chapter 26: A Room to Rest

chapter 26: A Room to Rest

"Here, take this key. You will be the temporary owner of one of the dorm rooms. You can rest there now."

"Thank you."

The weary old guard handed me the key and prepared to leave in a hurry. Before he went, he turned to us politely.

"Then I shall take my leave. The village head has been managing more residents for quite some time, so guiding them to their new homes can be tiring, especially through the night."

After bowing to us, he left without another word.

He seemed in a rush, and I could understand why.

The place was bustling with activity, and my pregnancy was the only reason we had been allowed in without difficulty, stirring both pity and understanding from the guards and villagers.

The village head also appeared kind, his persuasive words calming the people and encouraging their cooperation.

I had listened to his long speech earlier and could see the reasoning behind his plans.

Everything he said seemed reasonable.

"Lynn, let us open it. I am tired, and I will sleep after this."

"Yes, leave it to me."

"Hm."

I nodded, and she began unlocking the door.

Inside, we found a simple room with one bed and two wooden couches near the window. A small kitchen stood nearby, furnished with a table and wooden chairs.

Everything was old, the planks beneath our feet marked with small holes from age, but that was no concern to me.

Having a roof over my head felt like a miracle compared to the cold nights outside, where we would have been forced to camp without proper equipment.

This was a blessing, especially while carrying a restless child in my belly. All of this was thanks to my maid, Lynn, who had discovered the village.

If we had not found this place while fleeing, we would have been forced to sleep in the thick forest with no shelter, no bed, and no comfort, struggling even to close our eyes.

The thought alone made me certain I would never have been able to rest. I looked at her with quiet gratitude.

"Lynn, thank you for accompanying me through everything."

She was arranging the bed and glanced back at me, her tied black hair swaying slightly.

Her expression did not change.

"Do not worry, young miss. This is part of my duties, so please refrain from such gestures."

"But still, I am grateful. I want you to accept my thanks."

I lowered my head, as if saddened that she would not accept it.

In truth, I could not summon a genuine expression of gratitude, so I relied on a believable gesture instead.

"I am grateful, young miss, but—"

"Sniff..."

"Hm...?"

I could not see her face clearly, but her silence told me I had shaken her.

I wondered why. If she believed my false gratitude, she might lower her guard.

I waited, and then she suddenly said, "Young miss, I take back what I said. I will accept your gratitude, so please refrain from crying."

She was about to lift my shoulders so I would face her, but she froze and stared at me in disbelief when she saw my smile, as if nothing had happened.

"Thank goodness. I am glad you are not angry with me for accompanying me all this time. Thank you, Lynn."

"Y-Yes... not at all."

She looked speechless.

I could tell she was trying to comprehend whether I was truly naive or merely pretending.

After caring for me for many weeks, she must have noticed that many of my gestures and expressions were an act.

I likely appeared lazy, kindhearted, and naive, but that was far from the truth.

I had hinted at my real nature many times, even before arriving here. With her years of experience as an old monster herself, I was sure she could piece it together. I trusted she would cooperate with me without question from now on.

"Then I will sleep now. I am quite tired."

"Yes, please do."

I walked slowly to the bed, supporting my belly with both hands.

With Lynn’s help, I settled into a comfortable position.

"Thank you, Lynn."

"You are welcome, young miss."

She returned to her tireless cleaning while I let my thoughts wander toward the future.

The village head’s speech earlier had reassured me that our financial difficulties would be eased, at least for a time.

He said we could stay in the dorms for free and laid out rules to maintain order.

Although his rules were too weak to be called laws, I understood his real intention.

Once everyone had settled, work would begin. It would be presented as an opportunity, but in reality, it would quietly bind us to the village.

The free lodging would turn into debt, repaid through labor. Taxes would follow, leaving just enough for food. If the rules kept others tethered here, it would also keep trouble from wandering in too easily.

That worked in my favor.

It was so gradual and reasonable that no one would notice the trap until it had already closed.

I did not mind. I had no intention of staying forever.

My earlier declaration of becoming a permanent citizen was nothing more than a cover to secure this place as a safe shelter where I could give birth unnoticed.

My second goal was to grow stronger, free from the distractions of the world.

The plan sounded simple, but the execution would be difficult.

Childbirth itself was a gamble, with a fifty percent chance of failure. Another risk was the possible return of the baron who governed this land.

