The Baby Isn’t Yours

Kalia struggled to swallow her breath.

Had she ever broken out in such a cold sweat in her life?

Even when the two red lines appeared on the pregnancy test, the cold sweat that didn’t come out then was now flowing down her smooth back.

There was only one reason for it.

It was because of Simon, who was looking out the window with a cold face.

Kalia, who had once shown hope as everyone’s hero, was now a sinner in front of just one person.

“Simon, are you still angry?”

In response to her question, Simon opened his eyes slightly and stared at her.

His gaze was icy cold.

“Um, yes. You’re angry, right? Yes, I understand.”

“If you understand, then don’t talk to me.”

…Oh no, he really seems very angry.

It was fine that he had made a grand exit from the conference hall, but since then, Simon had remained cold towards her.

It was fine until she angrily tore her hand with force due to her anger towards Buford, and even when she let the blood flow into her completely messed up hand.

The problem was that Simon was so upset about her hand, which was completely covered in flowing blood.

“Who was it that promised not to be reckless with her own body…?”

“…Ah.”

“There was no need to pour out so much of the purifying power to that brat in the first place.”

“…I was very angry…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…”

“I was very angry too.”

After saying that, he turned around abruptly and left.

He didn’t even bother to treat her hand, which was dripping with blood.

Of course, the next morning, when she woke up, the wounds had completely disappeared.

But she had spent several days in that state.

Because of the military preparations, Kalia was so busy that she had no time to reconcile.

Then, she finally had some time, and they spent an evening together, but even during the meal, Simon didn’t give her a single glance.

He couldn’t refuse her suggestion to have dinner together, but he went to great lengths to avoid looking at her, which seemed virtual.

‘I can see your eyelids twitch every time I move…’

Even after finishing the meal and heading to wash up, Kalia couldn’t properly speak to Simon.

‘Well, I was in the wrong. I made that promise… How should I reconcile?’

As she pondered, she came up with a cute idea.

She quickly washed up and dashed into the study, not even properly tying her bathrobe.

And soon after, she rushed out again and hurried to their room.

“Simon!”

As Kalia swung the door open and rushed in, a faint blush appeared on Simon’s face.

“Kalia, even though it’s our home…”

Under the loosely tied bathrobe, her slender legs were exposed.

Through the disheveled gap of the bathrobe, the shadow of her chest could be glimpsed.

Simon, who had kept a cold attitude and forgotten about it, quickly ran over and opened her robe.

Though the stubbornly sealed lips still exuded coldness.

“Simon, are you still angry?”

“…”

“Simon, hmm? Look at me. Aren’t you going to look at me now?”

When Kalia asked with an uncharacteristic hint, Simon hesitated for a moment and sighed.

Then he opened his eyes, gazing at her with his beautiful golden eyes, as if expressing his frustration.

“How can I not look at you? That’s a loss for me.”

Upon his gruff words, Kalia felt relieved.

Luckily, it seemed a bit looser than the first day.

If that’s the case, now was the perfect timing.

“Um… Simon, my hand seems to hurt. Can you take a look?”

“What?”

In response to her words, Simon quickly took her hand.

Kalia, who had clenched her fist, unfolded her hand above his.

And then, in the place where there was a wound, three one word she had written was revealed.

[Sorry.]

Ah, really. What should I do with this?

Simon was both speechless and found it cute, so he closed his eyes tightly.

In truth, his anger had already subsided.

However, if he just let it slide like this, the reckless General might think he’s not afraid of it and act recklessly. He was still pretending to be angry, not letting go of his anger.

How precious this time was…

In his heart, he didn’t even want to leave the bedroom all day with Kalia.

Whether Kalia knew or not about his feelings, doing such a cute thing while completely naked like this…

Simon clenched his teeth and scolded himself, trying to endure a little longer.

Embarrassed by Simon’s lack of response and feeling frustrated, Kalia covered her hand and spoke in a small voice.

“I’m sorry for breaking our promise. From now on, I absolutely won’t intentionally harm myself.”

“Promises are meant to be kept.”

“I know. I will definitely keep it, Simon.”

“….Really?”

“Yes!”

Kalia vigorously nodded her head.

Seeing the lovely appearance of the revered hero, Simon couldn’t resist anymore.

“It seems like I’m getting weaker.”

Kalia replied with a smile.

“Maybe I’m becoming more like you.”

“What?”

Kalia pulled Simon into a tight embrace, as if to say he was being ridiculous.

“We don’t have time to fight like this. Tomorrow will be even busier.”

After a while of being held in her embrace, Simon finally turned his around and hugged her from behind.

“Let’s make one promise.”

“What promise?”

Simon gently pulled her hand, which contained the word ‘Sorry’, and kissed her lips.

Even with just a torn palm, she was already so distraught. In the immediate battlefield that could explode at any moment, how much more would Kalia be hurt?

Thinking about it made his heart heavy.

If there was just a little more time, he could surely come up with a way to eliminate the demons…

If that were the case, Kalia wouldn’t have to be at the forefront, and he wouldn’t have to watch her back as she went to get hurt once again, feeling the heart-wrenching anxiety.

