As the servants who had welcomed us back dispersed to find their tasks, a priest came into view.

He was a priest whose mere appearance naturally brought a smile to my face.

I found myself thinking how nice it would be to have such gentle smile lines when I grew older.

With a moderately thin build without excess fat, a benevolent smile that seemed incapable of harming anyone, and an expression of enlightenment—he looked just like a neighbor’s grandfather who would offer you one more cookie.

“I’m glad you’ve returned safely.”

His calm voice made me feel as if my soul was being cleansed.

“Though Helbaitz assured me you would be fine, I was worried and prayed for your safe return. Roarania has answered my prayers.”

I was listening absently to the priest’s voice when a familiar name snapped me to attention.

‘How does he know Helbaitz?’

Had the High Priest already informed other priests?

While I was confused, Kaien greeted him.

“High Priest Gardner, why have you come all this way?”

What? High Priest Gardner?

‘He doesn’t look anything like him! High Priest Gardner is twice as wide, has more presence, and looks much greedier than this person……’

Looking more carefully at the priest, I noticed his head was balding like High Priest Gardner, so there was a subtle resemblance.

The decisive factor was the single leaf brooch on the priest’s chest.

The one that only High Priest Gardner could wear.

“I brought Helbaitz with me.”

“W-where is he?”

Ransel suddenly appeared, having somehow heard the word “Helbaitz” from quite a distance away.

“He went to the hot spring.”

“H-Helbaitz! Ransel is coming!”

Before the High Priest could finish speaking, Ransel abandoned his luggage and his position as advisor and ran off toward the hot spring.

Perhaps because I was staring too obviously, the High Priest caught my eye and smiled kindly, which sent a chill down my spine.

“I didn’t recognize you without your High Priest robes.”

“How could I indulge in luxury when there are so many hungry and sick people? If reducing what I wear on my body can provide a meal for hundreds of people, I should gladly make that sacrifice.”

‘Your appearance has changed, but you’re still holding back your true nature.’

“Since the High Priest has arrived, I’ll prepare a banquet for tomorrow. Let’s go inside.”

When Kaien suggested this with a grin, High Priest Gardner’s face momentarily froze before he burst out.

“Ah! No need. You’ve already treated me well enough since I arrived yesterday. I plan to return to the capital before the heavy snowfall begins.”

“At this hour?”

One part of the sky was already turning red with the evening sunset. Winter brings night early.

“I’ve arranged to stop by the temple on my way back to check how it’s being operated. I’ve sufficiently attended to Helbaitz, and my work here is done.”

“Then I suppose we’ll see each other at the Prince’s wedding.”

“I sincerely hope so. Well then, farewell.”

Fearing we might detain him, the High Priest moved his feet quickly and boarded the temple carriage that was waiting nearby.

As soon as he got in, the carriage raced to leave the castle. Like an escape.

“Ivy, let’s go inside. How’s your stomach?”

“It’s better now.”

As we were entering, Roland arrived belatedly.

“Aaron!”

Other people followed behind Roland. Aaron’s eyes widened, recognizing them.

“I told you not to go!”

“B-but I had to earn money!”

Roland grabbed Aaron’s shoulders and examined him, feeling all over his body.

The others who had come with him also stroked Aaron’s head with tears in their eyes.

“Are you hurt anywhere? Let me see.”

“Oh my, Aaron! Thank goodness, I’m so relieved you’ve returned safely!”

“When I heard you were taken by demonic beasts, I thought I’d never see you again, you rascal! I told you to work under me!”

“Uncle Kyle, Hudson……”

“Please scold him more. He doesn’t understand danger.”

“Mrs. Moson……”

“I-I’m sorry for worrying you all. Waaah.”

Aaron finally burst into tears.

Mrs. Moson embraced him and patted his back while everyone else sighed with relief.

“It’s alright now, just returning safely is enough.”

“Being alive is what matters.”

“Making us worry like that.”

Listening to Aaron’s sobs as he returned home, Kaien and I headed to the hot spring.

Despite the thermal magic stones in the carriage and cabin, my body had stiffened from being out in the cold wind for so long.

Only upon returning did I realize how well the magic in the grand duchy worked.

As we entered the greenhouse with the hot spring, a familiar voice greeted us.

[Ah, this is what I missed most.]

“Helbaitz, please don’t abandon me anymore.”

Ransel’s voice was desperate, as if he might cry at any moment.

Hearing that voice, Kaien snorted.

“Without you, Helbaitz, the world was desolate, as gloomy as if I had lost the sun. A ship needs a lighthouse and stars to navigate, but without you, my soul drifted like a ship on the open sea.”

[Don’t worry, I’ll be here for a while.]

“For a while…… Did the High Priest treat you that well?”

Didn’t Ransel have a lover?

Seeing how he acts with Helbaitz, I’m seriously concerned his lover might leave him.

[That slave was quite enjoyable to torment.]

“For you, Helbaitz, I’ll procure other slaves! What are your preferences?”

Ransel was kneeling respectfully and clinging closely to Helbaitz, who was enjoying his hot spring bath.

[Oh, really? I like those with high pride and.]

“Ransel, take him away.”

