Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 83

“Miesa, calm down. Take a deep breath,” Eirik said, his eyes narrowing as he tried to understand why she suddenly cared about her appearance.

“It’s fine. Just tell me slowly.”

“I… I…”

The fact that she was stumbling over her words was even stranger. However, Eirik was determined not to repeat the same mistakes. He resolved never to push her or raise his voice again. Of course, executing Cullen for this would be the first and only mistake he’d make, but he didn’t mind that at all.

“I thought… looking good might be nice.”

“You already look excessively good. But did something prompt this sudden interest in your appearance?”

If she mentioned Cullen’s name, his plans would need a complete overhaul. It was a perfectly rational decision, deeming it more dangerous to leave any factors that could disrupt focus before a major task.

Meanwhile, Miesa’s face grew even hotter at his serious question.

She wanted to hear him call her pretty, to hear a confession of love. Asking why they don’t have sex anymore is even more embarrassing.

“I… I…”

“It’s okay. Take your time.”

“It’s just… you… kiss…”

“Kiss?” Eirik repeated, frowning. Why would she mention kissing all of a sudden?

“You don’t kiss me… anymore…”

“Who?”

“You… Can someone else kiss me?” Miesa’s eyes widened. The question came out smoothly, without stuttering.

She continued, finally voicing her curiosity, “Can you kiss someone other than your wife?”

Eirik laughed, understanding her at last. Miesa covered her face, lowering her head.

“I knew you’d laugh…”

“No, it’s just that you’re too cute.”

But she didn’t want to be just cute. Feeling upset, Miesa frowned. Eirik, sensing her distress, took a step closer.

“I’ve actually kissed you many times.”

“Not lately,” she countered.

“I did it secretly while you were asleep,” he admitted, stroking her hair with a smile. Her pouting made her even more adorable and lovable.

So you’ve been worrying about your appearance and even putting on makeup because I haven’t kissed you? Eirik thought.

“It’s impressive. My little wife has grown so much.”

“I don’t like that,” Miesa said, feeling angry but unsure how to articulate her demands. She didn’t want to be seen as just a child or cute. Despite their small age difference, his words made her furious.

Eirik coaxed her to the sofa. “Come here.”

“No, I don’t feel good about this,” she protested.

“But I feel very good,” he said, sitting down. Miesa was still breathing heavily, but she decided to ask all the questions on her mind.

“Why aren’t we having sex?” she asked bluntly.

“What did you say?” Eirik looked stunned by the question. “With your condition, we can’t risk having a child, can we?”

“Gella said there are herbs that prevent pregnancy. We’re not animals…” Miesa noticed his face twist as if he had heard something repulsive.

“Absolutely not. Wait, what else have you been told?”

“It’s not that I’ve been told anything…”

“Did Gella say we need an heir?”

Eirik’s frown deepened as he listened to Miesa’s hesitant explanation, growing more incredulous by the moment.

“A measure of affection? Is that something a doctor should say?”

“No, it’s not that…” Miesa stammered again, struggling to explain the sequence of events.

Eirik rubbed his face, listening patiently. If not for his extraordinary patience, he would have interrupted her a dozen times and demanded Gella be brought immediately.

Eirik let out a long sigh. “First, let me explain the reason. You need to recover your health. Contraceptives can be taxing on the body…”

“There are ones for men too,” she interjected.

“Anyone with a sound mind wouldn’t prioritize desires in this situation.” Eirik shook his head.

He added, “If someone insisted on taking contraceptives just to be with you physically, with the risk of your health, you wouldn’t like that, would you?”

“……?”

“You should be repulsed by such a person,” he spoke firmly, making sure she understood. “Anyone who thinks like that is unacceptable. Do you understand? Not that you have a choice, since you’re already my wife.”

“Yes…” Miesa nodded absentmindedly.

Eirik continued to explain his thoughts with persistence. “A child isn’t urgent. We can have one once you’re healthy and our situation is stable.”

