“If Madam gives the order, I’ll have that employee beaten to a pulp.”

As the carriage was leaving the academy, Balter spoke. However, Edith wasn’t paying much attention to the employee who ignored her.

Since it was a school for the offspring of high-ranking nobles, she always expected someone to disregard her. Moreover, the decision to dismiss the employee who had walked into the altercation wasn’t made lightly enough to be shaken by the employee’s argument.

“It’s okay. Anyway, that person won’t care about the reason behind my deferred admission. If things go wrong, they’ll get fired.”

Although she stated marriage as the reason for the admission delay, in reality, the most significant reason was the existence of the child.

Now, she had to keep the child and their lineage a secret. It was advantageous for no one to suspect anything different about her admission deferment. However, the uncertain feeling of not being able to return to the academy lingered in her mind. To protect the child from dangerous individuals, she might have to go far away from the capital and live in hiding. She couldn’t predict how long this escape would last.

However, she wasn’t ready to give up on both sides just yet.

“I won’t give up on my family, Edith. So, trust only your mom.”

Recalling her mother’s words, Edith gathered her anxious thoughts. Then, she smiled at Balter, who promised to protect her.

“Anyway, since the documents are well processed, let’s take a break and explore the marketplace.”

“Do you need anything?”

Balter, who recently developed a taste for spending money, lit up at the thought of the gold coins he had brought.

“Come to think of it, Cassius mentioned that part of the money Balter received from Helen was compensation from the Portrian Duke for the seven years of imprisonment.”

For some reason, Cassius mentioned that the amount was significant enough for a family of four, including a toddler, to settle in the capital without working for three generations, yet Balter couldn’t resist spending the money. He even casually mentioned that if they had a child, Balter would naturally dig up gold coins like an ant, and, given his impressive skills and good looks, even if he were placed anywhere, he wouldn’t bow down. If he decided to open a clinic, it would boost sales significantly without the need for a signboard.

Thinking about Cassius’s excessive affection for his disciple, Edith felt a little worried.

“In fact, I received a lot from you, so I wanted to give you a gift as a thank-you. But I wonder if you’ve already bought all the things you need?”
In fact, as Edith mentioned, Balter didn’t particularly need anything. He had strength and skill, so he didn’t need crude tools, and he didn’t have any specific hobbies.

However, the act of Edith thinking of him and choosing a gift seemed to make him happy.

“How about exploring the marketplace and choosing something suitable?”

“Should we?”

Soon, the carriage stopped near the entrance of the marketplace. The vibrant atmosphere felt from all directions was incomparable to the Portrian store.

Well-dressed wealthy commoners and nobles mingled in the same shops, enjoying food and drinks. Just watching them lifted the mood.

Balter naturally led Edith, who was contemplating which way to go.

He thought it was a good idea to do some prior investigation on a former member of the mercenary corps who had spent a long time in the capital.

Walking side by side with Balter, Edith felt an unknown excitement.

“Being like this feels like spending time with a lover.”

Thinking that she could give him a memorable gift today, Edith asked him to choose what he wanted. In response, Balter wickedly squinted his eyes.

“Anything you want?”

Edith noticed a store they had just passed and realized that it was selling lingerie for young couples.

For some reason, Balter was looking at a mannequin in a suggestive pose, and a mischievous tone came from him.

“If you buy that, will you wear it, Balter?”

“…Me?”

“Yeah. If you’re going to wear it, I’ll gladly buy it for you.”

Although things didn’t go exactly as planned, Edith’s chuckling appearance was adorable. Balter followed her with light steps.

The two, who were exploring the marketplace, eventually arrived at a large bookstore that handled old and new books together.

“Wow…”

Seeing her much happier than she vaguely expected, Balter’s mouth also subtly rose.

Edith momentarily forgot the purpose of giving him a return gift and admired the books. Then, she noticed a bookshelf that caught her eye.

Under a small sign, there were shelves full of adorable storybooks suitable for mothers to read to their babies.

Seeing the two letters ‘Prenatal,’ Edith’s heart felt oddly heavy.

“Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since I got pregnant, and I haven’t done anything for the child.”

At first, she didn’t even know she was pregnant, and afterward, she was busy hiding the child’s existence and the identity of the father.