The Fated Sword: The Duke's Second Life

Chapter 7

He could not understand why his mother was at Liora's residence so early in the morning. Before he could enter, however, Liora's voice came from inside.

“No, Mother. I dare not.”

Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of restrained emotion beneath it.

Maxwell remained still. What?

Inside the room, Liora was kneeling on the cold marble floor. Both hands rested against the hard surface to support herself, while a bowl filled with herbal medicine sat before her.

Liora knew exactly why the medicine had been brought to her.

Every wife of the Maxwell family was required to drink the contraceptive herbal medicine after a night with the Duke. It had been a family rule for years, especially because the Duchess Dowager did not want any woman giving birth without her approval.

But last night had been different.

For the first time in a long while, Liora had felt that Maxwell had truly been her husband. She still carried the warmth of yesterday night in her heart. The love and desire.

That was why she had deliberately refused the medicine that morning.

She knew that her decision could result in punishment.

She also knew that Maxwell might become angry if he discovered that she had refused it.

Yet, just this once, Liora wanted to hold on to a little hope.

The hope that perhaps, one day, she might have a child with the man she had loved for so long.

“I did not sleep with Maxwell last night, we didn't... ” Liora answered softly. “You know how much Maxwell dislikes me, Mother. That is why I don't think I need to drink it.”

Her gaze fell to the bowl in front of her.

Perhaps you can give the medicine to Consort Shera. She will be serving Maxwell tonight.”

The atmosphere inside the room changed.

The woman standing before Liora slowly raised her head.

She was the Duchess Dowager of the Maxwell family, a woman who had been the center of authority within the household for decades.

Although she was well past her youth, she had lost none of the elegance that surrounded her. Her dark brown hair was arranged perfectly, decorated with a white jade hairpin. Her long, deep-blue gown flowed gracefully around her figure, while golden embroidery along the sleeves displayed the status she held.

Her face required little makeup, yet every movement carried the authority of a woman accustomed to being respected.

She never needed to raise her voice to make others lower their heads.

A single glance from her was enough.

She walked slowly toward a chair beside the room and sat down calmly.

Liora remained kneeling on the floor.

“Liora,” she said after a moment, “do you know what disappoints me most about you?”

Liora lowered her head.

“I don't know, Mother.”

“You think too much about your own feelings.”

The Duchess Dowager lifted her chin slightly.

“Consort Shera is the Emperor's sister. You should understand her position.”

Liora said nothing.

“If Shera succeeds in giving birth to Maxwell's child, that child will carry imperial blood through its mother. Even if he is not the Crown Prince, his status will still be far higher than that of a child born to a woman like you.”

Liora tightened her grip on the fabric of her dress.

The Duchess Dowager continued with growing confidence.

“Imagine if the Crown Prince becomes Emperor one day. A child born to Shera would become the little uncle of the next Emperor. Do you understand what that would mean for the Maxwell family?”

Liora remained silent.

“It would mean that our family would have a much closer connection to the throne.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

“Even our ancestors would be proud.”

Maxwell, standing outside the door, clenched his fist.

But his mother was not finished.

“Now compare that to you.”

Her gaze fell upon Liora.

“If your child becomes the first child born into this family, what could we possibly gain?”

Liora bit her lip.

“You would only give birth to an heir of the Maxwell family. After that, our lives would remain the same. We would still be nothing more than an ordinary noble family serving the kingdom. At best, Maxwell would retain his position as a duke and government official.”

Her tone became increasingly dismissive.

“But if Shera gives birth to Maxwell's child, we will gain something far greater.”

Liora slowly raised her head.

“Mother...”

“What?”

“I only want to have a child with my husband. From our love and...”

The answer left the woman in the chair let out a quiet laugh at the moment.

“A child with your husband? Love?”

She shook her head.

“You truly don't understand the position of our family.”

"And, does he love you? Poor Liora..."

Maxwell stood even more rigidly outside the door.

Liora lowered her head again.

“I know my position.”

“No. If you truly understood it, you would not have refused the medicine.”

Her voice grew sharper.

“All this time, I never wanted a child born from your womb or from any other woman who could not benefit this family. None of you can raise the status of the Maxwell family.”

She paused.

“But things are different now.”

Her eyes brightened when she mentioned Shera.

“Now we have Consort Shera.”

The Duchess Dowager leaned back in her chair with a satisfied expression.

“If she gives birth to a son with Maxwell, I will become the grandmother of the uncle of the future heir to the kingdom. Wouldn't that be something that would make the ancestors of the Maxwell family smile from beyond the grave?”

Maxwell's fingers tightened even more.

His nails had begun to turn pale from the pressure.

Yet he remained where he was.

He did not enter. Not yet.

He wanted to hear everything.

Not because he wanted to learn more about his mother.

He wanted to understand how deeply Liora had been forced to endure all of this alone.

Inside the room, Liora stared at the bowl of herbal medicine that had remained in front of her.

“So Mother doesn't want me to have a child?”

“That's not what I said.”

The answer came lightly.

“I only want you to understand that a woman must know when she deserves something and when she should give it to someone more useful.”

Liora fell silent.

“Shera can bring this family closer to the throne. You cannot. You hear me!”

The words drained the color from Liora's face.

Yet the Duchess Dowager did not stop.

“So don't act as though you have the same rights as she does.”

Liora lowered her head.

“I understand.”

The two words were so soft that they were almost inaudible.

Maxwell closed his eyes for a moment.

Then he opened them again.

His gaze had changed.

He was no longer listening as a Duke trying to understand a family matter.

He was listening as a husband.

He realized that Liora had not only been deprived of his affection all these years.

She had never even been given the chance to fight for her own place within the Maxwell family.

Just at the same time when Liora almost drink the herbal medicine.

"Stop it, Liora!"

Maxwell finally raised his hand. The door in front of him slowly opened.

The sound of the hinges immediately made both women turn toward him.

Liora's eyes widened.

The Duchess Dowager slowly rose from her chair.

“Maxwell?”

Maxwell did not answer.

His gaze fell upon Liora, who was still kneeling on the floor.

Then he looked at the bowl of herbal medicine at her hand.

Finally, his eyes shifted toward his mother.

The room fell completely silent.

Maxwell stepped inside.

“I came to take my wife home.”

There was no anger in his voice.

It was the calmness in his tone that made the atmosphere feel even heavier.

He stopped in front of Liora and extended his hand.

“Liora, stand up.”

Liora stared at his hand, her eyes filled with confusion.

As though she had never imagined that Maxwell would come looking for her himself.

Before Liora could reach for his hand, Maxwell added in a voice clear enough for everyone in the room to hear,

“From today onward, no one is to decide what my wife should or should not do without my permission.”

Maxwell's gaze shifted toward his mother.

“Not even you, Mother.”