AMOTGD

CHAPTER XXX

Luina bit her lip, her rare display of emotion almost bringing her to tears. Normally, such a sight would soften anyone’s heart, but Ernst responded coldly without so much as a blink.

“Luina, this isn’t what we agreed upon.”

“You have your own child now, you should understand!”

“So what do you want me to do about it now?”

That was the original agreement. Without an heir, the succession wouldn’t be secure. If Luina had a child, that child would be raised as the heir to the Grand Duchy, allowing Ernst to leave the family.

Under these terms, Luina had agreed to the proxy marriage as a facade. But now, if she refused to give up the child, what was the point?

Realizing that Ernst wouldn’t be swayed, Luina quickly turned to Julie for help, pleading desperately.

“Please, Julie. You know how it feels to have a child.”

Her plea was sincere. She wanted to raise her child as her beloved’s own.

An illegitimate child? That could be managed. As long as the low-born biological mother wasn’t around, they could fabricate a story. Later, they could purchase the title of a baron’s daughter for the child and incorporate her into the family, giving her child the status of an official heir.

Luina’s desperate plea to raise her child in the Elva household left Ernst on the verge of exploding with anger. Just then, Julie interjected with a seemingly brilliant idea.

“How about this instead?”

Wiggling her fingers as if an idea had just struck her, Julie proposed a scenario.

“We’ll leave. And in 15 years… no, maybe 16 years?”

She counted on her fingers and nodded, confirming it was 16 years.

She proposed that a girl named Lilian would come to the Grand Duchy 16 years later, claiming to be the legitimate daughter of Ernst. At that time, she would be recognized as the heir.

“And by then, Your Highness’s child will have taken over the Elva household.”

As she spoke, Julie nodded with a mysterious expression.

Ah, so that’s what it was. The strange feeling she had when she considered the siblings might be twins. Of course, without the promotion, it would have been crazy to include such a setup. It was just a fake, a decoy.

“Julie…?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing.”

When Ernst asked if she was okay, she waved her hand dismissively. The next question came aimed directly at her.

“Then how will you prove that the child is the legitimate daughter?”

“A ring? Something like that. A signet ring would be better.”

Even King Dongmyeong left a mark on a seven-sided stone when he left his children. Surely crafting an insignia wouldn’t be too difficult—but this was something Julie kept to herself.

The question about being sure of the child’s gender was already anticipated. Julie’s answer was already prepared. She tapped the ring on Ernst’s finger with a knowing smile. Everyone fell silent, astounded by the seamless plan that unfolded as if it had been predetermined, complete with an impeccable logical flow.

Julie then asked if everything was settled now, to which Marquis Elva pointed to her with a slightly hesitant tone.

“But, if Miss Julie disappears along with the Grand Duke…”

Wouldn’t it arouse suspicion if they both vanished at the same time, he wondered.

Julie clapped her hands, as if she’d had a final realization.

“Ah, that’s it.”

What? What was it?

As the three of them stared blankly at her, Julie beamed and gave the definitive answer they had all been waiting for.

“The Grand Duchess, who’s wary of her heir’s future, will expel me from the household.”

“…I will?”

“And it would be great if a few years later, you could spread a rumor that I was stabbed to death.”

Luina pointed at herself and nodded, agreeing that it made sense. Given how openly the Grand Duke had flaunted his affection for the red-haired maid, everyone knew about it.

If that maid disappeared while pregnant, the Grand Duchess would have a clear motive for killing her. What better reason than a woman’s jealousy?

However, there was one more concern that lingered. As if reading each other’s thoughts, they cautiously voiced it to Julie.

“If that happens, it won’t be easy for the child to be recognized as the heir to the Grand Duchy.”

Yes, the fundamental problem lay there.

This wasn’t an illegitimate child from a noble lady, but a child born from an affair with a mere maid.

Would such a child, especially a girl, be acknowledged and accepted as the heir when there was already a legitimate child? It was like trying to thread a needle.

Facing their worried expressions, Julie closed her eyes. She drew upon the bravery of a courageous heroine from a novel and said,

“It’s okay, we’ll make it happen.”

Yes, she was confident.

The child inside her was the true heroine of this story, Lilian Kaltblüter. She would overcome all hardships, find the ring her father left behind, and assert her identity and make her way to the Grand Duchy.

No matter how difficult things get, she won’t give up. Help from those around her would lift her up, and she herself would never fall.

They would raise her with love to ensure that.

‘Above all else.’

Imagining the perfect story and the heroine who would soar brightly, Julie turned and smiled at her Grand Duke.

“She’s our child.”

The mismatched puzzle pieces finally fit together perfectly, and the story that would follow flowed smoothly.

Now, everything was perfect.

They would surely be happy, just as he and she would be. Just as their child would be.

Facing the Grand Duke, who had gained her completely by giving up everything, Julie held his hand tightly.

Their hearts raced with excitement, and their warmth spread through their clasped hands.

And from their joined hands, a bright light illuminated the path ahead for them.