I lay there absentmindedly with a dazed look when I suddenly sat up.
‘…Wait. When was my last period?’
I had already suspected it might be delayed this time. My cycles had been irregular in recent months, but I’d chalked it up to the fact that I’d been through so much and my environment had changed.
After getting married, Clyde hadn’t been paying as much attention to birth control as he used to.
‘No way, even so… No, it can’t be.’
It was at that moment of thought.
— No, that’s right.
For the first time in a while, Eleanor’s voice echoed.
‘… What? What did you just say?’
— Your thoughts are correct. There is a life growing within you now.
I was so shocked that I remained stiff for a while.
‘Is that true? No, how did you know, Master?’
— I can feel an unusual magic from the child already. Perhaps, due to your mana, you might not discern it, but I can.
‘…….’
Unconsciously, I cautiously placed my hand on my belly.
I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe I was pregnant with Clyde’s child—that there was a baby inside me right now.
— Of course, at this stage, it’s too early to call it a baby. As time goes on, its magic will likely become stronger and more concentrated. Perhaps it might possess a power surpassing even that of its father.
‘…It doesn’t matter.’
— It doesn’t matter. What are you talking about? What’s more important than that?
‘Of course, the most important thing is that this baby is Clyde’s and my child. Don’t you understand that?’
— Why is that important? Isn’t it obvious since you didn’t do it with anyone else except that guy?
‘….Do you really have to be like this at such a touching moment?’
— What did I do?
I asked in disbelief, but was met with an equally disbelieving response. I sighed in silence.
It was a strange feeling. While I was undoubtedly happy, there was a complex emotion filling my chest that couldn’t be explained by joy alone. Above all, what worried me the most was how Clyde would react to this news.
He said he didn’t want a child with me. He didn’t want the child to endure a life similar to his. Of course, many things have changed since he made those remarks. Surely, he wouldn’t be as caught by such thoughts as before. If that were the case, he would have tried to avoid any possibility of having a child in the first place…
If I were to tell Clyde that I was pregnant, how would he react? What would he say….
Thinking about it made the apprehension and uncertainty much stronger than the excitement and anticipation.
I hoped this child would be a complete blessing for both of us. If Clyde harbored any reservations about the child, I couldn’t be completely happy either.
‘Master.’
— What is it?
‘What do you think, Master? Do you think Clyde will be… happy?
— About the child? I don’t know. Probably not.
Eleanor spoke with an indifferent tone.
‘…Why do you think so?’
— He said before that he didn’t want a child. Have you forgotten?
‘No, of course I remember, but that was when Clyde was hesitant to marry me, and I wasn’t even sure how he felt about me… Wouldn’t it be different now?’
— Well, who knows? You won’t know unless you ask him yourself.
‘…….’
— Why again?
‘…Because I realized that I’ve chosen the wrong person to seek advice from.’
— What do you mean? I’m a great mage who has lived for nearly a millennium. I have accumulated knowledge and wisdom that are incomparable to your mere twenty years of life. Do you think there’s anyone better than me to ask for advice, not only in the human realm but also in the demon realm?
‘…Ah, yes. Of course. Whatever….’
Ignoring Eleanor’s grumbling, I gently caressed my belly.
‘Clyde told me to call him if anything happened, but it’s not like I’m feeling any worse… I hope he doesn’t mind if I don’t tell him right away.’
Honestly, it was a significant event in both Clyde’s and my life. I needed some time to collect my thoughts.
Once I had done that, I felt like I could handle whatever reaction he might have.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Meanwhile, Clyde was working alone in his office.
As soon as the meeting ended, Eila rushed to him, and the first thing she said was, “Is your work already done?”
「Finish your work slowly, and come back when it’s time for dinner. I need to think about something in the meantime.」
「…Think about what?」
Curious and slightly uneasy, he asked, but Eila replied with a vague expression, “…just something.”
「When you’re done, there’s something I need to talk to you about, so be prepared.」
「…What is it? Is it bad news?」
When Clyde asked, Eila stared at him intently.
「That’s up to you.」
「What? What do you mean?」
「I don’t know. Anyway, just go.」
With that, Eila pushed Clyde’s back.
He couldn’t focus on his work because he was worried about what might be happening. He was terrified that something was wrong. So he called Raphara, the doctor of the palace, to check on Eila again. However, she assured him that there was nothing wrong with Eila.
Raphara was a member of the Unaari, possessing healing powers. Their healing techniques were known to be effective on any living being, regardless of whether they were a demon or a human. However, she had never examined a human before meeting Eila.
Fortunately, Eila looked much better compared to the morning. Otherwise, he would have ordered them to kidnap a doctor from the human realm immediately.
Clyde sighed and ruffled his bangs.
‘I guess this won’t work.’
Deciding to go see Eila again, he stood up from the desk.
At that moment, the door to his office creaked open.
“…Ruby?”
Clyde reflexively asked because no one else came to mind who would dare to open the door without his permission.
However, beyond the open door, there was no one in sight. There was no sign of life, and his magic detected nothing.
“…….”
Clyde looked at the door with narrowed eyes, then raised his hand out of nowhere and shot out a blast of magic. Then, as if hitting an invisible wall, the magic dispersed right in front of the door.
At that moment, a faint voice reciting a spell reached his ears. Although no one was visible, it seemed to be right where Clyde had just attacked. Clyde unleashed his magic again, but each time, his attacks collided with the invisible ‘wall’ and dissipated.
Meanwhile, the incantation continued. He didn’t know much about human magic, but he knew that the longer the spell, the more powerful it was.
Extending his hand, Clyde created a dimensional rift, as if splitting the air. From it emerged a black-bladed sword, a weapon he obtained from the abyss. Gripping the sword, Clyde rushed toward the door. As he swung the sword, the invisible barrier shattered, revealing a mage in a brown robe, his face mostly concealed.
The recent strike had not only broken the protective shield but also severed the mage’s right arm from the forearm down. Surprisingly, the mage, bleeding profusely, continued chanting.
Clyde seized him by the collar, slamming him against the wall. The wall caved in, and there was a crunching sound as the sorcerer’s spine twisted. With a thud, the mage coughed up blood.
As Clyde aimed the sword at the mage’s heart, the hood covering the mage’s head fell off, revealing his face.
Clyde’s eyes widened in surprise. It was Julion Rojasis, Eila’s father.
In that moment, Eila’s voice echoed in his mind.
『He’s my father. You might hate and resent him, but still, he’s my father. Don’t kill him, Clyde. Please… I’m begging you.』
He remembered her with tears streaming down her face.
『I’m satisfied that my family is safe, and thanks to you, the war between the demon and human worlds has stopped.』
Eila laughed weakly as she said that.
Clyde’s face contorted, and the sword, aimed at Julion’s heart, slowly descended.
After Julion spat another mouthful of blood, he completed the incantation with a determined gaze.
“Rapda Al, Nema…Sis…!”
In the next moment, a beam of light shot out from Julion’s body and engulfed Clyde.
With a clattering sound, the sword fell to the ground, and Julion, leaning against the wall, slowly sank to a sitting position. Before the completely dead Julion, Clyde’s presence was nowhere to be found. Only a pile of black ashes remained.
