The Obsession of the Tyrant Sub-Male Lead is Unnecessary

Episode 23

The Waterfall-style soup, which is thick and savory, unlike the clear and mild Clarence-style, was not often made in the imperial palace.

Of course, Verona could have taught the recipe to the palace chefs, but she wanted the rustic style she used to have at home, not something extravagant.

Just imagining the taste made Verona’s mouth water.

‘Why is this happening? I just had dinner not too long ago.’

It had been a long time since she felt such an appetite. The last time was when she was ten years old, having used all her strength rescuing people from a shipwreck when she first went to the sea as a mermaid.

‘The Pope even gave a special blessing, and I came here in a top-notch carriage, so I shouldn’t be that tired. How strange.’

Nevertheless, when she thought of the soup, Verona couldn’t bear to wait and looked at Mary with sparkling eyes. Mary had no choice but to nod.

“Alright, Princess. I’ll make it right away. But I can’t get the exact same ingredients, so it will taste different from what you had at Waterfall. Is that okay?”

“You’re a top-notch soup maker. The types of clams might be different, but that’s fine.”

“Then I’ll hurry and bring it.”

Mary rushed out, telling her not to fall asleep until she returned.

At that moment, Luigi ordered Olivia to take out the trash and then approached Verona.

“I’ve finished organizing, Princess. You must be tired from your long journey.”

“It’s okay, Luigi. I heard you even finished organizing the storage. Thank you.”

“It’s my job, Princess. But, Princess.”

Luigi came closer and lowered her voice.

“Uh… I feel embarrassed to ask this…”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been serving you for about a month, but I haven’t heard about your monthly cycle. I could ask Mary, but on the day of the engagement ceremony, His Majesty…”

Verona’s face turned red. Anticipating what Luigi was about to say, she quickly spoke up.

“Ah! Well, my cycle is irregular, so Mary might not have mentioned it. So…”

“Oh, I see.”

As Verona stammered, Luigi looked like she wanted to say more but stepped back for now.

‘Come to think of it… I still haven’t had my period.’

She had forgotten due to the tidal wave incident.

Verona’s heart began to race.

“Princess, I brought the soup!”

Just then, Mary entered the room. Verona looked at her happily.

“You made it quickly, Mary!”

“They were just making soup for His Majesty’s breakfast tomorrow, so I made it quickly. Please enjoy it.”

Mary placed the tray on Verona’s lap and handed her a spoon. Seeing the soup full of plump clams made her mouth water. Just as Verona was about to take a big spoonful, a sudden fishy smell hit her nose.

“Ugh!”

Verona dropped the spoon and gagged.

“Oh my! Princess, are you alright?”

Mary turned pale as she watched Verona gag and cover her mouth.

The nausea didn’t stop after just one gag, and Luigi had to bring cold water and pat her back several times before it subsided.

Once Verona seemed to have calmed down, Luigi spoke cautiously again.

“Princess, I think it’s best to call the royal physician, just in case.”

“Oh dear. Princess, did you overexert yourself? You are delicate, but you’ve never been seriously ill! What should we do?”

Mary, not fully understanding Luigi’s words, looked upset. Luigi sighed and spoke.

“Mary, that’s not it.”

“What?”

“I’m saying it could be good news.”

“What do you mean, Head Maid?”

“Let’s wait and hear from the physician. Olivia, please call the royal physician.”

Luigi said to Olivia, who was standing in the corner. Startled and confused, Verona suddenly came to her senses at those words.

‘That’s right. Olivia was here too.’

But Olivia didn’t look upset.

“Yes! I’ll do that.”

Olivia smiled brightly and ran out quickly.

‘Olivia is smart, so she must understand what Luigi meant….’

It was strange to see her acting that way.

But before Verona could think further, Carlos suddenly appeared.

“Verona!”

The door burst open with a loud bang as Carlos rushed to the bed, breathing heavily.

“I heard you called the royal physician? Are you unwell? With the Pope’s blessing, you shouldn’t be sick. What’s going on… could someone have poisoned the food?”

“Carlos, calm down…”

“Verona, did you eat this soup? Who made it?”

Carlos glared at the soup bowl on the side table, making Mary quickly wave her hands.

“No! I didn’t poison it!”

