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The Marquis Brian’s residence.
“It seems you’re under a lot of stress. Mental calmness is very important.”
The doctor said.
He had been called because the Marchioness Brian was experiencing abdominal pain.
“I see…”
The Marchioness leaned back on the long sofa, nervously rubbing her swollen belly.
Since her belly had started showing, her morning sickness had long disappeared.
But she still felt heat in her body, and even a little walking made her dizzy.
“You have pregnancy-related anemia, so you need to pay particular attention to your diet.”
Lately, her abdomen had been tightening more frequently.
Now, however, the pain was intensifying, as if being squeezed.
The previous night, she had woken up coughing violently, and her stomach had hurt continuously since then.
It was painful enough that she feared the child might come early.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind. When did this start?”
“……”
Indeed, the pain had become more frequent recently.
“Ah… since the nursery… after the interior renovation began.”
“That must be it. Having outsiders coming and going for construction could have stressed you. It’s best to postpone anything that causes stress.”
“No, it’s already finished. I just need to go see it today.”
The doctor advised her to relax and left.
But the Marchioness’s face remained tense.
“Sigh…”
She had always taken an interest in interior design.
Decorating the house beautifully and inviting other ladies was one of her great pleasures.
“Oh my, how beautifully you’ve arranged your home!”
“Indeed, the Marchioness Brian has such taste!”
She wasn’t particularly skilled at choosing dresses or accessories, but she took pride in being better than other ladies when it came to decorating her home.
She enjoyed hearing compliments, and she believed a beautifully arranged home symbolized a happy family.
“But… why do I feel so empty inside?”
She stared blankly at the teacup on the table.
The tea, still warm, was a deep red.
“Mother.”
At that moment, she nearly burst into tears.
The color of the tea reminded her of her first child’s bright red hair.
“My baby…”
She tried to hold back her tears and gently caressed her belly.
She could feel the child softly kicking inside.
“Mother… mama.”
She remembered the moment her first child first called her “Mama.”
The overwhelming joy she had felt then.
“Madam, the wallpaper and flooring installation is complete. Would you like to see the progress of the renovation?”
“No… I won’t.”
Since Marianne Whitehouse had started the interior work, she hadn’t even dared to go near the nursery.
The thought that all traces of her first child in that room were gone caused her immense pain.
She had secretly hoped that Marianne Whitehouse might find some of the discarded items, but after that day, Marianne had said nothing.
Apparently, nothing noteworthy had been found.
“Sigh…”
She couldn’t sleep at night.
Though she hid it from her husband, tears would come whenever she lay in bed.
It was the grief of losing all memories of Sean forever.
“If only I had insisted a bit more on him…”
At that moment, a maid knocked and entered.
“Madam, Miss Whitehouse has arrived. Shall we go to the nursery now?”
“Well…”
Honestly, the Marchioness did not want to go see the nursery herself.
No matter how beautiful the interior was, she knew she wouldn’t like it.
Now, it was just a room where all memories of her child had disappeared.
Of course, someday, a new child would fill the room with new memories, but Sean’s traces were gone forever.
“Do you want to see your husband killed by the Duke of Bloodstone?”
“No… what does the Duke of Bloodstone have to do with Whitehouse?”
“…I heard the Duke invested in Miss Whitehouse’s project.”
Then she remembered what her husband had said.
Marianne Whitehouse’s interior work was a business the Duke of Bloodstone cared about.
Even if she didn’t understand the details, she should at least show a minimum of courtesy.
She didn’t want to unnecessarily upset the Duke.
“…Alright. I have no choice. Let’s go.”
The Marchioness slowly rose.
The maid held the door open, stepping aside.
“Yes… it’s the room prepared for our baby, so I should see it…”
The Marchioness wiped away traces of tears and composed her face.
Her usual reflection stared back at her in the mirror on the wall.
“But… why is it so late?”
“The interior reveal was scheduled after dinner.”
“I see…?”
She didn’t understand. Why show a finished interior only in the evening?
“The nursery would look better in the bright daylight…”
Shaking her head, she walked up the stairs.
Passing through the hallway, she saw her husband waiting in front of the nursery.
“Darling, come quickly.”
He was waiting to see the decorated room with her.
