When she awoke, a soft bed supported her back.

As soon as her eyes opened, the strange heat emanating from those around her almost made Elliopé faint again.

“Now…”

“Your Highness.”

“Your Highness has regained consciousness!”

“Congratulations, Your Highness!”

“This is truly a double joy!”

Amidst the chaotic voices, Elliopé struggled to regain her senses, her head throbbing with piercing pain.

She felt momentarily overwhelmed by the barrage of stares. Then Elliopé closed her eyes tightly.

“Everyone.”

A voice appeared, breaking the stares.

“While I appreciate your concern…”

The slow but imposing voice spread throughout, dismissing the commotion.

“Her Highness needs to rest.”

At first it sounded like a harsh dismissal, but the one speaking was none other than Kallian Elsen. Kallian added slowly,

“Please, continue to enjoy the banquet. There’s no need to rush and end such a joyous occasion.”

The nobles, who had belatedly realised the situation, nodded in understanding.

“Oh dear. We have been rude.”

“Please, rest, Your Highness.”

“Once again, congratulations.”

“We will continue the toast in Your Highness’s honor.”

As the people dispersed like a receding tide, Elliopé began to regain her composure.

Her hand reached out, searching the air for someone. And the person she was looking for took her hand gently.

“Kallian.”

“I am here, my lady.”

“Where is this…?”

“I took you to your chambers. You suddenly collapsed at the banquet.”

Kallian spoke softly, gently massaging Elliopé’s hand.

The room, deliberately dimmed with only a few candles lit, was surely the private bedroom she remembered. The faint scent of aromatherapy and herbs filled the air.

Elliope, still flustered, spoke.

“Did I collapse?”

“Yes, you did.”

“But I feel fine now. Shouldn’t we go back to the banquet hall?”

“Don’t worry too much.”

“But when the guest of honour leaves the banquet…”

Elliopé didn’t want to spoil things. If she could just get through this banquet, that would be the end of it. She had to stay until the end.

But Kallian shook his head as if to say that it didn’t matter.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“There’s still work to be done.”

“Lady.”

Kallian approached and cupped her face gently. Elliopé met his gaze, startled.

“Really, there’s nothing to worry about.”

There was a strange power in his words, as if he could make the impossible possible. The moment Elliopé heard his whisper, she unconsciously relaxed.

“For now, just think about your health.”

“……”

“Just think about your body.”

Elliopé unconsciously nodded her head. Because of the crowd, Emma and Sien, who had been pushed to the back, quickly approached and wiped her forehead. Elliopé noticed that Sien’s eyes were slightly swollen, as if she had been crying. When Sien, holding a towel in her hand, let out a little sniffle, Elliopé noticed and widened her eyes.

“Sien?”

She wondered if something serious had happened while she was unconscious. Elliopé opened her mouth with a slight sense of unease and curiosity.

“Your Highness.”

Although he had been standing in the corner the whole time, Elliopé only noticed him when he slowly approached her. He was someone she knew.

“The palace…”

He was one of the royal palace attendants who always looked after the Emperor.

Because she had answered the Emperor’s calls so often lately, Elliopé had seen his face more often than Emma’s or Sien’s. He always stood in a corner of the Emperor’s chamber with a neutral expression, but now he looked at Elliopé with eyes filled with deep emotion. He approached Kallian and spoke to him.

“She lost consciousness for a moment due to exhaustion, but there is no major problem with her health, Your Highness.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. There are many cases of pregnant women experiencing similar problems during the adjustment period. It seems that her mental strain may have also played a part…”

“How long does such a situation usually last?”

“Things usually get much better once she gets into the stabilisation phase. Since she’s been pregnant for a while now, she’ll probably feel better soon.”

While Elliopé listened blankly to their conversation, she slowly turned her head towards Kallian. She still hadn’t quite processed what she had just heard.

“Kallian?”

“My lady.”

“I…?”

“You are pregnant. Congratulations, Your Highness.”

The royal attendant bowed again and spoke to her. Feeling Kallian’s gaze, the royal attendant raised his head and continued.

“For now, it is important that you rest, so we will prepare a list of things you need or anything that requires your attention.”

“I understand.”

“Please rest well.”

Then the royal physician and his assistants left, closing the door behind them. Only Emma, Sien, Kallian and Elliopé remained in the room.

