He looked the woman up and down.
“What is it?”
“It's regarding Her Grace, the Grand Duchess. I thought it was something Your Grace ought to know...”
The woman, who had begun speaking with a solemn expression, suddenly turned pale and fell silent.
Only then did he realize that he had unconsciously let his hostility show.
Varkas faintly furrowed his brow.
It had already been proven beyond question that the incorrect prescription this woman had given his wife had been an honest mistake.
Moreover, numerous servants and assistant healers had testified that she had always treated Talia cautiously, despite Talia's repeated refusals to receive treatment.
She had already received punishment appropriate to her mistake.
There was no longer any reason to keep his guard up against her.
After calming himself, Varkas asked in a blunt voice,
“What is it that I need to know?”
“It seems that Her Grace...”
The woman nervously moistened her lips before anxiously glancing around.
Apparently, she was wary of being overheard.
He gestured toward the small reception room near the kitchen.
“Follow me.”
Entering the dimly lit room, Varkas placed the tray of food onto a shelf before turning around.
The woman, who had been standing by the doorway while looking around the reception room, finally spoke again.
“I heard it from the maids... It has been quite some time since Her Grace last received her monthly visitor. Judging from her recent symptoms, I believe... she may be carrying a child.”
For several moments, he couldn't comprehend what she had just said.
Seeing him standing there in stunned silence, the healing mage hurriedly continued.
“However, Her Grace's personal healer hasn't mentioned a single word about it. I realize this technically falls outside my authority, but... there are many precautions that must be taken during the early stages of pregnancy. I believed Your Grace should know as soon as possible. There are many excellent midwives in Kalmor. I think it would be best to summon them immediately so that Her Grace can be examined—”
“Wait.”
Clutching his throbbing head with one hand, he hurriedly cut her off.
His throat had tightened, and when he spoke, his voice came out rough.
“So... you're saying my wife is pregnant?”
“Judging by Her Grace's recent condition... there is a very high probability...”
Varkas wet his dry lips.
His wife's listless face over the past several days flashed through his mind.
Then he remembered her suddenly begging him for food.
In an instant, the blood rushing through his body accelerated, and a dull ringing filled his ears.
Frowning, he stared at his faintly trembling hand.
He couldn't understand why his body was reacting like this.
It wasn't as though he had embraced her without knowing this could happen.
If you shut a rutting bull and a cow inside the same pen, a calf would be born several months later.
That was simply the law of nature.
If anything, it was stranger that he hadn't realized it sooner.
“Thank you for informing me. I'll summon a midwife immediately to confirm it.”
Giving the mechanical reply, Varkas strode straight toward the door.
He was about to leave the room when he remembered the promise he had made to her.
Turning back, he picked up the tray.
Then it suddenly occurred to him that it might not be enough.
Perhaps he should return to the kitchen and prepare more food she could eat.
He absentmindedly turned to leave when the healing mage hurriedly called after him.
“Your Grace, there is one more thing I'd like to ask.”
Making no attempt to hide his irritation, he glared at her with an openly displeased expression.
The woman shrank back for a moment before meeting his gaze with renewed determination.
“Please... give me one more chance to attend to Her Grace.”
He looked at her in disbelief.