Chapter 23
What should I do?
I wanted to escape this situation as quickly as possible and board the express carriage to Zeronia.
Go back! Go back, brain!
Usually, my mind worked just fine, but right now it felt like a stone had lodged in my head—I couldn’t think of anything. I decided to wait and see how things unfolded, then make a move to escape.
“By the way, we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. My name is Adele Helderios. As you know, I manage this household. And what is your name, young lady?”
The duchess’s gentle smile made me understand her unspoken meaning.
She wanted to know which family I came from.
For a moment, watching them flit around like they were in a flower garden, I remembered—they were nobles.
In stories I’d seen before, when a commoner captured the heart of a noble child… what usually happened?
The child was often sent far away, left only with the baby, or sometimes it ended in death.
So… was I about to die? Compared to exile or execution, dying by Davien’s sword earlier didn’t sound so bad. I muttered, feeling the despair of a possible dead-end scenario.
“M-My… name is Kae. I am not a noble, so I have no family name.”
How would they react to such a huge difference in status?
Scenes from dramas I’d seen before flashed through my mind—parents forcing a separation, throwing money envelopes, or splashing water on faces. At least, I thought, I’d probably get slapped.
But the duchess’s face remained calm.
Only for a moment did a shadow of worry pass across the duke’s face.
“Kae… that’s a nice name,” he said.
That was it.
The duke then looked at me with a concerned gaze.
“Hmph. We don’t really care, but others will strongly oppose this.”
“Well, it can be solved with a title. That’s not difficult,” the duchess said.
To suddenly grant a title to a commoner just because she’s carrying a child—this was the most radically open-minded noble I’d ever met.
Even Davien, the only rational one among them, seemed quite surprised.
Then the duchess noticed my outfit and gasped.
“You’re pregnant and wearing something like this? No, that won’t do. Alfred, prepare something comfortable immediately.”
She examined my waist, then gave instructions to Alfred.
“Guide her to the Emerald Room on the second floor and warm the bed. And make the tea rooibos.”
“As you command. Please follow me, Kae,” Alfred said with a bow.
Alright, this is my chance to escape! I hurriedly got up.
“Rest well, Kae,” Lloyd said.
Behind the kind smiles of the duke, duchess, and Lloyd, Davien’s terrifying expression remained.
Don’t worry, Davien! I’ll be gone before you notice!
I quickly followed the elderly butler.
The Helderios estate was enormous and majestic.
The lavishly decorated antiques and paintings made it feel like I’d stepped into a luxurious museum.
I kept my eyes on possible escape routes while following the butler, who cleared his throat and spoke.
“Th-Thank you…”
I was taken aback by the sudden gratitude.
“Eh…? For what?”
“Lloyd is intelligent, but he’s never had any interest in women. The duke and duchess had tried multiple times to arrange meetings, but he flatly refused and even declared he would never marry. It was a shock for the duke and duchess, who wanted grandchildren and worried about succession.
“On top of that, a famous prophet in the capital predicted that the Helderios estate would never hear the sound of a baby crying. You can’t imagine how worried the duke and duchess were. And yet, the usually stoic master brought Kae here… This butler is immensely grateful. I will do my utmost to care for you, Kae.”
Watching the butler tremble as he tried to hold back his tears made me feel conflicted.
No wonder the duke and duchess welcomed me without hesitation, even though I was a commoner.
I followed the sobbing butler to a large, beautifully decorated door.
He opened it, revealing a room sparkling with lavish decoration. The spacious chamber had a canopy bed and a row of ornaments that looked like they belonged in a movie.
“Please rest here for now. I will summon maids to help you change clothes,” the butler said, bowing before closing the door.
I glanced around, checking escape routes, when I noticed my luggage neatly placed in a corner. These were the bags I had brought when I was sent from Dorcan. Opening one, I found the heavy pouch of money Lloyd had given me.
Perfect. I’d wait for a chance, then grab this money and run.
I had been holding back out of fear of Davien, but now that I checked the calendar, I felt the natural cycle approaching. A slight pain in my lower abdomen confirmed it—my period was imminent.
These nobles were the kindest and most unusual people I’d ever seen, but I couldn’t stay here any longer.
Davien’s threat was one thing, but I also felt guilty about the misunderstandings with people who had done nothing wrong but still misjudged me.
At that moment…
Knock, knock, knock.
“Here to help you change clothes,” a maid called.
“Oh, yes. Please come in,” I said.
As soon as I finished, a line of maids in uniform entered.
“Just leave the clothes. I can manage myself,” I requested.
Wouldn’t it be better for both of us—I don’t have to show myself naked, and they don’t have to work unnecessarily?
But they were firm.
“I’m sorry, milady. We were given orders,” they said.
“Then please help me comfortably,” I said, resigning myself to it.
Suddenly, while skillfully arranging my hair and helping me out of my dress, one of the maids screamed.
“Ah!”
“What? Why? What happened?”
I looked at her and saw blood on the hem of my dress.
Oh no… Today of all days…
Before the maids could react further, they quickly dressed me in a comfortable one-piece outfit and left.
Soon, this news would reach the duke and duchess. Would Davien rush in with a sword? Or would the duke and duchess come, claiming they’d been deceived?
I didn’t do anything wrong! This was all Lloyd’s fault for kidnapping me and making assumptions.
Knock, knock, knock.
A short while later, a voice called from outside:
“Lady Adele requests your presence.”
Ah… Is this the day my life ends?
“Yes,” I answered.
The door opened, and the duchess entered. Her face was full of worry, her eyes red from crying. Meeting my gaze, tears welled up.
“I’m… sorry,” she said, suddenly hugging me.
“I should have stopped that foolish Davien. It’s my fault everything turned out like this.”
I was too stunned to respond.
“In early pregnancy, you must be extremely careful… A miscarriage…”
What…?
My stunned expression made the duchess even sadder.
“The Helderios household will do everything to make you comfortable, Kae. Please rest,” she said, then left, sniffling.
As always, the Helderios household made conclusions about me without even listening.
This time, they believed that Davien’s commotion caused me to miscarry. I was furious and stood up abruptly.
I had to tell the truth. I needed to explain that nothing had happened with Lloyd, and this was just a natural menstrual cycle.
I braced myself and rushed to the duchess’s room—but Davien was standing there.
“Ugh… ahh!”
Davien glared at me, terrifyingly. Startled, I screamed, and she quickly covered my mouth.
“Mmph!”
She dragged me into the room, slammed the door, grabbed me by the collar, and growled lowly.
“Do you want to die? What are you planning? How did you involve our parents and even Lloyd?”
Her voice dripped with killing intent.
“Answer me! Did you forget breaking off your engagement with Lloyd and trying to become crown princess, tearing our house apart? Did you forget taking my brother and my heart?”
As a reader familiar with the novel, her reaction was perfectly understandable.
If a villain suddenly invaded their home, anyone would react like this.
But from Kae’s perspective, suddenly thrown into this world, living a quiet life without harming anyone…
There was no way the protagonist would understand her side.
I had lived ten years in this world quietly, causing no harm, yet the protagonist threatened to kill me. I was furious.
Trembling from her intent, tears streamed down my face, but I forced myself to glare back at Davien.
“So, have I broken off the engagement with Lloyd and become crown princess? Or have I destroyed the Helderios household?”
“What…?”
“Or have I taken your brother or heart? Tell me, Davien!”
“You… not now, but…!”
“I’ve lived without harming anyone. What did I do to deserve threats like this?”
My tears streamed as I shouted, and Davien’s expression shifted to one of bewilderment.
And then…
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