Chapter 49
Miki’s room wasn’t large, and various items were scattered about in disarray, suggesting that the mess had only recently accumulated.
Even though they were engaged, Wakako felt it inappropriate to enter an Omega’s bedroom uninvited, so she settled on a small stool by the doorway, refraining from going any further inside.
Miki sat alone on the bed, sobbing quietly. The medicines she had collected from the dispensary lay scattered beside her, clearly not something she was in the mood to deal with at the moment.
Wakako finally understood why Miki’s scent had seemed different, even unsettling to her. She had been marked by someone and now pregnant, the scent she emitted was a clear signal to ward off other Alphas.
Now that she knew Miki was pregnant, the things she had said earlier made a bit more sense.
Pregnant Omegas were known for their heightened sensitivity and occasional lapses in judgment. Wakako could now see that Miki hadn’t truly meant those harsh words.
“I’m sorry,” she paused, then continued, “I hurt you earlier.”
The wound wasn’t deep, and the bleeding had stopped, but a faint mark remained on Miki’s neck. However, that wasn’t her primary concern at the moment.
“It’s alright. I almost wish you had killed me with that sword,” Miki wiped her tears, smiling bitterly. “It would be better than this.”
It was clear she was in a difficult situation, and Wakako wasn’t sure if she should pry, but since Miki had called out to her in the pharmacy, it seemed she was looking for help.
Finally, Wakako asked, “Who is the other… parent?”
Both kingdoms of the Eastern Continent weren’t overly conservative, but they held strong opinions against children born out of wedlock.
Just like the traitorous Saburo Saionji, despite his noble lineage, he was still looked down upon due to being the product of an illicit union between his parents.
Now, Miki, engaged to Wakako, was carrying someone else’s child. Not only was she pregnant before marriage, but the act of infidelity was considered an even greater offense. If this were to become public knowledge, her career as a mercenary would be over. No wonder she was in such despair.
When Miki didn’t answer, a dreadful possibility arose in Wakako’s mind. “If someone forced you, I will help you.”
After a long silence, Miki finally spoke in a low voice, “I wasn’t forced.”
“Then, who is the person?”
“I don’t know,” Miki, who had barely managed to stop crying, broke down again, her voice trembling.
“Later, I returned alone and somehow ran into someone. In my drunken haze, we…” she couldn’t continue. “When I woke up, I thought it was a dream, but then I started showing signs of pregnancy.”
That’s why Miki hadn’t dared to consult a doctor. Instead, she had made excuses to collect various medicines, hoping to find something harmful enough to terminate the pregnancy.
“But I can’t even bring myself to end it,” Miki forced a smile, but it was more painful to witness than her tears.
Both inside and outside the palace, strong abortive drugs were tightly controlled. Anyone attempting to obtain such substances would be thoroughly investigated to expose those involved in illicit affairs and the mixing of bloodlines.
The medicines Miki had received from the doctor were all relatively mild. Even if they were harmful to the fetus, a mercenary’s body was typically more resilient than that of an ordinary person. Such measures wouldn’t be enough to terminate the pregnancy.
Unable to confide in anyone, she had feigned illness, trapped in a predicament caused by the unexpected arrival of this child.
Wakako asked, “Do you remember what the person looked like?”
Miki closed her eyes wearily, struggling to recall. “A girl, young, with no particularly distinctive features. I had never seen her before.”
That day, at the Queen’s banquet, many ministers had attended from outside the palace. However, only those with a certain level of seniority and age were invited. The servants they brought were mostly Betas, and even if there were Alphas present, they wouldn’t dare to lay a hand on a mercenary.
Wakako mentally reviewed everyone within the palace, but couldn’t think of anyone who fit the description. “Why not report this to the Queen and have that person found?”
“No!” Miki’s immediate refusal was instinctive. “No one can know about this!”
“Why?”
Miki took a deep breath. “Even if we find her, what then…? The entire palace will know what I’ve done..”
“So what? You’re a mercenary. Who would dare to criticize you?”
“It’s not that simple, Senior,” Miki lowered her gaze.
“My mother and the Queen Consort come from the same family… Although it has long since declined, thanks to the Queen Consort’s influence, we are still considered nobles.”
“I don’t care if my reputation is ruined, but I can’t let my mother lose face within the family. And the Queen Consort… they will both be shamed because of me. So, the Queen must never find out.”
Wakako, an orphan, couldn’t comprehend why these nobles would go to such lengths to protect their so-called honor.
Just like when she was a child, standing behind Miki, listening to every tutor instructing the Saint, “The Saint must never act improperly… Even a small misstep could bring shame upon the family. The future of the Saionji clan rests on your shoulders.”
How ironic it was that the Saionji clan didn’t last much longer after that.
But as Wakako gazed at the faint bloodstain on Miki’s neck, she suddenly understood that feeling.
