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chapter 59
“Excuse me?”
Sereret’s eyes widened at the unexpected mention of the medicine. Birth control pills?
“Birth control pills?”
Eve echoed in confusion, her face equally perplexed.
“They’re quite effective, but it’s better not to take them. The medicine’s potency isn’t fully expelled from the body, so even if you want to conceive later, it might be difficult, or the child might be born unhealthy.”
A concerned look lingered on Glmima’s face as she watched Sereret. Long-term use of this medicine could really harm the body.
“Is it true that the Helde tribe made this medicine?”
Glmima answered with certainty.
“It contains Puit herbs, which only the Helde tribe can handle properly. It’s definitely a medicine made by the Helde tribe.”
“Thank you. That’s very helpful.”
Sereret smiled faintly as she stood up.
Walking out of Glmima’s house, Sereret let out a soft chuckle. Lydia really goes to extremes.
Before Sophia even found out who ordered it, Sereret already knew who did it. It was probably Lydia.
Yuan had no reason to give me birth control because his goal was to have a child with me. The only person who might oppose a child between me and Yuan was Lydia.
Moreover, Lydia had Helde blood, so using a Helde-made medicine would be nothing unusual for her.
Lydia probably doesn’t know yet that she can’t have a child.
Sereret tilted her head. Did Yuan not tell Lydia about his plan?
“Who would try to make me take birth control?”
Eve, sitting in the carriage, asked with a puzzled look.
“Whoever it was, it was a completely unnecessary action,” Sereret replied with a smile.
Even without the pills, there wouldn’t have been a child between me and Yuan.
“Shouldn’t we tell His Grace the Duke?”
“It’s fine.”
Sereret shook her head at Eve’s worried suggestion.
Yuan doesn’t need to know now. He’ll find out in court during the divorce.
A husband’s mistress secretly administering birth control—a perfect story for a gossip magazine.
Sereret looked down at the pill bottle in her hand. With all this evidence stacked neatly, the divorce would be much easier.
She silently thanked Lydia for orchestrating all this.
The garden smelled of early summer. A white butterfly fluttered and landed on the tea table. Its delicate wings trembled in the breeze.
Lydia stared at the butterfly sitting on the table. How beautiful. She curved her lips into a small smile.
But the smile quickly vanished. Lydia picked up her teacup and poured black tea over the butterfly on the table.
Red tea stained the white wings. The butterfly, drenched in hot tea, flapped pitifully before going still.
The white wings were now dyed red, as if soaked in blood.
“It’s dead. Poor thing.”
Lydia murmured without emotion.
She covered the dead butterfly with the teacup and sighed deeply as it disappeared from view.
“Why do you have to hover in front of my eyes?”
Lydia rose from her seat, showing no hint of guilt.
Anita, standing nearby, quickly approached and draped a shawl over Lydia’s shoulders.
Anita glanced at the teacup. Seeing the dead butterfly inside made her uneasy, as if it were a reflection of herself.
“Let’s go to Nunuki.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Anita followed Lydia, averting her eyes from the teacup.
Lydia changed clothes and left the palace. Her carriage rode for a long while toward Nunuki’s apothecary on the outskirts of the capital.
Nunuki, a Helde, had been close to Lydia’s mother. Even after her mother’s death, Lydia continued their connection.
To Nunuki, Lydia was like a niece. The orphaned Nunuki had come to consider Lydia’s mother her only family, and thus Lydia became her only remaining family.
After showing baby Lydia to Nunuki, she had been captivated by the child’s angelic appearance.
When Lydia’s mother died, Nunuki took the hand of the grieving child and vowed to cherish and love this fragile soul for life, in place of her sister.
“Nunuki.”
Lydia entered the apothecary, calling out.
The small shop was stacked with potions and herbs on every wall. Tools and bottles lay scattered on the large table.
Though there was a large window, the light barely reached the dim interior, blocked by the potions and herbs.
“Our angel!”
Nunuki, grinding herbs, rushed to Lydia with a bright smile.
Despite beginning to show gray hair, Nunuki’s sun-kissed, healthy skin made her appear much younger than her age.
“Nunuki, have you been well?”
“Of course, of course. I’ve been well.”
Nunuki guided Lydia to the only relatively clean spot, the sofa.
“It’s gotten messier than a few months ago.”
