Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Lady Who Wants to Make a Baby (14)
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“I didn’t know Abera would use her head like this.”
“Really? I knew.”
“If you knew, why didn’t you prepare for it?”
“No. I did prepare.”
In the shaking carriage, Asbidal was with Hella.
Abera had done it precisely because she had no idea there was any connection between Hella and Asbidal.
But thanks to that, the two of them could chat away leisurely inside the carriage.
“And the task you entrusted to me, I carried it out exactly as ordered.”
“I figured as much. You always do exactly what you’re told so well, Hella.”
No one knew what he was thinking, but Asbidal just stared out the window, letting out a “hee-hee” now and then, chuckling occasionally, seemingly uninterested in conversing with Hella.
Every so often at regular intervals, he injected himself in the body. He even had nosebleeds sometimes, but he didn’t seem to care at all.
Everything was a familiar sight, except for the injections into his own body.
Without making an issue of it, Hella opened her mouth again, curious about something else.
“Mr. Asbidal.”
“Yeah?”
“Could I... ask about those injections? The ones I brought you.”
“So what about them?”
Hella hesitated for a moment, then brushed her disheveled bangs to the side as the carriage jolted, and continued.
“At first, I thought I’d brought the wrong injections.”
“Ah~ Yeah, I can see that.”
“Yes. She was too fine even after taking the hit.”
“Right. That’s how the drug works. So what did you do?”
“I was so startled... I knocked her out without thinking.”
“With brute force?”
“Yes. With brute force.”
The moment Hella answered, Asbidal burst out clapping and cackling. He was so delighted that tears welled up in the corners of his eyes from laughing.
Hella, flustered, tried to hush him.
“Mr. Asbidal. The coachman might hear.”
“Ah~ Sorry. Wow... But that was hilarious. Knocking her out with brute force? My stomach hurts.”
As he wiped tears from his eyes, Hella looked troubled, wondering if she shouldn’t have brought it up.
“Anyway... What kind of drug is it? I was curious.”
“It’s a drug that makes you madly pursue whatever’s deepest in your instincts, what you truly desire most. It amplifies bottled-up emotions without restraint. A pretty scary drug~ It makes you disregard all means and methods. But since I gave her all sorts of good ideas, no worries! Hee-hee-hee.”
“What she desires most...”
Hella wore an expression of utter incomprehension.
“...Then couldn’t things go in a completely different direction from what you planned, Mr. Asbidal? If what Dia wants isn’t that doctor’s child...”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. If I may boldly add, I think Dia’s greatest emotion might be hatred toward her sister. So honestly, I have no idea.”
Kee-hee-hee. Asbidal chuckled.
And at last, he turned his head to look at Hella. It was the first time their eyes met, after he’d only been staring out the window.
“Want me to tell you the common point between love and hate?”
“The common point between love and hate...?”
“Yeah. The answer is, the more you do them, the better you get at them.”
“Surprisingly simple.”
“Right~ Dia won’t find it easy to hate Abera. She doesn’t know how to hate. Now, another question: What’s the most dangerous kind of love?”
“No idea on this one either.”
“Loving just one person.”
Kee-hee-hee. Hee-hee. Asbidal cackled.
“First love is the most intense, and with nothing to compare it to, there’s no escape.”
**
Confirming that both Abera and Asbidal had left the mansion, her steps felt incredibly light on the way back.
‘This buys me some time for now.’
It meant she could develop Dia in all sorts of ways across various fields, so no one could call it anything but a gain.
And sure enough, several books were already in her hands.
Books on basic etiquette and culture, and even a beginner’s magic tome.
Either way, they had more nutritional value than some smutty novel. The plan was to have Dia read various books like these to cultivate her ability to think for herself, and maybe even go out sometimes.
‘I wonder what kind of reward she’ll demand next.’
For some reason, the ‘rewards’ Dia wanted lately felt more and more beyond what she could handle. Still, she had to do it. What choice was there? It was fate.
She let out a deep sigh and knocked on Dia’s door.
“Young Lady.”
No answer came.
Naturally, from her position, no response from Dia made her anxious. Especially since the last thing Dia had been with was Sao.
