🔊 TTS Settings
Episode 3
You’re Not Your Child
“Yes, understood.”
Her voice was small, tinged with shyness.
Kalia was the type to show physical affection to those who entered her personal space.
Lightly stroking someone’s hair or tapping their shoulder was her own clumsy way of expressing affection and trust.
Every time she did this, people would inexplicably blush and shy away—but Kalia, with her dull nerves, had no idea why.
“…Then, I’ll bring White from the stables. Please wait a moment, Master.”
Humming, who had been running along, let out a squeal and slipped behind the building.
Though somewhat rough and clumsy at times, Humming’s hands were skilled.
Once she learned something, she never forgot it, and anything entrusted to her was executed flawlessly.
A perfect squire, Humming was even cute.
Kalia couldn’t help but find Humming adorable, with her childlike innocence that Kalia herself had never possessed.
Smiling softly as she watched Humming disappear, Kalia soon saw her return, leading her prized horse, White.
Whinny!
The enormous, snow-white horse, personally bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, stood gracefully before Kalia as always.
The horse checked her with its dark eyes and exhaled excitedly through its nostrils—but even that excitement was calm and elegant.
Kalia, finding White endearing, reached to stroke his nose and held the reins, intending to mount—but then stopped.
“Ah.”
…Right.
With a short, sigh-like exhalation, she handed the reins back to Humming and said:
“Sorry, could you put White away again and prepare the carriage instead?”
“Eh? A carriage?”
Kalia rarely used carriages.
In truth, she had never once traveled by carriage.
Humming, thinking she had misheard, asked again, and Kalia nodded to confirm.
“A carriage. Please prepare a carriage. I’d like that.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Though puzzled, Humming obediently went to fetch the carriage.
Watching her disappear into the distance, Kalia let out a small sigh and gently rubbed her flat belly.
She almost mounted the horse without realizing it.
Even someone clueless about pregnancy knew that running or riding while pregnant was dangerous.
No matter how great a horse, the impact of its movement could harm the body.
I’ll have to be more careful from now on. I can’t act unconsciously like I usually do.
She didn’t want to risk harming the precious baby growing inside her.
Clenching her fists, Kalia silently vowed to be cautious.
Soon, she carefully stepped into the carriage Humming had brought.
“If we’re going by carriage, I can drive it for you. May I?”
Through the small window, Humming asked, and Kalia nodded in approval.
Relieved, Humming immediately climbed into the driver’s seat.
As the carriage whisked Kalia toward the palace, she mentally prepared what to say to the Crown Prince.
“Arrived, General.”
The massive gates opened as the carriage carrying Kalia entered the palace.
The Crown Prince’s office was on the second floor of the western palace, which could only be reached by passing the corridors and central garden beyond the main palace.
After helping Kalia down, Humming headed to the carriage storage.
Having guarded the Crown Prince since childhood, Kalia was intimately familiar with the route.
As she walked the familiar path through the main palace lobby toward the entrance to the western palace corridor, a lively group appeared from the opposite end.
A few ladies dressed in bright gowns, escorted by young nobles, noisily entered the hall.
“Oh my, Helena-sama’s taste is impeccable! How did she choose a bracelet that suits the princess so perfectly?”
“And to have the magical seal of the Duke Shaman engraved on it—what a precious gift!”
“Wow! It’s my first time seeing Duke Shaman’s magical seal up close. I hear it’s worth hundreds!”
“Of course, he’s extraordinary! Some young ladies even collect items bearing the Minister of Magic’s seal.”
“If those young ladies knew Helena personally gave the bracelet with Shaman-sama’s seal, they’d be so envious.”
“It was just a small gift for the princess’s travels. Nothing special.”
The women, centered around a beauty with elegantly twisted black hair, suddenly froze as they noticed Kalia walking straight toward them.
Even as silence fell, Kalia’s expression remained steady.
In truth, she was too focused on what to say to the Crown Prince to notice who was in front of her.
As she passed them with a polite bow, a soft yet cold voice called her name:
“Kalia.”
