If I Can’t Be Your Wife

Emily was delighted and ran right away.
They had been close ever since they were maids and she was excited to let Kathleen know that she was going to get her child back.

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“Euuu.”

 

The child grabbed Alexis’ collar.
He reflexively looked down at the child in his arms.

 

“Did you hear that Luciano?”

“Abuu.”

 

When he used the name he heard from Emily to call him, he responded as if he understood.
Alexis fixed his hold on the baby, who had become quite heavy.

 

‘It would be better to return you.’

 

His initial condition was for her to not attempt any type of escape for a month, but Alexis’ heart began to waver even though the time was not yet up.

 

When he looked at the child with light blue eyes just like Kathleen, a certain person came to mind.

 

– Mothers wouldn’t want that.
They hope that their children, who are more precious to them than anything in the world, will live courageously and happily than anyone else.

– You know, I’m going to be a mother too.

 

The eyes of the unknown woman who had helped young Alec were also blue.
They weren’t exactly the same color, but when he looked at Luciano, he reminded him of the unknown woman.

 

Maybe it was because his eyes evoked the last feelings from childhood that he could remember.
The full emotions he felt before his feelings were paralyzed by the scorpion’s venom.
The kindness and warmth that was willingly given without condition…

 

“Master, Madame has arrived.”

 

Emily’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
Alexis stood up from his seat as the door opened and saw Kathleen walking in.
Without stopping, she ran up to them and held out her arms.

 

“Please, my child.”

 

Alexis gently handed Luciano over.
The baby smiled softly as she hugged him, perhaps the child found it nice to see his mother, whom he had not seen in a while.
As Kathleen checked to make sure her child wasn’t injured, he spoke.

 

“Take him.”

“Do you mean that?”

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“Do I look like I’m lying?”

 

Kathleen seemed to be thinking of something and shook her head.
Alexis said firmly.

 

“I’ll let you stay with him.
But keep in mind.
Giving the child back doesn’t mean I’m giving you permission to go back to that country village.”

“Duke!”

“Don’t even think about stepping out of the mansion.”

 

He turned to Emily.
It was an unspoken question asking if she understood.
As she alternated between looking at Kathleen and Alexis, she nodded with an uncomfortable face.

 

“In the end, the Duke is saying that you will use me again according to your wishes.”

 

Kathleen muttered with a weary expression.

 

“Now, even the child.”

“It’s just going back to the way it used to be.”

 

Alexis said stubbornly.

 

“The Duchess of Walten’s seat is yours.”

“…Even if I don’t want it?”

“Yes.”

 

As he faced Kathleen’s darkened face, his emotions flooded for an unknown reason.
It was an unpleasant and strange feeling that he hadn’t felt in a long time.

 

Alexis walked out of the room, ignoring the unpleasant feeling.
He called Alsdorf and ordered him.

 

“Buy more magic stones and place them throughout the mansion.”

“Are you talking about other places besides Madame’s bedroom and the main building?”

“Yes.
From the annex to the garden, from the kitchen to the stables.”

“It will take some time to get that many.”

“I do not care.
Give them whatever price they ask for.”

 

Kathleen Winston’s ability was enough to get her out of Walten.
Alexis did not forget that, and he obtained magic stones that weakened her ability and placed them in her bedroom.
He put them there to bring her back as Kathleen Walten.

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“I understand, my lord.
Oh, Miss Edith has contacted me again.
She will be arriving tonight or tomorrow, she wants to check your condition.”

“Let me know when she gets to the capital.
Tell her I will go.”

“Yes.
I will do so.”

 

Alexis looked out the window and checked the time.
By now the sun was setting.

 

‘They said Count Schenberg is arriving this evening.’

 

Count Schenberg was a descendant of the Royal family absorbed into the Trivellian Empire and was regarded as a spiritual pillar by the southern immigrants.

 

Of course, he did not have any real authority in the Empire as the domains he ruled were small, but he was a symbolic figure.
So, now that there was a call for rebellion in the South, it was important to hold him down, so he was summoned to the capital by order of the Crown Prince.

 

Alexis decided to meet him and left the Duke’s residence.
The meeting Count Schenberg was to attend was located at a social club that Alexis had been invited to before.
He had always refused, but he was going this time.
He had to play first before the Empress could reach out her hands.

 

The Empress would never give up until she gave the whole Empire to her child.
Alexis had no intention of joining her plan.

 

“Uh, isn’t that Lord Walten?”

“The Duke? Is it really the Duke of Walten?”

 

Even before the sun went down, the socializing was already in full swing inside the smoky social club, but Alexis’ entrance drew everyone’s attention immediately.