‘I should have hurried a little more.’

Knowing it was futile, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of regret.

He berated himself, feeling pathetic.

He never thought Kalia would lose in any household, but she would surely be injured.

“After this war is over…”

“…After?”

He gathered a sigh filled with intense longing and gently kissed the palm of her hand.

For Kalia’s preciousness, for his love for Sasha, for the newly blossomed hope within him.

“Let’s return to Lua.”

Living a stable and mundane daily life.

“…What?”

“In that small city, you, me, and Sasha. Let’s live with the others who cherish us… Let’s live like that.”

Kalia’s lips slightly parted as if she had lost her words for a moment.

Simon pushed his own lips between her slightly parted ones.

The gentle kiss escalated, gripping each other’s faces and gasping for breath.

When they separated briefly to catch their breaths, Kalia pulled Simon’s neck and answered.

“…Okay.”

The future Simon spoke of was a future that Kalia had longed for as well.

It was an irresistible and sweet proposal.

“Let’s live happily and normally like that, Simon.”

With their lips still touching, the two of them quietly smiled, envisioning the future they fervently desired.

* * *

The alliance meeting of this year was different from the previous ones.

The discussions about economic agreements were overshadowed by war preparations.

Key decision-makers returned to their respective countries, and their subordinates and deputies stayed behind to conduct close consultations on their behalf.

There was no lack of fear, but still, they believed in those obvious words.

They desperately believed that darkness couldn’t overcome the light.

That was the only way they could save the people and families caught in Akan’s grasp.

They had chosen war despite the threat to their safety, and now they had to prove that they were not wrong.

However, their faces were far from bright, overshadowed by deep-seated fear and worry.

“…If we do that, our military forces…”

“Mainly focusing on the Red Lion Knights of Rojas and the mages of Mage Tower…”

“The temple priests are insufficient… The power to purify black magic…”

“Ah, if that’s the case, then there’s something I just heard…”

The heavy meeting continued incessantly until it came to a halt with Louismond’s final words.

“Just now, what did you say…”

As if they had heard words they shouldn’t have, their eyes blinked and they shook their heads, trying to wake themselves up. Louismond quietly smiled at their reaction.

In a calm voice, he repeated his words from earlier.

“The fairies have agreed to help us.”

“…!”

The sound of breath being held, the sound of chairs being pushed back, the sound of searching for faith echoed disturbingly in the meeting room.

They took quick breaths, calculating the current situation as if they couldn’t believe it.

“Is, is that true?”

“How can you be so sure of the fairy’s cooperation, Your Highness?”

“In the world, how can we…!”

Louismond calmly extended to them a token given by the Fairy King, a small jewel containing the power of the fairies. It was nothing extraordinary, but it held the essence of fairy magic.

As he placed the stone on the table and murmured the fairy language taught by the Fairy King, a cluster of light emerged and the image of the Fairy King appeared, small but vivid.

Once again, the meeting room was filled with astonishment.

But before they could even sigh, the Fairy King spoke.

[I, the Fairy King, have decided to stand against the evil power of Akan alongside the young ruler of Rojas. Those who follow shall receive the blessings of the natural realm, and those who oppose shall be haunted by nightmares from the natural realm.]

With a brief message, the haze-like light disappeared, and a light spirit in the form of a small bird circled the meeting room once and vanished.

“Oh, my goodness!”

“Oh, dear gods!”

Hope flickered once again in their eyes.

Some couldn’t contain their trembling hearts and clasped their hands tightly as if in prayer.

Louismond had anticipated their reaction.

Despite witnessing the terrifying power of Kalia’s purification, they couldn’t fully let go of their doubts.

War was a battle against uncertainty.

Those who had faith in victory amidst that uncertainty had a greater chance of success.

Kalia knew how to inspire trust by demonstrating overwhelming power and strategy, leading them to victory. It was a method she excelled at.

Their eyes trembled as they looked at the trump card Louismond had laid down.

Even their gaze towards Louismond was filled with reverence.

‘…Although it’s all thanks to Kalia’s cooperation with the fairies.’

By some twist of fate, Louismond found himself riding on her success.

He had merely appointed Kalia as a long-time friend and servant, but thanks to her, many things had become easier for him.

‘If it weren’t for Kalia, would I still be here now?’

He would have likely fallen off a cliff or been killed by pirates’ arrows.

He owed her a great deal of gratitude.

Kalia had said that there was no need to explicitly reveal that the Fairy King’s race was her family. She didn’t want any unnecessary commotion.

Furthermore, now that not only Kalia but also Simon and Sasha had become members of the Fairy King’s family, they needed to exercise even greater caution.

While the time would come for their status to be revealed, now wasn’t the chaotic moment for it, and Louismond fully respected Kalia’s opinion.

“In that case, we need to reorganize our forces!”

“Should we inform the temple about this, Your Highness?”

The atmosphere in the heavy meeting room brightened considerably.

With a hint of excitement, they continued the strategic meeting, unaware of the passing time.

Preparations proceeded steadily, and three weeks flew by quickly.

And during that time, strangely enough, the prince of Akan was nowhere to be seen.