It was reported through Rosa’s mouth that Hersis would be late.

Also, it was advised to rest first.

Reese changed into her nightgown and walked around the room for a moment.

It was because of the growing pain in her lower back. Moving even a little was a way to alleviate the pain.

“But even that doesn’t help today.”

After walking a few laps, Reese, feeling more back pain, sat on the bed.

As the months passed, the size of her belly and the intensity of the back pain set new records every day.

She wondered if there was ever a time when she thought of having three children.

‘I’ll have only one. I’ll raise it as an illegitimate child.’
It seemed better for the succession as well. The idea of disputes over power or property due to having only one child was unheard of so far.

“I should tell Héris later.”

That person seemed to want to have a second, third child… just as they naturally come.

Knock.

The knocking sound came when she was slowly sliding her swollen body between the sheets and the blanket.

“I’m coming in.”

While speaking, Reese continued to shift her body towards the center of the bed without stopping. Finally, she looked back at Héris, taking a position just enough to lie down.

“You came early… I thought you wouldn’t come today.”

“Sorry. It’s so comfortable at home after a long time.”

René responded with a wry smile.

She immediately threw her body on the comfortable chair I often used without stopping by the quarters. She was wearing a cape for going out on her shoulders.

“Really? That’s a relief. I was wondering what if you were freezing to death in our house, eating cold rice.”

There was no particular response from René.

Reese asked, “How was your day out?”

“Nothing special.”

René shrugged her shoulders and continued, “I didn’t see a single unfamiliar person, let alone an arsonist. Of course, who would want to walk around in such a neighborhood?”

“…”

“To me, it seemed like they caused the fire themselves. They looked good enough to burn. It was strange that a perfectly good tent was burning near the fire.”

“Is that so?”

“Anyway, I warned them about fire safety, turned each stove with a lid, and came back. With that, it’s unlikely that a fire will break out. Unless fate… really wants to take them away, there’s no reason for them to catch fire.”

The emphasis on ‘fate’ seemed to imply that even if a fire broke out, it should be humbly accepted as the fate given by the gods.

In fact, that was the intention behind saying it. Not for Reese, but for Adrian. For my family.

Although they used to be an annoying family because of overprotection, even now, the way they treated me had changed, making them an awkward family. Still, they were family by blood. For the sake of those who were not mixed with a single drop of blood, I could not reveal the family’s flaws.

René decided to keep her mouth shut.

She had tried to watch and change the predetermined ending of a novel because it was interesting, but that was when the family was not involved. Now, whether the novel ended tragically or not didn’t matter at all.

After all, tragedy was relative, and someone’s tragedy could be someone else’s comedy.

Isn’t the tragedy of the Emperor and Empress leading to the destruction of the world a relative matter as well?
Adrian admired Duke Montaner, so if he stayed quiet like this, he might become influential, at least during royal events, even if he didn’t become the duke’s right-hand man.

There was nothing to lose.

“René.”

“……. ”

At the quiet voice calling her name, René snapped out of her thoughts.

She turned her gaze to Reese. With a peculiar look in her eyes, Reese stared at René and spoke.

“Did I not mention it?”

“……. ”

“Meeting you was lucky.”

René, after a brief moment of confusion, burst into laughter.

“Why are you saying that out of the blue? Are you afraid I might do something to you?”

It was a reasonable assumption. She had frightened her several times, and having a taste of what would happen if she wasted Reese’s precious time, now that the end was near, it was appropriate to act gently.

“I’ll spare you.”

After laughing, René said.

“I couldn’t demonstrate my abilities, but it was a good experience. It wasn’t a complete waste of time. So…”

Before she could finish her somewhat awkward statement, Reese interjected.

“Meeting you was fortunate, René Esmond.”

Reese repeated the same words with an undulating intonation. Then her words took a completely different turn.

“You’re Adrian Esmond’s sister.”

“……. ”

“As Adrian Esmond’s sister, who is to be publicly executed at Mariard Square as the arsonist of Codel 12 Avenue, René Yang, meeting you was fortunate. And…”

“……. ”

“Now, I hope meeting me is fortunate for you too.”