 

“Your Grace, it’s an honor to meet you here.
It’s a pleasure to see you again in the capital.”

 

A man with hair the color of amber holding liquor in a clear crystal glass came up to him and held out his hand.
Alexis shook his hand.

 

“Long time no see, Count Schenberg.”

“That’s right.
Oh, I have to congratulate you first.
I heard that you have a successor.”

“News travels fast.”

“As soon as I entered the club, everyone was talking about it.”

 

In the distance, Marquis Ostaver was seen filling champagne glasses with a faint smile.
He seemed to have been the one who leaked it.

 

Alexis sat down opposite Count Schenberg.
Some young noble ladies sat close to the Count and chatted.

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“Congratulations on the happy news.
Duke.”

“The Duchess hasn’t been able to adjust to the social world for a long time, but so I’m glad she finally birthed a successor.”

“Yes.
I heard the Duchess of Walten has been away from the capital for a long time recuperating, right? It seems that she did not adapt well in the Duke’s residence, Your Grace must have been very uncomfortable.”

 

Alexis filled his glass, ignoring their words.
Seeing this, Count Schenberg took a sip of the wine from his glass and burst into laughter.

 

“Shall we chat later, ladies? I have a story to share with His Grace.
Go.”

 

He put the glass down on the table, took a bunch of grapes and put them into their mouths.
Perhaps because he was a famous womanizer, his actions were as smooth as flowing water.
The young ladies burst into laughter and got up, chewing the grapes in their mouths.

 

“Well then, please go ahead and talk, Your Grace, and Count.”

“Have a good time, Your Grace.
And don’t worry too much, if you wait a little longer, the Duchess will get tired and leave.”

“Of course.
She should leave the successor behind as he belongs to you.”

 

Alexis furrowed his brows at the words that subtly irked his nerves.

 

“Young Lady Mercaccini, stay there.”

 

The young lady swallowed the grape with a bewildered expression and stopped.
Alexis put the crystal glass down on the table aloud.

 

“What did you mean by what you just said?”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t make me say it twice, explain.”

 

Lady Mercaccini, who opened her eyes wide, continued speaking while fumbling, wondering if she had made a mistake.

 

“Your Grace sent your wife to a provincial estate to recuperate, wasn’t it because you wanted her to leave after she had a successor? It’s also because you didn’t like how your wife handled social activities.
Anyway, the Duchess is from the North, so once you divorce, she will have to go back, and then your successor will of course be yours……”

“Who gave you the right to talk with such sloppy reasoning?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I’m telling you to stop and shut up.”

 

The young lady’s face turned bright red at his brutal words.
Reading the room, the other ladies slowly stood up.
Alexis looked at a glass containing liquor and said.

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“You seem to be curious about what kind of punishment is given for insulting the Imperial Family.
If there are other houses, like the Mercaccini family, who would like to be imprisoned in the Imperial Palace, please tell me.”

“Y-Your Grace, I didn’t mean it like that.
I think you misunderstood…”

“Yes, Your Grace.
We didn’t mean that.
Just…….”

 

The girls struggled to make excuses, but Alexis coldly cut them off.

 

“If false rumors such as divorce continue to circulate in the social circles again, I will deal with it keeping in mind that your family is the origin.
Do you understand?”

“I, I understand!”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, the young ladies disappeared.
They looked pathetic as they rushed out of the social club.

 

“Oh my, everyone was scared by Your Grace’s threat.”

“Groundless rumors are the biggest cause of confusion.
If you don’t crack down on it, the rumors will snowball and get troublesome.”

“That is true.”

 

Count Schenberg answered indifferently and began to carry on trivial conversation.
Although he was roughly responding to his words, Alexis’ mind began to recall the words of the noble ladies from a while ago.

 

– And don’t worry too much, if you wait a little longer, the Duchess will get tired and leave.

– She should leave the successor behind as he belongs to you.

– The Duchess is from the North, so if you divorce, she will have to go back…

 

Kathleen Walten leaving her child behind?

 

It was something that would’ve never crossed her mind.
There was no way she could abandon her child.
She values ​​her son above all else…..

 

‘How can I guarantee that she won’t run away again?’

 

She had already escaped at an unexpected opportunity.
Besides, she even had eyes for another man.

 

Her child may no longer be the means to hold her if she decided to escape from Walten through any means possible.

 

The thought of her leaving again was suffocating.
As Kathleen’s exhausted face kept crossing his mind, he emptied the glass he was holding at once.
Hot liquid ran down his throat.

 

His heart started pounding uncomfortably as if top-class alcohol had flowed into his veins.