While the maids quickly changed into something more comfortable, Elliopé remained with a blank expression on her face. A loud ringing filled her ears and no thoughts followed.

“We will take our leave now.”

After changing her into a loose, comfortable shirt, the maids left the room.

Kallian approached slowly and helped her to sit on the bed.

“My lady, you heard, right? You need to rest…”

“…I…”

As if coming to her senses, Elliopé raised her head.

“I’m pregnant?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“But…”

But it can’t be.

Elliopé already knew that she was unable to conceive. In fact, after their marriage, she and Kallian had frequent relations, and each time Kallian c*m inside her, but there had never been any signs of pregnancy. According to the truth revealed by Leanne, this was to be expected.

“I am infertile.”

Instead of punishing the emperor, the empress decided to punish the maids he had favoured. As a result, Elliopé, her child, was condemned to never bear fruit or become pregnant.

When she realised this, the weight of her past mistakes was almost unbearable. After learning that her womb would never bear life, she gradually let go of her emotions.

The pain that had once felt so overwhelming had long since subsided. Even Kallian, aware of the truth, behaved as if it didn’t affect him at all.

Whenever others, unaware of the situation, subtly hinted or inquired about having a child, Kallian would simply respond indifferently – whether they had a child or not seemed irrelevant to him. As a result, Elliopé was able to completely release any remaining desires. But…

“You mean I’m pregnant?”

“Yes. It was difficult to diagnose, but after several tests it was confirmed.”

“It can’t be… I’ve ingested the poison of the Bellorante flower.”

But as if he had expected her to say that, Kallian whispered,

“I have also consumed the poison of that flower, my lady.”

“……”

“According to the alchemists and doctors of recent times… the poison of this flower may weaken the body, but it has no effect on this matter.”

Kallian explained.

Then he took his time to explain carefully so that Elliopé could understand.

The poison from the flower has side effects that can confuse the diagnosis of pregnancy, which is why the doctors might have concluded that it wasn’t possible.

In reality, however, the poison can sometimes act as an *phrodisiac when the body develops resistance, depending on the person. Although the symptoms were unclear, it seems that the final diagnosis of pregnancy was correct.

“Actually, I had an inkling.”

“An inkling?”

“Lately you’ve been feeling tired and sleeping a lot.”

“That’s…”

“Your eating habits have also changed a bit. You’ve started eating sour sauces that you never touched before.”

“……”

“When you change your position, you unconsciously wrap your hand around your stomach. I think you’ve known about this subconsciously.”

Kallian listed details that Elliopé and the maids closest to her hadn’t noticed. It was as if he was confessing that he had always watched her carefully.

“So you have nothing to worry about.”

“I…”

“The only thing that matters now is your health and the health of our child.”

Kallian gently stroked Elliopé’s still empty cheek. There was a look of awe in his eyes for the most precious and important thing in the world.

A warm, joyful smile formed on his lips, as if he already held her child in his arms.

“You have worked hard, my lady.”

There was a deep happiness in his words.

Elliopé stared into his eyes as if hypnotised, her lips beginning to tremble.

“Ah…”

“My lady?”

“No.”

“Elliopé.”

“No. My child, my child…”

These were the first words that came to Elliopé’s mind.

“Elliope can’t be pregnant.”

“……”

“Even if she does, there’s a good chance it will be stillborn. A woman who cannot bear an heir is fatal for nobles who value bloodlines.”

The words about the high probability of stillbirth filled Elliopé with fear. Even after hearing Kallian’s explanation of the effects of the Bellorante flower, those words clung to her mind like a curse, refusing to go away.

It was as if she had been cursed.

‘What if the child really… isn’t born?’

The vision of Kallian holding a small coffin pierced Elliopé’s heart once again. What if she had to give Kallian another dead child?

‘What if something happens to my child?’

Tears streamed from her wide, staring eyes. The fear was far greater than the joy. If the child she had barely conceived because of her body…

“My lady.”

Then a large, warm hand slowly cupped her cheek. Kallian, who had kissed the corner of her eye, whispered softly.

“It will be all right. Nothing will happen.”

“……”

“And even if something does happen, it won’t be your fault. It must have been because my seed was weak.”

The words slipped out, and for a moment Elliopé felt a sudden sense of confusion.