Chapter 139: Get Pregnant with my Child

A genuine smile formed at the corners of her lips. Lillian was truly relieved—for my sake.

“…Are you saying that it has finally left me?”

I already knew that my childhood friend had possessed another girl’s body. But I pretended not to know, turning a blind eye to the truth.

If Lillian were to find out that my childhood friend had possessed Luella, she would never let it slide.

I had to prevent that. Even if my childhood friend had become something evil, I knew—having spent years by her side—that she still harbored a good heart somewhere within her.

“Tina, from now on, you must listen carefully to what I say.”

Unlike her usual demeanor, Lillian grasped my shoulders with a grave expression.

Drawn in by the intensity of her gaze, I gave a small nod. Only then did she take a deep breath and continue speaking.

“Demons have no physical form. By themselves, they cannot influence the real world in any way.”

“Really?”

“But the moment they possess a human body, everything changes. Using the human as a vessel, they gain a tangible existence, allowing them to interfere with reality.”

Lillian seemed to know a surprising amount about demons.

“That’s why they seduce humans with sweet whispers, preying on their weaknesses. A demon cannot take over a body by force; a human must willingly surrender themselves.”

Yes, I had done the same.

Enticed by my childhood friend’s promise of happiness, I handed over my soul to her without hesitation.

She told me that if I went to hell with her, she would make me happy forever.

But my soul was too pure—too unstained—to enter hell. To go there, I had to commit sins of my own free will.

And in the process, I even ended up killing my own mother.

“I don’t know whether it gave up, but I can no longer sense any demonic energy within you, Tina. It must have left on its own.”

“Really?”

“That means the demon can no longer influence your mind.”

Lillian scrutinized me with a sharp glint in her eyes and added,

“Unless you willingly invite it back in.”

A brief silence followed. I couldn’t bring myself to respond, and Lillian narrowed her eyes even further before asking,

“You won’t, will you?”

“O-Of course not… I have too many sins to atone for.”

At the very least, until I had repaid for all the wrongs I had done, I would never allow my childhood friend to possess me again.

“In that case, I’m relieved.”

Lillian opened the drawer of the desk beside my bed. Inside, a stack of finely sealed letter paper lay neatly arranged.

“Now, it’s time to restore your honor, Tina.”

“…What?”

“I plan to clear up the false rumors that you tried to poison me. These letters contain my testimony and that of Lady Viviana.”

Lillian picked up one of the letters and waved it gently, smiling softly.

“What do you mean…?”

“Did you really think I would let the person I love remain a criminal forever?”

I had expected this.

But could the heavy charge of attempting to poison a saint really be erased so easily?

People are naturally drawn to sensational stories. The more shocking the tale, the longer it lingers in their minds.

“The letters explain that I was mistaken—that the one who poisoned me wasn’t you, but a demon that merely looked like you.”

“But… will people believe that so easily?”

“If the victim herself claims she was mistaken, who would dare contradict me? Besides, even the imperial family wouldn’t easily refute my words.”

That was true.

Lillian was the ‘Saint of Salvation,’ the one who had saved the empire and restored peace.

“Moreover, with Lady Viviana’s support, even those who don’t want to believe it will have no choice but to accept it.”

Lillian and Viviana—together, their names alone had the power to turn a simple lie into the undeniable truth.

If Lillian’s words are true, then the moment that letter spreads throughout the Empire, I will be freed from my status as a criminal.

But is that really the right thing to do?

“I was the one who poisoned Lady Lillian.”

The poisoning of a saintess. That was undoubtedly something I had done with my own hands.

It was my scheme that shook Lillian’s body with poison.

And as I watched her slowly collapse, I smiled.

Yes, I had undoubtedly committed a crime.

The weight of poisoning a saintess was on my shoulders, and I deserved the contempt of the entire world.

Someone like me had no right to receive Lillian’s goodwill.

“It wasn’t Tina who did it.”

Had she read my mind? Lillian suddenly spoke in a solemn voice.

“What?”

“No matter how much you blame yourself, Tina, you weren’t the one who poisoned me. It was the demon inside you that did it.”

“But… it was my choice…”

“Wasn’t it the demon that drove you to make that choice?”

I couldn’t say anything in response to Lillian’s firm assertion.

“And no matter how much you resist, I will eventually clear your name.”

There was not a hint of hesitation in her eyes—only unwavering determination.

