Straightening up to her full height, Kalia rubbed her chin in deep thought.

“But… He’s still the father. Should I inform Simon?”

Wrinkles formed between her eyebrows as she pondered.

Simon was both an Archmage and a Duke of this country.

Could he, a noble, or rather, his family, really accept a bastard child?

Simon wasn’t a man intoxicated by noble customs. She, who grew up alongside him, knew this best.

What made Kalia uneasy was not Simon, but the overall atmosphere of the Ducal house.

The cold glass wall that distinguished ‘us’ and ‘them’, all behind a gentle smile.

Could such a Ducal house accept a bastard child, especially of the sole heir? Furthermore, a child with Kalia, who had been living off them in a corner of their mansion?

‘…You must protect Simon… Betraying loyalty… You can’t do that, Kalia.’

At the prickly voice stirring inside her head, Kalia suddenly lifted her head.

“No, absolutely not.”

…She can’t let it be taken away.

Kalia didn’t know what that resistance was. But there was a strong sense of rejection in her heart.

Restlessly, Kalia paced back and forth, muttering to herself.

The issue wasn’t just Simon’s family; it was Simon’s reaction that was even more uncertain.

Did he like babies?

As she pondered deeply, she shook her head.

He wasn’t even fond of humans, let alone babies.

“…Surely he wouldn’t ask me to get rid of the baby, right?”

She willingly wanted to become this child’s mother and shower it with all the happiness in the world, but Simon could be different.

However, she had no intention of forcing him into false happiness.

The baby should be a blessing and pure joy itself.

She couldn’t let it be born and immediately face hatred from someone’s coercion and force.

So, she didn’t want to impose responsibilities and obligations on Simon forcefully, making him the father of her child, even in the corner of their mansion where they lived together.

She had war compensation overflowing from seven warehouses and the strength to protect the child.

The future might be uncertain, but her unwavering and pure affection towards the child was certain enough to vow.

Yes, that meant she didn’t have to force herself to marry Simon and make him the father of the child.

‘…Marry Simon!’

It was so strange that her body trembled uncontrollably.

On the battlefield, they were comrades; in their youth, they were brothers; and sometimes, they were drinking buddies, staying up all night talking.

That’s all there was…

But even if she said she had no desires or demands from him, he might not find the existence of this child endearing.

Considering the weight of his high position and broad shoulders, he could easily feel burdened.

‘Moreover, when we last met, Simon casually mentioned the marriageable age and his plans for marriage. It seems he even has a beloved in his heart…’

In that case, it was even more impossible to force marriage upon Simon.

It was akin to violence to do such a thing to someone who had a loved one.

“…Hmm, it seems telling Simon is not the right choice.”

Kalia placed her hand on her belly protectively and furrowed her brow.

She didn’t want this child to be treated as an obstacle.

If she were to hear Simon actually say to erase the child or even see a displeased expression…

‘Even if it’s Simon, I feel like I would tear him apart.’

Killing Simon, a wicked and immensely powerful Archmage, would be difficult, but with careful planning and execution over time…As Kalia pondered on how to kill him in earnest, she was startled and instinctively shook her head.

Her instinct to protect the child had surpassed her rationality.

She had only thought, ‘He might ask me to get rid of the child,’ but unknowingly, she had harbored the intention to kill.

And it was the friend, the brother, the comrade, Simon himself.

“It’s still not possible.”

Leaving things as they were could lead to chaos.

She had to protect the child safely and resolve things peacefully with Simon.

Kalia paced around the study, contemplating for a long time.

Until the sunlight outside changed color to a pale orange, she pondered deeply enough.

With a resolute expression, she lifted her head.

“There seems to be only one way after all.”

She stood before the neatly hung red military uniform.

Maybe…

“Looks like it’s time to retire.”

Murmuring contentedly, she donned the red uniform.

Although there was still affection lingering in her gentle touch, there was no regret.

* * *

In the Rojas Empire, Kalia Tacskate was regarded as a legendary figure.

Saving the kidnapped only son of the Duke, who was taken to the hideout of the backstreet gang ‘Hidden,’ at the tender age of six was just the beginning of her story.

At fifteen, she passed the formal knight exam with the highest score ever recorded, and at the young age of seventeen, she showed remarkable talent by entering the ranks of swordmasters.

At nineteen, she was entrusted with the protection of the Crown Prince, recognized for her skill at the level of a junior master.

Considering that the usual age to be recognized as a junior master was around the forties, Kalia Tacskate was undoubtedly a prodigy.

Not just a prodigy who only appeared once in a few generations.

Despite all the praise, Kalia, the protagonist of all the accolades, was cynical about rumors concerning herself.

