SWST 34

Chapter 34

Looking at the titles, there were nothing but boring books like The History of Bloody Mary, Etiquette for Nobles, and World Maps and War History. It must have been a hassle to bring them, but they didn’t seem necessary to read. I already know far more important things than that.

But if I just said I wouldn’t read, there’d be another argument.

“I can’t read letters.”

In truth, I could read them. After all, this was a K-fantasy, so the language was Korean.

“What? You don’t know letters?”
“Yeah, just like you said, I’m a lowly commoner. Who would teach me letters?”
“Really? You couldn’t read letters, yet you managed to seduce Lord Dochef just with your words?”
“Think what you want. You went through the trouble of bringing them here, so don’t feel bad. I’ll rest now.”

I just wanted her to leave. My stomach was aching gently, and my whole body felt strangely shivery. I wanted to turn on the heater and rest warmly.

But then it happened.

“Where are you going! You need to learn letters first if you don’t know them!”

Getty roughly grabbed my arm. Her hands were tensed, probably from all the household chores. But even if she pulled me like that, there was no way I’d study.

“It hurts!”
“Stop whining.”
“No, I really mean it! Let go and talk.”
“You need to understand! It’s so humiliating…!”

Getty’s voice cracked. At that moment, she suddenly let go of my arm and shoved my shoulder hard with her palm.

“Then just get out!”
“Ugh!”

[This crazy woman! Sword Wind!]

Junel shouted in anger. A strong gust of wind suddenly swept through the room, and the wide-open windows slammed shut. Because of the wind, not only Getty but also I, weak from my stomach pain, lost balance and tumbled to the floor.

“Ahh!”
“Ugh!”

[Ah! Halara, I’m sorry. I couldn’t tolerate her behavior.]

Getty, who had hit the wardrobe while falling, gritted her teeth and got back up. Her eyes showed a mix of anger and embarrassment.

“Ugh, my shoulder! Why is the wind blowing so strongly… huh.”

But her embarrassment grew when she looked at me—more precisely, when she saw my exposed underskirt. My stomach had started hurting gently, and now I realized it wasn’t from overeating—it was that time of the month. My earlier worry about being pregnant had been unnecessary.

“Ugh.”

And now menstrual cramps too. My waist hurt, and my stomach ached. I wrapped my throbbing stomach with my hands. I needed to send Getty away properly and then rest.

“Getty, that’s enough…”
“Blood?”

Getty’s eyes widened, and her body began trembling like a leaf.

’First time seeing someone on their period? It’s not like you won’t go through it too.’

It would’ve been nice if she simply pointed out where I could change clothes, but I doubted I could expect that from Getty.

“…No. I-I didn’t do that.”

Huh?
“I didn’t do it!!! You just fell like a fool!”

Why was she shouting like that?

“You pushed my shoulder, remember?” I snapped irritably, and she shook her head.

“No, I didn’t!”
“Don’t yell. My stomach hurts… and I don’t feel well.”

“Eek!”

I curled up in pain, and Getty didn’t help at all. She panicked and dashed out. She probably hit the wardrobe too, but judging by how fast she ran, she seemed okay.

“Ugh.”

[Sorry, Halara. Are you okay?]

Junel’s eyes were glistening.

“I didn’t fall because of her. My stomach just felt bad. I’m going to rest a bit.”

[Lie down quickly.]

Junel grabbed my clothes near my shoulder, letting me sit up without putting strain on my waist. I quickly changed my clothes and lay down on the bed. I didn’t know why, but now that Getty was gone, I could rest peacefully.

Getty hurriedly left the room, only taking valuables from her quarters.

“Gasp! Gasp!”

She ran fast despite her limping legs. The recent events kept replaying in her mind: the thick blood stains on Halara’s underskirt, the groaning while clutching her stomach…

Halara was pregnant. But bleeding meant… a miscarriage. Bleeding that heavily in early pregnancy…

’No! It wasn’t my fault!’

Yes, she had pushed the shoulder. But not hard enough to knock her down. But then, suddenly, a strong wind blew, causing both Halara and her to fall. It was… the wind’s fault.

“Unfair…”

But who would believe the miscarriage happened because of the wind? Halara probably hadn’t noticed her underskirt yet, but she would soon. When that happened, Halara would be expelled from the family for not having a child. And Getty would soon be held responsible for Halara’s miscarriage. Halara would only be expelled, but Getty’s life would be over. She had killed a potential heir of the Bloody Mary family.

’I have to run, far away!’

Getty had to escape before being caught, far from the family, leaving this territory. It was unfair. Especially to have to leave because of someone like Halara. She probably would never return.

“No. No.”

At that moment, as she hurriedly left the annex…

“Isn’t that Getty?”
“D-Doctor?”

In front of the annex, she saw the family’s doctor, neatly dressed. He was the same doctor she often saw since she first started working as a maid.

“Long time no see.”
“Yes. Oh, long time no see.”

Getty looked around nervously.

“Weren’t you at the main building recently? What are you doing at the annex?”

The doctor remembered what she had proudly told him about a month ago. Getty flinched noticeably. Seeing what she held in her hands, he asked,

“And what’s that luggage?”
“Oh, that… I was bringing some leftover items out.”
“Ah. I thought you were rushing somewhere.”

“The main building had a lot of work piled up… Where are you headed?” Getty tried to change the subject. The doctor had no reason to be at the annex. Getty had often visited the main building before, but never saw him at the annex.

“I have a secret request from Madam. Not much time, so we’ll meet next time.”

He checked his watch and left without suspicion. Getty exhaled in relief.

’A secret request?’

“Doctor. Are you looking for someone at the annex?”

Getty blocked his path.

“I can’t tell you that.”
“Are you looking for a pregnant woman at the annex?”

The doctor had been taking care of the Duke, his family, and their children long before Getty worked as a maid. There could be only one reason for him to go to the annex.

“Right. How did you know?”

Getty’s heart sank. If the doctor went in now, he’d immediately notice Halara’s condition.

’I’m dead!’

She couldn’t die like this.

“Doctor. I’m in charge of her!”

Getty shouted in a trembling voice.

“Really? So that’s why you were coming out of the annex?”
“Yes, that’s right. I also received a secret order from Madam, so I couldn’t tell you before.”

The doctor smiled in relief.

“I see. Haha. Then show me the way. Madam asked me to check on her pregnancy, ensure the baby is healthy, and prepare remedies for morning sickness.”

“Ah…” Cold sweat ran down my head.

“I wonder who she is to be so concerned, but I suppose I’ll find out someday. Where is she now?”
“Huh?”
“I don’t have much time, so I need to see her quickly.”
“This way.”

Getty pointed toward the forest instead of the annex.

“Huh? Isn’t that the direction of the spire?”
“Yes. She’s actually there.”
“To the spire?”
“Yes. She had stayed in the annex, but she wanted to go there since she could see it from the annex windows.”
“Isn’t that place off-limits?”
“I know… but she was so restless she insisted on going, and she twisted her ankle there.”

Cornered, Getty’s lies spilled out smoothly.

“What? She got hurt while pregnant?!”
“It wasn’t serious… she was just bringing a simple bandage from the annex.”

She pointed at her bundle. In reality, there was no bandage inside.

“Let’s go quickly! I need to check her condition myself.”
“Yes. I’ll guide you.”

The doctor ran into the forest. Getty followed him.

’Doctor, why are you here now! Couldn’t you have come a few days later…? This is all your fault, not mine. Don’t blame me.’

She secretly pulled something sturdy out of her bundle so the doctor wouldn’t see.