Trampled and Broken (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 28
As if wanting to show off, Boswaga stretched his shoulders wide. His expression was smug, clearly expecting tearful gratitude from her.
But Hestia was too busy suppressing the urge to bury her face in her hands.
‘Why is Anetsa so intent on marrying me off?’
I understand she wants me dead… but what connection could there possibly be between my death and marriage? And why does Anetsa want me dead in the first place?
It was utterly incomprehensible.
No matter how hard she searched her memory, she couldn’t recall ever personally offending her.
‘The day Anetsa came to the temple herself was the first time I met her.’
Before that, they’d had no contact whatsoever. Then why did she keep pushing her toward death?
Lost in deepening suspicion, vertical lines formed naturally between Hestia’s brows.
“Lady Hestia? Are you unwell?”
Hestia hurriedly snapped out of her thoughts at Boswa’s voice.
“I’m fine. I was just gathering my thoughts.”
Boswa nodded understandingly, then resumed speaking after a brief pause.
“Isn’t this truly fortunate news?”
Hestia took a small, sharp breath before speaking. Her own voice sounded colder than she’d expected, surprising even herself.
“But no matter what method you use, you cannot prevent my divine power from vanishing. Merely keeping me alive won’t benefit the temple in any way.”
“How can you say such a thing! Your very existence is already a great help to us, Lady Hestia.”
To her surprise, Boswa spoke heartily, as if entirely unconcerned.
“You are the symbolic figure linking the royal family and the temple.”
At the word “symbolic” Boswa used to describe her, Hestia swallowed a bitter smile.
Nothing could better illustrate her current predicament.
While she merely smiled without replying, Boswa drained half the now-lukewarm tea to moisten his throat.
After clearing his throat with a short cough, he looked at her again—this time with a more insistent gaze, his voice dropping lower.
“But Lady Hestia… aren’t you curious about how to extend your remaining time?”
“…Ah.”
Hestia’s eyes narrowed slightly before her gaze fell away.
She calmly answered, lifting the corners of her mouth naturally.
“Well… because I already know the method myself.”
At those quiet words, Boswa’s face twisted as if he’d been struck.
For a moment, he gaped like a fish before forgetting himself entirely and raising his voice in protest.
“…What?! Then why haven’t you said anything until now?”
Despite his loud outburst, Hestia merely frowned slightly and didn’t flinch.
“Because I believed it wasn’t the right way. Is it necessary to offer an innocent man’s life as collateral to the gods just to save me?”
It was perfectly logical.
Unable to refute her, Boswa tried persuasion instead.
“But please consider this.”
Yes, what exactly should I consider?
With a gentle expression—but eyes cold and emotionless—Hestia looked at the archdeacon, silently urging him to continue. Oblivious to her true feelings, Boswa spoke.
“If we forced a man upon you, that would indeed be problematic. But what if someone volunteered willingly?”
And what about my wishes?
What if that willing man doesn’t appeal to me?
What if he’s been bribed by you—or by Anetsa?
Countless rebuttals rose to her throat, but Hestia wisely kept her lips sealed.
She knew he’d inevitably resort to some sophistry to sway her right here and now.
‘I’m tired.’
All she wanted was to end this meeting quickly, so she simply smiled.
“Let’s conclude our conversation here. I understand the temple’s position well. However, my resolve remains firm, so I ask you to reconsider.”
Seeing no progress, Boswa wore a deeply disappointed expression.
“Hmph. Very well. For now, I’ll take my leave with that understanding. I’ll convey your stance to the temple, and I hope you’ll also seriously consider our proposal.”
“I will.”
Hestia nodded absently, her tone utterly lacking sincerity.
“And… soon, your unfortunate circumstances will be made public. The faithful ought to know the truth, after all. So please don’t be shocked or upset.”
“Upset? It’s the will of the gods. If I hadn’t wanted it revealed, I would’ve hidden the oracle from the start.”
She stood up immediately after finishing her sentence.
Interpreting this as a silent dismissal, Boswa reluctantly rose as well.
“We’ll meet again soon.”
“Travel safely.”
They exchanged brief farewells.
.
.
.