“Young Lady?”
She called out once more, louder this time.
Still no reply.
Overwhelmed by unease, she flung open the door without waiting for the young lady’s permission.
“Dia... Young Lady? No, are you asleep?”
Fortunately, Dia was in her room. Looking more peaceful than ever, sleeping soundly.
But what gave her a strange sense of incongruity was the state of the room.
‘When did she change it like this?’
A railing surrounded the young lady’s bed, a mobile hung above it, and she clutched a rattle in her hand.
There was even a baby bottle near her legs. Nothing made sense. She was well past adulthood.
She picked up the baby bottle near her legs and squeezed a bit onto her palm.
‘Just milk.’
Not formula—just plain fresh milk. Why on earth would she do this all of a sudden?
Was it some belated manifestation of regret for the comfortable childhood she’d lost? She was mulling something like that when...
‘Hm?’
While meticulously examining each baby item, she felt a steady gaze glaring at her. On instinct, she whipped her head around—and locked eyes perfectly with Dia.
Dia flinched, trembling, then squeezed her eyes shut tight. And started breathing evenly again. No doubt pretending to sleep.
“Dia, Young Lady.”
She called her name.
She wasn’t a astrologer or mind reader—just a doctor. There was no way she could know why Dia was pretending to sleep when she clearly wasn’t.
“You’re awake.”
Calling alone seemed like it’d let her keep up the act forever, so she reluctantly grabbed Dia’s shoulder and shook it gently.
Dia cracked her eyes open a bit. But just stared, unmoving.
“...”
She sweated profusely, face saying she had something to say, but no words came.
Wondering if something was wrong physically, she touched her forehead—no obvious symptoms. No trace of drugs either.
Dia was doing this of her own volition. Whatever she was thinking, best not to play along with this scheme.
With that in mind, she held up the books she’d brought, making sure Dia could see them.
“You see these, right? When I said before we should read books, this is what I meant. Read these this time. For your reward... whatever you want, I’ll do my best.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly, still staring silently.
Ignoring it, she focused on what she had to say.
“And this is a magic book. Even nobles enjoy simple spells as a hobby sometimes. So I brought it just in case. Think of it as self-improvement—try it in your spare time. If you have any other questions...”
“Baby.”
Dia mumbled something, cutting her off abruptly.
“Pardon?”
“...Baby.”
“Why a baby all of a...”
A rattle jingled, interrupting her. Dia shook the rattle in her hand.
As if asking why, but Dia just kept shaking it—rattle, rattle, rattle.
Frustrated, she snatched the rattle away. Dia quietly glared at her.
“Young Lady. What on earth is this?”
“Baby.”
Just two words, but in a deeply sullen tone.
“You want me to treat you like a baby or something? I’ll do it as a reward later!”
“No.”
“Then tell me straight what you want!”
Dia barely climbed over the bed railing and approached her.
Today, every step felt forceful. Her eyes too—like a beast eyeing prey, ready to devour.
She reached for my ear, then tugged it downward. Lending it to her, I did as she wanted.
“...Let’s make a baby.”
“Pardon?”
Stunned by the absurd words whispered in my ear, I instinctively tried to pull back, but Dia wouldn’t let go.
“I’m not done.”
“Then let me say it first. No making babies.”
“See this?”
The young lady pointed with her other hand to a cord on the bed. Like the mobile, it dangled from the ceiling.
Before I could ask what it was, Dia explained.
“It appeared in my room when Sis left the mansion. Sua told me—if I pull it, all the servants come running.”
“...And?”
“No baby, I pull it.”
“Go ahead.”
I snorted and pushed the young lady away.
I had no idea why she was acting like this, but mixing bodies was already crossing a line—making a baby? Way over it.
Nothing good would come of dealing with Dia right now. I straightened my clothes, preparing to leave.
“I’ll tell them everything we did.”
My head snapped back reflexively.
My incredulous gaze swept over the young lady. But the determination on Dia’s face was unmistakably real.
“Young Lady, what did you just...”
“No baby with me, I’ll bite.”
With that, Dia slowly stroked her lower belly with her own hand.
“...Choose.”