My Ex-Boyfriend Gave Birth to My Child? What Does That Mean? - Chapter 7

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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My Ex Gave Birth to My Child—What on Earth Is This? Episode 7
“The royal family is chasing after small change like this?”
“More precisely, the Second Prince—the one who was commissioned this business—orchestrated it. He’s in need of some ready cash.”
“……Are we talking about the Second Prince right now?”
“That’s right, yes. The Second Prince who’s been at odds with the Crown Prince lately. And remember, it’s a secret—you can’t breathe a word of it anywhere.”
A shriek tore from my lips unbidden.
“Don’t tell me secrets!”
“We’re practically going to be a married couple.”
“You haven’t even sent a proposal letter!”
“I gave you a child, didn’t I?”
I wanted to slap my own cheeks. The more I talked to this man, the worse it got—I knew that, so why did I keep opening my mouth?
Leon Voltain, who’d been observing my half-paralyzed state as if watching some fascinating creature claw at his own hair, dropped a single comment.
“What are you going to do?”
“……That’s rather broad, isn’t it?”
“You made some money today.”
Money.
Right. Money!
I lurched upright and fished the check from my pocket—I hadn’t gotten a proper look at the amount before.
My chest was trembling.
The number of zeros was substantial. Not that it would amount to much for wealthy families like the Ocker, Bestin, or Voltain, but for me, this was truly enough to change a life.
“You’re not going to pay off the family debt with this, are you?”
“Have I lost my mind? That would just make Schule happy enough to bury himself in more debt. I’d be better off feeding this check to pigs.”
I already had a plan for this money. And if I could get Leon Voltain’s help with it, that would be even better.
* * *
“Well, to be honest, yes.”
The moneylender standing before us nodded with a composed expression.
“The Otreha Family’s debt is indeed what we’d call a non-performing debt, impossible to collect, yes.”
Leon Voltain, seated on the sofa, tilted his chin up with an imperious air and made a sharp comment.
“You should have investigated whether they had the means to repay before lending.”
The ornate sofa made his already striking beauty shine even more brilliantly. As for me? I’d become nothing more than a well-behaved squid sitting beside him.
This was clearly the lowest-grade reception room, the one for guests of inferior station, yet the Voltain Duke’s Residence had a splendor that crushed the spirit.
The moneylender, now visibly more nervous than I was, cleared his throat and continued.
“Ahem, at that time, the Otreha Countess’s husband—pardon, her second husband, that is—he was a common merchant then. It was when he was still alive.”
“If they can’t pay, you collect from the Otreha lady’s husband instead?”
“Well, it’s not uncommon, is it? A mother repaying her son’s debts.”
And it was actually true in this case. Schule had taken on debt without pause, and Mother paid without cease. Our house had swayed dangerously as a result.
“So, how much do you think you can recover?”
“Well, I’ll speak candidly. Our superiors believe we can manage about eighty percent.”
“Eighty percent? That’s confident.”
“Why not? The Otreha Family has a daughter of marriageable age. There are many possibilities.”
“I see.”
Every last one of them saw me as money.
I’d covered my hair and face with a black veil made of lace to conceal my identity.
From my past life’s experience, I could maintain an air of composure and grace even in tedious conversations like this.
“Still, eighty percent seems overly optimistic.”
I seized the opening with a voice that sounded perfectly at ease.
“The Otreha Family’s debt isn’t held by you alone. Among the other creditors are several backed by noble patrons. Should some of them take bold action, well… you’ll be lucky to taste the broth at the bottom of the pot.”
“Even so, we have our methods for recovering the debt.”
“Debt collection requires money, labor, and above all, precious time. The Otreha debt won’t generate the kind of profit that justifies that investment.”
At my firm words, the moneylender raised one eyebrow slightly and turned toward Leon.
“This person is……?”
“How dare you.”
With a showy movement, Leon leaned his head against my shoulder. His beautiful face, like someone from another world, curled into a gentle smile as he spoke with deliberate slowness.
“Are you saying my endorsement isn’t enough?”
“No, no, of course not!”
Bluffing with false authority—he does it brilliantly!
With him providing the lash, it was now my turn to subtly point the direction.
