“It’s about four weeks along. Yes, you’re pregnant.”

After spending a confusing weekend, Yulia visited the hospital first thing in the morning, where the doctor delivered his conclusion.

It wasn’t as shocking as she had expected.

She had already confirmed it for herself.

The sudden cravings and the sleepiness that came out of nowhere, chronic fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and the pain in her chest, waist, and lower abdomen, along with some minor bleeding.

All the symptoms described in medical books as early signs of pregnancy matched exactly with what she had been experiencing for several days.

“…I see.”

Yulia replied weakly.

Being in the early stages of pregnancy, her condition had already been poor, and after not getting proper sleep all weekend, dark circles had formed under her eyes, and her skin looked dull.

To anyone, she appeared to be a woman struggling with an unwanted pregnancy.

The doctor, having seen many women like her, looked at Yulia with a sympathetic gaze and spoke calmly.

“A child is a precious gift. Be happy that a cute little gift has come to you.”

“…?”

Yulia stared at the doctor, doubting her ears.

His small eyes gleamed with a hint of madness behind his glasses.

‘What… what is he talking about? Does he think a child is a gift for everyone? It’s only a gift for prepared couples, not for someone like me…!’

Yulia felt an impulse to spring up and smack the doctor’s shiny bald head, but she barely held herself back.

“Hahaha… Surely, the test couldn’t be wrong?”

Yulia forced a friendly tone, suppressing her anger.

The doctor quietly shook his head.

Instead, he spoke again in a calm voice.

“Why don’t you talk to the child’s father?”

‘Oh, if I could talk to the baby’s father, I wouldn’t have come here alone!’

Yulia struggled to hide her trembling fists as she stood up from the chair.

“…I’ll be going now.”

She turned and slammed the door of the examination room behind her, barely suppressing her boiling emotions.

Was this also an early symptom of pregnancy? She felt an uncontrollable anger rising within her several times a day.

“Oh my?”

Ignoring the surprised looks from the hospital staff, Yulia strode out of the hospital.

“Haah…”

Sitting down on a chair right outside the hospital, Yulia buried her head in her hands, gripping her throbbing head.

Honestly, she felt like she was on the brink of losing her mind.

The baby’s father?

She didn’t want to believe it, but it seemed to be Cassian.

Aside from Cassian, she hadn’t been involved with anyone else, and she could barely remember that night with him, making her unsure whether they had used any protection.

Realizing this sent a chill of fear through her.

First of all, Cassian was definitely not an ordinary man.

He was a member of the Tritan Empire’s royal family, and above all, he was the male protagonist of “The Star Embroidered in Tritan,” wasn’t he?

In novels, there was always a female protagonist.

She didn’t know if he had already met the female protagonist or not, but considering he had spent the night with her without hesitation, it seemed at least that he didn’t have a girlfriend yet.

What kind of male protagonist gets another woman pregnant before even meeting the female lead?

No outrageous novel could surpass this.

Secondly, regardless of the original novel’s setting or plot, Yulia and Cassian’s relationship was objectively not good.

Yulia recalled their competitive relationship at the academy.

Especially, Cassian had always reacted coldly whenever they crossed paths.

“Ugh…”

Yulia nervously splashed her face with cold water.

The pile of letters stacked on her desk in the dormitory came to mind.

“I have five interviews lined up just next week…”

Fortunately, the Tritan Empire had a very positive culture and awareness regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.

Women with children didn’t easily quit their jobs, nor were they subjected to unfair treatment or discrimination because of it.

In fact, genuinely congratulating and encouraging a colleague’s pregnancy was considered a virtue among the middle class in this country.

But Yulia was the exception.

The inevitable year-long hiatus that would come from being pregnant filled her with unbearable anxiety.

“Above all, I’m not ready to become a mother!”

She screamed, pulling at her hair.

She wanted to tell someone about her situation right away.

Yulia desperately needed comfort, consolation, and heartfelt advice.

Someone who understood her current state and could offer realistic words better than anyone else…

Soon, a box wrapped in navy blue fabric popped into Yulia’s mind.

It was the box containing the special tonic that Lady Catherine had given her.

After a moment of contemplation, Yulia stood up decisively.

She had to go see Lady Catherine.

***

“What… did you just say?”

Catherine lowered her ornate fan and quieted her voice.

