Edith met Sullivan when she had just turned twenty.

At the time, Sullivan, who was the same age as her, knew nothing about herbs and was responsible for cleaning the clinic and taking out the trash.

“People say she’s a descendant of slaves, you know?”

“Her husband died recently, and she has to feed her youngest in-law. Poor thing at such a young age.”

People looked at Sullivan with pity, but Edith thought she was truly remarkable for bravely forging her own path in life.

Then one day, Edith saw Sullivan clutching her stomach and panting in the hallway, just before her short summer vacation.

“Sullivan, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“The baby, the baby… I think it’s coming.”

“A baby? What are you talking about?”

At that time, Edith could only be perplexed by Sullivan’s words. Her belly was only slightly swollen; it was unthinkable that she was full-term.

“How could she have a baby if she’s not pregnant?”

Recognizing Sullivan’s symptoms as signs of labor, Edith called Mrs. Homan and prepared hot water.

Only after intense contractions began did she realize that Sullivan was indeed pregnant. After the laborious delivery, Mrs. Homan regretfully explained the situation to Edith.

“It happens sometimes, Edith. Pregnant women don’t often get jobs, so they use a special potion containing magical herbs to prevent their bellies from showing. She must’ve known the side effects would make her body heavy, and that the labor pains would intensify…”

Sullivan had used a potion that had been secretly passed down among slaves with similar circumstances. It was nicknamed the “Blue Potion.”

“She must have taken her summer vacation to give birth within the next two days.”

Edith, feeling sorry for Sullivan’s plight, made a request to the Homans.

Thanks to that, Sullivan could work even after giving birth. Her main duties now involved organizing herbs in the herb storage room.

“Sullivan, why don’t you study about herbs and try working as a pharmacist?”

With Edith’s occasional help in studying and looking after her child on days off, Sullivan was able to proudly secure a job as a pharmacist at Homan’s clinic a year later.
For that reason, Sulriban always felt grateful towards Edith, but he couldn’t readily agree to this particular request.

“Edith, what’s going on? Why that potion?”

Even as he asked, Sulriban knew the specific circumstance under which one would use the ‘Blue Potion.’ When one had to hide a pregnancy from others.

“Just. Thought it would be good to know.”

Hearing Edith’s bitter laugh and reply, it felt like Sulriban’s emotional walls were crumbling.

“That potion has no effect on the child, but it’s lethal to the mother. Remember? I almost died losing consciousness due to sudden severe pain in the middle of childbirth.”

Sulriban laid out the side effects of the medicine as he tried to dissuade Edith.

Edith was not unaware that giving up the child would make everything easier. Then, she would not be Walter’s weakness, nor would she have to worry about additional dangers.

‘But……’

Edith placed her hand on her yet-to-be swollen belly. Walter’s and her child. Just knowing this fact made her want to protect the child.

Even if she had to raise the child alone until the danger was gone. Even if she had to indefinitely postpone her dream of entering the academy and becoming a doctor.

‘I thought I was still contemplating, but seeing that I’m thinking like a mother, it seems like I’ve already made up my mind.’

Edith erased her lengthy thoughts and wore a bitter smile.

“I don’t plan to drink it right away. If a situation arises where I have to hide the pregnancy, I just want to have one more option.”

“……”

Sulriban knew all too well how difficult it is to have to hide a pregnancy. At the same time, he also knew that situations might necessitate it.

‘If Edith is considering even this option, she must really want to protect the child in complicated situations.’

Sulriban knew from years of receiving her help that Edith was a straightforward and honorable person. She would not opt for recklessness if there were a better way.

In the end, she hugged Edith tightly and then rummaged through her herb drawer to make one ‘Blue Potion.’

“The instructions are written here. It only prevents the belly from showing, but the pulse will be the same as a regular pregnant woman’s. Morning sickness will be the same. Although I’d prefer you not to drink this, I’ll keep your secret no matter what.”

“Thank you, Sulriban.”

Looking at her friend who was caring for her, Edith prayed she would never have to use this potion.

“Merlin, that child is no longer here. It appears he even took some back money under the pretext of donations for the mercenaries.”

Walter dismounted his horse alongside Edith, and Cassius reported.

“I immediately put a gag order to prevent others from leaking anything related to madam’s condition.”

Edith felt reassured as a cold wind blew when he said the word “gag order.”

‘I can trust him, as Walter must have ordered it.’