Just moments ago, she had held a sword to Miki’s throat, threatening her life for the very same reason.
People who live in this world are never truly free, Wakako realized. She wasn’t any different—wasn’t she also afraid that, as a lowly servant, she might bring shame to Miki?
After explaining everything, Miki finally revealed what she wanted from Wakako. “Senior…”
She lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper. “Would you still be willing to marry me? It’s the only option I have left.”
Wakako frowned, unsure how to respond.
Miki pleaded, “After we marry, you can treat me as a wife in name only. I won’t interfere with anything you do. Even if you continue your relationship with the Saint, I’m willing to be your cover, to protect you both.”
Her hand gently touched her abdomen, with a hint of an emotion she herself didn’t fully recognize.
“Marriage is the only way I can get medical attention without raising suspicion. I can claim I don’t want children while serving in the squad and end the pregnancy. Otherwise, no matter what I do, the Queen will find out…”
Wakako had originally refused Miki’s proposal because she sensed Miki had feelings for her that she couldn’t reciprocate, and she didn’t want to stand in the way of Miki finding a more suitable partner.
But now, Miki’s spirit was broken, her heart seemingly devoid of romantic desires, focused solely on escaping the burden of this unexpected child.
And perhaps, she and the Saint… had no future together anyway.
Marrying Miki might help her out of this desperate situation and sever the last thread of possibility between Wakako and the Saint, allowing them both to move on.
It seemed like a mutually beneficial solution.
But even so, Wakako didn’t agree right away. She simply stood up calmly, leaving Miki with the sight of her back.
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
Behind her, Miki’s gaze was desperate, like someone clinging to driftwood in a storm, hoping with all her might that Wakako would save her from drowning.
***
During the days when Wakako was “ill,” Carol temporarily took over the duties of instructing the Crown Princess. Carol was already responsible for daily training within the squad, so teaching the Crown Princess naturally fell to her.
However, Tsukiyo repeatedly asked the same question: “Is Master Wakako feeling better? When will she return to teach me?”
Once or twice was fine, but after hearing it many times, Carol couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated.
She had been a mercenary for over a decade. While not as skilled in combat as Wakako, she possessed far more experience and was certainly capable of instructing a young child. Was she doing something wrong? Was the Crown Princess dissatisfied with her teaching?
But Carol soon understood what Tsukiyo was truly worried about.
“Lady Carol, since yesterday, my mother has had people packing my things, but I still don’t know where I’m going,” Tsukiyo said, her sharp intuition sensing something was wrong. “I suspect it has something to do with a divine prophecy.”
She looked at Carol with a hint of confusion. “Do you think Master Wakako will come with me?”
Despite their relatively short time together, through daily lessons and shared experiences on the battlefield, Tsukiyo had developed a sense of dependence on her teacher.
Carol had only heard whispers of this matter. She knelt down and patted the Crown Princess’s shoulder. “The Queen is summoning you later, isn’t she? You’ll find out then. But I think…”
Tsukiyo held her breath, waiting for her to finish.
“I think, no matter where you go, Wakako will be right by your side,” Carol said. “As your mentor, she will protect you with her life.”
A spark of hope ignited in Tsukiyo’s eyes.
Later that evening, after completing her daily lessons, the Crown Princess was summoned to the Queen’s study. She expected to find other ministers present, but only her two mothers awaited her.
The Queen and the Queen Consort.
They had been married for many years, raising two daughters together, always maintaining a respectful and harmonious relationship. The Queen Consort knew better than to interfere in political matters and had never stepped foot into the Queen’s study.
This was the first time Tsukiyo had seen her here, and the first time she witnessed them arguing.
In the corner of the study, a porcelain vase had been shattered by the Queen Consort, the sound still echoing in the room.
Disregarding palace decorum and her own disheveled appearance, she raised her voice at her wife. “Is this what you want? To risk our daughter’s life?”
Tsukiyo, unsure of what had happened, rushed to support the trembling Queen Consort. “Mother…”
The Queen Consort pulled her precious daughter into her arms, silent tears streaming down her face.
The Queen, on the other hand, remained calm and explained to Tsukiyo what she had learned from the Temple that day – the two Kingdoms would wager their Crown Princesses’ lives against each other.
Then she asked, “The days ahead will be dangerous. Are you afraid?”
Tsukiyo paused for a moment, then slowly pulled away from her mother’s embrace and bowed to the Queen. “I’m not afraid.”
The Queen smiled, her heart filled with pride.
But the resentment in the Queen Consort’s eyes remained, morphing into a chilling bitterness.
She was not someone who could accept the greater good. As a mother, she would rather see the two Kingdoms go to war than have her daughter live under the constant threat of assassination by the enemy.
Lady Saint…
Why did you have to come back alive?