“Mary, did you make this?”

“The Princess wanted to eat it, so I made it just now. But why would I poison it? And the Princess didn’t even eat a spoonful yet. She gagged just from smelling it!”

“…She gagged?”

Carlos was surprised and then slowly looked at Verona. His eyes showed suspicion, then joy, and finally certainty.

“Verona, could it be…”

“Your Majesty!”

At that moment, the royal physician burst in carrying a large medical bag.

“Hurry, come here.”

Carlos quickly stepped aside. The royal physician wasted no time in spreading his bag on the bed and began taking out various instruments. Verona was bewildered.

“What’s happening all of a sudden?”

“Princess, when was your last period?”

“What? Um, well, that…”

With Carlos standing right there, she found it hard to answer. Not only was he present, but also Olivia, Retrius, and other maids were in the room. Verona’s face turned bright red. Sensing her discomfort, Luigi ushered everyone out.

“Please tell me quickly, Princess. I need to prescribe the right treatment.”

His expression was so serious that Verona reluctantly answered.

After listening to her, the royal physician examined her thoroughly. Then he asked again.

“So, it’s been about two months since Your Majesty spent your first night together?”

“How do you know that…”

“I told him.”

Carlos interjected.

“…Carlos told you?”

“It was necessary for an accurate diagnosis. You seemed very hesitant to call the physician, making it hard to diagnose, so I had to.”

“….”

“So, Burton, how long has it been?”

Carlos urged the royal physician. The physician’s face brightened as he spoke.

“Congratulations. Just as His Majesty suspected, you are about two months pregnant. To be precise, you are seven weeks along.”

“What?!”

Verona nearly screamed at his words. Carlos looked incredibly moved and anxiously rubbed his hands together.

“So, Verona’s symptoms are morning sickness?”

“Yes, exactly. Very typical symptoms of pregnancy!”

Even the royal physician seemed excited.

While Verona was still in shock, Carlos asked the royal physician many questions, and he answered them all diligently. Most of the discussion was about foods that could help alleviate her symptoms.

After a while, Carlos, having listened attentively, instructed the royal physician to pack up his bag and leave.

“Verona, is there anything you want to eat? Just tell me, and I will get it for you.”

“….”

“What do you want to eat? Ah, you wanted soup? I’ll have the chef make a fresh one.”

“…It’s fine.”

Suddenly, she felt a wave of sadness. Looking at the now-cold soup made her feel inexplicably miserable. Her previously ravenous appetite vanished.

Tears welled up in Verona’s eyes. Carlos was visibly flustered.

“No, Verona. Why are you crying?”

“I don’t want Clarence-style soup. I want Waterfall-style soup…”

“Then I’ll have Mary make it again. We can use something other than clams since you said the smell was off.”

“If it doesn’t have clams, it’s not Waterfall-style soup…”

“But Verona, it’s because of the morning sickness. Is there any other food you want?”

Carlos spoke gently, lowering himself to her eye level. His careful questioning made Verona cry even more.

‘It’s really… I’m really pregnant.’

Verona buried her face in her hands and sobbed. She could sense Carlos’s deep concern, but she couldn’t control her emotions.

When they had first spent the night together, she had eagerly hoped for this child. The fact that a child was growing inside her made her incredibly happy.

The only problem was…

“Verona, are you uncomfortable anywhere? Should I call the physician again?”

The fact that this man before her was the child’s father.

Verona, still sniffling, lifted her tear-streaked face.

Carlos looked heartbroken as he sat beside her, gently wiping her face with a handkerchief.

“Are you scared? You don’t need to be. Our child will be raised with the utmost care. I’ll have the royal physician stationed at the palace from tomorrow. Everything related to the birth will be the highest priority…”

“Carlos.”

Verona interrupted him.

“Yes?”

“I’m hungry.”

No sooner had she spoken than her stomach growled loudly.

Her emotions were on a roller coaster. She felt both good and bad. She was glad yet fearful that this man was at her beck and call.

Until now, she had just thought her symptoms were strange, but knowing it was morning sickness made her appetite return. This bizarre feeling was all because of the child inside her.

‘Anyone else would think I’m crazy.’

Feeling extremely embarrassed, Verona began to cry again.