“I made a promise to your mother that I would restore your everyday life once the demon inside you was completely gone.”

“…?”

My mother?

Could she possibly be talking about my mother?

“Why do you call my mother ‘Mother’?”

My voice sharpened slightly.

Lillian’s eyes widened in momentary surprise.

[Soon, the Empire will revoke the charges against you, Tina.]

My mind grew increasingly tangled.

Lillian was determined to erase my crimes. Even though I had undeniably committed those acts.

And her words would certainly hold power.

Few would dare oppose the declaration of the saintess, whom the entire Empire worshipped.

If Viviana joined in as well, no one would be able to object.

Perhaps, I wouldn’t need to cover my face with a hood anymore when traveling through the Empire.

But… is that really the right thing to do?

I am a sinner who deserves to be punished.

Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was using Lillian’s influence to erase my sins.

The dilemma didn’t last long.

Through the carriage window that Lillian had arranged for me, I could see Miranda Grandma’s house slowly coming into view.

Though she appeared indifferent on the outside, Miranda Grandma had a warm heart. She stood at the front door, arms crossed, waiting for me.

“I’m back.”

“You’ve had a hard time. Rest well until tomorrow.”

“Hehe.”

Scratching my head, I glanced inside the cabin’s window.

“Is Luella doing well?”

“That little one? She’s been waiting for you in her room the whole time.”

***

Fortunately, it seemed the letter I left behind had done its job.

As soon as I stepped inside with Miranda Grandma, I headed straight to the room.

A small girl with brown hair sat quietly on the bed.

When she saw me, her eyes widened, and in the next instant, she leaped off the bed and ran toward me.

“Unnie!”

She threw herself into my arms. I gently stroked her hair and murmured softly.

“You don’t have to act when we’re alone.”

Luella gave me a meaningful look, then pointed at the door with her finger.

Her cautious glance suggested she was wary of Miranda Grandma.

“I already told Miranda Grandma that I’m going to sleep right away.”

Only then did Ruella smile in relief. As she lightly touched her fingers together, black mist rose and filled the surroundings.

“Did the wind guide you well on your way?”

A familiar childhood friend’s voice echoed.

“It’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it has, Tina.”

A voice that was almost too peculiar to be human.

But no matter how others might perceive it, to me, it was nothing but a welcome sound.

“Hey… The flower you placed on my head—what was it?”

I stepped a little closer to Ruella as I asked.

“Uh? That, uh…”

She hesitated, her lips moving without forming words, as if something was weighing on her.

It probably wasn’t a flower with any particularly beneficial effects.

“Never mind, forget it.”

There was no real need to hear the answer.

At that, Ruella cautiously observed my reaction before speaking again.

“…Aren’t you curious?”

“You wouldn’t do anything to harm me, anyway, would you?”

“Ah…”

Ruella’s face turned red.

I gave her a playful smile before asking,

“So, what’s your wish?”

On the letter paper, a promise had been written—

If she patiently waited for me here until I returned, I would grant her any wish.

“Hmph… Hehe… Are you sure you won’t regret it?”

“Yeah.”

At my unwavering response, my childhood friend seemed momentarily flustered.

But only for a moment. Soon, she curved her lips into a sinister smile and slowly stepped toward me.

“You realize you won’t be able to live the way you used to, right? And you’re still okay with that?”

“Yeah.”

I knew my childhood friend’s personality well enough that I didn’t hesitate.

“Heh, alright then. Tina, the command I’m going to give you is…”

Before I knew it, she was right in front of me, looking up at me with an almost wicked glint in her eyes.

“Bear my child.”

“…Huh?”

“I wanted to make you do it at least once while you were still capable of pregnancy.”

There were too many things to question. But first, I decided to ask the most pressing one.

“Wait a minute… You want me… to get pregnant? With your child?”

“Yeah. So? Can you still say you’ll grant my wish without hesitation?”

“Uh… Well… You do know that women can’t get each other pregnant, right?”

“Huh?”

For a moment, my childhood friend blinked in confusion.

Then, as if she found the whole situation absurd, she laughed and looked at me smugly.

“Innocent little Tina. So, what are you going to do now? I’ve told you over and over—innocence won’t get you anywhere in this world.”

“…Wait, are you saying that women can get each other pregnant?”

“Of course, you idiot.”

My childhood friend straightened her shoulders proudly.

“Girls can get pregnant just by holding hands and sleeping together.”