* * *

A message arrived from the Del Mare family home. They asked her to visit if she had time. With many people gossiping about the scandal between her and Rublier, she had been staying secluded in the newlywed house, avoiding meetings, so she had plenty of time.

“Larie, I need to visit home. Please prepare the carriage.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Even without Rublier, she was still called Madam in this house. It was natural since they were married. Madam, Madam. Hearing it every day, she had become less startling than before. Despite not intending to adapt, she was naturally getting used to it.

Satin was quite surprised to find herself accepting it so naturally.

Thinking about the day of the divorce, I shouldn’t be adapting so easily.

Miss. Once the young lady of Del Mare, she had now become Madam and Mrs. Satin. The title that had gradually seeped in felt new again.

“When I get divorced, I’ll be confused for a while again.”

In that regard, she envied Rublier. He would always be Sir Ka Dillon, now and in the future.

“Madam, are you ready to leave?”

The notification that the carriage was ready arrived. Satin cleared her mind and stood up.

The carriage left the suburbs and entered the main street of the city. The curtains of the carriage still bore the Del Mare emblem. Recognizing the guardian family’s emblem, other carriages gave way, allowing hers to proceed smoothly until it stopped in front of the Del Mare family home.

Satin pulled back the curtain and got out.

Unconsciously, she looked around the house. It was strange. After just a few days living in the newlywed house, the family home she had lived in all her life felt unfamiliar. Despite the family home being larger, living in the newlywed house with its pasture and lake made the walled city estate feel cramped and narrow.

Satin tilted her head.

“…Was I made for the countryside?”

Having lived among bustling crowds, the new environment must have been interesting.

Still, despite the change in lifestyle, there weren’t as many inconveniences as expected. It seemed she could have adapted well even if she had been sent to the countryside after breaking off the engagement.

Oh well. It would have been nice to know sooner, but now it’s too late.

Upon entering the family home, the servants greeted her enthusiastically.

Especially those who remembered Satin being out of sorts just before moving to the newlywed house looked her up and down with relief.

“Oh, you look much better!”

“Really?”

“You must be getting along well with Sir Rublier? It seems our worries were unfounded.”

“Getting along? That man went on a long business trip.”

She had seen Rublier for just one day and had been alone since. There was no time to get along or not.

“That man?”

But oddly, the servants focused on the term Satin used. She tilted her head and corrected herself.

“Sir Ka Dillon…?”

“What? Sir Ka Dillon?”

“He’s a knight, isn’t he? Certified by the Papal Palace, Sir Ka Dillon.”

“How can you call your husband so awkwardly? This is supposed to be the honeymoon phase.”

“How long do you think we’ve been married? And he’s on a business trip, so what honeymoon?”

“Why are you being shy in such a strange way? Sir Paladin would be disappointed if he knew. Oh, I almost forgot. I heard the Holy Knights are touring the dioceses on behalf of the Papal Palace.”

“Really? So that’s why it takes two months.”

“My goodness, you didn’t know?”

“He didn’t tell me what the mission was, so how could I know? Of course, I didn’t know.”

“Now that you’re married, you can’t do that. As a couple, you should know each other’s every move. You should ask about everything and take care of each other.”

Well, we’re going to divorce soon, so there’s no need for that…

Satin held back the words that came up to her throat. There was no need to reveal that yet. Instead, she changed the subject. Since she had come in response to her parents’ message, today’s business was with them. Satin looked around the house.

“Where are my parents?”

When she lived here, she knew exactly where her parents were and what was happening in the house, like the back of her hand, but not anymore. Visiting as a daughter felt like visiting as a guest.

A servant answered.

“They’re in the drawing room. They’ve been eagerly waiting for you since they heard you were coming. Please go in. I’ll prepare refreshments right away.”

“Alright.”

Walking down the corridor to the drawing room, Satin glanced at the walls.

The Del Mare family home had changed subtly. The positions of the furniture, the decorations in the corridor, the color of the tablecloths—small changes only someone who had lived there for a long time would notice.

But the drawing room felt more empty than other places.

What has changed?

However, there was no time for detailed observation. Her parents were sitting side by side, waiting for her.

