In the Doghouse - Chapter 163
Richard finally broke the silence.
“Your complexion… Why do you look so unwell? Have you not been eating this entire time?”
“No? I just haven’t had much of an appetite…”
Courtney lifted her head briefly, but as soon as her eyes met Richard’s, she quickly looked away. He wasn’t angry. Instead, he looked worried, speaking in a soft, almost bitter voice.
“Please make sure you eat. If it’s uncomfortable, I can take my meals elsewhere…”
“No, no, it’s just… I’ve been busy, but I’ll start eating here now.”
Courtney hurried to her seat, hastily making up an excuse. Richard, as he sat back down, allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of his lips. Despite the tension between them, he was the same as ever. Her cheeks warmed unexpectedly.
When she took her seat across from him, the attendants immediately brought out the food. Glancing toward the doorway, she noticed an unusual sight.
Isabella and Rebecca were standing side by side, with Rebecca giving Richard a curious look and a small, encouraging nod.
Isabella noticed Courtney watching them and gave Rebecca a nudge with her elbow. Rebecca, looking like a startled rabbit, quickly bowed and left the dining room.
What was that? Courtney frowned, but Richard spoke again before she could dwell on it.
“Please eat. You seem to have lost some weight…”
“Yes…”
Richard acted as though he hadn’t noticed Rebecca’s strange gesture. He was likely aware that Rebecca was worried about how withdrawn Courtney had become. Not wanting to draw attention to it, Courtney chose to ignore it and picked up her fork.
Whether it was due to the tension with Richard or her pregnancy, her appetite was still absent. She couldn’t bring herself to eat the meat she usually enjoyed. Even the thought of chewing it seemed impossible.
Forcing herself, she took a bite of salad, only to grimace as the earthy taste hit her, like eating straw. She tried a spoonful of soup instead, but that only made it worse. The taste was so gamey she nearly gagged. It was baffling, as there was no way the meat served at the palace wasn’t fresh.
Was this going to last throughout her entire pregnancy? A wave of worry hit her, and she set her fork down, completely losing what little appetite she had. Richard spoke again, his voice tinged with concern.
“Are you sure you’re not feeling unwell? Perhaps I should call a physician…”
“No, no, I’m fine.”
She responded hastily, hoping to end the topic. As she absentmindedly stirred her soup, she debated whether it was time to tell him about the pregnancy. Yet, given the current atmosphere, it hardly seemed like they could celebrate the news together.
Richard, oblivious to her internal conflict, interpreted her discomfort differently. If she wasn’t unwell, he thought, then she must still be unhappy for reasons she hadn’t disclosed. He decided to go ahead with his plan.
“Courtney, do you have any plans for the day?”
“Not really… Why?”
She kept her answer vague. If it was something important, she didn’t want to reject him outright. But his response was enough to let her down.
“Could you come to my chambers tonight?”
Courtney’s expression turned into an unmistakable scowl as she immediately responded,
“No. I’m not feeling up to it.”
It was a blatant lie, considering she had just said she was fine. Not bothering to hide her displeasure, she set her fork down with a loud clink.
Regardless of the reason, it felt inappropriate to ask her to his chambers in such a strained atmosphere. Did he really have nothing on his mind but that? It was disappointing, even though she had known this about him.
“Understood,” he replied, surprisingly unbothered by her refusal.
Continuing his meal, he shifted the conversation in a different direction.
“There’s a tea blend I received as a gift once. It’s said to be calming. I’ll send some to you—you should try it before bed.”
“Fine.” she replied tersely.
Richard fell silent, seemingly out of things to say, which suited her just fine. She had no interest in carrying on the conversation, either.
A man fixated only on intense physical encounters, lacking any depth. If past experience was any indication, he still had a childish side. Could a man like that truly be a good father? Would he even be affectionate toward their child? Doubts crept in.
There was another reason she hesitated to mention her pregnancy. Unlike Richard, the Emperor had been desperately waiting for an heir. It felt premature to make an announcement before consulting a physician—the last thing she wanted was to raise unfounded hopes.
Since it was still early, she figured she could wait a bit longer to ensure everything was stable. Courtney put down her utensils and stood, deciding she was finished with the meal. Richard, noticing her movement, quickly rose to his feet as well, but she brushed him off.
“Don’t mind me. Finish your meal.”
“I’m already done.”
Though he’d been eating with apparent gusto, his plate was still half-full. However, Courtney, already in a foul mood, didn’t even notice as she turned and led the way out of the dining room.
Richard followed her into the hallway, where her ladies-in-waiting stood waiting a short distance away. He exchanged a subtle look with Rebecca, who responded with a quick nod.
Thankfully, Courtney hadn’t noticed and walked straight to her room, while Isabella, looking worried, glanced between the Crown Prince and Rebecca before quietly following her lady.
