The Baby Isn’t Yours

Kalia’s house was a two-story building with a high ceiling.

Located a bit away from the city, it was a modest two-story mansion with white walls, a red roof, and a small garden in front.

In front of it, the familiar middle-aged woman and her young daughter, who were hiding from the sun under a worn-out parasol, were engaged in lively conversation, leaning against the wall.

They were also familiar to Kalia.

“Mrs. McCanna?”

Kalia approached the two who seemed to be waiting patiently for her.

When Mrs. McCanna heard her name being called, she looked up at Kalia. Her youngest daughter, Sage, who was holding her mother’s hand, also looked at Kalia as she approached.

The child’s eyes widened, and she started shaking her mother’s hand energetically.

Mrs. McCanna, who was watching her daughter, got up and bent her knees to greet Kalia as she approached.

“Hello, Miss Lia. It seems you’ve been for a walk. I told you to always carry a parasol on sunny days.”

As she spoke, Mrs. McCanna tilted the parasol she was carrying to provide shade over Kalia’s head.

Even though Kalia said she was fine, Mrs. McCanna just smiled and offered her some shade.

Next to her, Sage, her brown hair tied to the side, followed her mother and slightly bowed her knees to greet Kalia.

“Hello. I’m Sage.”

“Hello, Sage.”

There was a curious glint in Sage’s gaze as she looked up at Kalia, her cheeks flushed from her earlier excitement.

When Kalia and her eyes met, Sage couldn’t help but ask with her lips quivering.

“That day! You’re the one who saved us, right?”

Kalia raised an eyebrow, seemingly puzzled, and smiled.

“Well, why do you think it was me? Do you remember the events of that day?”

With that, she gently patted the child’s head.

“Well, I don’t remember everything, but I definitely saw you. You brought us out of the woods with you! You comforted me, saying that everything was okay!”

At the excited child’s words, Kalia simply smiled and shrugged. The child’s eyes on Kalia seemed to twinkle even more than before.

“I can’t remember the details, but I’m sure I saw you. You were the one who brought us out of the forest and reassured us! I have an excellent memory!”

“Sage.”

Mrs. McCanna finally intervened as her daughter was about to cling to Kalia’s clothes.

“You should be polite. If you keep acting like that, Miss Lia will be uncomfortable.”

“Oh! Yes, I’m sorry.”

Sage’s shoulders slumped as she stepped back.

Kalia hesitated for a moment and then said as she entered the front door:

“Would you like to have some tea?”

Coincidentally, when she entered the mansion, it was Mrs. McCanna who had prepared the tea. As she had seen the woman for several months in her kitchen, Kalia sat on the sofa with Sage and waited for the tea that Mrs. McCanna brought.

Carefully, Mrs. McCanna placed the tea on the table.

“She said she saw the fairy who saved her that day. But, the more she explains, the more I think of a certain someone. I originally thought it couldn’t be, but at some point, I was convinced that my guess might be right.”

Kalia sipped the tea with a pleasant floral aroma without saying anything.

“Thank you. And…”

After greeting her, Mrs. McCanna took a deep breath.

“Please, never do that again.”

Kalia, who had stopped, looked at Mrs. McCanna.

Mrs. McCanna’s expression contorted strangely, as if she was on the verge of tears or laughter.

“Of course, I’m grateful that you found the child, but I wouldn’t have been entirely happy if something had gone wrong Miss Lia, I don’t know who you were before you came here, but…”

Mrs. McCanna’s gaze shifted to the several swords hanging above the fireplace.

In which lady’s house could such fierce weapons be found?

A variety of swords, shields, and various weapons were displayed.

It was a hint that Kalia was an extraordinary person, but Mrs. McCanna dared not speculate about her true identity.

Unlike regions like this, where people lived similar lives, in big cities, it was said that there were many knights regardless of gender.

Perhaps she wasn’t a knight in the capital, but she still thought it was possible.

“Undoubtedly, you must have been a strong and wonderful person. But… I don’t think you valued yourself.”

“Mrs. McCanna.”

Kalia looked at Mrs. McCanna with eyes that seemed to resonate with a child’s innocence, even though she herself didn’t notice it.

