“We need to gather a bit more information. If we fail again… then we will all be annihilated.”

Veli spoke gravely, unlike his usual self.

Lin retorted without backing down.

“This much should be enough. How much information do you want to gather?”

After escaping from the underground prison of the Imperial Palace, they wandered around Area 3, gathering information related to the demon and the saint.

Especially in the northern part of Area 3, which was separated from the Northern Continent by only one barrier, they were able to obtain more information than expected.

Legends related to the saint.

Events that took place three hundred years ago, during the witch hunt.

Secrets related to the birth of Delphine’s mother and even the blueprints of the Pembrook Mansion, which had now become the Pryde Mansion…

Obtaining a teleportation magic circle that was not bound by the power of the black crystal was also one of them.

Just as they used the black crystal to suppress magic, there was also a way to suppress their power with magic.

“We can go and save her right now!”

“Yes. But once we enter the mansion that Pryde is guarding so thoroughly? Will the three of us just die by his hand?”

Veli coldly rebuked.

No matter how much Lin could use magic, no matter how much immense power Marian possessed, it was of no use.

There was no way to defeat that man who had made a contract with a demon within this empire.

“……”

As Lin gritted his teeth, Veli indifferently turned his gaze away.

He began to scribble something resembling a blueprint on the paper again and muttered.

“Just wait and see. That man absolutely can’t be cruel to Delphine. An opportunity will come soon. In one way or another….”

Lin gnashed his teeth and turned his gaze to the jar where an unknown liquid was boiling.

The fact that there was nothing he could do while she was being defiled by the hands of that demon became more and more unbearable.

How many steps ahead did Veli foresee?

The opportunity came from an unexpected turn of events.

“Urgh…”

Perhaps it was because she heard such shocking news.

Her stomach, which was already sensitive, was turned upside down for the first time in a long while.

“Haa…”

Delphine, who had been unable to leave the bathroom for a while, barely composed herself and caught her breath.

She had not been able to swallow food for the past few days.

Let alone putting food in her mouth, even smelling it made her stomach turn.

“Why on earth…”

Ioan, who had been holding her hair, made a frustrated face, not knowing the reason.

He would be wondering why a woman who had been fine in the mansion suddenly became like this.

He didn’t know the fact that she had received a transmission from a colleague she thought was dead.

In the end, the doctor was summoned once more in the afternoon.

“As I said, no major abnormalities are observed in her body…”

The old doctor, who had been called almost every other day, reported with a troubled face.

“Then why can’t she eat even though there are no abnormalities?”

At the sharp interrogation, the old doctor checked Delphine’s pulse again with a flinching face as she lay limp.

“Well, I’m hesitant to tell you hastily in case you get disappointed…”

The doctor, who pretended to be pondering, reluctantly opened his mouth.

If he didn’t provide some explanation, the marquis seemed ready to pull out his tongue right away.

“The most likely possibility is morning sickness symptoms. Although it’s too early in the pregnancy to be diagnosed now.”

At that, Ioan’s expression hardened even more than before.

It was the same for Delphine.

Pregnancy. She had never thought about that aspect at all.

Of course, having received bridal education, she knew the fact that a man and a woman could get pregnant if they mixed bodies.

However, due to not having a normal married life, she had temporarily forgotten about it.

Even Anna and other maids who could have reminded her of such facts were not in the mansion.

But was it the same for Ioan?

Ioan, who looked as surprised and unfamiliar as Delphine, glanced at her.

“The possibility of that.”

Then he muttered in a low voice.

“…seems low.”

Then the old doctor asked in a typical doctor’s businesslike and objective manner.

“Excuse me, but how can you be so sure, Lord Marquis?”

“…A while ago, my wife had her period.”

Delphine’s face turned red at the blatant conversation.

He was talking about the time she had rejected him a few days ago, saying she was not feeling well.

It was just an excuse, but to think he remembered it…

However, the old doctor checked her pulse again with a completely nonchalant expression and muttered.

“Hmm. Then the remaining possibility… It could be due to her body becoming too weak.”

“What does that mean? She’s been eating well and resting well.”

The doctor, observing Ioan’s appearance that had instantly sharpened again, carefully conveyed.

“Well, Your Excellency… Too frequent or intense relations can strain the body.”

“……”

At those words, Ioan, who couldn’t bring himself to refute, closed his mouth.

