SWST 08

Chapter 08

Even this potato pancake had its own story.
Back when I was staying at my in-laws’, there was a time I craved potato pancakes so badly that I secretly bought potatoes at the market and made the batter.
But before I could even fry them, my mother-in-law discovered it and, scolding me for making something my son wouldn’t even eat, took all the potatoes away.
I just wanted to eat them…

“Impressive, Halara! I wouldn’t have thought you’d ever cook in your life.”
“Haha. I only tried it when I was very young.”
“When? By the way, what about your parents? Since when have you been living alone?”
“Uh… I don’t know.”

Of course, an extra character wouldn’t know about someone else’s backstory.

“Come on, tell me. We’re close now. I’m not asking for a deep story, just a little! I’m curious.”

What bad luck that my neighbor was so nosy.

“Uh, hey! Someone’s here!”
I quickly blurted out something just to avoid the question.
“Oh? Came early.”

But someone really had arrived. Not at my house, but right at the door of Michelle’s house next door.

“Really…”
A man holding a square bag looked over here.

“Dr. Thomas! This way!”
Michelle opened the fence gate as if it were her own house and gestured for him to enter.

Meanwhile, near Halara’s house.
Francesca, holding a black parasol, had finally come to Halara’s house.
Carlos followed behind, providing cover.

“Ma’am, you should just call the family and ask, or ask the young master. Coming here personally is dangerous.”
“If the duke finds out that a commoner woman is sneaking around, what then? I need to settle this here. I might even take her to a doctor to confirm the pregnancy.”

It was truly fortunate that her husband wasn’t home at this moment. Francesca confidently moved forward, intending to resolve this before he returned.

“Thomas, thanks for coming.”
Dr. Thomas was a doctor with wrinkles and dark circles around his eyes.
Despite his tired appearance, his shirt was neatly pressed.
The way he scanned the house with his eyes reminded me of my germophobic mother-in-law.

“Hello.”
“Are you the owner of this house?”
“Yes.”
“Your name?”
“Halara.”
“Halara. As neat as your name, I see.”

He had probably glanced around to assess the state of the house.
Relaxing a bit, he stepped inside.

“Long time no see, Thomas. This is my neighbor.”
Michelle warmly welcomed him.

“Yes… but why did you insist on coming to this house?”
Michelle laughed heartily at his sarcastic question.

“To introduce you to my neighbor, and dinner isn’t over yet. You haven’t eaten either, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I thought so. You’re always chasing patients. Do you even get to eat?”
“Did you call me here just to say that?”

Michelle noticed his thin frame and offered the potato pancakes.

“Try some.”
“What’s this?”
“Just try it. It’s delicious.”

Whether out of curiosity or hunger, Thomas picked up his fork and tried the unfamiliar food.

“What is this…?”
After one bite, he seemed surprised, then eagerly dug in with his fork.

“Eat as much as you like. I still have more batter, so I’ll make more.”

Seeing that, I quickly took the potato batter to the yard.
To avoid the smell of oil inside the house, I had set up a small stove in the yard to cook the pancakes.
Food should never be interrupted!

“Just a moment!”
“Yeah, let me know if you need help.”
“Michelle, rest here.”

She didn’t look well, so there must be a reason she called the doctor.

“I can’t help worrying.”
I didn’t want Michelle to be sick. She was the first person I had grown close to in this world, and I didn’t want her to live here alone.

“I’ll ask her in a bit.”

Crackle—!
As the pancakes crisped, I heard movement at the edge of the yard.
Who was it?
I could hear faint voices struggling.
Sure enough.

‘It’s a man.’
I caught a glimpse of shiny shoes that looked like those of the men who used to follow Halara.
‘What a nuisance.’

I quickly took out the cooked pancakes and placed a “Men Not Allowed” sign where he could see it.

The potato pancake party ended.

“When will we ever finish all this?”
Thomas wiped his mouth, his shirt stretched tight over his full stomach.
I looked away, pretending not to notice.
Michelle, too, had a similarly full belly.

“Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I’m really eating well these days. Hohoho!”

“By the way, ma’am.”
I gently placed my hand over hers as I cleared the dishes.