Sitting on the sofa, Lydia surveyed the shop. Would this place ever be tidy?
Nunuki chuckled and spoke.
“Would you like some tea?”
“No, I’ve already had some. Sit, Nunuki.”
“Alright.”
Lydia gestured for Nunuki to sit. The woman did so, smiling in front of her.
But Lydia silently stared, her pale blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Nunuki…”
“Yes, Angel?”
“I can’t have a child.”
Lydia met Nunuki’s gaze, her pale blue eyes now cold and devoid of tears.
Why are you still clinging to him? He used your inability to have children to blackmail your father! Why can’t you give up on such a cruel, cold man!
The words of her father, the emperor, rang vividly in her ears.
At first, Lydia couldn’t understand. She didn’t comprehend it from beginning to end.
Who can’t have a child? Me? And Yuan used that as leverage to blackmail His Majesty?
Countless questions swirled in Lydia’s mind.
I don’t understand what His Majesty is saying.
Lydia shook her head. Why is the emperor saying such strange things to her?
Listen carefully, my child.
The emperor began revealing a long-hidden secret: the medicine her mother had taken for a childhood skin disease had caused infertility.
Yuan knew this and threatened to expose it if the party wasn’t canceled.
The shocking revelation made Lydia stagger. If she hadn’t been seated, she might have fallen to the floor.
How could this happen to me? I can’t have a child. It’s impossible. It’s all a lie.
Though Lydia initially denied the reality, she had to accept the following words from the emperor.
The reason Duke Precthuster didn’t marry you was that you couldn’t have children. That’s why he rejected you.
I see… that’s why Yuan didn’t marry me. Lydia smiled vacantly.
She still couldn’t understand why Yuan chose the worthless Sereret Inohatter over her.
But now she knew why Yuan had no other choice.
Duke Precthuster needed a child to continue his family line. He wanted from another woman what Lydia could not give.
Sereret Inohatter, that insignificant woman, was merely the lucky choice.
He’s a shameless man who used your weakness to blackmail your father. Lydia, he’s not worth you.
“Did Yuan really do that?”
Tears welled in Lydia’s eyes.
Not only the inability to have a child shocked her, but also that Yuan had used it to blackmail her father.
The former Yuan had always done everything for her. She had always been his priority.
It was all because of Sereret. Sereret ruined my Yuan. Filled with anger, Lydia’s tears fell freely.
I must get Yuan back. He can’t stay by Sereret’s side. I need to take him back before he’s completely ruined.
Recalling the moment she learned she couldn’t have children, Lydia stared at Nunuki with icy eyes.
“I can’t have a child? What do you mean?”
Nunuki asked, puzzled.
“It’s because I took the skin medicine my mother made me take for too long.”
Lydia resented her mother. Why give me such medicine and ruin my body?
“Oh, that can’t be…”
Nunuki gasped in shock.
“You helped get the herbs, Nunuki. It’s also partly your responsibility.”
Lydia stared at Nunuki expressionlessly.
“I… I…”
Nunuki swallowed nervously. Lydia’s gaze carried an almost blade-like intensity.
As a child, Lydia had seemed like an angel from a painting, which is why Nunuki called her “Angel.” But that angelic gaze could sometimes turn terrifying, just like now.
Soon, the sharpness softened, and Lydia’s lips curved gently.
“I won’t blame you. You were my mother’s friend.”
Nunuki’s world went dark. She had promised Lydia’s late mother to care for her well. Nunuki clenched her fists in guilt.
“I’ll research medicine to treat infertility. You know my skills, Angel. Please trust me once.”
“Well… can it work? I already can’t have children.”
Lydia shrugged. The fact she couldn’t have children was a huge shock.
Though she never dreamed of being a great mother, she hated being the only one who couldn’t have a child.
But now she could bear it. She understood why Yuan married Sereret and her misunderstanding was cleared.
Though shocking that Yuan used her weakness, it was all Sereret’s doing. Removing Sereret from his side would solve everything.
“Nunuki, forget that. Make me one medicine.”
“Medicine? Absolutely. What kind of medicine? Just tell me.”
Nunuki was ready to make any medicine for the poor angel who couldn’t have children.
“A poison. A strong poison that causes agonizing death when swallowed.”
Lydia’s blue eyes sparkled vividly as she spoke with an elegant tone.