She habitually clenched and released her palm, finding it harder to find an unscarred spot.

Although she thought nothing of it, it seemed she was somewhat nervous.

Standing before the mirror, she slowly skimmed over the perfectly fitted uniform that gave off a neat yet strangely glamorous impression.

A few years ago, it was the uniform personally made for her by the beloved Archmage of the Empire, Simon.

Carefully buttoning her clothes, Kalia examined the button catching her fingertips with newfound attention.

It was a button made of real gold, not just painted in a golden hue.

What had Simon said when she complained about the unnecessarily gold-made buttons?

“How many times have I told you that high-purity gold is convenient for storing magic? Kalia, when did you turn your brain into muscle too? I think I’ve explained it 30 times, why can’t you remember… Ah! Are you kidding me?”

‘…Yeah, I was treated like an idiot.’

At the sudden memory of Simon’s voice, Kalia smirked cynically.

It was still a mystery how she had spent the night with such a guy.

Moreover, that guy’s child was in her belly.

‘It’s really something.’

Kalia, laughing restlessly, meticulously inspected her attire reflected in the mirror.

The tightly cinched top, the splendidly spread red cloak, and the black leather pants clinging to her legs.

As always, there was no disarray.

Swish.

Kalia, dusting off her cloak, looked up at the blue sky outside the window.

The late afternoon sky was so blue and peaceful that the word ‘perfect’ naturally came to mind.‘Peace.’

Yes, she may not have realized that now, when everything was peaceful after the seven-year war, might be a good time for a ‘war hero’ to disappear.

Kalia left the room with a satisfied smile.

* * *

Thud.

Upon hearing the footsteps from the upstairs, Hemmie quickly recognized who it was and dashed outside.

There, as expected, was Kalia, the owner of the mansion and Hemmie’s master, descending the stairs.

The way she leisurely stepped down one step at a time, without any haste, was sensuous as if she was a wild animal.

And Hemmie’s brown eyes were gleaming with envy, filled with admiration.

‘Oh my, she’s wearing her uniform!’

Moreover, the formal attire of the Knight General of the Red Lion!

It had been almost a year since the war ended.

Since the peace was declared, Kalia rarely wore her uniform when she went out.

At least, in the past seven months since Hemmie became her squire, it had only happened once.

That’s why Hemmie had no choice but to stare in awe at Kalia, who was calmly descending the circular stairs in full uniform.

A flush rose on his still youthful cheeks.

‘It’s crazy. She’s not of this world, really…’

Her long, elegant limbs were slender yet muscular, displaying a confident charm no matter what she wore.

Her thin, lemon-hued hair tied up, her pale skin, and red lips on a harmonious face reminded of a siren, a sea nymph.

Who could possess a solid presence as a soldier and at the same time, an alluring atmosphere that mesmerizes people?

‘…But the coolest part is how she changes the moment she grabs a sword!’

At that moment, she was just a warrior.

Her sword trajectory was neat and perfect, never a wasted swing, and her movements were so agile and fast that both eyes couldn’t keep up.

A goddess of war, a beautiful monster created by a god, that was exactly who she was.

‘If I could capture that splendid figure in a photograph, I’d have no more wishes…’

The interesting part was that the uniform, which was personally designed and crafted by Simon Terroan, the Archmage and the Duke, made her look more beautiful than any ordinary dress.

As if it was made by someone who knows all of Kalia’s charm and merits, someone who thought about the clothes that fit her all day long.

Sharp-witted Hemmie realized Simon’s feelings towards Kalia, but Kalia herself seemed oblivious.

Well, her cluelessness was also part of Kalia’s charm.

Hemmie, who was in a state of extreme favoritism towards Kalia, chuckled to herself.

To be honest, she didn’t dare to intervene between an Archmage and a war hero.

After all, the one suffering from unrequited love wasn’t her, nor the Kalia she admired, but Duke Simon, who had nothing to do with her.

When Kalia reached the ground floor, Hemmie swiftly ran to her and started babbling,

“General, are you going out now? If you had told me, I would have prepared in advance. I will prepare for the outing right now.”

Hemmie, who tends to speak fast when excited, was sometimes thought of as a sparrow by Kalia.

Chirp chirp-chirp chirp chirp—

A bit noisy but not annoying.

Rather, quite pleasant to listen to when feeling lazy.

Kalia looked at Hemmie as if she found her cute, and gently brushed back her hair with a soft touch like a breeze, saying,

“I want to go out alone, so you stay here.”

Wha-!

At that moment, Hemmie’s cheeks instantly flustered red.

Unable to do anything about her red face, she lowered her head.