Click. The sound of chains being wrapped tightly and a key being turned echoed from outside. Satin pushed aside the blanket, got up, and grabbed the doorknob, but finding it impossible to do anything, she just let go.

“…It’s okay.”

Whenever Kirion barged in and left, Satin always lay quietly on the bed and took deep breaths.

The doctor had advised her not to complicate her mind when she was diagnosed with her pregnancy.

“There’s nothing to worry about. It’s okay. You’re okay too, right?”

Since it was still early in the pregnancy with no visible bump, the gesture of rubbing her lower abdomen was still somewhat awkward.

“…That’s right. Come to think of it, I’m not alone. I am, um, ah, what should I call myself? Mom?”

Mom. Satin repeated the title she had only used informally in her very early childhood.

Even though she was imposing such a solemn position as the heir of Del Mare on a child not yet born, she was the child’s ‘mom’. Mom before Mother.

The word ‘mom’ carried a faint nostalgia that touched her heart. Mom. A newfound sense of responsibility struck her chest.

“It wasn’t intentional, but we’re locked up together. What should I do, I’m so sorry.”

Satin apologized to the child. According to the doctor, this was the time when she should keep her body and mind most at ease, but somehow she was going through the most difficult time with the child.

Thinking of speaking to the child, her manner of speech changed. Satin was inwardly amazed to find she had such a side to herself.

“Your… um… dad is a very strong and healthy person, so that’s really fortunate. He’s probably the healthiest person in this country.”

She hadn’t expected to conceive a child so quickly.

Coming from a family where children were rare, she expected it would take a few years to become a parent.

That’s why even when she had morning sickness, she couldn’t imagine it was morning sickness.

The fact that the child was settling in without any problems in such an unfavorable and uncomfortable environment was probably largely due to Rublier’s influence.

“Can you hear everything when I talk like this?”

She wasn’t sure. It felt like talking to herself, but also like having a conversation. Still, she wasn’t lonely.

There was comfort in not being alone, a regretful feeling for not being alone at such a time, and the need to endure because she wasn’t alone.

“Health. Rub passed down something very important. I’ll do my best too.”

The name ‘mom’ was awkward enough, but the word ‘dad’ was even more difficult to say, especially after the divorce.

Anyway, it was something to be thankful for that the child had received the best asset from Rublier.

“He must be returning now after rescuing His Eminence Vitalis.”

Perhaps because half of the child came from Rublier, she naturally thought of him.

Satin felt somewhat resentful. Rublier probably believed that Satin wouldn’t give him a second thought, but in fact, it was quite the opposite.

As long as she carried his child in her body, the child would inevitably be a constant link to Rublier.

Satin’s thoughts ultimately couldn’t escape Rublier. No matter how much she tried to draw a line and distance herself from him, she would find her consciousness circling around him, unable to truly move away. It was an irresistible force.

Clank.

The door suddenly opened.

Satin stopped her thoughts and turned to look at the uninvited guest.

“I heard voices from inside and was startled, wondering if someone was with you. I came to see how you were doing.”

It was Delilah. The prima donna, who had come with a simple meal, entered the secret room with her characteristic dance-like steps.

Even though quite some time had passed since she last took the stage, her movements still exuded the aura of an actress.

“Oh my, that’s right, you’re pregnant, aren’t you? I forgot to congratulate you. I should give my regards on behalf of His Eminence too. Even if His Eminence treats you a bit poorly, please understand. His Eminence is a bit impatient these days.”

Delilah continued speaking, disregarding Satin’s hostility.

“Anyway, to be pregnant already, I guess the saying that children are rare in the Del Mare family is now outdated. I’m envious. I want to have a child too, but because I’ve been an actress for so long and have taken various medications, it won’t be easy. If possible, I hope to conceive by next year. Since a person’s life can change year by year, it would be to my advantage if I could get pregnant quickly. If I had known this would happen, I would have taken fewer contraceptives, right?”

At the part about how a person’s life can change year by year, Delilah stared directly at Satin.

The prima donna who had praised Satin for coming from a great family when they first met with Gjorn’s help was now holding her head high and showing a bright smile.

Satin responded coldly.

“I see. Who would have imagined there would come a day when you would lay hands on my body?”

“Don’t be too upset. I had no choice. You weren’t cooperating, Lady Satin. Oh, please eat. I put some effort into cooking after a long time. You should rest well and eat well for the baby’s sake.”

“I don’t need it.”

The nuance of envying Satin’s pregnancy and the explicit mention of medication somehow bothered her.

Although it was a much more carefully prepared meal than the usual food brought to her, Satin didn’t even glance at the food Delilah had made.