Mrs. McCanna, with a stern gleam in her deeply wrinkled eyes, spoke firmly to Kalia.

“Please cherish yourself more, Miss Lia.”

“…Ma’am.”

“No matter how many good deeds you do or how you act according to your beliefs, endangering yourself is not the right way. Of course… We’re truly thankful that our children returned safely thanks to you, but please don’t do it again.”

Mrs. McCanna, who had been speaking with enthusiasm, took a deep breath to calm her emotions.

She looked at Kalia with tearful eyes, and there was a complex mix of feelings.

“I’m so angry and… so grateful.”

Tears finally welled up in Mrs. McCanna’s eyes as she spoke with a quivering voice.

“When I first heard that you saved Sage with your pregnant body, my initial thought was simply ‘thank you.’ Thank you for saving our child, thank you for bringing Sage back safely in our stead when we were unable to do anything.”

With a choked voice, the mother held her daughter’s hand tightly, wearing a guilty expression.

Mrs. McCanna smiled through her tear-filled eyes and kissed Sage’s forehead.

“Even though you were in such a dangerous situation, and still… I felt so guilty just thinking that our child was safe.”

“Madam. That’s only natural.”

“No, it’s not natural.”

Mrs. McCanna looked at Kalia with a strangely soft smile.

“I don’t want to think it’s natural, Miss Lia.”

With that one statement, Kalia could feel Mrs. McCanna’s sincerity.

Grateful and sorry.

As much as she felt sorry, she thought less of herself.

‘I think less of myself.’

“Please cherish yourself.”

Kalia recalled Mrs. McCanna’s words but somehow didn’t hate it strangely.

She was too well-meaning and sincerely sad to hurt Kalia’s pride. Kalia could feel that she was truly sorry for her.

‘Please cherish yourself.’ 

Her words echoed in Kalia’s mind.

Had she not valued herself?

Suddenly, a peculiar emotion welled up inside Kalia.

For the first time, she wondered if she had ever considered herself precious. In the face of danger, she had instinctively thought: ‘Can I do this? Can I endure this? Is it my duty?’

She had lived with such thoughts as her only focus, and even when she went to rescue the children, she had naturally thought of it as her duty.

Because she had grown up like that since she was very young, the idea of valuing herself was so unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

“Now, it may sound funny for me to say this, but Miss Lia, I hope you are unharmed.”

Mrs. McCanna reached out and took Kalia’s hand.

“In order to safely give birth to a healthy child and live happily and joyfully with that child. To do that, you have to be fearful, just like a mother is.”

Mrs. McCanna’s warmth enveloped Kalia’s scarred hand.

“To protect the child in dangerous situations, you have to be afraid. If you’re afraid, you’ll be more careful to make sure the child doesn’t get hurt.”

“…Being a mother sounds difficult.”

“It’s not difficult at all. Love yourself as much as you love your child. Many people care about Miss Lia. I will pray for your health and happiness every day, for both you and the baby.”

Tears stained her eyes as Mrs. McCanna spoke affectionately.

At that moment, Kalia laughed and felt as if she had choked on something.

It was a strange feeling, but at that moment, scenes she had momentarily forgotten crossed her mind.

Hemmie’s figure, standing in front of her, defiantly saying, ‘I’ll even be your bodyguard!’

Allen, who had held her and Hemmie while saying, ‘I’m glad you’re back safe,’ trembling.

Mrs. McCanna gently scolding her while saying, ‘Cherish yourself.’

And one more person.

An old friend who had always protected her from behind, and who had left her for a while.

“You go wherever you want to go. It’s always been my job to watch your back. Even if you cause a commotion… Still, please try not to get hurt, Kalia.”

He had spoken nervously, but his concerns were deeply embedded within.

Kalia hadn’t appreciated her own value before.

Now she was beginning to realize things she had never noticed before. Motherhood was such a beautiful thing. She felt warmer inside as she cherished the idea that she would soon become a mother.

How much more joy and emotion would there be when this child was born?

Kalia couldn’t wait any longer.

And that moment came a little earlier than she had expected.