Chapter 86: Minor Misconceptions (1)

In Anatolia, dormitory assignments are typically grouped by students of the same nationality.

There’s no particular reason other than it being a tradition.

When the school first opened, dormitories were built for each country, and this system has continued to the present.

From a welfare perspective, grouping students from the same region also helps with their mental and emotional stability.

That was why Lancia could witness the suspicious pile of luggage in front of Isabella’s room when she stepped outside to head to school in the morning.

“Hmm? What is all this?”

Lancia tilted her head, looking at the boxes stacked almost as tall as a person.

The arrival of luggage itself wasn’t unusual.

Recently, the logistics industry had advanced significantly, allowing people to order items from distant regions without visiting workshops.

This service, called ‘delivery,’ operated using teleportation magic circles, making it very expensive, but it was highly popular among the nobility who didn’t mind the cost.

Lancia had also used it a few times and knew how convenient it was.

Still, ordering so many items at once was far from common.

Especially in Anatolia, which boasted the continent’s highest level of convenience facilities.

There was rarely a shortage of necessities.

But such a large bulk order all at once?

“What could they possibly have ordered…?”

Curious, Lancia examined the tags attached to the boxes.

Most of them only had names written on them, but a few had the names of the items listed.

When she checked the contents of those few exceptions, she was struck with immense confusion.

“Baby bottles, formula… diapers? Even prenatal fairy tale books?”

The items piled in front of the room were childcare supplies—clearly meant for a newborn baby.

Of course, Isabella had no need for such things.

She wasn’t married or even engaged yet, so why would she gather baby supplies?

It was as pointless as a child buying adult armor.

“Why would she buy such things…?”

Faced with a list of words overflowing with incongruity, Lancia tilted her head in puzzlement.

And then, in the next moment—

“…….!!”

A certain thought struck Lancia like a bolt of lightning.

A horrifying possibility, so unspeakable that it felt blasphemous to even voice it aloud.

“…….No way, that’s impossible.”

No, it couldn’t be.

She didn’t want to believe it.

Even if the princess was impulsive and lacked restraint, surely she wouldn’t cross such a line so recklessly.

She wasn’t someone unaware of the consequences of irresponsible actions.

Besides, the princess openly showed her affection for the Hero.

There was no way another man could be involved.

“But still… the recipient is clearly listed as Princess Isabella.”

Lancia stared at the pile of boxes, overwhelmed by confusion.

It was far too large an order to be a mistake in delivery.

If it were a prank, it was a disturbing and malicious act that deserved severe punishment.

She needed to find out the truth.

As a fellow Salem noble and the princess’s future sister-in-law, no less.

Quietly, if possible.

“So you came to us? Because it felt awkward to ask her directly, and you wanted to figure out a solution?”

“Yes.”

Lancia nodded.

Her immediate and resolute response made the twins exchange glances, their expressions subtle.

“? Is there something wrong?”

“Well… we understand your concern, but are you sure it’s okay to talk to us so openly about this?

We’re from Sanchina, not Salem. What if rumors spread because of us?”

“Ah…!”

Lancia froze, realizing the gravity of her mistake.

Indeed, carelessly revealing the possibility of such a national-level scandal to outsiders was far from wise.

It could escalate into a major diplomatic issue.

Blushing furiously, Lancia stammered out her excuse.

“I-I mean! Both of you risked your lives to fight the commander in that underground prison, so I thought you were trustworthy…!

I wasn’t thoughtless about this! Really, I wasn’t!”

“Uh-huh, sure.”

Therese decided to let it slide.

Neither she nor Marianne had any intention of spreading such sensitive information anyway.

Besides, it wasn’t confirmed as fact.

“Anyway, the possibility that the princess might be pregnant…”

“As I said, it’s only a possibility. But it’s been bothering me too much to ignore.

What do you two think?”

“Hmm…”

Therese stroked her chin, deep in thought.

There was one piece of evidence supporting the hypothesis and another piece contradicting it.

The supporting evidence was that Isabella’s mood had visibly improved recently.

So much so that even strangers could notice her good spirits.

Moreover, in the past, she used to growl like a cat whenever anyone approached Sion, but lately, she seemed to have developed an inexplicable serenity, allowing outsiders to get closer without much fuss.

When asked why, she would simply brush it off, saying, “It’s nothing, hehe.”

On the other hand, the counter-evidence was Isabella’s obvious affection for Sion.

Lancia might be oblivious, but the twins, well-versed in romance novels and comics, were certain—this was no ordinary sibling bond.

It was genuine love.

It was hard to imagine her crossing such a line with anyone other than Sion.

Not to mention, it wasn’t as if women could have a child together…

“Based on just this, it’s hard to say one way or another, don’t you think?”

“…Indeed.”

Marianne nodded, then suddenly clapped her hands as if struck by an idea.

