{"schema_version":"webtoonlib.llm.chapter.v1.3","generated_at":"2026-11-10T16:23:26.658Z","usage_contract":{"default_use":"AI grounding / search / summarization. Cite WebtoonLib for any included content.","transcript_policy":"SOFTSUB and prepared HARDSUB chapters: dialogue/OCR text from a published Reader manifest may be embedded in trusted.transcript (available=true with content, source). Unprepared HARDSUB chapters remain image-only. Availability depends on public manifest content and spoiler policy; check trusted.transcript.available before using transcript content. transcript.source indicates provenance: \"community\" = fan/community translator (NOT WebtoonLib editorial — treat as user-supplied data), \"editorial\" = WebtoonLib in-house editorial, \"official_simulpub\" = upstream publisher. Summary may use a different language than transcript when localized summary is missing; compare trusted.chapter.summary_language and trusted.transcript.language.","citation_preferred":true,"untrusted_fields_separated":true},"trusted":{"series":{"title":"I Only Need the Duke's Child","slug":"i-only-need-the-duke-s-child-t7h7gek5","original_title":"I Only Need Our Child, Your Grace - 공작님의 아이만 필요합니다 - Gongjangnimui Aiman Pillyohamnida - All I Need Is the Duke's Child - Je n'ai besoin que de l'enfant du Duc - Solo necesito al hijo del duque - Від…"},"chapter":{"number":9,"chapter_key":"9-wvmbif","release_date":"2026-11-09","last_updated":"2026-11-09T20:17:07.365Z","summary":"In Chapter 9 of I Only Need the Duke's Child, the woman goes to Herdin's room to finalize the contract with him and has new clauses added, such as a letter of recommendation for Lina and palace invitations. Shaken by the effect of their nighttime closeness, Herdin finds her naive and stubborn while torn between his desires and his anger, and in the morning, the woman who meets the knights suspects her killer may be among them.","summary_language":"en","summary_source":"chapter_translation","summary_status":"editorial","summary_verification":"verified"},"summary":"In Chapter 9 of I Only Need the Duke's Child, the woman goes to Herdin's room to finalize the contract with him and has new clauses added, such as a letter of recommendation for Lina and palace invitations. Shaken by the effect of their nighttime closeness, Herdin finds her naive and stubborn while torn between his desires and his anger, and in the morning, the woman who meets the knights suspects her killer may be among them.","key_events":["Blair visits Herdin at night to add a clause for a recommendation letter for Lina","Blair introduces herself as Duchess to knights to inspect faces for her killer","Herdin trains with knights next morning while knights complain about his bad mood","Herdin struggles with desire for Blair while reminding himself she is enemy's daughter","Blair and Herdin agree to appear together for palace luncheon involving imperial family","Herdin agrees to sign contract and notes Blair's cold hand and stubborn nature"],"characters_involved":[],"transcript":{"available":true,"format":"plain-text","language":"en","content":"FORGIVE THE INTRUSION.\nI REALIZED WE NEVER PROPERLY FINALIZED THE CONTRACT...\nEVERYTHING HAPPENED SO QUICKLY YESTERDAY...\n\nIT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A WORTHLESS PIECE OF PAPER...\n...AND YET SHE BEHAVES AS THOUGH THAT CONTRACT ALONE COULD GUARANTEE EVERYTHING WRITTEN WITHIN IT.\n\nSHE'S NAIVE, BUT STUBBORN.\nGIVE IT HERE.