With a splash, something cold soaked Ines’s entire body.

At first, she couldn’t comprehend what had happened to her. So, Ines slowly closed and opened her eyes to assess the situation.

‘What is this?’

What on earth had happened? Ines slowly lowered her head to examine herself. A rotten smell emanated from her body, and her once-white dress was now stained red.

Her bewilderment at her suddenly ruined state lasted only briefly. What snapped Ines out of her frozen state was Margaret’s voice shouting at the people.

“W-what are you doing!”

“Get out of the way!”

Margaret stood in front of the people to protect Ines. However, the people pushed Margaret aside and began throwing things at Ines. With a thud, something hit Ines squarely on the head.

“Ugh.”

Ines’s body curled up after being hit by the unidentified object. Only after seeing the red stains splattered on the ground did she realize what the people had thrown at her.

It was rotten tomatoes, traditionally called the devil’s fruit. Its red exterior and interior were said to be ominous. It was considered a very unfavorable crop in religious terms.

‘Why would they throw this at me….’

Ines was simply bewildered, not knowing why people were suddenly treating her this way.

But soon, she understood the reason for such treatment when she heard a woman’s shouting voice.

“How dare you commit adultery and still set foot in the temple, you shameless…!”

Ah.

Ines let out a short sigh.

Though she didn’t know how the word had gotten out, they knew. They knew why she was here. Upon realizing this, Ines’s body began to tremble slightly.

She was scared. She feared the hostility of people directed at her, who had no intention of hiding. Could they have also discovered that she was the queen?

She bowed her head deeply like a criminal, worried that someone might recognize her face.

“She must be from some noble family, but how dare she walk around so shamelessly after committing such a sin.”

“I heard she committed adultery with another man while having a husband!”

Those who appeared after hearing the commotion also began to slander Ines. Though priests who belatedly understood the situation tried to calm the people, they were powerless against the excitement of those who had come to enjoy the witch hunt.

Just as the once-quiet chapel had fallen into chaos.

Along with the sound of measured footsteps, armed men appeared and began to subdue the people instantly.

“What is this! Who are you people!”

“No, let go of me! That woman committed adultery!”

The people were startled by the sudden appearance of the robust men, but only briefly. Due to these men, all the gathered people were driven out of the chapel. Everything happened in an instant.

The chaotic chapel became quiet once again.

And shortly after, someone’s footsteps clearly echoed, breaking the silence.

One step, another step. The gradually approaching sound stopped right in front of Ines.

Still, Ines remained huddled, not raising her head.

“Ines.”

However, at the familiar voice calling her name, Ines’s tightly closed eyes opened. As the familiar shoe tip came into view, she slowly raised her head.

The person in front of her was her husband, Carlos.

“Carlos…”

Ines called his name in a hoarse voice. Carlos, who had been silently looking down at his wife, asked.

“…What were you doing here?”

“I…”

Perhaps it was because seeing Carlos made her feel relieved.

Suddenly, she felt dizzy, and her body began to tilt.

Carlos quickly caught her in his arms.

She looked at the man holding her with blurring vision.

“Carlo…”

Before she could finish calling his name, Ines slipped into darkness.

* * *

The sky was crystal clear.

The weather was moderately warm, and the breeze that brushed against her skin was cool.

It was a peace she hadn’t felt in a long time. When was the last time she felt this comfortable and warm?

Ines, wearing a pleasant smile, looked up. The bright sun radiating light seemed to be smiling at her.

The sun smiling? Though the expression was a bit funny, it really did seem to be smiling at her.

How long had she been staring at the sun in the sky as if enchanted? Suddenly, she realized that despite staring at the sky, her eyes weren’t hurting.

And there was another strange thing.

The sun, which should have been at its highest point, seemed to be gradually approaching her.

With an uneasy feeling, she stepped back a few steps, but for every step she took back, the sun came two steps closer.

Just as Ines was becoming frightened, a small fragment of light from the sun circled around her. After playfully circling around for a while, the light suddenly seeped into Ines’s belly, and she felt a warmth spread throughout her body.

At that moment, Ines’s closed eyes snapped open. She slowly looked around. Her blue eyes moved busily to assess the situation.

“This is…”

The familiar ceiling and familiar scent. It was her bedroom. Soon, tears that had gathered in her eyes rolled down her cheeks. What is this feeling…

‘Why am I in my room now? I was definitely resting in the field just now…’

Ines, recalling the scene that had been before her eyes just moments ago, let out a sigh.

“It was a dream.”

Yes, it was a dream. Realizing that the peace she had just felt was merely a dream, bitterness spread across her face.

‘Of course. There’s no way that could have been reality.’

It was such a pleasant dream that she truly didn’t want to wake up from it. Ines replayed the dream she had just had in her mind.

It was a strange dream where light falling from the sun entered her body. She even felt the peculiar sensation of her ice-cold body becoming warm instantly. What could that dream have been? As she was picturing the dream again in her mind.

Suddenly, a question arose about why she was now in the palace.

‘Come to think of it, I was definitely at the chapel…’

She had been writing prayer texts of atonement all day at the chapel. And only after sunset did she finish her prayers. And just as she was about to leave the chapel, people suddenly burst in.

As if recalling an unpleasant memory, Ines furrowed her brow. She hurriedly examined her body. Fortunately, her body, which had been in a mess, was now at least presentable.

Though still uncomfortable, this was probably the best that could be done for her while she was unconscious.

She felt nothing but gratitude toward Margaret.

Just as she was thinking she should thank Margaret first when she came, someone’s face flashed through her hazy memories. It was Carlos.

‘But why was Carlos there?’

Had she been dreaming since then? Perhaps because she had just woken up, it was difficult to distinguish between reality and dreams.

As her thoughts reached this point, Ines looked at her hand. The tip of her second finger, which had been writing prayer texts, was wrapped in bandages. At least what happened at the chapel wasn’t a dream.

‘Then what about Carlos being there?’

Had she seen a hallucination? As Ines was rummaging through her thoughts, she shook her head. It would be faster to ask Margaret who had been there with her than to think about it alone.

Just as she was about to get up from the bed out of curiosity to find Margaret.

“You shouldn’t get up yet.”

Someone approached Ines with an urgent voice. Startled, Ines turned her head toward the sound. It was the royal physician. Kerban was his name, wasn’t it?

“Please lie down, Your Majesty. You shouldn’t strain yourself now.”

Ines tilted her head as she watched Kerban making such a fuss today. As far as she remembered, he wasn’t one to be so excessive about her health.

Even when she had vomited at the funeral a few days ago, he hadn’t been like this. Just as she was surprised that such a person was still by her side.

Suddenly, the doctor began to give Ines strange advice.

“You must avoid strenuous activities for a while. You absolutely must not overexert yourself like you did today. And you must be careful about what you eat as well. I will prepare a list of foods you should and shouldn’t eat and give it to the maid. And also…”

“Wait.”

Ines interrupted the doctor who was rambling incomprehensibly on his own.

“What are you talking about?”

“Ah.”

Only then realizing that he hadn’t conveyed the important fact, Kerban smiled brightly.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Then he bowed his head before Ines with proper etiquette.

“You are pregnant.”