“Please consider the difference in your physiques and physical strength…”

For a moment, Ioan glared at the doctor who said that as if he was going to chew him to death.

But that was only for a moment.

“…I’ll keep that in mind from now on.”

He spat out reluctantly.

Then the doctor let out an obvious sigh of relief.

Then, this time, he requested to the limp Delphine.

“Madam. May I have a private conversation with you for a moment?”

“What is it?”

It was Ioan who answered that question asked to Delphine.

Once again, a sharp look flashed in his eyes.

However, the old doctor only responded politely with an innocent face, clasping his hands together.

“I have something to tell the madam separately. …After all, it’s about a woman’s body.”

“……”

“Ioan.”

He, who hesitated for a moment, finally backed down at Delphine’s quiet words.

Finally, only Delphine and the doctor were left in the room.

What is it?

The old doctor carefully took something out of his bosom and handed it to her, who was wondering.

It was a single red rose and a piece of paper with a magic circle written on it.

“…!”

As she was about to cry out in surprise, the doctor quickly raised his hand to his lips.

Glancing and pointing his chin towards the door seemed to be a signal that Ioan might be eavesdropping on the conversation.

Delphine nodded with determined eyes.

It wasn’t difficult to understand what this meant even without additional words.

The two conditions for activating magic.

It was a magic circle and aurum.

“Then, madam. You must always keep your body warm! You must never overdo it!”

The old doctor deliberately shouted loudly as if he wanted to be heard, then deeply bowed his head and left the room.

“Then, Your Excellency. I will take my leave now.”

Dr. Philips bowed deeply to Pryde, who was leaning against the hallway.

‘They say he’s the strongest and most ruthless man in the empire, but he’s not much, is he?’

This man would never dream that the masked men had visited him not long ago.

The task they requested while giving him gold was very simple.

Handing a single rose and a piece of paper to the madam.

With just that, he, a commoner, would receive money that would allow him to live comfortably for a year.

Then, even if it meant deceiving the notorious Marquis Pryde, couldn’t he do it?

Inwardly grinning at the unexpected windfall, Dr. Philips politely bowed.

“Call me anytime…”

“Hey.”

At that moment, a chilling voice settled over the back of his bowed head.

The soft voice instantly made the hair on his entire body stand on end.

‘He couldn’t have noticed something, could he…?’

“What is it, Your Excellency?”

However, age was not something he had consumed in vain.

Dr. Philips skillfully hid his inner thoughts, utilizing the typical shrewdness of an old man, and smiled politely.

But the marquis, who seemed to be deeply pondering something for a moment, gave an unexpected order.

“Can you formally examine the madam’s health condition?”

Why bother…?

Dr. Philips, who was trying to understand the intention behind the request, soon nodded.

It must be because of the issue of an heir after all.

Noble families were usually very sensitive about the issue of an heir.

If a woman couldn’t get pregnant, she could even be divorced.

“If it’s about pregnancy, Your Excellency. The test results won’t come out in the early stages.”

“…No, it’s not because of that.”

“But as a doctor, if I were to give you my opinion, there is no possibility of any other abnormality besides that.”

Dr. Philips answered, tilting his head.

A visibly robust man and a beautiful wife who seemed to have been quite worn out by him.

Typical morning sickness symptoms.

In his view, there was no need to suspect any other illness besides pregnancy.

“She’s still young, so the possibility should lean towards pregnancy…”

“No, the possibility of that.”

Pryde interrupted his words.

However, without finishing his sentence, he quietly instructed.

“…Anyway, check if there could be any other abnormalities. I’ll pay as much as needed, so do it as quickly as possible.”

At those words, the old doctor quickly nodded.

“Of course. I can do all sorts of tests. But I need a small amount of blood.”

“Then…”

Knock knock.

The marquis knocked on the closed door of the room.

“Del. The doctor says he forgot something.”

Dr. Philips swallowed his astonishment at the kind tone that was completely different from when he dealt with him.

They were a truly beautiful and affectionate couple.

One that also brought him a large amount of gold in many ways.

The marquis, who paid several times more than other nobles without hesitation whenever he visited the mansion.

Dr. Philips headed back to the room, pleasantly thinking about the gold coins that would come to him again through this examination.

Without anticipating the repercussions that the single flower and piece of paper he handed over would bring.