I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince-Chapter 499: Pregnancy (1)
“Uhp?!”
"......?"
"......."
“...Sister Lily?”
In the quiet dining hall, my voice suddenly slipped out.
Everyone's gaze turned to me, as if expecting me to spit out what was in my mouth at any moment.
“...Sorry, I think I might be coming down with a cold. I don’t have much of an appetite.”
“Oh, I see. Please be careful during this season change, Sister Lily. Always cover yourself up to your neck with the blanket.”
“...Yeah, I’ll be careful next time.”
To Mirif, I just made an excuse about catching a cold, but that definitely wasn’t the reason.
I didn’t feel dizzy, didn’t have a fever, and there was no sore throat or coughing.
The foul taste I just experienced on my tongue... it wasn’t like losing taste because of a cold; it was a completely different sensation.
-Clatter.
“.......”
-Slurrrp.
"......!"
I took a test sip of the soup, and again, that disgusting sensation rose from the back of my tongue.
Suppressing the urge to gag, I became half certain. This wasn’t just a cold or some illness.
...To be honest, it’s been almost two months since my last period, so I kind of expected it, even if it wasn’t morning sickness.
‘Seriously, it happened....’
As for him, being a boy in his prime, he certainly was healthy in that regard.
After all, we’d made our last memories together and had... a few internal releases. If anything, it would’ve been strange if I didn’t get pregnant, considering the timing was risky too.
‘It was only once without contraception, and this happens... if I hadn’t used Clean Magic regularly, it seems I’d be expecting any time.’
“.......”
-Buzzz...
Lost in thought, I sat blankly at the table, and Mirif gave me a concerned look from the side. I quietly continued eating, pretending nothing was wrong.
-Crunch.
"......!"
Butter-toasted bread... is impossible as it is.
-Chew.
"......."
Fried eggs taste different than usual, but... it’s not to the point where I can’t eat them.
-Munch.
“......?”
The potato salad, which I usually found unappealing and left half of, unexpectedly tasted good. I wondered if this is what they meant when they said your tastes change during pregnancy.
‘So this is what they mean when they say your tastes change when you're pregnant....’
I’d better eat as much as I can without leaving too much, or the senior priestess might notice.
I managed to survive the meal by spreading the potato salad on the bread, the one thing that tasted decent, and finally escaped the dining hall.
...From tomorrow on, it’ll probably be a bit difficult to keep having breakfast like this with everyone.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
After breakfast came the group prayer with the priests and worshippers.
Since I wasn’t participating, I naturally had some time to myself, and carefully pondered how to go forward from here.
‘Continuing to stay at the church is out of the question, isn’t it.’
Although there were times I could have lunch outside when I had plans, it was standard in communal life to join everyone for breakfast and dinner.
I couldn’t very well ask for a special menu just for me due to morning sickness while everyone else was eating together, and, truthfully, this was all new to me—I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to eat.
I’d only thought of leaving the church because something in Ermia didn’t sit right with me or because an issue might arise inside. But never did I expect that I’d be forced to leave my familiar quarters just because I couldn’t stomach the food anymore. This was food I’d been eating without a problem for a whole month.
‘It’s not like I’ve come to dislike Ermia itself. I’ll just tell the priestess today that I’ll be moving out and find a place outside.’
I can make some excuse about having saved up enough funds to manage on my own.
Mirif will probably feel a bit disappointed, but it couldn’t be helped.
After all, it’s not like I’m leaving Ermia altogether—just the church.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
That afternoon.
“...Ten gold coins a month?”
“Yes. Isn’t it incredibly cheap? There’s no other property at this price in this season, really!”
Damn it.
I barely held back a curse at the outrageous lodging price.
I wasn’t looking for a house, just a room in an inn, and yet ten gold coins a month was ridiculous.
And that’s only because it’s a long-term stay—usually, it’s 50 silver a day. The prices in this place are absolutely insane.
‘No wonder so many adventurers sleep around the guild during the day.’
It turns out these adventurers catch up on sleep at the guild during the day and head out for missions at night.
There’s no way a D-rank or lower adventurer could afford to live in Ermia paying 50 silver a day.