“What’s this?”
“Are you in pain?”
I gave Thomas a look, signaling her not to hide anything.
Not wanting to lose the only neighbor I had, Michelle hugged me tightly.
Her laughter rang in my ears.

“Good heavens. You were worried about me?”
“Now’s the time to laugh? Please tell me quickly. Your husband went far away by boat, right? Does he know?”
“Oh, Halara. How should I explain this?”
Michelle pulled back, looking embarrassed, her lips trembling.

Then Thomas grabbed her wrist.
What was happening?
“The two of you…?”
Her husband, who supposedly lived far away, was Thomas?

“You are indeed pregnant.”
“Oh my, I knew it! Hoho.”

Pregnant?
What was going on?

“Seems like a lively one is on the way after all this waiting. No need to look further.”
Thomas adjusted his glasses and closed his bag.

“Pregnant?”
I was shocked. Michelle was pregnant?

“Surprised? Lately my appetite’s returned, I’ve been feeling chilly, and my period stopped. I thought something was off.”
“What? But your husband went far away by boat…”
“Exactly! Counting the days, it matches the day he left. Hohoho. Oh, I’m so embarrassed!”

She playfully hit Thomas’s shoulder with shyness.
So she was the one pregnant. Thomas had only come to examine her.

“Congratulations!”
Pregnant! Such wonderful news!

“I’m so embarrassed. Even though I’ve been traveling for years by boat, only now am I carrying a child.”
“Such a blessing. You should have told me sooner! I would’ve prepared something better than potato pancakes. No matter, I’ll go buy ingredients even now!”
“Shall we? We can cook something delicious together and chat.”
“Deal!”
“Deal? What’s that? Anyway, great!”
Hahaha.

“Thomas, you’ll join, right? You came all this way, so I’ll treat. And please check on this young lady’s head. She hit it hard.”
Michelle held Thomas back from leaving.

“No, I really don’t eat at night. Just the examination, then I’m leaving.”
“No, I’m totally fine!”

He left politely without any hesitation.

“Housekeeper, has the doctor arrived?”
Francesca’s low voice made Carlos shake his head.

“No. I called him here just before he went out, but he seems to have gotten lost on the way.”

They had summoned one of the family’s trusted physicians.
Any rumors could spread before a proper plan was made.

“Send someone to hurry him.”
“I’ve already sent several people. Ma’am, why not come again tomorrow morning?”

“Housekeeper. Do you think I can sleep soundly after your report?”
“No…”
“What about Dochef?”
“He’s still out. He does return home sometimes, but he’s always away, so meeting him is nearly impossible.”

Francesca’s worry burned like fire inside.
Meeting Halara herself to confirm the truth seemed the best plan.

‘Is she really pregnant? If so, why did she lie to me?’
Even if she wasn’t, there was another reason to see her.

“Are you sure Dochef is meeting with that girl alone?”
“Ma’am… this is the twenty-second time you’ve asked. Yes, absolutely. Otherwise, why would the young master have run away from me?”

“Your tone’s getting sharp.”
“Sorry.”

Carlos was equally anxious.
At that moment, under the evening glow, an old wooden door opened.
A man, hat pulled low, stepped out.

Carlos held his breath and checked his face.
A stranger.

So it was indeed a cunning woman’s scheme. Placing a “Men Not Allowed” sign and calling a man who wasn’t the young master.

“Ma’am… I think I didn’t investigate enough…”
“Doctor.”
“Doctor?”

Carlos squinted.
Ma’am was truly sharp. She immediately recognized the old badge on the square bag in the dark—a sign of a doctor.

“I’ll bring him here immediately!”
Carlos moved quickly.
It was easy to bring the doctor.
Despite appearances, Carlos was one of the top butlers from a prestigious swordsmanship family, trained heavily from birth. His size rivaled most knights.

“He’s here.”
“What is this!”
The doctor, with a full belly, knelt before Francesca.

Francesca pressed her forehead in frustration.
“Lift him up. What am I, some alley thug?”
“Sorry. It happened unconsciously.”

Carlos forced Thomas to stand.