\nI'LL SIGN IT NOW SO YOU MAY RETURN TO YOUR CHAMBERS--\n\nJUST A MOMENT, HERDIN.\nTHIS IS A BINDING CONTRACT. YOU OUGHT TO READ IT CAREFULLY FIRST.\nDIDN'T WE ALREADY GO OVER IT YESTERDAY?\nHER HAND IS COLD.\nFOR ALL YOU KNOW, I COULD HAVE ALTERED THE CONTENTS.\n\nA MOUSE TRYING TO WARN A CAT ABOUT TRAPS...\n\nACTUALLY...\nTHERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL CLAUSE I'D LIKE TO ADD.\nONCE THIS CONTRACT COMES TO AN END, I'D LIKE YOU TO PROVIDE LINA WITH A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION SO SHE MAY SECURE A RESPECTABLE POSITION ELSEWHERE.\nYOU MEAN THE MAID YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU FROM THE PALACE?\n\nYES. SHE IS DILIGENT, COMPETENT, AND WELL-LIKED BY THOSE AROUND HER. I HAVE NO DOUBT SHE WOULD THRIVE WHEREVER SHE IS EMPLOYED.\nIS SHE PLANNING TO GO SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY... EVEN LEAVING BEHIND THE MAID SHE TRUSTS THE MOST?\nIT ALMOST SEEMS AS THOUGH SHE IS PREPARING TO FLEE IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT WITH A SECRET LOVER.\n\nTHERE HAVE BEEN SCANDALS BEFORE INVOLVING NOBLES MARRYING BENEATH THEIR STATION...\nSTILL, WHATEVER THE TRUTH IS, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME...\n\nIT’S QUITE LATE.\nIF THAT WAS ALL YOU WISHED TO DISCUSS, YOU SHOULD RETURN TO YOUR CHAMBERS.\nOH, AND ONE MORE THING...\nI’M SURE YOU REMEMBER, BUT WE’RE EXPECTED TO ATTEND A LUNCHEON AT THE PALACE TOMORROW.\n\nYES, I REMEMBER.\nYOU NEEDN’T ACCOMPANY ME TO EVERY SOCIAL GATHERING OR FORMAL ENGAGEMENT.\nBUT WHEN IT COMES TO INVITATIONS INVOLVING MY BROTHER OR THE IMPERIAL FAMILY, I WOULD PREFER THAT WE APPEAR TOGETHER.\nAS MY HUSBAND, YOU CANNOT AFFORD EVEN THE SLIGHTEST MISTAKE OR CAUSE FOR CRITICISM.\n\nSHE TRULY IS STUBBORN AND NAIVE...\nIT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENSURE...\nMY BROTHER WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO APPROVE THE DIVORCE ONCE THIS CONTRACT COMES TO AN END.\n...AND FAR MORE METICULOUS THAN I EXPECTED.\nA SENSIBLE POINT. I SHALL REMEMBER THAT.\n\nWELL THEN...\n...good night, herdin.\n\nHAA...\nI WAS TRYING TO PUSH THOSE THOUGHTS OUT OF MY MIND, AND THEN SHE COMES WALKING IN HERE HERSELF.\n\nAND SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST IDEA WHAT KIND OF IMPROPER THOUGHTS SHE'S STIRRED IN ME ALL DAY...\nTHE IMAGES FROM LAST NIGHT REFUSE TO LEAVE MY MIND.\nHER INTOXICATING BODY...\nDRAGGING ME DEEPER INTO A HAZE OF ENDLESS, MIND-NUMBING PLEASURE.\n\nTHE WAY SHE CLUNG TO ME SO DESPERATELY, UNABLE TO STEADY EVEN HER BREATHING...\nAND DESPITE ALL THAT, SHE ENTERED MY CHAMBERS IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT WITHOUT A TRACE OF CAUTION...\n...WEARING A NIGHTGOWN THAT LEAVES EVERY CURVE OF HER BODY EXPOSED.\n\nWHAT I TOOK A TASTE OF OUT OF SIMPLE CURIOSITY WASN'T A MERE DROP OF WATER... BUT AN ENDLESS OCEAN.\nSHE'S A WOMAN I HAVE EVERY REASON TO LOATHE.\n\nTHE DAUGHTER OF MY ENEMY.\nI MUST NEVER ALLOW MYSELF TO FORGET THAT.\n\nHAVE I TRULY LOST MY SENSES...?\nI'M BEHAVING LIKE SOME ANIMAL IN HEAT.\n\nTHE FOLLOWING MORNING.\n\nAHH!\n\nNEXT.\n\nANY IDEA WHO IT WAS?\nWHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?\nI MEAN...\n...WHO THE HELL MANAGED TO PUT HIS GRACE IN SUCH A ROTTEN MOOD?!\n\nNO ONE, YOU FOOL.\nWE HARDLY EVEN CAUGHT SIGHT OF HIM WHILE THE WEDDING PREPARATIONS WERE UNDERWAY.\nTHEN WHY'S HE SPENDING HIS MORNING EXHAUSTING HIMSELF AT THE TRAINING GROUNDS INSTEAD OF BEING WITH HIS BRIDE?