Stopping immediately, Kalia turned to look at the woman who had called her.
Ah, no.
A fleeting look of discomfort crossed Kalia’s face, but it was so brief that no one noticed.
“Why are you in such a hurry without greeting me? I might have been a little offended.”
“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought and didn’t notice Madame Helena. How have you been?”
Helena, who had furrowed her brows in mock disappointment, immediately relaxed at the light apology.
Her deep green eyes sparkled with laughter, darker than Kalia’s pale green ones.
“I see. You could have visited once if you were curious. Haven’t shown yourself recently. Any pains? Did you enjoy the cookies I sent last time?”
Approaching lightly, she gently stroked Kalia’s cheek.
“You seem a bit thinner.”
Her eyes, full of concern, were as kind as a mother’s.
Her touch on Kalia’s cheek was unbelievably soft, fragrant, yet simultaneously cold.
Kalia looked at the beautiful woman who gazed at her with worry.
Madame Helena.
A woman whose age was hard to guess, with a soft impression.
Her deep green eyes revealed her half-elf heritage.
Despite being over forty, she retained the beauty of a twenty-year-old and was praised as the queen of society.
She was also Shaman’s mother.
The grandmother of the baby in Kalia’s womb and the lady of the duke’s estate where Kalia was born and raised.
“I heard Chef Karin got a fine female deer this time. Visit soon, Kalia. I want to personally cook for you—the one who always protects the Crown Prince, the country, and our Shaman.”
The Countess Hoverts standing behind Helena exclaimed in admiration.
“How kind of you, Madame Helena! I’ve heard Kalia is like a daughter to you.”
“Of course. The General is our pride along with Shaman. Though she’s beautiful, she grew up like a brother to Shaman. Such a mischievous, spirited child…”
“That’s well-known. Tales of Duke Shaman and General Kalia’s friendship are a common topic in society.”
“Oh dear, then I might have spoken too boldly. If it’s a well-known story, perhaps I spoke too much.”
Helena smiled faintly, biting her lower lip as if embarrassed.
Kalia quietly watched her, lost for words.
Hmm, the pride of the duke’s family.
She had grown up in the duke’s household, yes, but not like Helena described—she never grew up as a “sibling” with Shaman.
She had always stayed in the dark end room of the annex and dined with the staff.
Especially during academy holidays at the estate, she needed Helena’s permission to see Shaman.
Since when did siblings need a mother’s permission to meet?
Even whether Kalia was ever included in Helena’s “we” was questionable.
…Well, it doesn’t really matter.
After all, a girl from the slums becoming part of the duke’s family after saving a life was pure fiction.
Kalia wasn’t the heroine of a romantic novel, and such things didn’t happen.
By that logic, she should already be the Emperor’s fifth child and third princess, having saved the Crown Prince’s life four times.
But now, what did it matter whose child she was?
When encountering Helena in public, she often behaved overly friendly, almost theatrically.
Kalia just took it as the charming act of a noblewoman who wanted to appear beautiful.
Thanks to the duke’s family support, she was where she was now, so she could accept that.
Kalia smiled lightly, kissed Helena’s hand that caressed her cheek, and said:
“Thank you for your concern. I’ll visit when I have time.”
“Promise me. I will. I was delayed chatting with Princess Michelle, so I must take my leave. The princess had so many questions about Shaman that it was hard to leave…”
Helena gazed intently at Kalia.
Kalia smiled casually, unsure what Helena sought in her eyes.
“I see. I hope it was an enjoyable visit.”
Satisfied with Kalia’s answer, Helena returned the smile warmly.
“Of course. I shall take my leave.”
Passing by Kalia, Helena left.
“…!”
Suddenly, Kalia felt a sharp, throbbing pain in her head.
The murmuring—like wind or waves—grated on her ears like sand, then vanished in an instant.
Pressing one ear with a grimace, Kalia instinctively turned back.
Helena and her noisy followers had already disappeared.
Only an eerie silence rippled quietly across the empty corridor.