“Yes.”

“A measure of affection or some such nonsense, it’s a bunch of bullshit excuses for insane people. You don’t prove affection with something like that.”

“Yes.” Miesa nodded obediently.

“And you…” Eirik reached out, pulling her closer. Had he ever commented on her appearance?

“You’ll know when you look in the mirror.”

“I know what I look like. But there are standards, aren’t there? Like the shape of one’s eyes.”

Eirik sighed but couldn’t help but smile faintly. “You’re very beautiful. Anyone can see that.”

“I knew you’d say that while laughing,” Miesa complained.

Eirik looked at her closely as she complained. “Has no one ever told you that you’re beautiful?”

“They only said I looked like Vermel.”

“…I see.” Eirik paused. To him, she was completely different. The twisted look in the king’s eyes versus her clear gaze. His grotesque nose versus her small, straight one. His greedy mouth versus her sweet, chatty lips.

“I’m just grateful to be the only man who knows your true beauty,” Eirik said softly.

“…Why?” Miesa asked, confused.

Because many others, like Cullen, would eventually recognize and be drawn to your beauty, he thought.

“Act well in front of others,” Eirik said.

“Why?”

Eirik gazed into her eyes and whispered softly about how beautiful she was, how her smile made his heart race, and how captivating her bright, intelligent eyes were.

***

“…My stomach feels strange.”

“Are you in pain?”

When Miesa woke up in the morning, she felt a stabbing pain in her lower abdomen. However, it was just another pain to add to the list.

“I’m fine.”

Gella, puzzled, pulled back the blanket and then gasped, her eyes widening.

“Oh… madam, madam…”

“……”

The two of them stared at Miesa’s clothes and the blanket, momentarily speechless. Then,

“It’s your period. The wolf-eye mushrooms must have worked,” Gella’s voice trembled with excitement. She was so overjoyed that she even shed a tear as she congratulated Miesa. But Miesa frowned at the unfamiliar pain.

“My stomach…”

“Oh, it can hurt. When it starts after being irregular, the pain can be intense.”

However, by the afternoon, the pain had worsened. Miesa couldn’t even eat properly.

At first, Gella had been delighted, but seeing Miesa’s condition deteriorate, she hurriedly brought painkillers and a heated stone pouch. Word spread through the mansion that the madam was unwell, with the kitchen staff’s help.

“I heard Miesa is sick.”

“Great madam.”

The former Margravine couldn’t resist and opened the door to the third-floor bedroom. She grabbed Gella and began questioning her.

“Why is Miesa suddenly sick? Look at her, she’s drenched in cold sweat.”

“Well, it’s… that is…” Gella hesitated, unsure how much to explain, but fortunately, Eirik arrived, having heard the news.

He paused briefly at the unexpected sight of his mother but quickly assessed the situation and dismissed Gella. “Everyone, leave us.”

Once the attendants had left, Eirik gave his mother a brief explanation. The side effects of the medicine from the palace, and that Miesa was currently undergoing treatment.

“But she’s bleeding?”

“Yes, it’s…”

Eirik felt awkward explaining as a man, but he relayed what he had been told. His mother finally seemed reassured.

“So, it’s true. This means she can now have children. It’s such a relief that her health is improving.”

Madam Cladnier held Miesa’s hand and offered a brief prayer of thanks before turning to Eirik. “We’ve finally found someone.”

Eirik, signaling [later] with his hand, responded with something seemingly unrelated.

“But Miesa needs no other maids besides Gella.”

“……?”

Understanding the signal and the seemingly unrelated remark, Madam Cladnier glanced at Miesa and clicked her tongue. She had grasped the situation somewhat.

“How frustrating.”

“We appreciate your concern.”

“…The dresses will be ready next week.”

The banquet was less than two weeks away. Madam Cladnier gestured quietly.

“Now that I’ve seen her, let’s have a chat.”