Chapter 26: Pregnant?

"May I come in?"

A soft knock echoed against the wooden door of the inn room. Cherry, who was tidying up her appearance in front of a small mirror, slowly rolled her eyes. It had been two days since the bloody incident in the southern village.

For the time being, Kael had been forced to keep himself busy helping restore order in the surrounding settlements and dealing with other urgent matters alongside Johan. But what puzzled Cherry was... why had Lizzy suddenly come to her room?

Although Cherry liked Kael and had honestly experienced a tremendous bout of jealousy, she was a woman who firmly upheld her own honor. She would never resort to underhanded tactics to steal a man who was already married.

"Come in, Lizzy," Cherry replied casually as she set down her wooden comb.

The wooden door slowly opened. Lizzy stepped inside wearing a long, thick brown dress, her white hair neatly tied back.

However, what left Cherry stunned was the expression on the woman’s face. Her cheeks and eyes seemed clouded by overwhelming worry, restrained despair, and a hint of unfamiliar fear.

Cherry raised an eyebrow, genuinely bewildered by the sight before her. It was unusual for Lizzy, who was normally so fierce, possessive, and terrifying, to act this vulnerable. What on earth was going on?

"Is there something you want to talk to me about?" Cherry asked softly, adjusting her posture.

"Yes..." Lizzy’s voice sounded slightly shaky as she clasped her fingers tightly together in front of her chest. "I... I want to ask you for some advice. This... this really concerns my future!"

Lizzy’s voice was filled with genuine fear. Seeing the pure panic reflected in the woman’s eyes, Cherry unconsciously let out a long sigh.

"Your future?" Cherry slowly shook her head. "In that case... sit down first and tell me about it."

Lizzy seemed a little calmer upon hearing Cherry’s response. At least she wasn’t being turned away. The two women then sat facing each other on two wooden chairs beside a small table near the room’s window.

Lizzy looked utterly confused about where to begin. Slowly but surely, a blush spread across her face, a mixture of profound embarrassment and the sorrow gnawing at her heart.

Seeing that expression, Cherry’s curiosity grew even stronger. "Could something be wrong between the two of them? But that doesn’t seem possible... Kael loves her dearly."

Cherry let out a heavy breath before rising from her seat.

"Wait a moment. Perhaps a cup of hot chocolate will help ease your nerves a little."

Cherry walked over to the small stove in the corner of the room, prepared two cups of rich, hot chocolate, and placed one in front of Lizzy. The two of them sipped their warm, sweet drinks in silence for a moment.

The warmth flowing down her throat gradually eased the tension in Lizzy’s nerves. She took a deep breath, finally allowing her defenses to crumble.

For the first time, aside from when she had spoken to Kael, she began telling someone about her origins, the dark story of her past, her unexpected encounter with Kael, and even her real age.

Cherry listened to every detail with wide, astonished eyes. She had never expected that the beginning of their relationship had involved Kael buying Lizzy while she was disguised as a slave.

"I never expected you to be a former assassin..." Cherry murmured, nodding in understanding. "But then again... no wonder your combat movements are so experienced and merciless. I saw with my own eyes how brutally you slaughtered those sorcerers."

Cherry carefully studied Lizzy’s face before continuing.

"You’re already forty years old... while Kael is only twenty-five, the same age as me. There’s a huge age gap between the two of you! Is Kael really the type of man who likes women much older than him? No wonder he never showed any interest in me back then..."

Cherry looked at Lizzy again, her expression turning serious.

"So... why are you suddenly telling me all these personal things, Lizzy? There must be something specific you want from me, right? If you’ve come here to ask me to stay away from Kael... honestly, I can’t completely disappear from his life. We’ve known each other for a long time and have grown quite close as companions. But don’t worry. Since he’s already officially married, I know where the boundaries are, and I won’t behave the way I used to. I have absolutely no intention of ruining your relationship."

Lizzy clasped her hands even tighter until her knuckles turned white. The discomfort and turmoil churning inside her made her eyes begin to glisten with tears. Her face grew increasingly red with overwhelming embarrassment.