Marianne and her team stood nearby.
“The interior is finished.”
The Marchioness gave a formal greeting.
“Yes. I hope the interior pleases you, madam.”
Marianne smiled lightly.
But the Marchioness, feeling bloated and melancholic, had little expectation.
“I’m sure it will be fine.”
They would quickly glance around inside, give some polite compliments, and Marianne Whitehouse could be sent off.
It was important to avoid letting the Duke hear anything unfavorable.
“Shall we go in?”
Marianne spoke, and Mildred opened the closed door.
“Come, let’s go in.”
Marquis Brian took his wife’s hand, and they entered together.
“Oh…”
The room was sky-blue.
The walls and ceiling were painted sky-blue, dotted with cute white clouds.
It felt more like being outdoors than indoors.
“Do you like it?”
“Ah…”
The Marchioness couldn’t find the words.
It wasn’t a matter of liking it or not.
Even though Edith Perridan, Marchioness, was famous for beautiful wallpaper, she had never heard of such cute wallpaper.
“This is the first time I’ve seen wallpaper like this…”
Children’s wallpaper was usually tacky or childish.
So, nobles usually decorated children’s rooms in a dignified manner, preserving elegance over whimsy.
“This is completely different from a typical nursery interior.”
“Yes. We made it brighter and fresher. I thought it might lift your spirits too.”
The walls were pastel sky-blue, bright yet calming.
The play area was highlighted with slightly darker, vivid colors.
Though more vivid, the colors still felt warm and comforting.
“I don’t even know what to say…”
The furniture under the clouds was neatly white.
Toys in soft yellow and pink and small picture books were scattered throughout, giving the room a rich palette.
The white crib had a cute mobile hanging above it.
“I’ve never seen an interior like this before…”
The Marchioness struggled to speak, so the Marquis spoke for her.
“Hmm… interesting. Do you like it, my dear?”
“Yes… it’s just that…”
She stepped in and began examining each piece of furniture.
Next to the small crib was a white rocking chair.
A fluffy white rug lay on the floor, with a small sky-blue cushion on the chair.
“The chair is lovely too…”
The Marchioness picked up the cushion and sat in the rocking chair.
It swayed gently on the soft rug.
The warmth brought a subtle brightness to her face.
“Yes. I like it. Thank you for your effort, Miss Whitehouse.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Hmm… then, Miss Whitehouse, you’ve done well. I have an engagement tonight, so I must leave. Please stay a bit longer.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Take care, darling…”
The Marchioness greeted her husband while seated.
Knowing her condition wasn’t good, Marquis Brian gave a brief acknowledgment.
“……”
Once her husband left, the Marchioness was at a loss for words.
Even trying to act normal, she couldn’t maintain it with him gone.
At that moment, Marianne subtly prompted her.
“Madam, please take a closer look at the cushion.”
“…The cushion?”
The Marchioness, lost in thought, looked at the cushion in her hands.
“Why the cushion…?”
She tilted her head in puzzlement, then suddenly gasped and lifted the cushion.
“Th-this…!”
The cushion was made from fabric pieces stitched together like a mosaic.
Upon closer inspection, each piece had a familiar pattern.
“The clothes Sean wore…?”
She recalled the child toddling in a shirt with small ball patterns.
Holding the child in striped purple pants while reading a picture book.
And the first outing in a shirt with white lace.
“Sob…!”
The cushion was made by stitching together pieces from those three outfits.
“Sean…!”
Tears streamed down the Marchioness’s face.
But these were not the tears of loss from a few days ago.
“Sniffle…!”
The tears were mixed with joy at holding onto her child’s memory.
The Marchioness buried her face in the cushion and wept.
“Sean… Sean has come back. Marianne, you found Sean…!”
“Madam, please calm yourself.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you!”
“…Do you think the Marquis would approve of this?”
“Haha, he wouldn’t understand the meaning of this cushion. So there’s no question of approval or disapproval.”
After a moment, the Marchioness’s face relaxed slightly.
“Thank you, Marianne. I’m so glad I entrusted the interior to you. Honestly, I didn’t expect any of this…”
Marianne smiled lightly.
“Madam, it’s not over yet.”
“Yes…?”
A moment later, the Marchioness’s eyes widened.
