Chapter 7

He sighed. The meeting, which began early in the morning, was expected to continue into the evening.

They were having a short break at the moment. However, it was only Calix who was sitting in the meeting room and relaxed.

Except for him, all the high-ranking nobles of the empire were in lieu of war with the Great Temple to have an audience with that so-called ‘Divine Lady.’

It was because of that divine lady that the meeting was held today.

This old tree has been guarding the Great Temple’s successors for over a thousand years. The tree is said to be a spiritual passage between this world and God’s world.

A girl was found under the old tree. Though she seems to be around 19, it is still unclear whether that information was accurate as she has not yet woken up.

I’m not sure about anything, but the priests were making a fuss, saying a divine lady had appeared.

If it’s a divine lady, then it’s something that deserves to be celebrated by the empire’s inclination and even the continent.

But Calix was not interested.

His full attention was all on Laure.

Laure.

Laure.

Laure.

The only thing that fills my mind was the thought of her.

I miss Laure. I want to touch, hug, and kiss her. I want to lock her up in my arms. Struggling and sobbing with her slender body against mine, she’ll definitely look adorable.

A new groan or sigh flowed out of Calix’s lips.

He hoped for this awfully dull time to pass quickly and always imagined the not-too-distant future, where she will be entirely his.

‘Laure Rochester’

A relaxed smile hung on his lips as he slowly pronounced the name.

*        *        *

A Divine Lady has appeared!

I almost fainted when I heard that. Hadn’t the maid caught me when I staggered, I would have hit my head on the floor.

Once I calmed down, I sat down on the table, then ordered the maid to serve me some tea.

C-Calm down. Let’s calm down.

I didn’t forget that I was pregnant. For the baby, we should keep our mind calm, think only of relaxing thoughts, that’s····· Bullshit, of course, that’s impossible!

The divine lady, Sia, appeared.

This is so fast!

My heart feels so restless and anxious. I couldn’t just stay calm.

I can’t believe the heroine, who was supposed to appear a month later, just abruptly show up. Even if the original story was now a bit awry, wasn’t it too contorted?

Moreover, I felt dizzy because of the nightmare I had at dawn. The damn nightmare faded as I tried to remember it.

I only remembered being executed and that my child appeared in my dream.

Argh, what is this?

I put the teacup aside and discarded it on the table. I’ve always resented God, but I’ve been more and more resentful recently.

Why on earth are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong?!

“Ha, life······.”

The moment I first realized that I had reincarnated came to mind. At that time, I was delighted to live as a noblewoman and live a comfortable life without knowing even in a dream that I was destined to be burned to death before long.

Haaa, I sighed loudly. What will happen in the future? What am I supposed to do? What about my child? Should I let Calix know that I am pregnant?

“······.”

Informing Calix of the child’s existence, recklessly was very dangerous.

The same goes for the others. Though Alice knew I was pregnant, she was an exception.

She promised to keep this a secret, and in the original story, Alice was the only person who took care of Laure until the end, who turned her back on her family.

Alice has always been on my side. She could be trusted.

However, Calix can’t be trusted because he’s meant to betray me in the future.

Now that Sia made her appearance, there will never be a marriage between the two of us.

What could he be doing right now? Has he met Sia? Did he fall in love with her at first sight?

He should be, right? Because they are half of the same soul.

“······.”

I bit my lips. I’ve always thought that my feelings for Calix were never so deep, but it was heartbreaking and frustrating to think that he will be taken away by someone else.

What on earth is the meaning of this? I’m the one who pushed him away and hurt him this whole time. You’re silly, Laure Ecree.

‘Would Calix abandon me?’

Was I the only one to you?

Or······.

“······.”

My mood sank. I got up from my seat with a deep sigh.

I’ll go to see Alice first and discuss what to do in the future. Alice is the only one I can rely on right now.

After taking off her pajamas and changing into her casual clothes, she put on her flat shoes. She brushed her hair down and was about to head to the door when she heard a knocking sound from the window.

What is it? I turned my head around. Knock, knock. Something kept knocking on the window. I approached slowly, a little nervous.

As soon as I reached the window, I lifted the curtain, and the thing where the sound originated was immediately identified.

Knock, knock, knock. The thing that kept knocking on the window monotonously was none other than a bluebird made by magic.

“It was you!”

I smiled unknowingly and quickly opened the window.

The bluebird came in, singing with a tweet, and circled me. Then it sat down on my shoulder. So, so cute!

Chu~ the bluebird pecked my cheek with its beak. Like a kiss.

My cheeks flushed red, and my heart warmed up.

I gently stroked the bluebird. It was Calix who made this bluebird.

When I was a kid, he learned that I had nightmares every night. As a result, Calix would make bluebirds like this and send them my way.

I don’t know if it’s because of Calix’s bluebird, but the nightmares I kept having stopped one day altogether.

