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Chapter 08
At last, Zekron opened his mouth.
“My wife seems to be very concerned about her health. Unlike her usual self.”
“Pregnancy and childbirth are things every woman is expected to go through, so most people tend to think lightly of them,” Matthew replied. “But that is far from the truth. For women, it is truly a matter of life and death.”
“……”
“Especially in Madam’s case, after collapsing and falling gravely ill recently, she seems to have become even more worried about her health. Losing her memories has likely made her even more anxious and sensitive.”
Zekron listened quietly to the silver-haired physician before letting out a short sigh.
“Hm.”
A deep crease formed between his brows.
“Please take good care of my wife and child’s health.”
For a brief moment, Matthew’s eyes widened in surprise.
Internally, he was shocked.
The Duke had never asked him for anything like this before.
Matthew also knew the relationship between the Duke and Duchess was far from affectionate.
The rumors outside the duchy said as much, and the cold atmosphere within the estate spoke for itself.
‘And yet… the Duke is worried about the Duchess’s health.’
Matthew adjusted his glasses as he examined Duke Zekron’s face.
Those deep blue eyes had sunk heavily with concern.
Pulling himself together, Matthew spoke.
“Of course, Your Grace. Matters concerning the health of the Wiltson Duchy are my responsibility. And as Your Grace already knows… I am the best.”
“Hahaha.”
Matthew laughed awkwardly.
It was the laugh of a man entirely incapable of modesty regarding his medical skills.
“If you require additional funding, let me know anytime.”
“I shall come to see you tomorrow with a revised budget proposal.”
Additional funding?!
Money was always right!
The corners of Matthew’s lips curved upward into a broad grin.
Treatment to quit the Argento tea began immediately.
Several months ago, during the first attempt at treatment, they had stopped the Argento tea outright from the beginning and focused on easing the withdrawal symptoms.
But now that I was pregnant, they said my body would struggle to withstand such a sudden change if the tea was cut off all at once.
So they chose a gradual reduction method instead.
For the first two days, I took three-quarters of the usual amount.
For the next two days, half.
And for the final two days, only a quarter.
As the dosage decreased, withdrawal symptoms naturally appeared, so additional medicinal herbs had to be used.
Because I was pregnant, they used only the highest-grade treatment medicines—ones capable of producing excellent results in very small quantities.
Matthew was absolutely delighted that the duchy’s medical budget had increased significantly.
He displayed tremendous pride in the expensive premium medicinal ingredients he used.
As expected, Matthew’s skills were excellent.
A week had passed since then, and I had completely quit Argento tea.
Of course, I still hadn’t fully escaped the withdrawal symptoms, but they had become manageable enough that I could endure without medication.
The slight trembling in my hands, insomnia, and dizziness were burdens I simply had to bear myself.
According to Matthew, those symptoms would gradually disappear within a month.
Once the Argento tea addiction treatment was over, I met physicians, pharmacists, and folk healers who were said to be highly skilled throughout the Empire.
But all their diagnoses were basically the same.
They said I had no particular illness.
Every single one of them worried about my weak physical constitution—and even more so, my fragile mental strength.
Honestly, it was disappointing.
Part of me had hoped for something like:
“You had this specific illness, but after treating it completely, you became healthy!”
Instead, all I got was endless talk about poor stamina and a glass mentality. It felt utterly hopeless.
However, one folk healer offered a somewhat different perspective.
Her name was Morena, an elderly healer with long white hair flowing down her back.
She spread both palms wide and hovered them above my body as if scanning me from head to toe.
She was likely examining the flow of energy within me.
After observing me in silence with her eyes closed for quite some time, Morena finally opened her eyes and spoke.
I focused intently on the movement of her wrinkled lips.
Her calm voice settled softly into my ears.
“Before meeting you, Madam, I first examined the Duke. His Grace possesses powerful Sun magic, while Madam possesses very delicate and sensitive Moon magic. As for the child growing between you two… it seems the baby has inherited the Duke’s magical nature.”
“Sun magic and Moon magic?”
“Yes. Opposing magical properties tend to clash rather than merge. That is why, as the child continues to grow, Madam’s body will suffer more and more.”
I carefully considered Morena’s explanation.