A few days later, just as Boswa had forewarned, rumors concerning Hestia began reaching her ears.
From Hestia to Anetsa.
Since the temple needed a new representative figure, this transition seemed only natural.
“How dare they say such a thing!”
Angela, her handmaiden, who had only just heard the news, collapsed before Hestia and burst into tears.
“Oh… you heard already.”
Hestia gave an awkward laugh, looking flustered.
“Marriage?!”
“…Huh?”
Hestia stared at her maid in astonishment.
Mutual bewilderment filled their exchanged glances.
Quickly regaining her composure, Hestia asked discreetly,
“Is that the only rumor circulating?”
Angela sniffled and tilted her head curiously.
“Huh? Should there be another rumor, then?”
“Oh, no.”
Hestia evaded vaguely.
Fortunately, Angela didn’t press further and continued venting her outrage.
“They took you to the temple when you were just a child! And now they want to marry you off to kick you out?! Who does Anetsa think she is?! Is she claiming there’s another saintess?!”
So that’s how they framed it.
Apparently, King Yorgos was desperately suppressing any mention of her impending death.
‘Or perhaps some secret agreement was reached between the royal court and the temple behind my back.’
Two saintesses.
Even if the balance tilted heavily toward Anetsa, many still supported Hestia—so revealing her imminent death would only cause unnecessary chaos prematurely.
On this point, Hestia agreed with their judgment.
‘No need to reveal all my cards.’
Even if Aslan weren’t the one sitting across from her at the negotiation table, hiding her limited time was still the wiser choice.
After all, if her opponent knew her lifespan hung by a thread, they’d likely exploit it to devalue her worth.
‘Keep the time limit hidden.’
As long as the temple remained silent,
this situation wasn’t entirely unfavorable for her either.
While Hestia finished organizing these thoughts alone, Angela remained furious.
“They didn’t seem that awful at first glance, but they really are despicable!”
Angela huffed indignantly, as if the anger had just reignited.
〈Should I volunteer myself?〉
〈Ah, Arthur, Arthur.〉
〈Who knows? Maybe His Majesty will grant a higher title and larger lands as dowry if we marry!〉
It seemed numerous men were exchanging shamelessly crude remarks about Hestia.
Fuming, Angela repeatedly slammed her clenched fist against the floor.
“So I went and shouted right in their faces!”
Had Hestia heard those words firsthand, they might have stung.
‘But since I didn’t hear them directly…’
The impact wasn’t as painful as she’d feared.
Yet Angela, having just learned of it, clearly felt otherwise.
“How dare those lowlifes seize this chance!”
“Calm down. It’s just talk.”
“That’s exactly why it’s infuriating! Those people—who normally couldn’t even bear to look at you without guilt—dare speak like that now!”
Angela raged as if personally insulted, her fury growing rather than subsiding, forcing Hestia to spend considerable effort soothing her maid.
“By the way, Angela—about that rumor. Has it spread widely?”
Angela nodded.
“Well, they’re searching for a husband for the princess, after all. The rumor’s spreading faster than wings could carry it.”
Taking a steadying breath, the maid continued.
“But His Majesty the King seems to be suppressing it. He issued a stern warning that anyone repeating the rumor won’t be left unpunished.”
“I see.”
Hestia replied, holding her breath.
That was somewhat reassuring—at least she wouldn’t become an even greater laughingstock.
〈Keep your mouths shut for now. There’s no need to support the temple’s side immediately.〉
〈Yes, Your Majesty. I shall obey your command.〉
Clearly, from Yorgos’s perspective, preventing news of her potential loss of divine power was strategically advantageous, so he was actively quashing the rumors.
‘Then Aslan probably hasn’t heard that I’ve lost my divine power—or that I’ll die next year.’
No matter how many spies he sent to investigate her, someone without a foothold in the capital would face severe limitations in gathering accurate information.
Even using informants wouldn’t help.
Hestia was both a saintess and a princess.
She lived in the most inaccessible place imaginable for commoners, interacting only with a minimal circle of people.
Though countless speculations swirled around her, no outsider could uncover her true hidden secrets.
‘As long as I stay silent, he won’t know.’
So she must act swiftly—for his sake.
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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