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Episode 2
You’re Not Your Child
Standing upright, Kalia quietly rubbed her chin.
“But… still… he’s the father. Should I tell Shaimon after all?”
A frown creased her brow as she pondered.
Shaimon was a Grand Mage and the Duke of this country.
Could a noble like him—or rather, his entire family—ever accept an illegitimate child?
Shaimon wasn’t someone blinded by aristocratic rituals.
Kalia, having grown up alongside him, knew that better than anyone.
What made things complicated for her wasn’t Shaimon himself—it was the overall atmosphere of the ducal family.
The cold, glassy walls that separated “us” from “you,” no matter how kindly some faces smiled.
Would a ducal family like that accept the illegitimate child of their sole heir?
A child of Kalia, who had been living in a corner of their mansion as a dependent?
“…Protect Shaimon… I can’t betray his trust… I can’t, Kalia.”
A ticklish voice whispered inside her mind, making Kalia lift her head sharply.
“No. Absolutely not.”
…She couldn’t let this be taken away.
She didn’t know exactly what she was resisting, but a strong sense of refusal rose in her heart.
Pacing nervously in place, Kalia muttered to herself.
The ducal family was one issue—but even more unpredictable was Shaimon’s reaction.
Would he even like the baby?
After thinking carefully, she shook her head.
He didn’t like humans, let alone babies.
“…Could Shaimon actually demand I get rid of it?”
She wanted to gladly become this child’s mother and give it every joy in the world, but Shaimon might be different.
Still, she had no intention of forcing happiness upon him.
A child should be a blessing, a joy in itself.
It couldn’t be born to immediately receive hatred because of someone else’s imposition or coercion.
Therefore, she didn’t want to force Shaimon into the role of a father, compelling him with duty and responsibility.
Kalia had enough war rewards to fill seven warehouses and the strength to protect the child herself.
The future might be uncertain, but she was determined enough to pledge complete, unwavering love for the baby.
Yes. She didn’t need to force Shaimon to marry her and become the father of the child.
“…Marry Shaimon?!”
The idea was so strange that it made her body shiver.
On the battlefield, they were comrades; in childhood, they were like siblings; sometimes they drank together and talked through the night.
That was all…
But even if she had no desire or request for him, he might not be happy about the child’s existence.
Given his high status and the weight of all his responsibilities, it was understandable.
“…Moreover, the last time we met, he casually mentioned marriage and age for marriage, and there seems to be a lady he has had in mind for a long time…”
All the more reason she couldn’t force Shaimon into marriage.
To impose that on someone already in love would be violence itself.
“…Hmm. I guess I won’t tell Shaimon after all.”
Kalia placed her hands protectively over her belly, frowning.
She didn’t want the child treated as an obstacle by anyone.
If she actually heard Shaimon tell her to get rid of the baby—or even just saw a displeased expression…
“…Even if it’s Shaimon, I’d probably cut him down.”
Killing Shaimon, the cunning Grand Mage with immense magic, would be difficult—but with careful planning and step-by-step execution over time…
Kalia shook her head violently, startled by the thought.
Her instinct to protect the child had overridden her reason.
Merely imagining that “he might force me to get rid of the child” had made her unconsciously embrace a murderous intent.
And this was against Shaimon—her friend, brother, and comrade.
“No, I can’t allow it.”
If left unchecked, everything could fall apart.
She needed to protect the child safely and resolve matters smoothly with Shaimon.
Kalia paced in the study, thinking long and hard.
She deliberated until the sunlight outside the window turned a pale orange, then lifted her head with a resolute expression.
“There’s only one way, after all.”
She stood before her neatly hung red uniform.
It seemed…
“It’s time to retire.”
Murmuring with relief, she caressed the red uniform.
Though her touch carried affection, there was no regret.
In the Empire of Lohas, Kalia Taksikate was considered a legendary figure.
At the age of six, she rescued a minor duke kidnapped by the back-alley gang “Hidden.” That was only the beginning of her story.
At fifteen, she passed the formal knight examination with the highest score in history, and by seventeen, she had already entered the path of a Sword Master.
By nineteen, her skills were recognized as near-master level, and she was entrusted with protecting the Crown Prince.
Considering that most people reach near-master level around their forties, Kalia Taksikate was clearly a genius.