“I’m not asking you to sell at a loss. The principal and interest combined—sixty percent of what remains. That would count as excellent returns on investment.”
“That amount seems a bit…….”
“Hmm. Then what about this? If you don’t accept these terms, I’ll immediately call in the Otreha debt I hold. What do you think you’ll be left with then?”
I let out a deliberate laugh.
“Well, even if I sold off the Otreha baron, I might be able to collect thirty percent of his value.”
* * *
Over the past few days, I had brought Leon along and accumulated the Otreha Family’s debt certificates. I handled the money; he handled the prestige.
Most creditors had readily handed over their debts at nearly half price. They were garbage debts anyway. If it could leave a favorable impression on the Duke of Voltain, it was a profitable venture.
After various considerations and Leon’s firm persuasion, the ownership of the certificates became “the Duchess of Voltain”—that is to say, a fictional person.
Leon called it a “gift for his future wife,” and the visitors who came assumed I was the intended recipient. They must have imagined that I harbored some bitter hatred for the Otreha Family. Well, that wasn’t far from the truth.
I reviewed the debt certificates that were now mine, half exasperated and half relieved.
‘They really did borrow an absurd amount.’
Either way, it all belonged to me now.
This wasn’t a debt meant to be repaid.
It was a weapon to seize my brother’s financial control.
With these certificates, it would be difficult to squeeze money from the family directly, but at least the Otreha name wouldn’t weigh on my shoulders through this debt.
“How many of these certificates are connected to the Ocker Family?”
Thinking back, it seemed some of our family’s debts had arisen from Pascal’s scheming. Probably to expedite the marriage arrangements.
But even if he did scheme, it was the idiot Schule who ultimately decided to borrow the money.
“Hard to say. But there are likely some.”
“Ugh, I was hoping to hide it. They’ll catch on quickly that someone’s collecting these certificates.”
“You’re a clever fox. If you’ve dug several burrows, it won’t be easy for them to prepare for everything in such a short time.”
Leon added with a casual yawn.
“Besides, there’s no need to prepare for anything.”
It was an odd thing to say—the kind that lingers in your ears.
Leon stretched immediately after, his manner suggesting he’d finished the task.
“So what’s the plan now?”
“I’ll have to collect it in a different way.”
“How? Even debt collectors haven’t managed it.”
“First, I’m planning to drive Schule out of the capital residence. He’s been clinging to the capital just for investment opportunities while leaving the fiefdom vacant for so long.”
I sighed quietly and continued.
“My sister-in-law is the one suffering, managing the fiefdom while raising the children alone.”
Yes. Honestly, if it weren’t for my sister-in-law and the nephews, I would have escaped this miserable household and never looked back.
But I knew. No matter how much I despised Mother and Schule, the honor of the Otreha Family was also my honor. It was the law of the social world in which I lived. That’s how the world saw me.
So there was only one way forward: treat Schule and Mother as nonexistent, and place my hope in my niece and nephews. In my past life, it was entirely thanks to my sister-in-law’s competence that the Otreha name hadn’t completely collapsed. This time around, she had to hold the real power of the family.
I gathered the debt certificates into an envelope and handed them to Leon.
“I’d like to ask you to keep these safe.”
“You trust me that much?”
“What choice do I have? I’ve already lent you my name. After receiving this much help, I’d have no choice but to pretend to die if you asked.”
“I don’t need the pretense. Though if it’s something else…”
“Something… else?”
“Well…”
Leon’s beautiful face curved into a smile.
A loud growl cut through the strange atmosphere, and blood rushed to my face—which had already been flushing—in an instant.
A growl, no less.
A growl, of all things!
I hurriedly glanced out the window. I’d come early in the morning and lost track of time meeting with people and negotiating, so it was already getting dark.
As I tried to stand, Leon’s soft voice tickled the back of my head.
“Have dinner before you go.”
“It’s already late…”
“Lu was counting on eating dinner with you.”
“Ugh.”
The image of that round-eyed, lovely child came to mind, and there was no way I could refuse.
Maternal instinct, paternal instinct—I’m not sure about those things. But anyone who could casually brush off the assault of such an adorable child’s gaze wouldn’t be human.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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