I Am Trying to Divorce My Villain Husband, But We Had a Child - chapter 34

Chapter 34

 

 

 

#5. Pregnancy

 

 

 

Elisa emptied her stomach in the nearby meadow, tears streaming down her face from the pain.

 

 

 

“Elisa, are you okay?”

 

 

 

Richard followed behind and gently tapped Elisa’s back.

 

 

 

“Sigh…”

 

 

 

After emptying her stomach, Elisa collapsed, drained of energy, unable to hold herself up.

 

 

 

Richard quickly pulled her close, letting her lean against him.

 

 

 

His large hand comforting her back was warm, and his embrace felt sturdy.

 

 

 

Elisa leaned into him, struggling to catch her breath.

 

 

 

Richard, watching her with a stern expression, spoke up.

 

 

 

“I’ll go to the village tomorrow and fetch a doctor.”

 

 

 

“Just… today, of all days, I have particularly severe nausea. I’ll be fine.”

 

 

 

“And Anne mentioned not just nausea but also loss of appetite. Plus, the fever persists.”

 

 

 

“Then I’ll get examined when we reach Akaroa. I just want to arrive at the estate as soon as possible, even if it’s just for a day.”

 

 

 

Although Richard still seemed uneasy, he didn’t argue further.

 

 

 

It seemed like ending the journey quickly, as Elisa suggested, might be the best option.

 

 

 

“I’m fine now. Let’s go have a meal.”

 

 

 

“Let’s eat together.”

 

 

 

Richard’s suggestion caused a flicker of surprise on Elisa’s face.

 

 

 

“Oh, no. I’ll eat with Anne. I just want something simple and then rest. Don’t worry about me, go ahead and eat.”

 

 

 

Elisa reassured Richard, pushing him gently to leave.

 

 

 

Finally, Richard escorted Elisa to the tent and reluctantly left.

 

 

 

As soon as Richard left, Anne hurriedly approached, wearing a worried expression.

 

 

 

“Madam, are you okay…?”

 

 

 

“Anne, sorry, but could you take that potpourri outside?”

 

 

 

Feeling queasy again from the scent of spilled potpourri inside the tent, Elisa asked Anne for a favor.

 

 

 

“Oh, yes!”

 

 

 

Anne quickly took it outside.

 

 

 

Left alone inside the tent, Elisa looked around the empty space absentmindedly before placing her hand on her stomach.

 

 

 

Her eyes, looking down at her belly, noticed her hand trembling subtly.

 

 

 

“Could it be… me…”

 

 

 

Despite attributing her symptoms to seasickness for Richard, Elisa was aware of her condition.

 

 

 

There had been no signs of menstruation this month.

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

“Fetch the chief physician.”

 

 

 

As soon as they arrived at the duke’s residence on the island, Richard ordered them to bring the chief physician.

 

 

 

Elisa’s heart sank at his words.

 

 

 

“If it’s really a pregnancy… will Richard accept this child?”

 

 

 

Richard had spent half his life tormented by Albert, who treated him like a pawn.

 

 

 

“I came here to end the lineage of this family with my own hands.”

 

 

 

To him, ‘the child’ would likely be a hindrance to the lifelong revenge he had dreamed of.

 

 

 

Moreover, in the original work, he abhorred the child conceived against his will and even attempted to kill the child in the womb.

 

 

 

“That can’t happen.”

 

 

 

Though the existence of the child was still uncertain, instinctively she felt she had to protect it.

 

 

 

So, Elisa protested against Richard.

 

 

 

“I’m a bit tired today. Can’t I see the physician tomorrow?”

 

 

 

“It’ll only take a moment. Just get examined and rest.”

 

 

 

Normally, Richard would comply with Elisa’s wishes, but this time he was firm.

 

 

 

Though Elisa was inwardly grateful for his concern, she felt frustrated this time.

 

 

 

“Your Highness, did you call for me?”

 

 

 

Finally, the chief physician, Morris, came to examine Elisa.

 

 

 

Richard instructed him as if he had been waiting for this moment.

 

 

 

“My wife hasn’t been in good health lately. I hope you can check her condition and prescribe accordingly.”

 

 

 

“Then, madam, please extend your hand.”

 

 

 

Elisa fell into contemplation.

 

 

 

At this rate, Richard would inevitably find out the truth.

 

 

 

‘What should I do…?’

 

 

 

As Elisa hesitated to extend her hand, Richard looked at her with a puzzled expression.

 

 

 

“Elisa?”

 

 

 

Just then, whether it was divine intervention or not, a knock was heard.

 

 

 

“Your Highness, urgent report.”

 

 

 

It was Thompson’s voice.

 

 

 

Richard grimaced slightly and reluctantly rose from his seat, addressing Morris.

 

 

 

“Examine her and report back to me.”

 

 

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

 

 

As Richard left the room, Morris turned his attention back to Elisa.

 

 

 

“Could you describe your symptoms for me?”

 

 

 

‘If Morris learns about it, he’ll surely tell Richard.’ Quickly assessing the situation, Elisa objected.

 

 

 

“I don’t think an examination is necessary, Sir Morris.”

 

 

 

“Yes?”

 

 

 

“It’s just severe nausea, and Your Highness seems overly concerned. I’ll be fine after resting for a few days.”

 

 

 

“Hmm…”

 

 

 

Morris seemed uncomfortable defying Richard’s orders, but Elisa persuaded him with a forced smile.

 

 

 

“If my condition doesn’t improve after a few days, I’ll get examined then. Please tell His Highness there’s nothing to worry about for now.”

 

 

 

“Understood. But if there are any abnormal symptoms, please be sure to inform me.”

 

 

 

“I will.”

 

 

 

“Then, please rest well, madam.”

