Translator: Nox

30 - The Time of the Blind Beast (15+ Revised Edition)

Chapter 30

"It seems the eldest son of the Valdemara family has a rather eccentric temperament."

"What is it?"

"Well... he apparently put lemons in."

"What are you talking about? Lemons? Where?"

"Where else? Inside a woman's body. They say he inserted them because it would cause trouble if just anyone got pregnant."

"But it seems to be effective. Otherwise, the Valdemara family would be overflowing with illegitimate children by now. There are rumors of them being wild, but no rumors of illegitimate children, right?"

Last night, Ezekiel ejaculated inside her.

One night won't hurt.

Rose soothed her anxious heart.

Pregnancy isn't that easy. ...Probably. It was too late to pick up spilled water anyway. But she could try not to spill more water.

Besides, people often say daughters inherit their constitution from the mother who bore them. Rose's mother had difficulty conceiving easily even after marriage, and only had her much later. She even had only one child, Rose. Her constitution made conception difficult, and even when she succeeded, the child wouldn't stay attached to the womb, leading to several miscarriages. Compared to other families with five or six siblings, Rose, being an only child, lived in a rather unique environment.

Quietly leaving the kitchen, Rose hid in the bathroom, clutching a lemon with only a thin peel left, and took a deep breath.

She had to insert this deep inside her body to prevent pregnancy. She didn't need to doubt its contraceptive effect, given that the notoriously promiscuous Achenaus only kept mistresses without any illegitimate children through this method. However, it required considerable courage to insert a lemon herself, having just had sex for the first time.

Rose bit her lip with all her might.

"...Sob."

The thought of having to insert and remove this by herself every time made her vision blur slightly.

But it was better than pregnancy.

She knew well how much he hated 'that woman,' so it was right to minimize future variables.

"Ah, it hurts so much..."

Rose squeezed her eyes shut, forcing back the groans that threatened to escape.

---

"Serva, how much liquid assets does this mansion have?"

Ezekiel also summoned Madam Serva while Rose was away. Without hesitation, Madam Serva replied to his abrupt question.

"Even though this is a remote area, it is still Valdemara. While not as opulent and luxurious as the main family's lifestyle, it is sufficient for living comfortably and managing staff. Most of the annual budget allocated for mansion maintenance is still intact, and the antique art and jewelry stored on this floor would fetch a considerable price if sold."

"Good, then Serva. I want to acquire a separate mansion. Secretly."

"A mansion?"

"It doesn't need to be large. Rose isn't extravagant."

Given Rose's delicate and modest disposition, she would likely prefer a moderately sized mansion that was easy to survey the household's affairs from, rather than a three-story grand mansion where the surroundings couldn't be seen at a glance.

"A single-story mansion suitable for raising one or two children would be good."

Ezekiel added, recalling Rose's slender frame. Rose's body, with its fine bones and delicate build, could hardly be described as suitable for pregnancy and childbirth, even as a compliment. Although she showed unexpected stamina and grit while nursing him, it was closer to sheer willpower.

He had done his best to restrain himself even amidst the pain. If she twisted her body even slightly roughly to suppress the pain, Rose couldn't endure it and would flutter like a doll. Unlike him, with his large and sturdy frame, Rose was soft and weak, as if she would easily shatter if she bumped into something.

So, one or two children would be enough. In fact, Ezekiel wasn't particularly eager for children and had even considered a life with just Rose.

But he was a Valdemara. If Achenaus's relentless womanizing eventually caught up with him, there might be an opportunity to reclaim the family. Surely, among his mistresses, there would be women unsatisfied with their shadowy lives. For now, Achenaus wasn't the center of Valdemara, so the women indulged his debauchery to a certain extent, but how long would that last?

Women aren't fools. If Achenaus inherited the family, they would also try to gain a foothold in the prestigious Valdemara through various means, and some of the seeds he carelessly scattered would be conceived and sprout as embers of discord.

Who knows? Perhaps the children, inheriting their father's greed, would engage in fratricidal strife and self-destruct.

Therefore, for the sake of future plans, one child was necessary. In a world where many children died before reaching infancy or adolescence, and in fact, Ezekiel himself had siblings who died from illness and accidents in his infancy, whom he didn't even remember.

However, if his father's body was exceptionally strong and his mother, Rose, was wise and cautious, the child would grow up healthy by inheriting the best of both their constitutions. Of course, if Dr. Briman's treatment improved his eyesight, he intended to overthrow it himself without waiting for future generations. Even so, for now, he had to consider as many possibilities as possible.

A small family of three or four, with Serva as housekeeper and head maid, and one wet nurse and one maidservant for household chores, would live comfortably, if not luxuriously.

"This estate is known to Achenaus, so it's dangerous. For now, he's probably too busy cleaning up the mess he made and lying low for a while, so he won't tolerate it here for long. At most, a couple of years. So, we need to secretly acquire a mansion and gradually pack up and leave."

"Then it would be best to exchange the furniture and artworks for gold or jewels in advance."

Indeed, Derosa, under Achenaus's gaze, might be fine for a few more years, but it wasn't a suitable place to spend a lifetime. Madam Serva nodded calmly.

"Jewels would be better. Have them crafted for women. Rose might wear them later."

"That young lady doesn't seem very interested in adornment, but jewelry is easier to dispose of in an emergency than men's accessories. Of course, it's best if there's no need to dispose of them."

"If you're worried about living expenses, I have a little more hidden wealth that Achenaus doesn't know about. I'll receive a pension from the royal family every year for my meritorious service."

When she first heard about the pension, she had indicated her intention to refuse it, as it was a pittance compared to the vast wealth of the Valdemara family. However, her thoughts changed when she considered Rose and the child. She had to build up as much wealth as possible in her name to ensure a comfortable and safe life. But her news must not reach Achenaus's ears. Ezekiel planned to receive the pension through Moncam.

"The location of the new mansion should be between the west or south... the west would be better. Judging by Rose's speech, she's likely from the capital or its vicinity, and having studied in the cold north for years, she wouldn't adapt well to a hot region like the south. The east and north are close to Dabis and are periodically swept up in wars, so they're out. The west, far from Dabis and with a port for abundant resources, should be prioritized for finding a suitable mansion. Moncam and Feder are also from the west, so it would be easier for Rose to ask for help if needed."

"Yes, I will do so."

"Don't let Rose know anything yet."

"Of course, that's a given."

This much instruction was sufficient. It was comfortable to have Madam Serva by his side, with whom conversations flowed easily without needing explicit commands. To him, Madam Serva, who raised him, was a much more familiar figure than his biological parents from a prestigious family.

Most deep-rooted families had such blind spots. Because they had so much wealth and honor to pass down to their children, parents couldn't help but evaluate their children's capabilities or calculate thoroughly rather than simply love them unconditionally. Raising and educating children for the purpose of inheriting the family was entirely handled by wet nurses and tutors, leading to infrequent contact and distant relationships. Ezekiel's mother considered her marital duty fulfilled by giving birth to Achenaus and Ezekiel, and was a typical upper-class woman who had never held anything heavier than a teacup or a fountain pen. Moreover, even siblings could become worse than enemies if they competed for succession.

In contrast, Rose said she saved money to attend school despite her family's modest circumstances. It must have been a difficult decision, but her parents supported her materially and spiritually. Her kindness and devoted nature might have stemmed from her experience with parents who sacrificed for their children.

If Rose were to have a child, perhaps a new kind of family, quite different from the family he grew up seeing, would be born.

Even though it was a distant future, he was already looking forward to that scene.