Hari spent her days aimlessly. In the room that neither Achilleon nor any other outsiders visited, there wasn’t much to do. She read and reread the books the servants brought, and for the past few days had been playing with a lyre.

Though she couldn’t have a teacher like before.

Still, she wasn’t as powerless and lonely as before.

“It’s cloudy today.”

Talking to her belly had become a habit. No matter how much she disliked Achilleon, sometimes she rather wished he would come and stir her up. The room was so quiet that at some point, Hari had begun earnestly conversing with the baby.

While drawing pictures with her white breath on the rain-streaked window, Hari glanced sideways at the door. Since their walk, Achilleon hadn’t come again. Ten days now.

He probably thought she wouldn’t want to see him and deliberately wasn’t visiting. Hari also knew that nothing pleasant would come out of her mouth if she saw him… but she felt strangely about it. If you bring someone here, shouldn’t you at least check how they’re living?

“Good food and plenty of firewood, is that all…”

It is. It is enough, though.

Hari became sulky and kicked the blanket with her toes. She stroked her belly with her hand and muttered.

“Baby, your father is a very cold-hearted person.”

Even after saying it herself, Hari felt embarrassed at how ridiculous it sounded. Far from being cold-hearted, wasn’t he the man who didn’t even come to see her now? That was a good thing.

Besides, who was whose father anyway?

Hari casually placed her hand on her belly again and sang a song. But her gaze kept turning toward the door.

* * *

“Julia, Ilisei!”

“Miss Hari!”

The three embraced each other. The maids belatedly realized their rudeness and hurriedly stepped back, but it didn’t matter. They were so happy to meet again in good health like this.

“I hoped you would escape far, far away with this opportunity… but you came back like this.”

“Shh, Ilisei! What if someone hears you saying such frightening things? Of course, I had the same thought, Miss.”

After that, they shared overdue stories while eating sweets together.

“Julia, Ilisei. I heard you were summoned by His Majesty the Third Prince. Was there no trouble?”

“We were investigated because you disappeared, but we were released quickly.”

So those threats were empty words then.

“Could you go to the temple and check if Priest Doris is safe?”

“Yes, I’ll find out and come back right away.”

When Julia popped the remaining sweets into her mouth and left, Ilisei asked.

“The Second Prince’s trial was held. Did you go see it? He was sentenced to death after all. The execution is in ten days.”

Then, realizing her mistake, she glanced carefully at Hari’s belly. Hari smiled to show she didn’t mind, but her head was complicated.

Antor had said he would need her help, that she should come to him again then. But the execution was in ten days. Since he was a man tied up helplessly in prison with a death date, it must be bluffing.

Time seemed to flow strangely fast. During the month confined in the palace, Hari hadn’t thought of any escape method. While she was pondering what to do, Julia returned from the temple with a ribbon-decorated birdcage.

“Priest Doris is safe. He’s never been punished either. But I found out he left for relief work in a southern village a few days ago.”

“Relief work?”

“Yes, it was His Majesty the Third Prince’s order. Oh, this is a bird the priest asked to be given to anyone who came looking for you, Miss. How cute!”

It was a blue sacred bird. From how much plumper it had grown, she could tell how preciously Doris had cared for the bird. The bird that had been dozing recognized Hari and flew busily around the cage in delight.

After giving it plenty of feed, Hari went for a walk with the maids. Her hands and feet swelled frequently these days, so she was trying to move her body often.

“The wind has died down a bit, but it’s cold because it’s winter. You might catch a cold.”

“We’re just taking a short walk.”

However, Ilisei’s concern soon became reality.

Splash!

They had been walking along the back path of the secluded western annex palace. Suddenly, cold water poured down from above her head. The maids screamed and surrounded Hari, but she was already soaked from head to toe.

“Wh-what are you doing!”

“Miss, are you alright?”

Those standing triumphantly with empty vases were court ladies. Among them, the culprit who had splashed water on Hari pointed and shouted.

