Chapter 55
When I regained consciousness, I was lying down.
‘A sickbed?’
Since I had collapsed in a hospital, the probability was high. To avoid making the same mistake, even though my mind was awake, I didn’t open my eyes rashly.
Hadn’t I just fainted in an instant earlier?
“She overexerted herself…”
“What are we to do?”
“Great sorrow has befallen the Archducal family…”
“The Knight saved many Imperial citizens…”
“Originally, in the initial stages…”
The murmurs around me were heard all at once.
I couldn’t decide whether to open my eyes or not. I was curious how much time had passed and if the monsters left outside had been dealt with properly.
CRASH!
“Marion!”
I snapped my eyes open at Kaiden’s voice.
Fortunately, only the hospital ceiling was visible. But I couldn’t look around carelessly. I didn’t know where I might meet the eyes of a patient covered in blood.
[Kaiden is heading straight for you.]
I listened to Bled’s words. I heard heavy footsteps approaching.
“Your Grace!”
“Marion!”
I saw Bethel, who was nearby, jump up as soon as he saw Kaiden.
But Kaiden didn’t pay any attention to Bethel, only calling my name. I cautiously turned my head toward Kaiden with narrowly opened eyes, just in case there was blood around.
“Marion, are you alright!”
“Your Grace.”
Kaiden looked relieved when he saw me, but his complexion was not good.
“Why are you here? What about the East?”
“I woke up at dawn and received news that you had collapsed, how could I just stay put?”
That meant he had hurriedly used the magic transfer circle to come to the capital at dawn.
Kaiden gently stroked my forehead with his hand. His actions were deeply tinged with worry.
Indeed, he must have been very surprised to suddenly hear the news of a monster invasion in the capital.
“Is it dawn now?”
When I tried to sit up, Kaiden gently pressed my shoulder, lying me back down, and shook his head.
“It’s morning. Are you feeling well?”
“Yes. I think I’m fine.”
“…Baroness Marion…”
Bethel, who was nearby, called me in a whispery voice.
“What’s wrong, Bethel?”
“…Well…”
Bethel couldn’t answer. And strangely, the surroundings were too quiet. It was as if something that shouldn’t have happened had occurred, and everyone was silent.
Kaiden, equally unable to understand the atmosphere, urged him.
“Bethel, tell me the truth. What is going on?”
“That…”
“I will tell you.”
While Bethel was sweating profusely and hesitating, Stella approached. Seeing her made me fully regain my senses.
The words she had spoken came back to my mind.
‘The world is going to perish anyway.’
Stella had clearly said that.
“Saintess.”
Kaiden greeted her. I stared intently at Stella, half-raised. Stella slowly turned to me and opened her mouth.
“Baroness Marion is a hero who saved countless citizens of the Empire. We will not forget this gratitude.”
“I only did what needed to be done. Please tell me the main point.”
When I asked directly, Stella paused for a moment, then lowered her eyes and spoke cautiously.
“…Baroness Marion… has miscarried. I am truly sorry.”
“…….”
I was silent. Kaiden was also silent. Everyone inside the hospital was silent.
A cold wind seemed to sweep through the interior, even though no door was open.
It seemed a doctor had examined me while I was unconscious.
The news of my pregnancy with Kaiden’s child was known to all Imperial citizens.
The doctor must have taken that into account during the examination, and when he couldn’t feel the baby’s pulse, he must have said I miscarried.
‘…So that’s why the surroundings were so quiet.’
I didn’t expect my pregnancy lie to end this way.
However, since I hadn’t been pregnant in the first place, I was in a bind about how to react.
Should I pretend to be a woman grieving the loss of her child?
I subtly glanced at Kaiden, unsure what to do.
Kaiden stared at Stella with an expressionless face, then quietly opened his mouth, looking back at me.
“It’s enough that you, Marion, are safe.”
The smoke from his acting was magnificent.
To think of putting on such a performance as a devoted husband here. I was practically tempted to jump up and give him a standing ovation.
Stella muttered.
“…Is that so.”
Her tone was somehow strange.
Having been suspicious of her even before I fainted, I wanted to talk to her alone. But there were too many people around now.
Kaiden asked.
“Did the Saintess treat Marion?”
“No. She sustained no external injuries, so there was nothing to treat. However, the child was something I could not help with… I am sorry.”
“…The Saintess has nothing to apologize for.”
Kaiden slightly turned his head. It was the averted look of someone who knew the truth. I also turned my gaze away from her.
I was the one who committed the fraud, and it didn’t feel good to have an innocent person apologize to us.
“Ahem, well, since the hospital beds seem scarce, I will take Marion back to the Archduke’s mansion.”
Kaiden cleared his throat and said. I was pleased. I wanted to escape this blood-soaked place as quickly as possible.
Stella nodded.
“Please do so. Take good care of Baroness Marion.”
…Saintess, if you keep acting like that, I feel guilty for suspecting you. I felt unnecessarily apologetic toward Stella.
“I will. Bethel. Pack Marion’s belongings.”
“Yes!”
Kaiden instructed Bethel, then helped me up. I leaned on him and rose as if struggling.
In reality, I felt completely rested after a deep sleep. But since I had supposedly miscarried, I felt I had to at least pretend to be unwell.
Just then.
CRASH!
“Marion! Are you alright!”
The Archduke burst through the ward door. My body stiffened as soon as I heard his voice.
It was because I remembered how happy he was when I announced my pregnancy.
The Archduke had brought all his vassals to applaud and welcome me, saying he would see his great-grandchild.
Besides that, he was the first to look out for me whenever there was delicious food, and he asked about my condition every morning.
The Archduke genuinely welcomed my pregnancy.
How disappointed would he be if he heard I had miscarried? I felt like my conscience would be overwhelmed with guilt.
The Former Archduke strode toward me as soon as he spotted me. I could feel Kaiden’s body, on which I was leaning, also tensing up.
The Archduke was now standing in front of me. I looked up at him with a guilty face.
Archduke… I’m sorry.”
As I apologized, the Archduke slowly opened his mouth.
“What is there to be sorry for? It’s enough that you are safe. You went through a lot, Marion.”
The Archduke seemed not to have heard the news of the miscarriage yet. I opened my heavy mouth to tell another lie.
“Actually… I, I actually lost the baby…”
“It’s enough.”
“Pardon?”
I looked up at him with wide eyes. He stroked my head with his large hand.
“You must be tired, you don’t have to speak. Let’s go home.”
He already knew.
The Archduke was smiling benignly.
“…Yes…”
I felt a knife stabbing my conscience.
“Marion, are you really okay?”
“Yes, I told you I’m fine. More importantly… I never thought it would end so anticlimactically.”
Kaiden nodded at my words.
We were currently resting in Kaiden’s room at the Archduke’s mansion.
The Archduke had tried to call a physician to examine me again, but I vehemently refused. I had no particular pain, and I hadn’t actually miscarried.
My concern was elsewhere.
“What will happen to the wedding?”
“Don’t worry. It will proceed as planned.”
Kaiden reassured me. I smiled awkwardly and took a sip of tea.
Would it really proceed as planned?
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