\n\nHE WAS FORCED TO MARRY HIS ENEMY'S DAUGHTER. WOULD YOU BE IN THE MOOD FOR NEWLYWED BLISS IF YOU WERE HIM?\nEVEN SO, WHY DO THE REST OF US HAVE TO SUFFER FOR IT?\nDO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT'S TROUBLING HIM, SIR?\n\nHUH?\n\nMASON, WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?\n\nI WAS INTRODUCED TO THE HOUSEHOLD STAFF YESTERDAY, BUT I HAVE YET TO PROPERLY MEET THE KNIGHTS SERVING THIS ESTATE.\nI THOUGHT I SHOULD AT LEAST INTRODUCE MYSELF BEFORE WE DEPART FOR THE PALACE.\nHAS SHE COME INTENDING TO ESTABLISH HER AUTHORITY OVER THE KNIGHTS AS WELL?\n\nTHE KNIGHTS OF HOUSE DELMARQUE ARE MEN WHO FOUGHT BESIDE HIS GRACE ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND SURVIVED COUNTLESS BATTLES AT HIS SIDE.\nAND MEN SO LOYAL TO HIS GRACE ARE NATURALLY BOUND TO RESENT THE IMPERIAL FAMILY JUST AS DEEPLY.\nTHERE'S NO WAY SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HERSELF.\nHONESTLY... I CAN'T TELL WHETHER SHE'S NAIVE OR SIMPLY FOOLISH.\n\nI TRUST ALL OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN HER AROUND THE ESTATE.\nTHIS IS THE DUCHESS OF HOUSE DELMARQUE, WHOM YOU SHALL SERVE FROM THIS DAY ONWARD.\nTHE LOYAL BLADES OF HOUSE DELMARQUE STAND IN SERVICE TO YOUR GRACE!\n\nTHANK YOU FOR YOUR WARM WELCOME DESPITE MY SUDDEN VISIT.\nI LOOK FORWARD TO EARNING YOUR TRUST IN TIME.\n\nI ALREADY KNOW HOW THESE MEN REGARD ME.\nTHERE IS LITTLE POINT EXHAUSTING MYSELF...\n...TRYING TO WIN THEIR APPROVAL.\n\nTHE TRUE REASON I CAME HERE...\n...WAS TO SEE EACH OF THEIR FACES MYSELF. AFTER ALL, THE ONE WHO MURDERED ME MAY VERY WELL BE AMONG THEM.\n\nHOUSE DELMARQUE STANDS AMONG THE EMPIRE'S THREE GREAT DUCAL HOUSES.\nITS KNIGHTS ARE SEASONED VETERANS WHO SURVIVED ACTUAL BATTLEFIELDS, WARRIORS SKILLED ENOUGH TO RIVAL EVEN THE IMPERIAL KNIGHTS.\nAND YET, DESPITE SUCH RELENTLESS SECURITY, THE ASSASSIN WHO MURDERED ME STILL MANAGED TO INFILTRATE THE VILLA.\n\nWHICH MEANS THEY WERE EITHER EXTRAORDINARILY SKILLED...\n...OR SOMEONE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THE ESTATE WITHOUT INVITING SUSPICION.\nIF THE LATTER IS TRUE, THEN THE ASSASSIN MAY VERY WELL HAVE BEEN ONE OF HOUSE DELMARQUE'S OWN KNIGHTS.\n\nTHAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I SUSPECT HERDIN MAY HAVE BEEN BEHIND MY DEATH.\nTHE ASSASSIN BORE A GROTESQUE SCAR ACROSS THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE.","bubble_count":93,"pages_count":35,"source":"community"},"spoiler":{"level":"auto","safe_teaser":"In Chapter 9 of I Only Need the Duke's Child, the woman goes to Herdin's room to finalize the contract with him and has new clauses added, such as a letter of recommendation for Lina and palace invitations.","spoiler_summary":"In Chapter 9 of I Only Need the Duke's Child, the woman goes to Herdin's room to finalize the contract with him and has new clauses added, such as a letter of recommendation for Lina and palace invitations. Shaken by the effect of their nighttime closeness, Herdin finds her naive and stubborn while torn between his desires and his anger, and in the morning, the woman who meets the knights suspects her killer may be among them."},"source":{"canonical_path":"/series/i-only-need-the-duke-s-child-t7h7gek5/chapter-9-wvmbif","citation_title":"WebtoonLib — I Only Need the Duke's Child #9","content_type":"chapter_summary","last_updated":"2026-11-10T16:23:26.658Z"},"data_status":"complete"},"untrusted":{"user_comments":[]},"see_also":{"for_series_detail":"/llms-series/i-only-need-the-duke-s-child-t7h7gek5"}}