“You filthy wench carrying a criminal’s child! When you should be holed up waiting to die, you shamelessly hold your head high and wander around without knowing shame!”

“Don’t do this! His Majesty the Third Prince will be angry!”

Though the maids tried to stop them, the court ladies who had already heard the rumors didn’t care. In their eyes, Hari was just a dirty traitor barely extending her life through the Third Prince’s mercy.

“How dare you invoke His Noble Majesty’s name! Angry, my foot. Would he protect someone like you who’ll be kicked out soon?”

Their cackling laughter was full of contempt. Hari stepped in front of Julia and Ilisei, who were at a loss.

‘They’re right.’

Unlike Hari, whose future was uncertain, these two would continue working in the palace. She didn’t want them to earn hatred by standing up for her.

“But they’re really rude people! Besides, I’m sure they’re not even nobles.”

When Hari just bowed her head slightly and left, Julia made a tearful face in frustration.

“They’re right. I’m a criminal and don’t know what will happen to me.”

‘I might die.’

“Thank you for standing up for me, Julia. Ilisei. But you don’t need to.”

When she repeatedly said it was fine, the two couldn’t add more words. A faint fishy smell came from her body that had been doused with water. It didn’t seem to be sewage. What kind of water was it?

While sniffing her arm, she remembered they had been holding vases. From the musty smell, it seemed like old flower water.

“Miss, you must feel uncomfortable. What should we do?”

Since it was quite far to the White Jade Palace, they decided to wash nearby to at least get rid of the smell. When Hari walked ahead silently, the maids followed with puzzled expressions.

“Oh my? There’s a well like this here.”

“Could you help me draw water?”

When she had first been dragged to the palace as a slave, she had often suffered such harassment.

Every time she was covered in filth, the place Hari frequently visited was a small well next to the gamekeeper’s hut. While Julia helped her wash, Ilisei quickly pointed to the empty hut.

“But if you go back like this, you’ll catch a cold. I’ll quickly bring a large towel and new clothes. You can change there.”

“Please do.”

However, before Ilisei could even leave the grass, a large shadow suddenly appeared. The two maids froze and bowed their heads, and Hari, who had been wringing out water, also stiffened.

“We greet His Majesty the Third Prince…!”

“You two, withdraw.”

Achilleon was holding a large towel and clothes. The maids glanced at them with wide eyes, bowed, and disappeared like the wind. Hari was equally flustered.

“How did Your Majesty come here?”

‘Don’t tell me he was watching the whole time?’

Achilleon took Hari’s soaked hand and headed toward the hut. When his hot body temperature seeped into her skin, her body trembled. Inside the hut was small, with some dust on the shelves and window frames, but the belongings were well organized.

“He was someone the late king cherished. He always managed the hunting grounds with devotion and pleased the king.”

After seating Hari on the bed, Achilleon skillfully lit a fire with kindling. A prince would have no occasion to light fires himself, so it was curious. Ah, since Achilleon had been on battlefields from a young age, would he be different?

“Are you speaking of the gamekeeper?”

“Yes. That man was looking for his lost daughter, and the late king found his daughter and gave them a house to live in together. Now the three family members are living well in a southern city. Even after the late king passed away, that man continues to offer the most precious game he catches to the palace.”

Warmth quickly filled the room. After wiping herself and changing clothes, Hari sat blankly on the bed, then hesitantly stood by the fire when Achilleon gestured.

“Be comfortable. Didn’t they say stress makes your belly hurt?”

There was no way to be comfortable. He knew everything after all. Achilleon was receiving reports on every word Hari said to the physician, and was watching closely enough to know immediately when she was mistreated.

While she was at a loss for words, Achilleon approached from behind and wrapped her wet hair with the towel. Though she had wiped her body, her hair was still damp. He seated Hari by the fire and began carefully drying the moisture.

She felt strange. Her mouth was dry and her stomach churned. The emotion that suddenly surged seemed like hatred, or perhaps resentment directed at herself, so Hari clenched and unclenched her hands.