His heart began to race at the hope that he might be able to find her.

However—

[The vessel is currently detained at Blancas’ Calais Port. Due to the recent diplomatic rift with Blancas, it has been seized and cannot return.]

‘Detained at Blancas?’

He recalled the ship mentioned in the Emperor’s decree. Hastily rereading it, the name Fedica caught his eye. Which meant—Liana might be on the very ship now held in Blancas.

[Since the war, anti-Imperial sentiment has been running high. Violence against Imperial citizens has become commonplace there. If Miss Liana arrived in Blancas alone, I must say I am deeply concerned.]

So she might already be in danger there, and there was nothing he could do?

Shed bit down on his dry lips.

‘Why that dangerous enemy nation of all places…!’

Did she think his reach would not extend that far? Was that why she chose to cross into hostile territory despite the turmoil?

[We are also working to retrieve the detained merchant vessel, and His Majesty himself is giving this matter due consideration. Regrettably, rescuing an individual who has already crossed into Blancas cannot be made a priority.]

In short: it was impossible to search for Liana Serpens.

Blancas was now officially classified as enemy territory, and even the Vitel Trading Company could not easily cross the border.

The letter crumpled in Shed’s hand.

‘So I am to abandon her just like this?’

His glare nearly tore through the parchment. Lifting his head, he met the eyes of the Imperial messenger who still lingered before him.

‘For the Emperor’s decree and the reply from House Vitel to arrive at the same moment—what timing.’

The muscle in Shed’s jaw tightened.

To reclaim Liana, he would have to go to Blancas.

And at present, there was only one way to get there.

He clenched and unclenched his stiffened hand. His senses had dulled, his aura still not returned even though the healing was long over.

But still—

“…To Harmen Castle, by Imperial decree.”

Shed picked up the decree he had set aside.

There was no other choice.

🌺⟡───⟡🌺 🌺⟡───⟡🌺

It had been nearly two months since she arrived on Janna Island.

The new settlement suited her well, and as Lea Benessy, she quickly adapted to her new life.

The sun was sometimes too harsh, but the sea was refreshing, and beneath the wide leaves that cast generous shade, a cool breeze always flowed.

As Eclace had said, the island was home to the retired “birds of House Vitel.” Sharing a common history, they were kind to one another and full of understanding.

She learned, in time, that everyone who came to Janna Island was given a new name upon arrival. Which meant that their lives before that name were not to be spoken of. It was considered etiquette not to pry.

Thanks to that, no one ever asked about Lea’s past. And that was why this village felt so comfortable.

Lea gazed quietly at the sea where white waves broke.

Everything was peaceful.

So peaceful that it made her uneasy.

At times, she wondered if she had received too much from Eclace. When those thoughts came, she would take out the marriage vow he had given her under the name “Egon.”

She only hoped that the peace she enjoyed would not prove lighter than the weight of that vow.

“Thank you, Greeta.”

That afternoon, Lea smiled as she accepted the bulletin Greeta had brought her.

Greeta often stayed by her side, helping with her daily life. She introduced her to the villagers, and if Lea needed anything, she arranged it through the merchant company.

Sometimes Lea suspected that Eclace had sent Greeta to watch over her. But she didn’t mind. There was nothing to hide in her life on Janna Island anyway.

As Lea read the bulletin, Greeta tapped her lightly on the hand. Lea instinctively held out her palm.

Greeta wrote a few letters on it. This was how they communicated, as Greeta could not speak.

At first, this method had felt strange and clumsy, but now it felt familiar. They had tried using slates or paper to exchange notes, but Greeta preferred writing on Lea’s palm. She disliked leaving behind written records — no doubt this was tied to her line of work.

Lea could only guess.

‘You look thin.’

The words traced into her palm tickled gently, filled with quiet concern.

“Ah… I suppose I’ve lost my appetite now that I’ve relaxed.”

Lea gave a faint, awkward smile.