A rare prodigy that might appear once in several generations.
Despite all the praise, Kalia herself was cynical about the rumors surrounding her.
She habitually flexed her palms, trying to find any spot without scars.
Though she thought she was fine, she realized she was somewhat tense.
Standing in front of the mirror, she slowly scanned her form-fitting uniform, elegant yet subtly flamboyant.
It was a uniform made personally by her dear Empire Grand Mage, Shaimon, a few years ago.
As she fastened the buttons carefully, she noticed something familiar—buttons made of real gold, not just gold paint.
What had Shaimon said about the unnecessary gold buttons?
“Pure gold stores magic easily, I’ve told you this many times. Kalia, when did you even turn your brain into muscle? I think I’ve told you thirty times already—why can’t you remember? Ah! Are you teasing me?”
“…Right, he treated me like an idiot.”
Kalia chuckled cynically at the memory of Shaimon’s voice.
It was still a mystery how she had spent nights with him.
And now, his child was in her womb.
“What a story.”
Kalia smiled uneasily, inspecting her reflection thoroughly.
The top snugly cinched her waist, the red cape spread majestically, and the black leather pants clung to her legs.
As always, not a single detail was out of place.
Tap. Tap.
Shaking off the dust from her cape, Kalia looked at the blue sky outside.
It was a late afternoon sky so clear and peaceful that one could only say it was perfect.
“Peacefulness.”
Indeed, perhaps now, after seven years of war, while everything was at peace, was the perfect time for a “war hero” to disappear from the world.
Kalia smiled with satisfaction and stepped out of the room.
Tap.
Humming, hearing footsteps from upstairs, quickly ran out to see who it was.
As expected, Kalia, the mistress of the mansion and Humming’s master, was descending the stairs.
She moved down leisurely, one step at a time, as if every motion were sensuous like a wild animal.
Humming’s brown eyes sparkled with admiration as he watched her.
“Oh my! She’s wearing her uniform!”
And the red uniform of the Lion Commander!
A year had nearly passed since the war ended.
Since the ceasefire, Kalia rarely went out in uniform.
In the seven months Humming had been her squire, it had only happened once.
So he could only stare in awe as Kalia descended the spiral staircase with her uniform perfectly in place.
A faint blush appeared on his cheeks still touched by baby fat.
“Insane. This beauty isn’t of this world, really…”
Her long, straight limbs were elegant, her seemingly thin body firmly muscled, giving her a commanding charm in any outfit.
Her tightly tied lemon-blond hair, pale skin, and red lips reminded him of a Siren of the sea.
Could a soldier exude such a solid presence while simultaneously captivating others with a mysterious aura?
“…But the best part is, the moment she grabs a sword, she completely transforms!”
Then, she was simply a warrior.
Every swing was precise, the trajectory flawless, her movements so fast that the eyes could barely follow.
A goddess of battle, a beautiful monster crafted by gods herself.
“If only I could photograph this sight…”
Interestingly, this uniform, designed by Grand Mage and Mage Duke Shaimon Terloang, made her even more stunning than most dresses could.
It was as if the designer knew every charm and strength of Kalia and made it perfectly to suit her.
Humming, perceptive as ever, already understood Shaimon’s feelings for Kalia from this, though Kalia herself seemed oblivious.
Well, her obliviousness was also part of her charm.
Humming, in extreme favor toward Kalia, giggled inwardly.
Honestly, he didn’t have the courage to interfere between the Grand Mage and the war hero.
Besides, any frustration would not concern him—it would be Shaimon Duke’s problem, not his.
As Kalia reached the floor, Humming quickly ran up, chattering.
“General, are you going out now? If you had told me, I could have prepared in advance. I’ll get you ready immediately!”
Excited, Humming spoke rapidly, making Kalia think he sounded like a little sparrow.
Chirp-chirp-chirp—chirp-chirp-chirp-chirp—
A bit noisy, but not unpleasant.
Rather, it was soothing when heard in a lazy moment.
Kalia looked at him fondly, gently brushing his hair aside like a soft breeze, and said:
“I’m going out alone, so stay here.”
Instantly!
Humming’s face turned bright red in an instant.
Unable to control his blush, he hung his head deeply.