······However, I had another nightmare last night. I stroked the bluebird in a sad mood. The bluebird cried sadly as if my heart had been conveyed.

Oops! I took my hand off quickly. This bluebird was a naughty guy who delivers my feelings to Calix in real-time.

There’s nothing good about him knowing I’m depressed······ the bluebird quickly flew away.

The bluebird tweeted as if discontented then vanished into the blue sky. It returned to its master.

“······.”

As I fell into a daze staring at the spot where the bluebird had disappeared, I got lost on my thoughts. I never imagined Calix would send a bluebird.

By now, I thought he would be meeting Sia·····. But he sent me a bluebird?

By any chance, have you not forsaken me yet······.

My heart pounded. And my expectations rose.

‘Perhaps, Calix to me·······.’

The fact that Calix sent me a bluebird, or that I had his child was not in the original story.

So maybe.

Maybe it’s possible for things to flow differently from the original story.

No law says reality will necessarily be the same as how it goes in the novel.

Hope, who was crouching in the dark, gently raised its head.

– I love you. Laure. I won’t ever let you go.

Is it okay to believe his words? Can I trust you, Calix? That you won’t betray me, and that you will stay beside me all the time, can I believe those words?

I clasped my hands together. Then I closed my eyes and bowed as if praying.

Thump, thump. I heard my heart beating erratically. The fact that there is another life within me came to me vividly.

Maybe this child is a symbol of good luck. Perhaps it’s a sign that it is possible to change my fate.

So far, I had pushed Calix away and always believe that half of him was not mine·····.

‘Just once, just for only one time.’

I want to hog him all to myself. I want to hear it definitely from him. Promise me he won’t abandon me forever.

That’s all I want, Calix.

I raised my head.

‘Let’s meet him.’

Yes, this is probably the last crossroad in Laure Ecree’s life.

Although there’s still an anxiety element about trust remains, I feel like I could dare disobey God’s will if Calix chose me.

Let’s meet Calix, then decide what to do next. Let’s meet him first.

I’m going to tell him. The truth is I’ve been lying all this time. I like you, I want to be with you·····.

And if he gives me assurance······ Then I’ll be able to tell him about our child, and about the secrets that have plagued me for 11 years.

‘If that happens, then there is nothing to worry about anymore······ There’s nothing to be afraid of.’

At some point, water droplets formed around her eyes. She smiled softly and wiped away her tears.

Once I finally made up my mind, I couldn’t be lighthearted.

Let’s go see him, right now, let’s meet him and talk to him.

‘Calix, I’m coming.’

Please, don’t let go of my hand.

My steps hasten.

*        *        *

To have the desire to meet Calix and patch up things with him, to the point that she almost stumbles while walking fast, was alright. However,

“Damn, what shall I do?!”

As soon as I entered the Imperial Palace, I got lost.

Laure Ecree, are you stupid?!

Oh, my gosh, you’re already 20 years of age, how can you get lost?! You’re already a lady!

She cried out, leaned her head down, then pulled her hair.

She heard that His Majesty’s has this bizarre hobby, but······ I didn’t know it would be this bad. What kind of garden is this? This isn’t a garden; it’s entirely a jungle.

“Uh, what the hell? These vines…”

I pushed forward through the vines using my parasol. The vines were so thick that I wonder if this was really inside the Imperial Palace. Did I just move to another dimension without me knowing?

Vine plants are hanging like nets among the growing trees, and the floor was covered with weeds, making a mess of her shoes and skirt.

“It’ll take me forever to find my way like this······!”

Anxiety struck her. What if I get MIA here? No one knows that I left the mansion······.

I should have brought a maid. I can’t believe a noble lady wanders around without a single attendant. Why the hell did I do that······!

‘It’s all because of the memories of my past life!’

Having lived in a liberal society, I sometimes do things that don’t fit my status.

Once, on a rainy day, I went out alone without anyone knowing that I wanted to eat sweets.

Or when I secretly pack my luggage because I want to go on a trip outside the island. I got caught by my father and got grounded inside the mansion for a week.

Pondering those days, Calix said, ‘Laure is unique.’ Teasing her.

His face, smiling at me as if it were cute, came to mind when I closed my eyes.

Calix, my sweet guy. My fiancé.

I’ve never coveted him ever since we met 11 years ago.

I can’t wait to meet Calix and tell him. The fact is I like you too, and you’re the only one I’m going to marry.

But why can’t I see the end of this forest?

I hurried my steps, swinging my parasol like a wooden sword.

It’s crucial to meet Calix, but it was also an issue that I’m carrying a child right now.

It’s not good to stay in these woods for a long time on a cold autumn day. I need to get out of here quickly····· Ah, really. Why did I run out alone! Just like a fool.

How much did I wander around like that? Finally, the light began to appear from the front. It was an exit. I finally found it!

I hurriedly headed over.