“…”

“I only recently heard the answer. Ten years ago, there was someone who exposed my location.”

“…”

“I only found out recently that it was you. Ten years ago, I lost everything when I was caught, but for someone, it must have been fortunate. In an attempt to save me, my father made a reckless attempt, and that became a pretext, turning Piren into a traitor.”

Calix smiled bitterly.
“I still wonder. What if I hadn’t gone there at that time?”

“…”

“If I hadn’t, would you really be in this position now?”

As if knowing everything, Bake trembled under Calix’s sunken eyes. It might have been less frightening if he had yelled and expressed his anger.

However, even amid this, Calix remained calm, like the calm before the storm.

“His Majesty must have a wish to tell me such a story now. If I kill you like this, it will naturally create a vulnerability for me. But even knowing that, I’m still greedy.”

“…”

“Killing is easy. Very.”

Calix tightly gripped his sword. Bake, forgetting to breathe, anxiously stared at Calix’s hand holding the sword.

Is he really going to kill him? No, it can’t be.

Sensing Bake’s unease, the tip of Calix’s sword touched his neck. Bake tensed, subconsciously swallowing his saliva, freezing in place.

At the moment the blade struck, a cold metal touched his skin. The incident happened so suddenly that he didn’t feel pain, but his head was alert. The sensation of liquid flowing down his throat from his neck was eerie.

“The belly hasn’t swollen much compared to the number of months, but fortunately, the baby is healthy.”

“Thank goodness. I was actually quite worried.”

I covered my stomach as if to show it off.

It couldn’t be seen with the naked eye because of the loose dress. However, the stomach I touched was still flat, and there was still no sign of fetal movement.

Originally, I was not pregnant.

But only I and the attending physician, who was pretending along with me, knew this fact.

Whether it was because of my body condition or because Maryel was naturally small, my belly didn’t swell much even before.

If the months passed too much, I would have to take separate measures, but recalling the memories of that time, I could easily create a plausible lie with an unswollen belly.

I shyly smiled at the wrinkled face of the attending physician.

At first, he shook his head, refusing to participate in this absurd play. But in front of me, who remembered everything, he eventually knelt down. Of course, there was a bit of coercion in the process.

Anyway, the result was that I successfully obtained a necessary ally, so it could be considered a satisfying outcome.

The attending physician, who had been working in Crayton for a long time since childhood, was not only skilled but also had a history of serving Bake and Margaret. Bake would probably be just like me, not suspecting him, just as he never doubted him in the past.

“Don’t worry too much. The baby will be born safely.”

“Thank you for saying that. Actually, I wanted to hear that everything is still okay after all the troubling stories I’ve heard.”

What would the maids standing behind me, pretending to be pitiful, think?

Hoping their mouths were as light as feathers, I opened my mouth again.
“Seems like he’s not at the mansion.”

“Have you informed the master?”

“No, not yet.”

“Why haven’t you shared such good news yet? When he hears the news, he’ll rush over immediately.”

“I want to see his face and tell him in person.”

Even though I touch my belly and feel nothing, there’s something that hasn’t faded away. No matter how much time passes, there’s a memory I can’t forget.

“In truth, there have been various events during this time. I want to reconcile with him and move forward with a good relationship through this incident.”

“Of course, you will. Both of you have been waiting for a child for a long time.”

I restrained the urge to burst into laughter and outwardly lifted the corners of my mouth.

Even though it was a fake pregnancy, the situation being gossiped about was quite similar to the past.

Back then, Bake had momentarily left his place for work, and I eagerly awaited him, excited about how to deliver this joyful news to him.

With a broken body that couldn’t easily conceive a child and too easily left my side, our couple often faced disappointment. The more such incidents repeated, the harder it became to tell my husband that I easily had a child.

So, even after having Maryel, it took a long time before I could tell Bake the truth.

I still remember. Bake cried upon hearing the news of the child. Both he and the child promised to protect each other.

If it’s a promise that can’t be kept, it’s better not to make it.

“I hope he’s very happy. I don’t remember much since I don’t have memories, but that doesn’t mean I can’t feel anything.”

I held the small doll I had taken from behind the drawer a long time ago.

Bake and Margaret surrounded the item, well-prepared while waiting for the child for a long time, but I vividly remembered who the owner of that doll was. And I had no intention of forgetting.

“I hope he comes back as soon as possible.”

If I could forget, it wouldn’t have been so resentful.

With both hands wrapped around the doll, I closed my eyes.

Saying that I’m waiting is a lie.

In the first place, I already knew. It would take a long time for my husband to return to Crayton.