@virgoess I think the plan was that Astina would die, The Baron (I think that's who was with her) would present the maid's child (which is probably the Baron's) as one conceived before/early on during the transformation, and use it as a puppet ruler while basically taking over the Dukedom himself. However, since Astina not only did not die, but is actively trying to fulfill her duty, fucking the dog, and if she gets knocked up, that would make the maid's secret baby moot, as even if it WERE the Archduke's child, it would be an illegitimate child born out of, and Astina's child would take precedence in inheriting the estate, since she's his lawful wife, even if he is a wolf monster now. This is why the baron is trying to find fault in her in the next couple of chapters, to find an excuse to annul the marriage/chase her out to salvage his plans.