When I looked at him with surprised eyes, he smiled and handed me the gown hanging on the chair. I immediately took the gown and put it on. Even though Cedric and I had already seen each other fully before, I didn’t want to show him my bare body now. Besides, his deep gaze made me even more careful.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and it opened.
“Did you call for me?”
A maid with clear eyes appeared. Cedric quickly gave an order.
“Bring dinner.”
The maid nodded obediently and left the room.
“There will be a banquet at the palace soon. It will also be a chance to officially introduce you.”
Cedric looked down at me. I really didn’t want that.
“I already have a child. People will think it’s strange.”
“Vincent has already been registered under me, so no one will say anything strange anymore.”
His voice was dry and cold. I couldn’t understand, so I asked.
“Are you really saying Vincent is considered your child?”
“He’s my child. Isn’t that obvious?”
“Cedric, still, this is…”
“Even if I’m not Vincent’s father, it doesn’t matter. In the end, you will stay with me until the end.”
It seemed Cedric fully accepted Vincent as his own child.
“Also, I didn’t see any men your age around Yurhen Village.”
“What do you mean?”
Cedric smiled and sat down at the table. He crossed his legs comfortably and looked at me.
“There was no one who could be called Vincent’s father. They all looked worn out and were not really your type.”
“How do you know my type?”
I asked cautiously, and Cedric spoke naturally.
“If you liked me that much, you wouldn’t like someone like me?”
It sounded quite arrogant.
“I don’t like you anymore.”
“I know that well, so you don’t need to say it.”
Cedric looked at me with a low gaze. He seemed quite upset too. I didn’t say anything more and just looked at the bed covers. Then he said,
“The food will come soon. Do you want to come over?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I heard you while you were sleeping.”
Surprised, I looked up, and Cedric smiled lightly.
“I know you’re hungry, so come here.”
When I didn’t move, he uncrossed his legs.
“Or should I come get you?”
I thought he was joking, but Cedric seemed serious. I didn’t want to be led by his hand, so I tightened my gown and went to the table. Then I accidentally bumped into something. Looking closer, it was the trash can. It was empty.
I sat down weakly at the table, feeling a little hungry. At that moment, there was a knock on the door, and several maids came in with food. There was a lot of my favorite food: well-roasted whole pig, tomato salad, cherry pie, corn soup, and more.
But I didn’t immediately pick up the fork. Cedric gave me a fork.
“I prepared only what you like, so eat.”
I didn’t take the fork he gave but used a different one. Cedric looked at me for a moment and asked,
“What did you eat there?”
His tone was serious. It really seemed like he cared about me. Not wanting to talk much, I answered roughly.
“I just ate what was there.”
“I heard ingredients don’t get supplied well in the remote village. Did you eat properly?”
“Yes.”
“Eat more from now on. You’re just bones when I touch you.”
My face suddenly heated. Then I remembered the empty trash can from before. Usually, Cedric took contraceptive pills by himself. When we had relations before, he never missed taking them. But now, I hadn’t seen him take pills. It felt like he wanted to have a child with me on purpose.
Worried, I couldn’t move the fork.
“Revril.”
Startled by his low voice, I looked up. Cedric was staring intently at me.
“Hurry and eat.”
He especially nodded toward the corn soup. It was my favorite food. I had eaten it before at Chartine’s house, but the temple people didn’t seem to like corn, so I hadn’t had it often since staying at the temple.
Then Cedric took a spoonful of corn soup and offered it to me. I was embarrassed and said,
“I’ll eat it myself.”
“Then can you eat some from this spoon?”
He didn’t lower his hand. I was surprised because he had never done this before. Then he said,
“Is what I give you disgusting?”
His expression looked a bit cold. I didn’t think it was disgusting. I was just embarrassed. Cedric kept looking at me without taking the spoon away. His gaze was intense, so I awkwardly ate the soup he gave me. Then Cedric took another spoon and gave it to me again. I blinked and quickly answered,
“I’ll eat it.”
Unconsciously, as I grabbed the spoon, I also held Cedric’s hand. I was shocked and quickly pulled my hand away, but Cedric looked at me as if it was no big deal. I avoided looking at him and just ate the corn soup. The empty trash can kept coming to my mind.
‘If I get pregnant…’
I really wanted to avoid that situation. I didn’t even want to think about it.
Then a large bowl was pushed in front of me. Cedric slid the cherry pie toward me.
“It’s made with cherries from the southern part of Litri that you like.”
When did he find out? Cedric caring about me so much annoyed me. He hadn’t done this before, so I didn’t know how to react. So I barely said,
“I’ll eat on my own.”
Cedric didn’t answer. He just kept staring at me insistently. His gaze was very obvious. In my head, I kept thinking I had to get away from him quickly. If this continued, I was sure I would have a child.
My hand holding the fork trembled slightly. If I struggled more with Cedric now, he would probably become even more possessive. He said he no longer hid his true nature from me.
At that moment, Cedric put some meat on my plate. There was no meat left on his plate, but mine was full of meat and tomato salad.
“Aren’t you eating?”
I said it without thinking and was embarrassed.
“Are you worried?”
His voice was soft but his eyes sparkled slightly. I immediately lowered my head and answered,
“No.”
“If you worry like that, I’ll eat it.”
Then Cedric gracefully picked up a knife. He looked as neat as always. Actually, his jawline seemed sharper than before. It made me think I really should eat more.
“Don’t worry about me. Eat more.”
Startled by his sudden voice, I looked at him slowly. When I stayed still, he smiled.
“You still look at me sometimes.”
I lowered my head and poked the well-cut pork with my fork.
“For now, servants will take care of you.”
I asked without looking at Cedric on purpose.
“Why?”
“You probably didn’t eat well at the temple. Your health is not good either.”
My hand holding the fork trembled, but I spoke as if nothing was wrong.
“I’m fine.”
“When you get tired easily, it clearly shows you’re worse than before.”
Cedric stared at me hard. My face flushed red again. He didn’t look at me much but seemed to know me well. I just looked at the plate full of pork and salad without saying anything.
“There will be a palace banquet soon, so you will be busy. You need to take good care of your strength.”
Cedric said it as if it were obvious. I felt anger rising inside but held it down. The more I struggled, the more possessive he seemed. At least now, I followed what he said, so he seemed calmer and more like before.
“Won’t you eat more?”
Cedric urged, and without answering, I stabbed the meat and ate. He patiently waited for me to finish. When I seemed done, he called the servants to clear the table. Then, as if expected, he took me to the bed. He was relentless, like he had been waiting for this moment.
The sunlight stabbed my eyes, and my eyes opened naturally. My body felt extremely heavy. At that moment, I felt soft lips touching me. Startled, I looked up and met his bright blue eyes. I hesitated, remembering him from yesterday. Cedric smirked and tucked my hair behind my ear.
He treated me as if nothing had happened before, so naturally it was almost strange. Feeling uncomfortable, I looked down, and he said,
“I will be a little late today.”
That was actually better. No, I wished Cedric wouldn’t come to this mansion at all. I stayed still without looking at him. Cedric stood up. I looked forward without looking at him.
Yesterday, Cedric didn’t take contraceptive pills again. I was starting to worry. I wanted to go to the apothecary right away to buy pills and take them. I didn’t want to have Cedric’s child in this situation.
