“It’s the kind of hypnotism that you’ll put yourself into. Saying it out loud, for several times, you’ll subconsciously believe it to be true when it’s not actually true.”
It was a kind of phenomenon and talking about it like it would be similar to that of the cults’ way.
Was it similar to the magical power of words?
“Well then, say, ‘I love my husband’.”
“I love my husband—what do you mean by that?!”
Her husband laughed at her reaction.
It makes her angry finding out that she was being teased.
“Milady, remember, if you made me angry you shall be in big trouble.”
“I’m looking forward to it!”
… that felt strange.
After all, her husband was a strange person and she thought that she couldn’t win with just mere words.
She wondered how she could win.
That kind of difference would make you think what they were good at. Use it as a weakness in a fight, then make them say something that you expected them to say.
There was no alternative but to observe and find out what his weakness was.
“Did you have fun, Hermina?”
“!?”
… trying to come up with countermeasures in front of your enemy was not a good idea.
She decided to think about it in her private room.
***
The next day onwards, she began to challenge her husband in many things.
The Game Board played with money, billiards, horseback riding, shooting… resulting in her crushing defeat.
She was upset that her teeth clenched. But she appreciated the fact that he didn’t try to go easy on her and pretended to lose.
However, she was surprised by her husband’s top rank performance.
Is there anything that he couldn’t do? Can I still find out what that is?
It seemed that her husband received a good education, so he could assist his brother, who was weaker than him.
“—He was sick that he couldn’t get up from his bed when he was a child. I then told him I’m going to take over the count’s house. Now, it felt like a nuisance.”
“…I see.”
It was rare for her husband to speak with a frustrated tone.
She met her brother-in-law at the wedding, but he looked healthy. She was sure that his constitution had improved when he grew up.
Her husband might’ve been entangled with the family problems.
“I’m sorry—”
“Not at all.”
When she heard her husband’s story, she noticed something.
They should deepen their understanding of each other.
“I want to know more about you.”
“Hermina-sama.”
She thought that there were other reasons why her husband was strange.
“Thank you very much. Which do you prefer, writing or in oral form?”
“…”
Thinking about it again, this might be his real character.
***
At last, it was the day that Kiera Von Pollark and Augusto Ferdinand von Mcklenberg situation would be solved.
With her husband, they visited the monastery.
“Have you thought about the child’s name?”
“Yes.”
It seemed that the name was carefully selected from a list of 100. She was looking forward to the name.
The moment they arrived at the monastery, a nun took them to the usual room.
When she went to the room where Kiera von Pollark was staying, she saw her hugging the baby lovingly.
Her expression of disbelief had disappeared and felt that it was so nice to see a motherly expression.
She couldn’t help but look closely at whether it was the strength of being a parent to their child.
“Oh?”
She noticed a different side of Kiera von Pollark.
Somehow, she had a large carpet bag beside here and she herself was dressed in travel gear.
She asked her why, and she told her something surprising.
“Thank you very much, Erich-sama, Hermina-sama.”
”
”
“That’s fine. Are you going on a trip or something?”
“No, I thought I should leave the royal capital.”
“What?”
Kiera con Pollark said that. She doesn’t intend to see her child in the future.
“Why?”
“When I’m with him, I always think about what I should do and what to do with him.”
After reflecting on the situation, she said that she couldn’t find the courage to face her child.
“This sin isn’t something that could be tolerated in any circumstances.”
“But if you met somebody, won’t everything be alright?”
“No, I’m sure that once we’ve met, we’re not just going to look at him.”
She was full of love for her child and she would have a hard time in the process. Both of them will.
“I’m really sorry to say such things all the time. I was wondering how I could repay you for this kindness. In particular, I’m sorry for that trouble I caused to Erich for so many years.”
Her husband said that she didn’t need to worry. Surprisingly, she thought he had no emotions.
It couldn’t be helped if you think of the damage she caused.
Again, she saw another unexpected side of her husband.
“Thank you very much.”
“It’s alright, as long as you’re happy.”
“Thank you.”
Kiera von Pollark gave her the child that she held on her breast.
Her husband, who was beside her, looked at the child’s face and gave him a name.
“Shirayuri Lyrie (Lily?). Wishing the child to grow up innocent and pure like a lily.”
[TLNote: Okay I’m confused now… why does the name of her son Lily? It was obviously said before that it was a SON! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! The plot clearly said that there’s a succession right, girls don’t have it that’s why Hermina didn’t get to keep the duke title ah?!]
“What a lovely name.”
She said, as her husband gave a wonderful name.
”
”
As soon as Rie left his mother, he suddenly went into a slump.
She couldn’t stop him from crying even if she tried to. She just wanted to say something. As her nanny told her, she tried to shake his back but it didn’t work.
“—I’ll go now”
Kiera von Pollark said as the time for departure was arriving.
Giving a deep bow.
“It’ll be our last meeting today, but I hope you’re all well and happy.”
“Yes, you too.”
She gave her a silver bracelet, which she put in her arms, that this would be a farewell gift. However, she didn’t accept it.
“You should be honest when you’re already like this.”
“It’s a waste to me.”
Instead, she wanted to give something different.
“Would you like for me to give a congratulatory kiss on your forehead?”
“Would that be alright?”
“Yes, I wish I could give you my strength.”
It was strong.
She left Rie to her husband and kissed the forehead of Kiera von Pollark who fell on her knees.
“Thank you very much.”
“I don’t mind this much.”
Her expression was bright.
Finally, she received a book.
It was a child-rearing diary in which she wrote down daily records about her child.
“I hope this could be useful.”
“Thank you, I’ll read it later.”
“Here.”
With this, she set off her journey.
She was going to give them a ride in the carriage, but she was told that it was impossible as she would cry by then.
She noticed too, she never cried today.
You see, it was true that parents grew up with their children.
Together with her husband, they went home with Rie.
***
A few days later.
She laid her eyes on the peeled bed.
The reason was that Rie was crying at night.
It was alright when she expressed her resolve in front of her family and servants, but it was more difficult than what she imagined.
When hungry, she went to her nanny and changed his diapers a dozen times a day. When he started crying, she had to apologize.
He was a very energetic child, she couldn’t sleep no matter how much she tried.
Her husband helped her when he was at home.
“Are you alright Hermina?”
“Yes, I’d like to say that it’s fine but it was far off than that.”
“Why don’t you at least leave him to the nanny at night?”
“…I don’t like it.”
“Why?”
She was his mother. Since she couldn’t feed him milk, she had to work on it in a different way.