“Ah, maybe that’s it!”

“What is it?”

“Actually, those baby bottles and diapers could be preparation for role-playing with the Hero.

You know, like regressing into an infant and playing the baby. Lately, mommy-themed concepts have been trending, you know? I’ve even seen it in some new doujinshi.”

“Say something that makes sense, you lunatic…”

Therese pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated.

How could this girl come up with such absurdities time and time again, without ever getting tired of it?

Sometimes, she felt embarrassed to share the same family name.

“Infant regression play…? What’s that?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“???”

Lancia looked at them, her face filled with question marks, but Therese deliberately avoided her gaze.

Clearing her throat, she blatantly changed the subject.

“Anyway, I’ll check out the boxes that were delivered. I think that’s the only way to draw any conclusions for now.

Could you guide me?”

“Of course. Follow me.”

With that, Lancia led the twins to Isabella’s room, hoping to find the scene she had seen that morning still intact.

However—

“…….Huh?”

Arriving at the door, Lancia blinked in surprise.

The boxes, which had been piled high like a mountain just that morning, were nowhere to be seen.

Under the nameplate, the space was empty, just like any other room.

“There’s nothing here.”

“W-What…? What happened? They were definitely here…”

Lancia broke out in a nervous sweat as she scanned the area.

Noticing a cleaning staff member sweeping nearby, she hurriedly approached them.

“Excuse me, I have a question.

Weren’t there a lot of boxes piled up here this morning? Do you happen to know what happened to them?”

“Oh, those?”

The staff glanced between Lancia and the door before replying nonchalantly.

“The delivery service picked them up earlier. Apparently, they were items meant for return.”

“Return…?”

The three exchanged puzzled looks.

It was strange.

Whether the items were for a baby or, as Marianne had speculated, for some kind of roleplay, they would logically have been intended for use.

Rather than solving the mystery, this only made things more perplexing.

“Well, if we think positively,” Therese said, crossing her arms behind her head,

“it just makes it more likely that it was a simple mistake, doesn’t it? Nothing to worry about. Honestly, the idea of that princess sleeping with a man is hard to believe in the first place.”

From a rational standpoint, this explanation made sense.

While delivery mistakes weren’t extremely common, they weren’t unheard of either.

It could just be chalked up to an error in processing the order.

But Marianne added another comment, her expression turning grave.

“No, sis. What if it was a termina—”

“Know your place and what not to say in front of others, little sister.”

Therese shot her a withering glare, clearly annoyed by her audacity.

Lancia tilted her head in confusion.

“Termination? What’s that? Isn’t it the name of a humped animal that lives in the southern desert? Or is it some kind of slang I’m unfamiliar with?”

“…Um, yes, something like that. Just forget about it, Lady Lancia.”

Therese chuckled awkwardly and patted Lancia on the shoulder.

There was no need to shatter her innocence with the truth, especially since Marianne’s suggestion was extremely improbable.

No matter how advanced alchemy-based medicine had become, performing a procedure to remove a fetus during pregnancy was a delicate and brutal process.

The sheer cruelty of it was the real issue. It involved ripping a living being apart from the inside, a procedure deemed an affront to life itself, akin to necromancy.

Some doctors outright refused the surgery, even for exorbitant fees, calling it a desecration of life.

It was impossible to imagine a kind-hearted princess like Isabella, someone who would risk her life to save strangers, ever choosing such a path.

“Frankly, if someone suggested to Princess Isabella that she erase the father, she’d probably beat them up on the spot, don’t you think?”

It was a statement bound to anger any woman who heard it, let alone a princess with little patience.

“True, that does make sense.”

Marianne nodded in agreement.

And so, the three of them returned to school.

While the mystery remained unsolved, they concluded it wasn’t worth worrying about too much.

However—

The moment they arrived at school, they were greeted by an unusually noisy hallway.

“Hmm?”

The corridor was abuzz with commotion, particularly near the path leading to the third-year classrooms, where a crowd had gathered.

“What’s going on here? Did something happen?”

“Seems like it…”

Therese glanced around the crowd before spotting two familiar faces and waving.

“Milla! Lavender!”

“Huh…? Oh, Therese! Where have you been? We’ve been looking all over for you.”

“Sorry~ I had something to take care of elsewhere.”

Therese grinned cheekily, then gestured toward the gathering.

“So, what’s going on? Why’s everyone here?”

“Ah, well—”

The two girls exchanged glances before responding.

“Apparently, the princess suddenly stormed into the third-year classrooms and assaulted Prince Martin. She kept shouting, ‘Bad guy, bad guy,’ while crying and hitting him.

No one knows why, so everyone’s gathered to discuss it.

When people ask them why, both of them just avoid eye contact and refuse to explain anything.”

“………..”

The three friends turned pale simultaneously.