup done, Dahlia opened her jewelry box to choose something that would match her dress for the day.

She began rummaging through the box, as though she had something specific in mind.

"Huh?"

But the item she was looking for seemed to be missing, and her search grew frantic. Seeing this, Samantha, who had been standing behind her, stepped forward.

"Is something wrong? Is there a problem?"

"I can't find my pearl earrings. You know, the ones they say the previous Duchess wore. I'm sure they were here just a few days ago... Samantha, have you seen them?"

"...The pearl earrings? Didn't you say they looked too outdated and hardly wore them?"

"That's true, but they seemed like they'd go well with today's dress. This is so strange. I was sure they were here..."

In truth, she only wanted to hold them up to the mirror as a test. But now that she couldn't find them, she felt frustrated and kept searching through the jewelry box.

Then Samantha, standing beside her, took out another pair of earrings from the jewelry box and handed them to Dahlia.

They were simple diamond earrings, a design Dahlia often preferred to wear.

"How about wearing these for today? I'll make sure to find the pearl earrings by tomorrow. Besides, I think these earrings suit today's outfit better than the pearls would."

Dahlia took the earrings from Samantha's hand and clicked her tongue regretfully.

"Do you think so?"

"Yes. Look. Don't you think they brighten your face a bit more?"

"Well, maybe you're right... Fine. I'll just go with these for today."

Whether pearls or diamonds, Dahlia figured it was all the same and readily accepted the diamond earrings. She put them on and stood up.

"All done. Thank you for your help today."

"Yes, Madam. Have a safe outing! I'll clean up the room a bit before heading out myself."

"I'll see you this evening."

With the preparation being a bit more hectic than usual, Dahlia left the room in a hurry.

As Dahlia's footsteps grew distant, Samantha's shoulders sagged in relief.

"That was close..."

Letting out a sigh of relief, Samantha reached into her pocket. She pulled out the very pearl earrings that Dahlia had been searching for earlier.

"Of all days, why did she have to look for these today..."

She usually never even glanced at them, so Samantha thought it was safe to take them. Earlier, her heart nearly stopped when Dahlia asked for them.

"At least I didn't get caught."

Relieved that she hadn't been caught or even aroused suspicion, Samantha stared at the earrings in her palm.

"Madam, I'm sorry."

She felt a pang of guilt toward Dahlia, who trusted her, but she had no choice.

It might have been a drastic method, but as a mere maid, the only way she could gather significant money was by secretly selling jewelry to a fence.

"This is all for Madam."

Samantha recalled the conversation she had secretly overheard in Clayton's room not long ago—the Duke declaring that he would kill Madam and the child if she gave birth.

'I can't just stand by and watch Madam and the baby die.'

Even if she told Dahlia what she'd heard, she knew Dahlia wouldn't believe her.

From the outside, the two seemed like a perfectly harmonious couple. No one would believe her.

No one would imagine that someone who had been so kind to Madam lately could harbor such dark thoughts behind the scenes.

Samantha gripped the pearl earrings tightly in her hand.

'If the Duke really tries to harm Madam and the baby in her womb, then...'

'I'll take Madam and run away!'

It was a plan that would make Dahlia faint if she heard it, but Samantha was deadly serious. Thus began the escape plan, unbeknownst to its intended subject.