Although I had not yet seen any nobles here, I knew how dangerous high-ranking individuals could be.

When I eventually discovered their true nature, I could act accordingly.

For now, I needed rest.

My thoughts softened, my vision dimmed, and the intricate web of my plans dissolved into quiet darkness.

The air was still, and the room lay silent. I allowed myself to sink into sleep, feeling the fragile warmth of safety wrap around me.

The night passed in silence, and morning arrived without event.

I woke with messy hair and blurred vision. My eyes stung as I rubbed them, and the first thing I noticed was the soft, scattered remnants of raindrops on the roof.

The storm had passed, leaving the world washed and quiet.

My stomach twisted sharply. Hunger gnawed at me, and a wave of nausea made my limbs feel heavy. I tried to move, but my body resisted, sluggish and uncooperative without Lynn’s magic.

"Lynn..." I called out, my voice trembling slightly.

Could it be that her buff had worn off?

A sense of urgency prickled through me. My bladder ached, my stomach churned, and the need to relieve myself pressed painfully against my body.

I could not even stand.

The thought of waiting any longer made me wince.

"Lynn!"

There was no choice. I had to call her. My pride did not allow for another option.

I raised my voice until I heard her calm reply.

"I am coming, young miss."

"Faster, Lynn. I cannot hold it any longer."

"Right away, young miss."

Moments later, she appeared, expressionless as ever, carrying a tray with bread and a steaming bowl of soup.

Her movements were precise, almost ritualistic. She placed the meal on the table and came to my side without a word.

"Do you want me to help you urinate, young miss?" she asked, her tone neutral but patient.

"No. I cannot do it with someone beside me," I said firmly, my cheeks heating.

"Okay. Then what should I do?"

"Just use the usual... the power that helped me before."

My calm tone seemed to catch her off guard for a moment.

She had cast her adaptive magic on me many times, shielding my body from wind, easing fatigue, and enhancing my strength.

She had never thought I would notice its full effect, but now I relied on it desperately.

"Young miss, using my adaptive skill will not last long in your current state. It will only help for a few seconds," she warned.

"Do it anyway. I cannot hold it. My urine is leaking."

Her eyebrows lifted slightly, a silent question forming, but she sensed the urgency.

She raised her fingers, and a soft white orb of power glowed between them. She pressed it to my forehead, and warmth flooded my body.

Every ache, every tension, every lingering nausea dissolved instantly.

My muscles relaxed, my headache vanished, my appetite returned, and even the urge to vomit faded as if it had never existed.

"Ah... thank you, Lynn. I will take my leave now."

"Yes."

I moved quickly into the small bathroom, the warmth of her magic steadying me.

Relief came within seconds.

I returned, washing my hands with water produced through my own magic. There was no sink or running water here, but it felt surprisingly efficient and clean.

"I'm back!" I said, the tension in my body already easing.

"Good. Here, young miss. Sit. I will serve you warm soup."

"Ah... yes, please."

The meal was simple, but its warmth settled into my chest like comfort.

Each sip of soup soothed my hunger and warmed my chest, while the soft bread filled the empty hollow inside me.

The world felt quiet and safe, cocooned in the intimacy of this small room.

As I ate, I asked, "Lynn, where did you get this?"

"You mean the soup and bread?"

"Yes."

"It was free, so I took some for you. You need it to nourish yourself."

"Thank you, Lynn."

I understood immediately.

The village head’s plan was already in motion. Free meals, subtle gestures of care, creating gratitude and loyalty.

Soon, designated jobs would arrive, slowly binding everyone to the village through work and obligation. The strategy was invisible but brilliant.

If he lived in the modern world, he would be a skilled politician.

I nodded slightly to myself, satisfied, and continued eating.

After finishing, I returned to my bed. Lynn settled on the wooden couch, silently waiting. I needed nothing but rest.

My body craved recovery, and I surrendered to it completely.

Hours passed.

Sleep embraced me again, uninterrupted, until the morning quietly shifted into night.

When I opened my eyes, a familiar, delicate scent of flowers filled the air, soft and intoxicating. Before me, a white-haired woman in flowing robes sat at the edge of the bed. Her eyes were wide with concern, her long lashes sharply flicking toward me, her gaze full of longing and worry.

"Nerine, dear, are you okay?"

She was my current mother on paper. She had appeared suddenly, her every motion brimming with concern as if I were her own child.

I did not know what time it was, but I knew this visit would not be brief.