She looked at Yulia with a serious expression.

“I…”

“You’re pregnant?”

Before Yulia could finish her sentence, Catherine exclaimed.

Then, startled by her own voice, she quickly glanced around the small reception room.

“What are you saying after coming to see me after such a long time? I thought you were busy preparing for your job…”

“I’m sorry. You must be quite surprised… The only person I could think of was you…”

Yulia bowed her head wearily.

Catherine looked at Yulia for a moment before gently patting her shoulder with a sympathetic expression.

“Of course, you must have been so frustrated to come find me. Good job, I’m glad you came.”

Yulia felt a paradoxical sense of relief at her voice, which quickly calmed down.

Catherine had always been the center of social gatherings.

Perhaps because she was always in the midst of social circles, hearing all the rumors circulating in the Tritan Empire, she didn’t seem as surprised by this news as Yulia expected.

“You know who the baby’s father is, right?”

Yulia nodded quietly.

She didn’t dare to say his name outright.

“Was it at the graduation banquet?”

Catherine asked again.

For a moment, Yulia thought about how she knew that, but it was also a natural assumption.

After all, that was the day Yulia had indulged in a single night of freedom after being cooped up in her studies.

“Yes… I really don’t know what happened that night… I must have drunk too much.”

“Oh, dear…”

“I can’t remember anything since I drank. I’ve never experienced this before… It just felt different that day…”

“Different how…?”

Catherine leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Oh! Jerome was quite drunk too…”

Yulia preemptively mentioned Jerome, worried that Catherine might blame him for not taking care of her properly.

Jerome had been drunk as well, and while she couldn’t remember everything, it seemed they had made it back to their rooms safely…

“Okay, okay, I understand what happened.”

“Wait? I haven’t finished my story yet…”

“I can tell just by looking in your eyes.”

Catherine interrupted her.

With an unreadable expression, she picked up the teacup from the table and brought it to her lips.

“I’m really worried right now. I was just thinking about getting a job and making money…”

“Is that what you’re worried about? You can work after having the baby. Right now, you need to focus on the child in your womb.”

Catherine exclaimed urgently as she set the teacup down.

Yulia looked at Catherine in surprise.

Catherine continued with a resolute and determined expression.

“First, you need to tell the baby’s father. And then you should get married.”

“Married?!”

Yulia shouted in shock.

She hadn’t even thought about that step in light of the pregnancy news.

Marrying Cassian? Was that even a possibility?

“Are you saying you were going to raise the child alone without getting married?”

“I… I hadn’t thought that far yet. I was just so shocked by the news of the pregnancy…”

Catherine reached out and took Yulia’s hand resting on her knee.

Having just held a warm teacup, Catherine’s hand felt very warm and soft.

“Yulia, I know you must be very surprised.”

Catherine gently patted Yulia’s hand with a soft voice.

“Although this pregnancy was unexpected, let’s think of it as a sudden blessing.”

“Lady…”

Yulia looked up at Catherine, who was holding her hand.

“There are things you can only feel when you become a mother, Yulia. Have the baby. The child will teach you many things.”

“……”

“You’re like my own daughter. I’ll support all the costs and help you with having the baby. Can you think of me as your real mother?”

Catherine looked at Yulia with her moist, red eyes.

Soon, Yulia felt a lump in her throat.

She didn’t know if this was also an early symptom of pregnancy, but she felt like she might cry from the overwhelming emotion.

“Lady… I think you’re right. I was so confused, but I think I can finally gather my thoughts.”

Yulia said, taking a deep breath.

‘When the baby is born… I’ll show her first.’

“Okay, okay, our Yulia. You must have gone through a lot of mental stress.”

“As you said, I should find the baby’s father first.”

“That’s right. Jerome is in his room right now—”

“I’ll go to the Isheide estate.”

“…What?”

Catherine paused, her hand still resting on Yulia’s.

The smile that had been on her face froze.

“You’re going to see the baby’s father?”

“I’ll go see him.”

“Hohoho… um… Yulia…? Are you going to Duke Isheide’s estate? What on earth are you talking about?”

Catherine slowly released her grip on Yulia’s hand.

“The baby’s father is…”

Yulia tried to maintain a calm voice as she spoke.

“…It’s Duke Cassian.”

Catherine’s face, which had been maintaining a semblance of composure, began to turn pale with disbelief.