TWDHK~07

Chapter 07

“Count Aeslat…”

Come to think of it, she had met that man around this time.

They weren’t on familiar terms, but out of nowhere he had requested a private meeting, claiming he had something urgent to discuss. The appointment had been arranged that way.

At the time—entering her second year of marriage, already poisoned to the core—she had invited him into the estate on purpose, without considering the consequences, just to provoke her husband.

Harassment, obsession, surveillance, physical aggression—and on top of all that, she had even dragged her husband’s enemy into the house just to spite him.

So my past self really had gone completely insane.

No wonder things had never improved between them. With behavior like that, reconciliation had been impossible from the start.

“Tell the Count I will be coming shortly.”

“You mean you intend to meet Count Aeslat?”

“And inform him that my health is not in good condition, so preparation may take a little longer.”

“Yes, understood.”

After the maid left with an expression that said I knew this would happen, Masha looked at Nina with worried eyes.

“Madam, why don’t you rest instead? The Duke will be informed… what if he misunderstands this?”

Nina swung her legs out of the bed as she stood.

“It can’t be helped. I do need to speak with that man.”

Just the thought of facing that man’s face—and hearing those disgusting words again—left a bitter taste in her mouth.

But Count Aeslat was a useful excuse to meet her husband.

And… it seems my husband’s adoption of his nephew is also connected to him.

Reconsidering what Aeslat had said during their meeting in her past life, her suspicion was no longer just suspicion—it was close to certainty.

I should draw a clear line with him this time.

And if her husband truly intended to adopt a child, then divorce would be impossible for at least a year. If Aeslat was involved in that plan, she had to put a stop to it.

Louis E. Count Aeslat

The uncle of the current Duke of Bavaria idly toyed with a glass vial in his hands.

The maid who had served him cheap tea had clearly been rude, but he could still smile because of the “item” in his possession.

Just wait. You’ll see what becomes of your master soon enough.

A daughter-in-law so obsessed with her nephew would never refuse his help.

Just imagining the arrogant expression of his nephew—the duke who had inherited the Bavarian Duchy from a low-born second wife—crumpling was enough to make him smirk.

Even the scent of the cheap tea felt sweet today.

Not that he intended to drink it.

While Aeslat casually flipped through a newspaper in the reception room waiting for Nina, she finally entered.

Her pink hair was neatly tied up, and she wore refined indoor attire.

For a moment, he had suspected she was deliberately late to provoke him, but judging by her complexion, it seemed true that she was unwell.

“Uncle, it’s been a while. I’m not feeling well, so I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

“Heh heh, not at all. How could I complain when you made time for me despite your health? Please, don’t worry about it.”

Aeslat chuckled warmly, his eyes sliding over her body in a slimy, intrusive way.

Her moist blue eyes, her slender waist that stirred protective instincts, and the voluptuous curves that contrasted sharply with it.

It was hard to tell whether it was more impressive that such a woman failed to receive her husband’s love, or that the duke refused to touch a wife like that at all.

“You said you had something urgent to discuss. As you can see, I’m not in a condition to sit for long, so let’s keep it brief.”

“Cough, of course. However, since this matter is confidential, perhaps we should move elsewhere—”

He glanced toward the entrance of the reception room.

The space was too open for sensitive matters.

As his gaze kept drifting toward the doorway, Nina smiled faintly.

“I’m sorry, but I’m too unwell to move. I’ve already confirmed no one is listening, so please speak freely here.”

In her past life, she had spoken to Aeslat privately in her room.

But today, she intended to speak openly in the reception room.

So it would be heard.

So it would be exposed.

“Cough… very well then.”

Clink.

Aeslat slid a small glass vial forward with a sly smile.

“I came here to give you this.”

Nina, already knowing what it was, pretended ignorance.

“And this is?”

“A medicinal potion that will help your married life, my dear niece-in-law.”

“A potion…”

Nina murmured as if intrigued. Aeslat lowered his voice, careful not to be overheard.

“Your marital relationship has been rather troubled, hasn’t it?”

“……”

“This is a remedy that can revive even a fading couple back to their honeymoon days. Exactly what you need.”

Since their marital discord was public knowledge, it wasn’t surprising that he knew.

In fact, her name had long since become a joke in high society.

But that didn’t mean she had to tolerate being spoken to about it so openly.

Especially not about something so intimate.

“…So you’re telling me to use some unknown drug to seduce my husband?”

Aeslat smiled smoothly.

“It’s something circulating quietly among noble ladies. Its safety is well proven, so there’s no need to worry.”

Nina frowned at the same sticky, unpleasant feeling she remembered from her past life.

That oily gaze that swept over her body. That insinuating smile.

It was painfully obvious what he was imagining.

“If your body won’t respond, then neither will your husband.”

…But back then, she had already been emotionally shattered from her husband’s words, so she had no room left to think properly.

“Think about it. If my nephew dotes on something as much as he dotes on you, imagine how much he would adore a child of his own.”

“…Will he really change?”

“Of course. A man always changes once he has a child.”

A child.

If only she had a child between them…

At the time, she had foolishly clung to that hope and reached for the drug in a daze.

But then—

Ash had stormed in like a detective arresting criminals.

“I wondered what kind of scheme you two were plotting. This is quite the sight.”

“H-Husband, this is…”

“You said a man changes when he has a child. Unfortunately, that’s something you’ll never get to confirm.”

The child between them.

That one wavering thought had been the mistake.

Before that, her husband had already treated her like less than human—but after that incident, his gaze had become as if she were something worse than vermin.

The memory brought a bitter smile to Nina’s lips.

But only briefly.

Returning to the present, she narrowed her eyes.

“So this potion is supposed to improve my relationship with my husband… but it doesn’t seem like you brought it here just for that.”

Aeslat chuckled.

“Nothing major. My son will soon file for a change of guardianship. I simply came to ask you to support him.”

“To support him?”

“Just submit an opinion stating that Ash is unfit as a guardian.”

“You’re asking me to oppose my husband?”

“Oppose? No, no. This is for the future heir of Bavaria. You wouldn’t want to forget that young Ian also has inheritance rights, would you?”

Nina let out a short, cold laugh.

So he wanted her to hand over her nephew just to avoid him interfering with an unborn child’s future?

And who knows what he’d do to that child?

There was nothing more to hear.

And it looks like my husband has arrived.

Nina glanced toward the shadow forming at the entrance of the reception room.

Her gaze turned icy as she looked back at Aeslat’s greed-soaked face.

And she spoke.