 

 

 

Fortunately, Morris left without further insistence.

 

 

 

Watching Morris leave, Elisa breathed a sigh of relief. But she couldn’t relax just yet.

 

 

 

She needed to figure out whether she was pregnant or not and, if she was, come up with a plan.

 

 

 

“For now, let’s rest today and think about it tomorrow.”

 

 

 

With her heavy body lying down, Elisa fell asleep without further thought.

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

The next day, Elisa went to see a doctor on the outskirts of the island with Anne. It was quite a hassle to go without the knowledge of the estate’s servants, but they managed to leave safely.

 

 

 

After briefly checking Elisa’s pulse, the doctor spoke up.

 

 

 

“You’re pregnant.”

 

 

 

Elisa’s eyes shook with uncertainty, even though she had anticipated it before the examination. The news came as a shock.

 

 

 

Anne, who had no idea what had happened between Elisa and Richard, was also surprised, her mouth hanging open.

 

 

 

Elisa tried to calm her racing heart and asked in a trembling voice.

 

 

 

“…Are you sure?”

 

 

 

“Yes. It’s still faint, but it’s definitely the heartbeat.”

 

 

 

The doctor explained the precautions for early pregnancy.

 

 

 

‘But it was only once!’

 

 

 

That one time, Richard had taken precautions… but it seemed futile.

 

 

 

It was unfair, but there was no one to blame.

 

 

 

Quickly composing herself, Elisa stood up.

 

 

 

“Anne.”

 

 

 

“Oh, yes! Here.”

 

 

 

Shocked by the unexpected news of Elisa’s pregnancy, Anne, who had been frozen in surprise, finally understood Elisa’s call and handed the doctor a gold coin purse.

 

 

 

“Then, please examine her.”

 

 

 

After leaving the doctor’s house with Anne, Elisa boarded the waiting carriage outside. Soon, the carriage departed.

 

 

 

Elisa finally removed her robe’s hood. She had been wearing it backwards to avoid revealing her face to the doctor.

 

 

 

Still looking flustered, Anne, who had also removed her hood, asked, “M-Madam. When will the union take place—”

 

 

 

Stammering, Anne seemed to remember something and exclaimed, “Oh! Could it be, the day you fell off the cliff…?”

 

 

 

At Anne’s words, memories of ‘that night’ flashed through Elisa’s mind, and her expression turned grim.

 

 

 

Elisa subtly avoided Anne’s gaze and hesitated in her response, “Um, it just happened unexpectedly…”

 

 

 

Elisa thought Anne would reproach her for the reckless night.

 

 

 

After all, she had planned to divorce and live with Anne afterward, and now this accident happened in a moment.

 

 

 

However, instead of expressing disappointment, Anne tearfully held Elisa’s hands.

 

 

 

“You must have gone through a lot.”

 

 

 

“Huh?”

 

 

 

“I thought you were feeling unwell on the journey because of the hardships. I didn’t know there was a baby growing in your belly…”

 

 

 

Suddenly, tears welled up in Anne’s eyes.

 

 

 

“I should have taken better care of you… I’m sorry, Madam. I was too thoughtless.”

 

 

 

Surprised, Elisa grabbed Anne’s hands.

 

 

 

“Oh, no. What more could you have done in that situation? You’ve taken good care of me, Anne.”

 

 

 

As Elisa comforted Anne, she stopped crying and asked, “So, what about the divorce?”

 

 

 

Anne’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she asked.

 

 

 

‘Madam said she wanted a divorce and wanted to live by the sea… But it would be nice if you two could live together. Maybe the baby in your belly will change Madam’s mind?’

 

 

 

Elisa hadn’t explained the exact reasons for wanting a divorce to Anne, just saying it was for Richard’s sake.

 

 

 

Because she couldn’t tell Anne that this place was like a book, and she was an extra who would cling to Richard until death.

 

 

 

So, not knowing the exact reason why Elisa wanted to divorce Richard, Anne secretly hoped she would leave something behind at the ducal residence.

 

 

 

But Elisa answered with a bitter expression, “Richard doesn’t want the child. He… intensely dislikes the idea.”

 

 

 

At Elisa’s answer, Anne’s expression turned serious.

 

 

 

‘If he hates the child, why did he spend the night with Madam? After letting that happen, leaving Madam alone to worry…’

 

 

 

For the first time, Anne resented Richard.

 

 

 

To Anne, who had lost her family at a young age, Elisa was a precious figure like a benefactor, a friend, and an older sister. How could she make life difficult for Elisa!

 

 

 

But Anne had no courage to reprimand Richard. Of course, she didn’t have such boldness.

 

 

 

In a gloomy tone, Anne asked, “T-then what will you do?”

 

 

 

“I’ll go through with the divorce as planned. Before he finds out.”

 

 

 

At this, Anne firmly held Elisa’s hand, already determined, and said with resolve in her eyes, “I’ll protect you, Madam. And the baby too.”

 

 

 

“Thank you, Anne.”

 

 

 

“And congratulations on becoming a mother, Madam.”

 

 

 

Then, looking at Elisa’s belly, Anne whispered, “I’m glad to meet you this way, little one. Grow up healthy and strong, and I’ll see you in ten months.”

 

 

 

In the Arencia Empire, there was a custom where family members, close relatives, or dear friends would bless the baby in the womb.

 

 

 

People believed that this blessing would protect the mother and the baby for ten months.

 

 

 

Elisa stared blankly at Anne, who was blessing the baby.

 

 

 

She felt emotional knowing that there was someone who would bless her baby.

 

 

 

“I’m so lucky to have you by my side.”

 

 

 

Elisa’s heartfelt words made Anne smile proudly.

 

 

 

Elisa smiled back at Anne. However, her heart was still troubled as she looked out the window again.