Opposing properties like Sun magic and Moon magic…
Would this be similar to the Eastern philosophy concepts of yin and yang?
At any rate, since I retained memories from my previous life in South Korea, understanding Morena’s diagnosis wasn’t particularly difficult.
“Then what should I do going forward?”
At my question, Morena smiled gently.
“However, once opposing magical properties begin to harmonize instead of repel each other, they can create the most extraordinary compatibility.”
“…Harmony?”
According to her explanation, magic of the same nature often seemed compatible at first, but usually stagnated there.
There was a clear limit to how much fused magic could continue toward actual “growth.”
But opposing magical properties were different.
At first they resisted one another, but once harmony began, they attracted each other even more powerfully.
The fused magic would then positively influence both sides, eventually leading to “growth.”
“So, Madam must strive to accept and become close with the powerful Sun magic possessed by the child in your womb.”
“Become close with it? How?”
“It is not difficult. First, you must acknowledge the child who clearly exists within your body, and love the child.”
“Acknowledge and love…”
“Yes. You must feel the child, communicate with the child, and live life together.”
“Together… huh.”
That much didn’t seem too difficult.
Nor was it a completely unfamiliar theory to me.
‘So basically, proper prenatal education is important.’
In my previous life, I had often watched my smart older sister practice prenatal care, so I figured I could roughly imitate what she had done.
I nodded lightly toward Morena.
Then she continued.
“And since the child’s magical nature resembles the Duke’s, maintaining intimacy with His Grace will also be greatly beneficial.”
“Eh… huh?”
“It would be good if the two of you stayed together in the same space for a certain amount of time every day and shared your energies.”
“Sh-share energies… in the same space…?”
Instantly, things became extremely awkward.
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand what she meant.
She was basically saying prenatal care shouldn’t be done by the mother alone—the father should participate too.
‘But the father and mother have an absolutely terrible relationship. They are not the sort of couple who share energies together in the same room, you know.’
I muttered inwardly while forcing an awkward smile onto my lips.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, the white-haired healer smiled warmly.
“My prescription for Madam’s health is this: the two of you must spend at least thirty minutes together in the same space once every day.”
Morena spoke firmly yet gently toward Matthew, the physician standing nearby.
‘What kind of ridiculous prescription is this…?’
I could physically feel my smile slowly collapsing.
Hurriedly, I opened my mouth.
“But the Duke is an extremely busy man. Thirty minutes every single day would be difficult. Isn’t there another prescription?”
I looked at Morena with what I considered a rather desperate expression.
“No matter how busy His Grace may be, he is still Madam’s husband and the child’s father. I believe he can spare thirty minutes.”
I was speechless.
I couldn’t possibly repeat my objections to Morena’s kindly smiling, wrinkled face.
But inwardly, I absolutely could scream.
Ah, Morena…!
What am I supposed to do when I absolutely dread the awkward thirty minutes I’ll have to spend with Zekron every day?
Sure, Zekron is my husband, an absurdly handsome masterpiece of a man, and the strongest person in this world.
But to me, he’s basically just some older guy living in the same apartment building—someone I occasionally passed by and saw, but was never particularly close to.
And now I had to forcibly spend thirty minutes alone with that kind of person every single day?
Ugh…
The air polluted by discomfort alone might make my entire body break out in hives.
The Wiltson Ducal Estate was unbelievably enormous.
Apparently the five-story mansion contained over a hundred spacious rooms.
In a building this large, if I really tried, it seemed entirely possible to avoid running into Zekron for an entire month.
‘And now what? Every single day? Thirty minutes?’
I shook my head vigorously and sent Matthew a pleading look asking for help.
He slowly nodded and spoke.
“I completely understand Madam’s concern regarding His Grace’s busy schedule. Honestly, I’m touched. I will be sure to convey even these thoughtful concerns to Duke Wiltson.”
What is wrong with this guy now?
Crack.
A sharp pain stabbed through one side of my head.
My chest felt tight from all the thoughts I couldn’t say aloud.
‘Ah… stress!’
My stress level skyrocketed instantly.
I desperately needed mental stability.
‘Inner peace… inner peace… inner peace…!’
I chanted the words repeatedly inside my head.