"A-actually..." Lizzy’s voice came out faintly, almost drowned out by the breeze blowing outside the window. "I... I want to ask you something about this..."

"Huh? Just say it. Don’t hesitate," Cherry encouraged her, her curiosity reaching its peak as she watched Lizzy struggle to find the courage to speak.

Lizzy looked straight into Cherry’s eyes without turning away. Her eyes trembled violently, revealing deep despair and an overwhelming sense of inferiority.

"Do you think... at my age, when I’m already so old... there’s still a chance that I could get pregnant and give him a child?"

The question slipped innocently from Lizzy’s lips. Her face burned bright red with intense embarrassment, yet the sorrow reflected in her eyes was painfully real.

Cherry was utterly stunned in her seat.

Pregnant?!

She sat completely frozen for several moments, trying to process and make sense of the words that had just come out of the former assassin’s mouth.

"P-pregnant?!" Cherry stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "D-do you mean... the two of you have already...?"

"Yes..." Lizzy interrupted quickly, lowering her head deeply to hide her flushed face. "When we were still living in the cabin... we did it. It... it was my first time, and it was such a beautiful, unforgettable experience."

Lizzy’s voice gradually grew softer, turning into a hoarse whisper heavy with sorrow.

"But... ever since I met you and saw you in person..." Lizzy bit her lower lip tightly, unable to stop a clear tear from falling onto her trembling hands on the table. "I... I’ve become terribly afraid and anxious, Cherry. You’re still so young, far more beautiful, your body is whole, and of course... you’re much more fertile than I am. And what about me? I’m just an old woman."

Cherry was stunned.

At that very moment, every mystery in her mind was finally resolved. She now understood the source of the intense anxiety and irrational fear that had been tormenting Lizzy for the past two days.

The white-haired woman sitting before her wasn’t simply feeling jealous. She was consumed by a terrifying fear that Kael might one day leave her or turn to another, younger woman simply because of the question of bloodlines and children.

Seeing Lizzy, who was usually so fierce, domineering, and frightening, now sitting with her head bowed and sobbing like a little girl terrified of losing her protector, Cherry suddenly felt a pang of sympathy in her chest. A strange mixture of amusement and pity welled up inside her.

Cherry let out a soft sigh, then took a sip of her hot chocolate to hide her faint smile.

"Hmm... you do have a point," Cherry teased in an intentionally composed manner. "I really am much younger than you, much prettier, and of course... my chances of getting pregnant are much higher than yours."

Hearing Cherry suddenly praise herself in the middle of her despair, Lizzy’s sorrowful expression froze instantly. Her face darkened, her teeth clenched in irritation, and her eyes glared sharply at Cherry.

However, before Lizzy’s fury could erupt completely, Cherry leaned back in her chair and smiled warmly, showing a genuine smile that she rarely displayed.

"But... don’t dwell too much on bad things that might never happen, Lizzy," Cherry said gently, her gaze softening. "I’m absolutely certain... there’s always going to be a chance for you. You’re not too old to give it a try... Grandma!"

"W-what?!"

Lizzy’s entire body instantly stiffened. The word ’Grandma’ coming out of Cherry’s mouth sent a jolt of electricity through her brain.

"G-Grandma...?!" Lizzy snapped, her voice rising several octaves.

The sorrow that had filled the room moments ago instantly evaporated, replaced by a blazing red flush of explosive anger!

"How dare you call me Grandma, you wretched woman!" Lizzy shrieked as she sprang to her feet, drawing her dagger with a furious glint in her eyes.

"Hahaha! What’s wrong with that?! You’re already old enough to be called a grandma!" Cherry burst into teasing laughter, quickly jumping backward and drawing her sword.

In an instant, the silence of the room was shattered by the familiar scene of bickering and fighting between the two women, burning away Lizzy’s despair and replacing it with the noisy squabbling of a pair who could never seem to get along.