‘This messes up my plans....’
No matter how much I’ve saved up, ten gold a month is unreasonable. It’s like losing money just by breathing in this town.
With this nausea and the cost of living, I might have ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) to leave town. Either that or sleep at the adventurer’s guild during the day like other adventurers.
But it’s risky to do that as a woman, especially with all my belongings. And carrying around a pouch with over 300 gold isn’t exactly safe.
“...If the price is too steep, you can borrow for your lodging with a low interest rate. Just a small fingerprint on this magic contract...”
“No need.”
“Oh, I see! Well, how about eight gold a month... no, seven... please, madam...!!”
Leaving the innkeeper, who tried to get me to sign the loan contract (which was essentially a slave contract), I quickly exited.
Renting a home here would cost far more than staying at an inn, so buying a place was out of the question.
With inn fees like these, even spending all my savings probably wouldn’t get me a decent place. It’s like trying to buy a house in a neighborhood where a motel costs 1.5 million won a night with only 1 billion won.
Unable to make a decision, I wandered the streets, hesitating to tell the priestess about leaving the church.
“...So, you said you’ve seen someone called ‘Assassin Lily’?”
‘...Huh?’
A familiar voice, one I absolutely shouldn’t be hearing, came from beyond the alley.
⁎ ⁎ ⁎
One week prior, at the Ironhold Adventurers’ Guild.
“...So, it’s been over a month since Lilith... no, ‘Assassin Lily’ has shown up?”
“Yes, yes, Lord Blackwood.... We really don’t know where she went, and we can’t track every single move of the adventurers....”
“Haa...”
After running nonstop for two days and nights from Blackwood to Ironhold...
The guildmaster’s ridiculous response made Ethan’s head throb as if it would burst.
‘Lilith....’
You left a message for me to meet you, only to run away?
Or did you just want to see me chase after you like this?
His anger at Lilith grew to the point where he felt antagonistic towards her, but he soon shook his head, realizing his thoughts were wrong.
‘No, it’s not her fault.’
How could she trust the adventurers’ guild after they’d sent her into a goblin cave with a Goblin King?
And, judging by what he’d heard, the guildmaster had used up 40 gold, including the 10 he’d given to her. Who’s to say he wouldn’t assign her another dangerous mission in retaliation?
Cutting ties with this guild was the right choice. She’s probably staying in another town with a different guild by now.
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...Yeah. The blame lies with these people. They failed, which is why Lilith left Ironhold.
-Shiiing.
“Eek! P-Please, calm down, my lord! We’ll put out a search for the woman claiming to be from the Blackwood family across the town....”
“You dare say you’d harm Lilith? Then I’ll have to ensure you never try such a thing.”
“A-Ah!! I’m sorry!! I-I thought the young lady ‘Assassin Lily’ was a fraud, angering you...!!”
“......”
Though he wanted nothing more than to slice the man’s head off and hang it at the guild’s entrance, doing so would only tarnish the Blackwood name.
If the woman known as ‘Assassin Lily’ turned out to be a fraud, he’d be branded a loose cannon who kills on a whim.
Ironhold was not Blackwood’s territory nor even that of a branch family; it was under a provincial count, which could mean reparations later.
The other adventurers wouldn’t sit still if he beheaded their guildmaster; they needed the guild for their livelihoods.
-Sliide.
“...Hoo...”
Ethan sheathed his sword quietly, and the guildmaster breathed a sigh of relief.
“You better pray it was an imposter.”
“...Sorry?”
“If this ‘Assassin Lily’ is truly the one I’m searching for, then you’ve risked your life by messing with the ‘fiancée’ of House Blackwood.”
“F-Fiancée, my lord? I-I see, she did have an elegant aura....”
“Quit blabbering and cooperate. If you help me find her, I’ll consider lightening your punishment.”
“I-I’ll do everything in my power! Anything you need, just say it!”
Though he wanted to kill the man in front of him, Ethan had something more important at stake.
“Bring me the past two weeks’ records of ‘Assassin Lily’s’ activities as an adventurer. Every single one, without missing a page.”
Methodically, Ethan was closing in on Lily’s trail.
