"Welcome, Lady Burks."

The woman that is supposed to be my husband's second wife smiled at me before she curtsy in front of me.

We are currently in the Duchy's garden, I prepared a lot of delicacies for her that'll probably suit her taste.

I am not trying to be kind and generous Duchess in front of her. This is just how this world works when tending to guests...

"I'm sorry if I turn your invitation down. As you see, I can't carelessly go outside because of my condition."

Czarina just giggled softly before answering.

"That is fine, instead I am sorry for not considering the Madam's condition."

I remained silent and sip my herbal tea, she remained silent as well as she elegantly sip the rose tea that the maids prepared.

The sound of her cup made a subtle noise when she put it down on the glass table.

"Can I speak with the Duchess?"

Her eyes were smiling innocently to me when she looked at Jennie behind me.

"Pardon me My Lady, but the Duke has ordered that the Madam must never be left alone--"

"Jennie." I looked at her but her face was hesitant to go.

"But--"

"I am fine, I will call you immediately if something is wrong."

"Oh my, don't worry miss maid, I don't bite."

In the end, Jennie followed what I said and went away. Now that the two of us are alone, I wonder what she'll do.

"Who are you?"

My eyes went up and meets her beautiful celeste eyes.

"Haven't we introduced each other before?"

Suddenly, my heart thumped when the woman in front of me laughed like a witch.

"Please, you know that is not what I meant."

Her once innocent eyes was replaced by the eyes of a person who's obsessed of something.

"I know that I go by the name Mi Young Park, I wonder what's yours, hm?"

She's the same like me? She's also reincarnated here in the novel?

"There's no point of denying it, yes perhaps you are supposed to be pregnant right now because that is the fate of the real Cressida, but you are not supposed to be in love with the Duke."

Not only she reincarnated, she also know the contents of the novel!

"Just to tell you, I am going to be the Duke's wife, got that?"

Wow, the face...

"I am Iseul Kang."

"Iseul, huh..." She smirked.

"I thank you for carrying Derrick, but can you please divorce the Duke right after you give birth? Because as long as I remember, I am the next Duchess. Also, you know that the Duke was the one who killed Cressida in the novel right?"

This girl must've lost her mind.

Without any warning, I stood up holding the herbal tea in my hand as I pour slowly the tea on top of her head.

Her eyes widened in shock and her body began to tremble.

"You must've think too great of yourself just because the Empress is backing you up."

I gave her the same intensity of the glare she's giving me.

"Listen, I don't care about the novel! The moment I reincarnated here, I tried to leave and have a peaceful life with my son Derrick, but things changed for a reason. Now that I am already a part of the Duke's life, and I love him as much as he loves me, as someone who knows what might happen in the future, I will try everything in my power to prevent my death, and the rebellion."

"Ugh, really? You're annoying."

"I won't let you have your way with our family..."

I put down the tea cup and walked away from the garden, I saw Jennie waiting by the entrance. She immediately ran to me and assisted me on walking.

"Tell the other maids to kick the lady out, as much as possible send her out without being polite."

Jennie gulped and nodded. She escorted me to my room and she immediately went out to tell the other maids the thing that I wanted her to do.

Until now I didn't noticed that my heart was beating rapidly.

"Haa, she's insane..." I muttered.

Her eyes were dark and holds a malicious intent, she's looking at me as if she's choking me inside of her head...

I got the feeling that she's dangerous. Maybe I should tell Regan to increase the security in the whole mansion?

Suddenly I felt a gentle kick from my stomach, I immediately smiled and caressed the part where Derrick kicked.

"Are you comforting mommy?"

As if a response he kicked once again. I giggled, in the past he would terribly kick without mercy, but now he's gentle huh?

"If anything happens, I will definitely give birth to you. I will definitely let you see the outer world okay? So just wait and relax for now."

If I think about it, if I die in the labor, I hope that Regan would do what I say to take care of Derrick. I hope he won't do the things that his father did to him. I hope he would love Derrick just like how he loves me and Calix...

If I die, Regan might find a new wife that Derrick will call mother, yes it hurts for me. But I also can't live if he dies...

Just like how the previous Empress...

Everyone say that we can always make another child... It's so hard for mothers to think of that. To think of the bright side in the midst of mourning and postpartum depression.

There are three kinds of mother and three outcomes of labors.

One is the normal type of mother who would love her child no matter what happens, the outcome of her labor might be 1, she'll able to get pregnant again or 2, she'll not be able to get pregnant again because of health issues.

Second type of mother is those who doesn't have a choice. She'll either choose to die just to let her child live, or she'll save herself. The outcome of the labor would be 1, she'll cope up with the depression of her loss and have a child again or 2, she'll be childless for the rest of her life because she couldn't get pregnant again because of declining health.

Third type is those who doesn't give a crap, they'll either abort or sell their child, it doesn't matter to them if they're incapable or infertile.

The child that I might lose is my love, flesh and blood, even a human would die for a pet animal that they love and it isn't even blood related...

I carried him in my womb for 9 months, even though I haven't held him in my arms yet, I can already feel the long lasting bond. It's telling me that he's going to be my everything at the time.

Maybe I am a bit different, because back in my world, there are mothers who loses their mind because their child died, they received treatments and therapies. There are also those women who would mourn for their loss, the time will pass and their wounds will heal but they would never forget the pain when their love ones died.

But in the world where I'm living in, is not entirely different, the only thing is, heir is the only thing that women would die for. The society would criticize you if you don't have an heir. Women in this world is scared of criticism.

I'm not saying that I'm afraid to be criticize.

I'm saying that I don't want to regret...

Because Cressida's body is not strong enough to get pregnant for a second time...

Unedited

July 22, 2022

LizzannaWrites