After the doctor left, Ines, who was alone resting in bed, looked around.

She hadn’t seen Margaret since waking up.

‘Has she already gone to sleep….’

Looking at the clock, it was already past bedtime. She had wanted to thank her when she saw her today.

Though regrettable, it seemed the words of gratitude would have to wait.

“More importantly, I wonder if Margaret knows I’m pregnant?”

If she didn’t know, Ines wanted to tell her right away.

At first, she had been too shocked and dazed to think of anything, but as time passed, the reality of becoming a mother started to sink in.

A gentle smile spread across Ines’s face as she stroked her belly again.

As she did so, she imagined the scene of telling Carlos about the pregnancy.

Perhaps he already knew through someone else’s report. But she wanted to tell him this news directly herself.

‘I hope Carlos will be happy.’

Didn’t he want a child just like she did? Though he wouldn’t cheer like other ordinary people would, at least he wouldn’t dislike it.

He would probably be somewhat pleased. After all, having an heir was also a way to strengthen royal authority.

Even if he didn’t show it much, he would surely be glad. He would just say “good work” at the news of the child and show a gentle smile…

That level of reaction would be enough for Ines.

As she sat alone in the bedroom dreaming such happy thoughts.

The person she had been waiting for entered.

“Carlos.”

Ines gave Carlos a bright smile as she tried to get up from the bed. Or rather, tried to.

“Stay as you are. I’ll come to you.”

Carlos stopped Ines from getting up, and she didn’t refuse. In truth, she could barely walk properly after performing prayers of atonement all day.

She would probably have to stay in bed for a while. Though the days ahead would be difficult, it meant nothing to her in her joy of carrying a child.

“You came at just the right time. I actually had something to tell you.”

Ines’s cheeks turned red like a girl about to confess her feelings.

“You might already know… but I’m pregnant.”

As she said this, Ines kept fidgeting with her fingers.

“I heard.”

Unlike Ines’s shy confession, his voice was dry and emotionless.

But even this made her happy, and Ines smiled. At least he hadn’t shown a negative reaction, which relieved her.

Feeling more at ease, Ines continued speaking.

“The baby…”

“What were you thinking, performing prayers of atonement?”

“What?”

But his cold voice cut off Ines’s excited words.

“Did you even know what prayers of atonement meant when you did it?”

Ines’s lips trembled as she answered.

“…As a believer in the Cretian faith, how could I not know?”

Carlos sighed at her answer and continued.

“I’ve requested the dismissal of the priest who blackmailed you. He will be punished according to the law afterward. And this matter must be kept strictly secret. As you saw earlier, if this gets out, it would be very dangerous…”

“It wasn’t just because of the blackmail.”

Ines cut off Carlos’s words. His brow furrowed at the unexpected response.

“That’s why I chose to do it. The prayers of atonement.”

At those words, Carlos’s face hardened. He forced his stiff lips to move.

“I don’t understand why you wanted to do that.”

She answered without hesitation, as if stating something obvious.

“It’s exactly what it’s called – prayers of atonement.”

“…”

“I had much to atone for. To you… to Herman. To countless others, I wanted to stand before God and atone for what I and my family had done.”

The perception that prayers of atonement were only for adultery was wrong. Originally, prayers of atonement were meant for any sin, regardless of the type. It was just that most women’s sins had been adultery.

Ines was confident because she had never committed adultery in the first place. If nothing else, she could stand proud before God on that matter.

Even if she stood before God after death, she could declare her innocence regarding adultery.

But conversely, she couldn’t be proud about any other sins.

Many had died because of her family, and Carlos right before her had lost too much.

She wanted to atone to Herman, Carlos, the Countess, and countless unnamed others who despised her.

Ines lowered her head and continued speaking.

“I heard about your mother from Herman.”

“…”

“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for learning about it so late… for apologizing only now. I wanted to tell you this. I…”

“Ha.”

But Carlos, who had been listening to her apology, let out a bitter laugh.

“So you’re saying you went to perform prayers of atonement to repent for your past wrongs?”

He twisted his lips and spoke sarcastically.

“Not to atone for committing adultery with my brother?”

“Carlos!”

“A letter arrived from Joseph. He claims you shared his bed until right before marrying me… is that true?”

Ines shook her head at Carlos’s question.

“No. I didn’t do that. He sent a false letter. I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Despite her sincere explanation, his doubts didn’t cease.

“Then before that, did you ever share your body with my brother?”

The man kept interrogating Ines. Like an investigator questioning a criminal.

It was humiliating.

As a woman, as a wife.

Being questioned about whether she had slept with another man was deeply humiliating.

But pushing aside her miserable feelings, she explained.

“No. I never shared my body with him.”

“Then why did such rumors spread?”

He continued his questions, one after another.

“There were widespread rumors that you two had been intimate before marriage. Are you saying such rumors spread without any basis?”

“That’s…”

She briefly recalled what happened on the day of the engagement. That day, she had almost been r*ped by Joseph. That was probably the source of the rumors.

She couldn’t decide how to answer this.

‘Should I honestly confess about almost being r*ped? Or would it be better to pretend not to know?’

As she was struggling with countless internal debates.

Carlos gave a bitter smile. Then he called her name.

“Ines.”

At his voice calling her, Ines raised her head. Their gazes met in the air.

“People tell me that what’s in your womb isn’t my child.”

“…”

“They all believe Joseph’s letter rather than your words…”

Carlos’s voice was somehow suppressed as he muttered these words.

“I’ll ask one last time.”

“…”

“That child in your womb now. Is it really mine?”

At Carlos’s final question, Ines’s heart plummeted to the ground.

What had all her explanations been for until now? Only then did Ines realize.

That Carlos didn’t believe her.

That he believed the letter from his half-brother whom he had banished more than her words.

Ines bit her lip. Her hands gripping the sheets turned white.

“You… don’t believe my words.”

Her eyes turned red.

“You think this child isn’t yours.”

Tears fell drop by drop from her eyes filled with moisture.

“It’s okay if others don’t believe me.”

It was fine whatever others said.

She could endure their criticism and pointing fingers.

“But Carlos, can’t you believe me?”

None of what she had told him today was a lie. That’s why she felt wronged, upset, and miserable.

Carlos, who had been staring at Ines’s completely distorted face, murmured.

“How can I…”

Carlos, wearing a pained expression, shouted.

“How can I believe you. You’ve already betrayed me once. After all I lost because of your betrayal… How can I…”

Carlos ground his teeth.

“Ines, have you ever given me reason to trust you?”

Ines’s words that had stabbed his heart flashed through his memory.

‘I’m sorry. I never loved you.’

“I went to war to win you. But when I returned, how can you expect me to believe the words of a woman who said she never even loved me?”

His voice shouting at Ines was filled with despair and anger.

“Carlos, I…”

As if it was too painful to remain there any longer, Carlos rose from his seat.

“Don’t think unnecessary thoughts and just focus on safely delivering the child.”

“…”

“Regardless of whose child it is, that child will be my heir anyway.”

With those final words, Carlos left the room. As soon as he left, Ines collapsed.

—

T/N: She used her ability to transfer your injury to her body, willingly accepted you despite all her trauma in s*x and fear of being r*ped again, trusted you, apologized for her wrongdoings and pushed her physical limits to atone for it, and now you have the gall to say to her face that you doubt the child is even yours? AFTER F*CKING HER MANY TIMES??? HOW AUDACIOUS CAN YOU BE CARLOS RAAAGHH *more frustrated noises* IM SO ANGRY GIRL IF YOU DON’T LEAVE HIM I SWEAR