Satin’s eyes widened as she was about to sit opposite them. A small velvet-covered box was on the table.

“You called for me?”

“Satin. You seem to be doing well.”

“Yes, well…”

“It would have been a disaster if we had missed that proposal.”

Anyone would think they had always had a favorable relationship with Ka Dillon.

Satin belatedly realized why the drawing room felt empty. All the gifts they exchanged with Sel Wio were gone. She clicked her tongue inwardly.

Likewise, all the gifts from Del Mare would have been cleared from the Sel Wio family. Even if Rublier had sorted things out appropriately, the two families would never form the same alliance as before.

“Why did you call for me? Is something wrong?”

“Now that you’re finally married, we have something to give you.”

Satin glanced at the box. She suddenly felt uneasy. She already knew what was inside.

When she was very young, her parents had called her to show her the contents of the box.

A small item about a hand’s length inside.

It was a piece of a broken sword.

“Ka Dillon has three children, so they’re not in urgent need of an heir like us, but you are our only child. Del Mare has only you. So now, the lineage must continue through you. This sacred relic must be kept by you from today.”

The broken piece was of no use, nor was it adorned with gold or jewels. In simple terms of value, it was just old scrap metal that could be thrown away.

However, Satin remembered the weight that sacred relic carried.

That dark steel fragment symbolized this Holy Kingdom. Before the history of Caldeblanca began, the world was said to be like darkness. The chaos of the times brought about the atrocities of demons, and the atrocities of demons led to even greater chaos. It was a vicious cycle. Yet, even in such a strange era, there were always people who longed for light.

Thus, an oracle was given to a man.

Gather those who share your will and save the world.

It was a grueling journey. Nevertheless, people who shared his will gathered one by one, and for a very long time, he fought a relentless battle against the demons with the help of divine revelations and his loyal followers.

Finally, he succeeded in sealing the demons.

The sword he used broke into five pieces the moment he achieved victory over the demons. He named himself Dionysius and proclaimed the founding of the Holy Kingdom of Caldeblanca on the desolate land. Additionally, he gave one piece of the broken sword to each of his five loyal followers and instructed them.

“Our war is over. We have reclaimed the land and the sky. The demons have disappeared from sight. But we know that the demons were here. The blood of the demons is on this sword. Although it may not be visible now, the evidence of the demons that will never disappear is here. You must always be vigilant against the demons and be the guardians who uphold the oracle and protect this country for a long time.”

This was the beginning of the five guardian families, renowned for their noble heritage to this day.

Satin lowered her gaze without saying a word. Following her father, her mother spoke.

“All the guardian families pass down their heirlooms to their successors. According to the teachings of our ancestors, we have kept it until now, but since you are married, it’s time to pass it on to you. You must keep this piece well and pass it on to your children.”

The intention of passing the heirloom to Satin now was clear. It was a pressure to produce an heir. A hint to hurry and have children.

“Satin. As you know, our family is particularly scarce in descendants compared to other families. That’s why we were always worried about your marriage, but now that you’ve met a good man and are living well, we feel much more at ease.”

“Um, isn’t it too early for me to receive this…? We don’t know what the future holds.”

“Oh, how can a married girl speak so irresponsibly? You should be thinking about stabilizing the family quickly!”

From the servants to her parents, everyone was making a fuss about Satin’s marriage.

But we agreed to divorce after three months?

How could she say such a thing in front of her parents when she couldn’t even tell the servants? Cold sweat broke out.

With everyone having such high expectations, can I really get divorced smoothly? I hope so.

It’s driving me crazy. Satin felt overwhelmed.

Declining her parents’ offer to stay the night, she returned to the newlywed house. She couldn’t bear to listen to countless nagging until the next day. It was better to return home early.

Satin sat on the bed and carefully placed the box she had brought on her lap. She wanted to open it but didn’t have the courage. Her fingers wandered around the edge of the box.

‘You must keep this piece well and pass it on to your children. As you know, our family is particularly scarce in descendants compared to other families. That’s why we were always worried about your marriage, but now that you’ve met a good man and are living well, we feel much more at ease.’

I really never imagined this.

Oh my god. Children? A child? And with Rublier?