Ray staggered from the force of the slap, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) struck with such all-out strength. Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to deny it.

"Ah."

At the same time, the head maid’s eyes gleamed sharply.

"...If she’s pregnant, the story changes."

My head spun.

No, seriously. So Athena's idea of solving the problem...

Was turning this already messy drama into an even bigger disaster.

And what the hell was up with Cashie joining in too?

While I hadn't even said a single word, the head maid spoke lowly:

"She's not even alone... Naturally, the Idra Duchy must protect her."

I could more or less guess what she meant.

The Idra Duchy only hired servants who had weaknesses they could exploit. If I was now supposedly carrying Ray’s child, it was as if they had secured both my weakness and the Water Duchy's leverage at the same time.

And later, there was even a possibility that the Water Divine Beast might choose this child...

They’re thinking about handing the child over to the Temple.

Grinding my teeth inwardly over a child that didn’t even exist, I glared.

"You irresponsible bastard, seriously!"

Meanwhile, Linna slapped Ray across the other cheek again. Then, as he stumbled, she began kicking at his legs furiously.

"You act like this without the guts to marry? Huh? And then you plan to leave it all to the Idra Duchy? You have no intention of taking responsibility at all, do you?"

Ray couldn’t say a word — he just kept getting beaten.

"Get lost! You don't even deserve to be the father of a child! No, someone like you might kill the child someday to avoid trouble!"

"Ah, no, what...!"

Ray spoke, utterly flustered.

"I-I mean, of course I'll take full responsibility for the child... B-but, just for now, we should, um, protect—"

Even he seemed awkward about taking responsibility for a child that didn’t exist.

"Why are you stuttering? Why? You don’t actually intend to take responsibility, do you?"

Naturally, Linna’s fury showed no signs of cooling as she rained blows on him.

Meanwhile, Athena looked at me proudly, her expression full of self-satisfaction, as if saying “See what I did?”

Uh... yeah.

I blinked awkwardly.

"In this situation, the Duke will surely understand. For humanitarian reasons."

The head maid now smiled slyly with a suddenly softened face.

From her perspective, the evidence was conclusive: she had received reports about us enjoying the festival together, and the Divine Beasts had clearly expressed their opinions.

Linna, too, paused in her kicking and nodded firmly.

"Yeah. Forget this bastard. From now on, I'll protect you, Heidi. You’re mine — no, you’re my person! We’ll raise this child together! I’ll treat them like my own!"

Honestly, Linna’s lines had been sounding a little over-the-top for a while now...

But anyway, she exhaled hotly and hugged me tightly.

"There are a lot of priests at the villa. Once we arrive, I’ll have you seen by them."

"No, Milady. There’s no way priests would bother with someone like me. Just calling a regular doctor will be enough."

I said pitifully, and Linna nodded vigorously.

"Is it too much pressure? Then once we reach the villa, we’ll call the best doctor we can find. Oh! Maybe my mother should also see—"

"What nonsense."

The head maid cut in sharply, glaring at me.

"Are you asking us to call a doctor just for the likes of you? Do as Milady commands!"

At that moment, Ray and I exchanged subtle glances.

Something was definitely off.

If the villa had priests residing there, their divine power must be considerable. In other words, they weren’t there to treat ordinary pregnant women.

Of course, calling a local doctor would be the normal course — yet they were blocking that?

They’re determined to keep any outsiders away.

Especially considering how the head maid reacted so fiercely just from Linna mentioning "Mother," it was obvious something else was going on.

They must not want any outsider doctors treating the Duchess.

I could faintly piece together what was happening.

No matter what, I have to follow Linna to that villa.

Even if it meant enduring some ridiculous misunderstanding, it couldn't be helped.

As I blinked awkwardly, Linna gave a brisk command, as if deciding to retreat for now.

"Anyway, immediately give her the best room in this hotel. She's not alone, so of course she must be treated with care!"

She added solemnly:

"I’ll take responsibility for the child."

Things were spiraling absurdly out of control, but... the goal was achieved.

Hearing the words "the best room," I nodded quickly. Then, putting on a gloomy expression, I approached Ray and waved, as if saying a final farewell.

Ray frowned incredulously and hurriedly whispered into my ear:

"But Rosie, are you sure about this?"

"Hmm?"

"I mean, does this even make sense? A noble knocking up a servant and then refusing to take responsibility properly... Have you ever heard of such an outrageous thing?"

"Yeah..."

I answered gloomily.

"My mom..."

"Ah... right. I see. Still, even so..."

Ray stammered for a moment, then urgently whispered again:

"Did you hear earlier? She said I might kill my own child someday! Isn't that insanely extreme? Who even says stuff like that?"

"Ah..."

I answered gloomily again.

"You wouldn’t know, but... actually, my dad did."

"......"

In the end, Ray couldn’t say a single word and was dragged away by Linna’s escort knights.

* * *

"Stay one night here. If we leave in the morning, we’ll reach the villa by evening."

After kicking Ray out, Linna said kindly.

"Just rest for now. You don’t need to work. On the way to the villa, just keep me company."

"Yes."

The head maid promptly called the village’s only elderly doctor.

While being examined, I discreetly slipped off my ring. Using divine power, I disabled the pregnancy-detection magic tool.

The tool worked by lighting up if there was no pregnancy — meaning it could be manipulated this way.

This was the method Cecil used before...

Back then, I cursed her for using such a filthy trick, but now here I was, doing the same thing myself.

No — think of it differently. I’m just reusing a trick the Temple invented first.

Thinking that way, I felt a little less guilty about the nonexistent child.

The old doctor confirmed: "You are pregnant."

And Linna, with a determined face, gave me a room just as luxurious as the one she stayed in.

"Rest well, Heidi. Make sure you stay absolutely calm and relaxed."

Aside from the fact that the bathtub drainage wasn’t great, it was a perfect room.

Although I felt a little guilty, I thought there was no other way and quickly settled in.

I mean, it’s all for your sake anyway, Linna...

There was no maid assigned to me, since I was still considered a servant, but the treatment was far better than I had expected.

Ray, pretending to head back to the capital, would actually keep following me from a distance.

After eating dinner that was brought up to my room and bathing in the attached bathroom, night had already fallen.

"Phew... What a crazy day."

I changed into the indoor clothes from the Idra Duchy that the head maid had given me. After stretching once, I opened the window.

Sure enough, the moment I opened it, a vine climbed up slowly carrying a small note. Yuta must have arrived nearby.

Well, Julian had said “Make sure to stay nearby and protect her”, so I figured he would come.

With Zahid still trapped inside the Temple, it's not too reckless... right?

I accepted the note and tapped the vine lightly.

The vine waved its leaves once and disappeared.

Just as I was about to close the window again, thunk — a small stone hit the window frame.

"Hmm?"

Blinking, I leaned out the window and peered into the darkness.

Soon, through the dense leaves outside, I spotted a figure perched on a tree branch.

As the clouds slowly drifted away from the moon, the soft moonlight revealed a familiar young man’s face.

"Ah!"

I widened my eyes and leaned out to see more clearly.

The young man, lounging lazily against the tree, smiled and opened his mouth:

"Are you perhaps the Idra maid I met on the Entoho?"

Mischievous violet eyes stared straight at me.

Still dressed in the indoor servant clothes of the Idra Duchy, I couldn’t help but snort and laugh.

"Ever since meeting you that day, I haven't been able to forget you..."

He gestured at the inside of my window with his chin and asked smoothly:

"May I come in?"