The awaited news arrived not long after.

Rael had wondered how Sezl would contact her, and the method turned out to be a carrier bird. She already knew that Sezl could handle birds, but now she truly appreciated how useful this ability was.

Seated in her chair, Rael unfolded the letter that had been tied to the pigeon’s leg and began reading.

[One week from the day you receive this letter, there will be an attack on Rubellan’s castle by experimental monsters. Of course, they’ll be few in number and barely able to buy time, let alone pose a real challenge to Rubellan.

This means you’ll need to do something. Before the monsters arrive, lure Rubellan somewhere else. Preferably outside the demon realm.

Even if you fail, the escape will proceed according to plan, though with greater risk. So be prepared.

Don’t arouse suspicion by acting tense. Continue behaving normally.

See you in a week.]

‘…One week.’

Rael read Sezl’s letter two, three more times, turning the words over in her mind. Her heart began to race. Finally, a second chance to escape.

Now that a date was set, fear welled up inside her, but this was the time to focus solely on escape. This opportunity was precious. Unlike before when she was alone, once her belly grew larger, she would find it much harder to even contemplate leaving.

“Rubellan…”

As Sezl suggested, she needed to reassure Rubellan without arousing suspicion. And she had to find a way to make him leave the castle on the appointed day.

How could she get Rubellan to leave?

He sometimes disappeared for days, but she couldn’t rely on luck for the timing to align perfectly. For safety’s sake, Rubellan definitely needed to be gone.

“Hmm.”

A pretext to lure him away.

Rael pondered the method.

Tap. Tap. Tap…

After her fingers had been drumming on the chair arm for quite some time, the door opened.

“What are you thinking about so intently?”

Rubellan entered with his usual warm presence. Upon seeing him, Rael strangely thought of a method that felt like a gamble.

“I’m craving something.”

It seemed ridiculous, but she wondered if such a simple approach would work. Would he respond like an ordinary human husband indulging his pregnant wife’s sudden whims?

Rubellan, who had been approaching, looked slightly surprised by Rael’s mention of food cravings.

“What is it?”

He seemed ready to fetch whatever she wanted immediately, amusingly taking her “maybe” as a certainty.

“…My hometown is famous for peaches. I suddenly find myself thinking about them.”

It occurred to Rael that sending Rubellan away temporarily might not be as difficult as she had seriously worried. Seeing him nod without even sitting down confirmed her growing certainty.

“Just one bite would make me feel so much better.”

The certainty that he might act on just these few words.

“I’d like you to pick out the prettiest, most tempting ones.”

If she showed even a hint of anxiety here, the perceptive Rubellan would become suspicious. She needed to appear perfectly like a pregnant woman whose emotions had become sensitive, testing her husband’s love.

“What if I bring an entire peach tree so you can choose for yourself?”

Rael released the breath she’d been holding in tension at Rubellan’s response, which could have been either a joke or serious. But then, worried he might actually uproot a tree, she shook her head.

“I think it would be a nicer picture if you came back holding a few that you carefully selected yourself.”

When Rael spoke with a coy expression, a gentle smile formed at the corners of Rubellan’s mouth.

“I didn’t know you had this side to you.”

“Is it bothersome?”

Of course, she knew that such a small task would hardly register as bothersome to Rubellan. But her petulant tone was deliberately affected.

“What can I do if the baby wants it?”

Rubellan, who had somehow already approached right in front of Rael, knelt on one knee at her feet. He wrapped his long arms around her waist, then leaned against her belly, listening closely.

“Well, you tell me. What kind of peach would you like to eat?”

Though he seemed to be speaking to the child in her womb, there was a subtle teasing directed at Rael.

“Does it answer you?”

“Quite chatty, actually.”

“Hmm, perhaps it’s still shy with me.”

As his hand caressed her belly, Rael felt strange. Here he was being so affectionate, unaware that she was brazenly lying to escape from him. A corner of her conscience stung with guilt.

“I’ll bring as many as needed. Since you want them.”

“It’s not me, it’s the baby.”

When she added this awkwardly, Rubellan laughed softly. The vibration transferred through her body.