Kaien had no intention of tolerating this since we needed to use the hot spring too.

Despite the cold dismissal, Ransel persisted.

“Y-Your Grace. The hot spring is spacious enough. I promise not to disturb or see or hear anything, so please enjoy the hot spring with your wife. Ah, shall I set up a screen for you?”

“Ransel, should I send you to the capital right now? There’s plenty of work at the grand ducal residence too.”

“Then Helbaitz will come with me.”

[I’m not going.]

Helbaitz refused Ransel.

At that moment, Benji brought in some light food and drinks, then dragged Ransel out.

“You get out too.”

[Weren’t the demonic beasts non-aggressive toward the child this time as well?]

When Aaron was first rescued, Helbaitz was still inside Kaien, so he would have witnessed it.

[Don’t you want to know why demonic beasts become docile around both Ivy and that child?]

In the end, Helbaitz couldn’t be driven away.

With Benji’s help, I changed into a light muslin dress and entered the hot spring with Kaien.

Perhaps because the journey had been tiring, despite traveling comfortably thanks to Kaien, when I entered the hot water, my muscles relaxed and drowsiness overwhelmed me.

As I leaned into his embrace, my eyelids kept closing.

Kaien continuously poured water over my shoulders to keep them warm and fed me fruit.

“Are you hurting anywhere?”

“No, I’m just very sleepy.”

“It was a demanding schedule.”

His hand stroked my cheek with concern.

[Hey, I was going to tell you why the demonic beasts don’t attack.]

“I can hear your words anytime. Ivy isn’t feeling well.”

“I’m fine, Kaien. I’m just sleepy.”

“Let’s just warm up and go to the bedroom. Maybe it’s because you were motionsick the whole way back.”

Kaien’s voice grew serious, and his touch became even gentler as he held me.

I needed to tell him I was fine, but drowsiness overwhelmed me so completely that my mumbling couldn’t make it past my lips.

Kaien urgently called for Benji.

“Benji! Call a doctor! And a priest!”

“Yes!”

“I’m fine……”

“This isn’t the place to be. Let’s go to the bedroom, Ivy.”

Kaien’s constant movement made me uncomfortable.

‘I just want to sleep.’

I couldn’t maintain consciousness, as if someone was pulling my soul down to the floor.

Even in my foggy state, I sensed something was wrong with my condition, but sleep was my most urgent need right now.

[You’re overreacting. She’s fine, just let her rest well.]

“Ivy. Do you feel anything strange?”

“I’m sleepy, Kaien.”

“Ivy?”

[Oh, I’m telling you she’s fine.]

“Shut up, what would you know?”

Kaien growled, restraining himself from shouting loudly.

[When women conceive, they naturally become sleepy and lethargic. I’ve seen early pregnancy symptoms countless times—don’t you recognize them?]

My eyes suddenly flew open.

Kaien, who had been examining me, slowly turned his head toward Helbaitz.

“Pregnant? Me?”

[Yes, you feel nauseated, become sensitive, and sleep more. You might experience morning sickness with heightened sensitivity to smells.]

Good heavens.

Come to think of it, my moods had been erratic and strange.

When I first heard about Kaien’s illegitimate child, it wasn’t something I should have brooded over and gotten angry about, but I had been overly sensitive.

The carsickness I felt traveling to and from the Forest of Demonic Beasts, and the overwhelming drowsiness despite only walking for one night—

All matched the symptoms of pregnancy.

Looking at Kaien, he furrowed his brow and spoke.

“A child? Ivy is pregnant with a child?”

Though not drastically different from his usual demeanor, he was so surprised that he even stumbled over his words.

Good heavens, a child!

“Kaien, I’m pregnant with a child! It’s our child!”

“Doc—”

Kaien, who was about to shout loudly, closed his mouth and checked if I was startled.

“The doctor will be here soon. After an examination……”

“Oh, what should we do? I’m in the early stages and I’ve been moving in a carriage all day. If I had known earlier, I would have been more careful. Helbaitz, will the baby be alright?”

[Judging by your symptoms, it should be fine. It’s that man’s bloodline, so it will be strong.]

“Kaien, it’s our child.”

I had no doubt he would share my joy, but Kaien didn’t embrace me.

His arm on my shoulder was stiff.

He didn’t take my hand, his eyes trembling unstably.

“Kaien?”

[Crisen, your predecessor, was the same way. He was afraid to embrace or touch her, fearing something would happen to the child, that it would bring misfortune.]

Even without Helbaitz’s explanation, I understood.

How much does this man love me?

He’s scared.

“I’m fine, Kaien. If you hold me, our child will be even happier. And I need your embrace too.”

“Ivy, my Ivy.”

Kaien carefully wrapped his arms around my back and held me.

He pressed his lips against my neck and let out a deep sigh.

“Ah, it’s not good to stay in the hot spring too long.”

He lifted me up, wrapped me tightly in a large towel and clothes that Love had brought, and began running outside.

[But aren’t you curious about why Ivy and the child are like that? I think I know the reason.]

As we left the greenhouse, Helbaitz’s voice faded away.

[Huh, it could be…… a royal matter.]