She had recently been experiencing stomach discomfort and often skipped meals. Although her life was easier than before, she felt strangely lethargic.

Perhaps, she thought, her body was simply growing lazy in such a slow-paced place.

Greeta studied her quietly, then wrote something else on Lea’s palm.

‘Your monthly cycle?’

Lea froze. She fiddled with the bulletin a few times before answering.

“…Not since I came here. But it’s fine. A change of environment can make things irregular.”

She shook her head.

Greeta’s gaze drifted toward her stomach, then returned to her eyes. At that, Lea turned her head away in haste.

“It’s not that…”

She muttered something under her breath, shaking her head in denial. She knew only too well what Greeta was afraid of. It was the same fear that she herself had tried to push aside: that a new life might already be taking root inside her.

But she had kept denying it. After all, it had only been one night. The chances were so slim. She told herself it was just the sudden change in her surroundings.

Greeta lightly tapped her fingertips against Lea’s hand.

‘It would be wise to see a doctor.’

Lea pressed her lips together and said nothing.

🌺⟡───⟡🌺 🌺⟡───⟡🌺

Lea looked up at the physician with cautious eyes. Egon, who had come to Janna Island with the doctor after hearing the news, also watched him in silence.

“You are pregnant.”

At those words, Lea’s heart dropped. She had suspected it, yet lacked the courage to face it—and now it was undeniable.

She was carrying Shed’s child.

Conceived that night, in a single embrace.

Even Egon’s face betrayed surprise.

“May I speak with you a moment?”

Egon quietly led the doctor outside.

Left alone in the room, Lea placed a hand over her still-flat belly.

‘Truly… I am carrying a child.’
‘A child between Shed and me.’

She had thought she had escaped him, yet in the end, he had taken root deep within her.

It felt as though her entire life had been overturned. Her lips trembled.

A life she had not expected. A life that should be a blessing, precious beyond measure, and yet, she was afraid.

‘Why… why did this child come to me?’

The baby would grow up without a father.

‘Your father would live never even knowing you existed, and I could never tell you who he was.’

Lea clutched her stomach, swallowing back the storm of emotions rising inside her.

But the truth was, the fear she held toward her pregnancy came from somewhere else.

‘…What if my curse is passed down to the child?’

What if the baby was born carrying the power of black magic? What if that same darkness left a dreadful mark upon the innocent life inside her?

She was terrified that her own sin, which she could barely bear alone, might be passed on to her child.

‘What am I supposed to do…’

A tear fell, warm and heavy, onto the back of her hand.

Ancient prophecies and scriptures spoke of demons who mated with mortals and spread evil throughout the world. If this meant that her child would inherit sin, then she would end up destroying its life.

At that moment, Egon returned to the room with the physician.

“Lea…!”

Seeing her tear-stained eyes, he hurried to her side.

“Lord Egon…”

Lea’s voice trembled as she looked up at him—at Eclace.

The sight of his face brought their contract back to mind.

‘Can I still remain here on Janna Island?’

The selfish thought came first. What if he declared the contract fraudulent and rejected her?

Now that she was pregnant, the future seemed even more daunting. If she were forced to leave Janna Island, where could she go? Where could she raise this child?

Egon knelt at her side and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“Now, now… crying like this is not good for you or the baby.”

“But…”

Egon studied her in silence.

He was a perceptive man, quick to grasp the feelings and thoughts of those around him—and confident in those insights.

Lea’s tears were tangled with countless emotions, yet one truth shone through them.

“…Do you want to give birth to this child?”

Her fingertips trembled at his question.

Did she want to bring into the world a child who might be cursed? No. Surely the answer was no. And yet… faced with his words, she could not deny it.

If she asked, Egon could obtain medicine or food to bring about a miscarriage. She had heard before that such things existed.

But Lea could not bring herself to ask him for it.

This was Shed’s child.

And perhaps the first and last life that would ever come to her.

How could she possibly say she wanted to end it?