Delilah noticed Satin’s suspicion.

“I didn’t put any drugs in your food, Lady Satin. Well, if you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. What benefit would I gain by drugging you? Rather, if the Paladin found out, he wouldn’t let me off easily. Ah, he’s not a Paladin now, is he? Still, I’m afraid of him.”

“So there are people you’re afraid of too.”

“Of course. I’m a bit afraid of you too, Lady Satin.”

It probably wasn’t fear in a good sense. Satin didn’t lower her guard.

“…What did you mean by contraceptives?”

“I just took them for a long time. I had sponsors, and every time I performed, various meetings would take place, and it would have been troublesome if I got pregnant each time. I didn’t know it would come back to bite me like this.”

Delilah was wearing a dress with a tightly cinched waist.

It was a perfect outfit to show off her slender figure, but it was certainly not a dress a pregnant woman could wear.

Since learning of her pregnancy, Satin had only chosen loose, comfortable clothes.

“Even if you have a child, a mistress isn’t an officially recognized status, is it?”

“Of course not. But while a mistress can be discarded someday, it’s hard to ignore a child of mixed blood, isn’t it? If the father is His Holiness the Pope, it’s not a bad story for the child either. After all, they’ll grow up without any hardship, and at the very least, they might be given a title, don’t you think? His Eminence might even find me a new marriage partner who will treat me and the child well.”

It was an extremely rational plan. In the cold design of recognizing her own situation and using the child as a bridge to secure her future, there wasn’t a single grain of affection between man and woman. Every page of her life was an act.

“You’re not with His Eminence because you love him, are you?”

Delilah tilted her head.

“It’s the same for both of us. What does it matter?”

“You probably never loved Gjorn either.”

“My, Lady Satin, you have the leisure to worry about my feelings even in this situation? Or is it because Gjorn was your first love, as the rumors say, that you’re concerned?”

The very person who had spread the rumors shamelessly brought up the scandal in front of her. Satin replied briefly.

“You know best that those rumors are false, Delilah.”

Delilah affirmed with a silent smile.

Satin had already noticed that she had come specifically to witness her misfortune.

Yet, the reason she was still engaging in conversation with Delilah was because of the suspicion that she might have noticed any strange changes in Kirion.

If anyone were to notice changes in Kirion, it was most likely to be Delilah, who spent more time with him than anyone else.

“I remember His Eminence Archbishop Kirion from long ago.”

Satin cautiously opened the conversation in a cold tone without inflection.

“He was a noticeable person, of course. He was often seen walking together with Rub because they were close, but in fact, the students were more intimidated by Rub than by His Eminence.”

At that time, it was largely a matter of first impressions. Rublier was much bigger than his peers and had sharp features.

So when the two were together, Kirion’s friendly and lively image seemed much more approachable by contrast.

“Back then, His Eminence wasn’t someone who would defy the oracle. Rather, he was proud of the history of the previous Popes. I don’t understand how such a person could cause the current situation. To my eyes, it seems like he’s become a completely different person, but do you see no problems at all?”

Satin cautiously probed Delilah.

“Everyone changes. Could a rustic girl born in the countryside have survived as a prima donna in the big city if she had been picky about her means and methods?”

Delilah tilted her head.

“Lady Satin, having grown up as the heir to inherit a ready-made family without any strife, I suppose you can’t understand how angry His Eminence was.”

“The higher the position, the more responsibility and duty it carries. If one lacks the capacity to succeed the Holy See, they should let it go. You can’t put more water in a small vessel.”

“Who do you think has maintained that Holy See all this time? If someone has taken on all the hardships, they should rightfully receive a reward. It’s ridiculous. His Eminence Kirion made all the sacrifices, but the reward goes entirely to His Eminence Vitalis. So what’s wrong with him claiming it by his own power?”

“It’s wrong because all the citizens of Caldeblanca have to bear the consequences instead.”

Devil. That man could be a devil.

Satin swallowed the word that had risen to her throat.

“Isn’t it all good if the result is good? Just as I eventually became the top prima donna of the opera house and became His Eminence Kirion’s mistress. I can’t agree with what you’re saying, Lady Satin. One must claim their own place.”

“By manipulating the oracle and killing people?”

“Of course. We can do even worse things to achieve our goals. His Eminence has that power.”

Even if one has such power, the ability to judge appropriately where to use that power is also part of that person’s foundation.

There was much she wanted to say, but Satin instead tightly closed her lips.

If she had been alone, she would have exposed that Kirion was being possessed by a devil and fought.

It wouldn’t have mattered what happened to her as a result of her words; she could have borne it alone.

But now, she had to protect the child in her womb.