Until now, she had been too nervous and had momentarily forgotten that she was currently pregnant.

It was only a day ago that she heard the news of her pregnancy.

She still couldn’t feel the presence of another life inside her belly, and it felt very unfamiliar.

“Delphine. Are you alright?”

She was unconsciously hugging and stroking her lower abdomen when Lin, who was beside her, asked with concern.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Melly also thought she was nervous, and smiled with a softer face than usual.

“Lin is right. We have magic, the only power that can fight against demons.”

However, the problem was that this place was an empire established by a demon, and he had military command.

They briefly huddled together in the damp, mossy forest and discussed what to do next.

“From a glimpse before teleporting, it seemed he had brought almost a battalion-level force.”

“Right. Is he really crazy?”

“But no matter how much of a marquis Pryde is, he won’t be able to sustain that state for long.”

Melly calmly replied to Lin and Marian’s words and added.

“There will also be pressure from the emperor.”

“Then……”

“For the time being, let’s hide in District 3 and wait for an opportunity.”

Melly made a firm decision.

“We’ll look for another chance when that military force is reduced even a little.”

Delphine anxiously bit her lower lip.

It was very unsettling to have to stay in this empire, but for now, there seemed to be no other way.

Having made their decision, they soon teleported once more deeper into the forest.

They said they would camp here today.

“Camping……?”

Delphine, facing a situation she had never experienced before, just blinked awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

Unlike her, they skillfully set up barriers around them and gathered dry branches to make firewood.

“What should I do……”

“Please sit down and rest for a while. Don’t you get tired after recharging your mana?”

Lin sternly told her as she tried to help with something.

Sit down? ……But where?

Delphine scanned the hard, cold ground with worried eyes.

Her white hands were already placed on her lower abdomen again.

Only now did she feel the reality of becoming a fugitive.

She would be fine, but would the child in her womb be able to endure this forced march?

Then, Marian, who had been busily setting up the campsite, approached her and whispered in her ear.

“……Delphine. If you’re not feeling well, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

Delphine was startled and raised her head.

“……Yes?”

“I mean…… Even though I may not look like it, I’m also a woman after all.”

Marian winked at her and added.

“If you have any problems that are difficult to tell those men, feel free to tell me.”

She must have misunderstood something from seeing her constantly hugging her lower abdomen.

Delphine, who was about to say something, soon smiled slightly and shook her head.

“I’m fine now. ……If I ever need help, I’ll be sure to tell you.”

Marian nodded and walked away again to set up the campsite.

“……”

Left alone, Delphine stared blankly at her still flat stomach.

Although she hesitated for a moment, she decided not to tell her companions about her pregnancy yet.

It wasn’t because she didn’t trust them, but because she was afraid.

How would they react if they found out she was pregnant with the child of that demon contractor?

Marian would probably tell her to get rid of it right away, and Melly would likely look for a way to use the child somehow.

And Lin……

‘Would he be angry while worrying about me?’

At least one thing was certain – she wouldn’t receive congratulations or a welcome from anyone.

And she didn’t want her child to hear such things.

‘My child.’

Delphine laughed, finding it strange and amusing that she naturally uttered such words.

A new life is sprouting inside me.

How should I describe this odd feeling?

Her body, including her flat stomach, had not changed at all from before.

If she hadn’t heard the test results from Ioan, she probably wouldn’t have even known she was pregnant yet.

But knowing that fact, something inside her had changed.

Thinking that there was a life growing in this womb felt surreal.

‘It will probably be a daughter.’

Because Mother said we only give birth to a single daughter in our lifetime.

The mother-daughter relationship that has continued from my mother’s mother, and her mother’s mother, since long ago.

Now it will be passed from me to my daughter……

Delphine finally hugged her stomach with a peaceful face.

The child, whose face she had never seen and couldn’t even properly feel yet, was precious.

An immense sense of responsibility she had never felt before welled up inside her.

A feeling of wanting to protect this child at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing herself.

……Did Mother also feel this way when she found out she was pregnant with me?

‘So I have to become strong. I’m not alone anymore.’

Running away from Ioan was a path she chose, no one else.

She had no doubt that this child in her womb was also a result of her own choice.

Their relationship was not completely forced from the beginning, and she even willingly gave herself to him at the end.

My child, born from my actions.

So it was only natural that she took responsibility.

The father is a demon contractor and the mother is a descendant of a saint.

She still didn’t know what exactly this child born between them was.

Thinking about how to raise the child was overwhelming.

But one thing was certain.

‘Baby. I…… Your mother will definitely protect you.’

Delphine removed her hands from her stomach and raised her head, straightening her body.

Then she approached Lin with a determined face and said,

“I’ve recovered now. I’m not very tired. Give me something to do too.”

“But……”

“I can do it. I didn’t leave that mansion to be treated like a noble.”

“……”

Lin looked at Delphine intently for a moment with an unreadable gaze.

Did he think it was the pointless pride of a noble woman who had lived her entire life inside a mansion?

As she looked straight into his black eyes with tension, he slowly parted his lips.

“……Then, please gather some branches. Dry branches that haven’t absorbed moisture.”

Delphine nodded happily and quickly turned around to pick up branches.

‘Once we’re a little safer.’

At least once they got out of this empire and everyone’s hearts had some room to spare.

Then she would tell them about the child.

As Melly said, no matter how much Ioan tried, he wouldn’t be able to maintain that level of military force near the barrier for long.

‘We just need to endure a little longer.’

Then we can escape from him to a safe place.

A place where she can give birth to and raise this child with peace of mind.

……And hopefully, a place where she can secretly find a way to save his soul.

Delphine busily moved to pick up branches, trying hard to hide her anxious heart.

In the tent set up on the plains in front of the northern barrier.

With Pryde’s furious shout, his fist slammed down on the desk.

Due to his uncontrolled strength, the metal desk was dented in the shape of his fist.

He clenched his bulging fist and spat out harsh curses again.

It had been three days since he lost sight of Delphine.

He couldn’t find any trace of her at all.

“Why on earth……”

What price did he pay to fulfill his wish to protect her!

Yet he couldn’t even detect the location or traces of her disappearance.

He felt like grabbing the collar of the demon who had whispered sweet temptations to him and shaking it.

Was there no way to sell his soul twice?

To have you in my arms again, I would sell this damn soul as many times as needed……

He was lost in thought, gritting his teeth, but only for a moment.

Soon, realizing what crazy thoughts he was having, he let out a big smirk.

It was ridiculous that he was having these thoughts again, not content with selling his soul once.

Miserable.

The more I love you, the more miserable I become.

According to the Bible, there are levels in hell.

There was a bottom even in hell, which he thought couldn’t get any worse.

Loving her always drags him down like this, further and further down.

And the more that happens, the farther the distance grows between her, a saint living in heaven, and himself……

After rubbing his face with his large hands in agony for a while, the temperature in his reddish-brown eyes gradually began to cool.

However, it was the opposite of regaining reason.

It was more like the ruthless gaze of a beast before a hunt.

He muttered with eyes that had lost reason.

“……But there is still a way to get you back, Delphine.”