“Of course.”

To Rubellan, it didn’t matter who wanted what. He was simply content to receive such demands.

“I’ll be back before impatient you runs out of breath.”

“How long will it take?”

“Are you that eager?”

Rather than eagerness, she wanted to know exactly how long she could keep him away from the castle on such an errand.

“Waiting without knowing is agonizing.”

“Even using magic, it will take at least half a day. Since I’ve never been there before, the coordinates aren’t set, so I’ll need to put in some legwork.”

According to him, between travel time both ways and preparing the items, it would take at least half a day. If she timed it well, she could keep Rubellan away from the castle long enough.

“I’ll be back.”

Like a hunting dog given a command, Rubellan moved to fulfill Rael’s wishes.

Rael watched as Rubellan left the room shortly after entering. Strangely, she felt guilty looking at his retreating back.

‘…They say pregnancy causes emotional fluctuations. Is this feeling part of that?’

Why did her emotions toward Rubellan keep running wild?

“Where is the Demon King going in such a hurry?”

After Rubellan left the room, Esh entered to take his place. In her hands, she carried Rael’s neatly folded nightgown.

“He’s gone to find peaches.”

“What? Peaches? You mean the fruit peaches?”

“That’s right. I told him I wanted some.”

Rael answered with a slight laugh, finding it amusing herself. Wondering how incredulous Esh must be feeling, she looked at her and, sure enough, Esh’s face was completely scrunched up. 

The “you’ve got to be kidding me” expression was evident.

Esh muttered while placing the nightgown on a small table.

“Lord Rubellan really does anything you say…”

As she continued speaking, Esh suddenly felt something strange. Her brow furrowed slightly, and her red eyes turned toward Rael.

“But didn’t you eat peaches for breakfast this morning?”

In her memory, she clearly recalled Rael debating with Joseph about whether the peaches were sweet enough. Though Esh tilted her head questioningly, Rael merely smiled serenely.

* * *

Over the past week, Rael had been requesting foods she craved from Rubellan, seemingly enjoying it. To avoid suspicion, she sent him out every other day. Simple items like peaches took half a day, but when she specified particular shops and items, it took much longer.

“I can’t remember the name of that shop. I think it had a yellow sign with green letters.”

Today was the important day.

“They make this duck roast that’s only available in limited quantities each day, and it’s so delicious. The way the fat sizzles… I want it so badly. Oh! And it tastes best with the lemon juice sold at the shop next door.”

Rael licked her lips thinking about the duck roast. It was genuinely one of her favorite dishes. Unfortunately, she probably wouldn’t taste it today. No, she shouldn’t taste it.

“If it’s something that whets your appetite, there’s nothing I can’t bring you…”

Seeing Rael’s mood improve recently, Rubellan was determined to bring her whatever she wanted without complaint. He didn’t want to spoil her good mood in the slightest.

“But you look unwell today.”

Rubellan was concerned about Rael, who had been pale and listless since morning.

“It’s no different than usual…”

Rael was a bit startled, wondering if her true feelings had shown. At the same time, her lips dried up with worry that he might decide not to go out due to concern for her condition.

“I guess I’m just feeling low because I can’t eat what I’m craving.”

Lacking the courage to look Rubellan directly in the eye while lying so brazenly, Rael directed her gaze to the floor. Receiving his concern in this situation made her heart twinge slightly.

“I understand.”

Rubellan rose without further words. As always, he wanted to quickly see Rael smiling while eating what he had brought.

After placing a brief kiss on Rael’s forehead, Rubellan left the room.

“…”

Rael brushed her forehead with her finger. When she first met him, his skin, his lips, everything had felt cold enough to give her goosebumps. Now it didn’t bother her at all.

Had his body temperature changed, or had she simply grown accustomed to Rubellan? Whatever the answer, it left her feeling uneasy.

Though the room had no clock, she could somehow hear the ticking of a second hand echoing in her ears. Each anxious second, each minute repeated endlessly.

After repeatedly moistening her parched lips with her tongue, the castle remained quiet.

Like the calm before a storm.