Chapter Text
— Captain… Ah, Countess. — Dargan quickly corrected himself as he approached the young woman with hair as white as snow, a stark contrast to his own dark locks. — We've got a bit of a problem here… Can you help?
The tall knight looked genuinely pleading. His eyes shone through his long bangs, and in his hands, he clutched a uniform that bore a jagged, clearly inconvenient tear from a sword. The fabric was barely holding together—one wrong move, and it would come apart completely.
With a heavy sigh, Deona Hart—the esteemed Countess—took the uniform from his hands, examined the damage, and, without rising from the couch, instructed one of the maids to bring her a sewing kit.
Knights often came to her with such requests. This habit seemed to have started back during the war when the army lacked even the most basic resources. One of the soldiers—more than once, in fact!—had managed to rip his pants, but no one cared about such a trivial matter. You either sewed them up yourself or walked around in rags.
Since Deona had a useful skill, she simply took on the task, explaining that she had taken home economics courses in her youth. Naturally, everyone believed her because of her noble status.
However, in reality, this was a skill acquired in her first life.
Kim Rok Soo—a regular boy with no money, no support, no family. The orphanage he ended up in was in a dire financial state, barely staying afloat. Those deemed promising and obedient might receive a single set of clothes for a year, while the rest had to fend for themselves.
He was lucky—a kind caretaker, who didn’t stay long at the orphanage, left behind a few belongings, and Kim Rok Soo managed to snatch some sewing supplies. That’s when he began learning on his own—through pain and countless mistakes. Needles pierced his fingers countless times, threads snapped, but in the end, he learned.
This skill not only allowed him to patch up his own clothes but also helped him earn a little money. He was no great tailor, but even this kind of work was enough to keep him from starving.
Over time, the skill proved useful in his adult life as well. How many times had he stitched up Jung Soo’s uniform while the guy loudly complained in his ear? Probably no less than a hundred.
Later, it even saved lives. On raids, when monsters tore people apart, someone had to stitch up their wounds quickly to stop them from bleeding out. He didn’t have much medical knowledge, but if a surgical needle and thread were on hand… Well, the outcome of his actions was clear.
Deona could work without specialized tools. Tweezers? The risk of infection? Well… That was for the medics to worry about. If someone couldn't be saved from blood loss, then no amount of sterility would help.
She mechanically moved the needle through the fabric, mending the tear, while her thoughts drifted to the past.
If we talk about Earth One… How was Kim Rok Soo? How was Jur? Were they safe? Had an unranked monster attacked them?
But no. She cut off those thoughts just as she snipped off the excess thread. The scissors were placed on the coffee table, while the brunette beside her openly stared at her work. Behind him, several others stood, holding torn fabric in their hands without a hint of remorse.
On the contrary, some of them were grinning from ear to ear, as if they had done it on purpose. However, with her head lowered, the young woman couldn’t see their expressions, too focused on the needle and lost in thought.
That life was long gone. There was nothing left for her in that past reality. (For those who didn’t understand, this refers to the main fanfic. There, you can find out what happened.)
Right now, she was Deona Hart. And her main task was to sew this damn uniform!
°°°
— The Honorary Countess must be into women. — With this statement, Princess Allethia shattered the morning peace of the garden.
— Kha…! — Elphidius nearly choked on his tea, coughing as he grabbed a napkin to save his clothes from stray drops. — W-what?
— Oh, think about it. — Allethia crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back in her chair. — Wherever she goes, she’s always surrounded by men. Handsome, strong, noble men… Yet she doesn’t spare them a single glance!
— But, Allethia…
— Your plan was doomed from the start! — She abruptly leaned forward, locking eyes with her brother as if she had uncovered a grand secret. Elphidius hastily leaned back, still coughing, unable to remind her that the plan had originally been her idea, not his. — I should be the one to conquer her heart!
— I think you’re mistaken… — He muttered, attempting to reason with his sister.
— No, it’s the truth! Just use your brain for a moment! — The princess smirked. — No matter how many young aristocrats proposed to her, no matter how many suitors circled around her at balls… — She made a dramatic pause, then pointed a finger at the air in front of him. — The Countess remained unshaken!
— Well… — Elphidius furrowed his brows, recalling the countless times he had tried to gain Deona’s attention. — Maybe…?
How many hours had he spent rehearsing confessions in front of a mirror? How many letters had he sent, carefully choosing every word? How many times had his efforts shattered against her cold yet polite indifference?
Every conversation with the Countess turned into a formal, businesslike exchange instead of the lighthearted flirtation he had hoped for. Every response she sent was brief, to the point, and nothing like what he had longed for. The flowers he sent bore no fruit, his compliments fell into the void.
Or so he thought.
How could he have known that her brother burned his letters? That the knights surrounding the young Countess trampled his flowers before they could ever reach her? That her replies were penned not by her, but by her butler?
How could he have realized that Deona, the most breathtaking lady in the empire, had never once experienced genuine flirtation… and simply failed to recognize his blatant advances?
He wasn’t ready to know this yet. Let him remain in the dark for now, just like all the other suitors. Perhaps being born a prince had been his salvation—because if he had been anyone else, his corpse would have been found after the very first letter, and the culprit would remain forever unknown.
What if Allethia was right?
He set his cup down, glancing at his sister, waiting for her to unveil her latest plan to claim the Countess’s heart and hand.
°°°
— This… — Cruel paused at the doorway, his gaze involuntarily lingering on the flowers in the princess’s hands. He had come to visit his younger sister, hoping for a conversation, but it seemed he wasn’t the only one who had chosen this time for a visit.
— Greetings, Sir Cruel. — Allatei greeted him cheerfully, scanning the reception hall until her golden pupils locked onto her true target.
The servants opened the doors, allowing the mistress of the estate to enter. She stepped inside with the grace befitting a royal ball. A noble lady and the Empire’s Third Hero—Deona Hart.
Her unusually colored hair cascaded freely down her back, falling in soft waves over her shoulders. A pale hand elegantly swept the strands aside, revealing her deep crimson eyes, as mesmerizing as ever. At first glance, her outfit seemed simple, yet it fit her as though crafted for the finest runway.
A loose blouse, cinched at the waist with a light corset, accentuated her slender figure without restricting her movements. Dark trousers, tailored in an unusual fashion, added to the elegance of her silhouette.
— You’re here! — The princess exclaimed excitedly, springing to her feet. She immediately held out the bouquet to Deona.
Scarlet and snow-white lilies complemented the Countess’s image perfectly—graceful, untouchable, enchanting. These flowers symbolized purity, elegance, beauty, and luxury. A fitting tribute to such a magnificent lady.
In Allatei’s opinion, she understood flowers far better than her brother. However, there was one thing she had overlooked.
Lilies carried another meaning.
In ancient Egyptian culture—something Deona was well familiar with from her previous world—they were linked to death. Fragile, cold-looking blossoms that withered quickly, associated with untimely demise.
Death. What a curious coincidence.
— It has been a while, Countess. — The blonde spoke with a smile, while Deona accepted the flowers without a change in expression. — I stopped by to bring you this bouquet. They were grown and gathered especially for today.
— And what occasion warrants such a gesture, Your Highness? — Deona arched a delicate brow, not particularly eager to dwell on the deathly symbolism.
— A gesture of congratulations, of course! You won the hunting tournament and claimed first place! — And now, onto the real topic, the princess thought as she carefully transitioned to the true reason she had spent hours pestering the best florist in the capital. — Since you have risen to an even higher status… — She continued, doing her best to appear casual. — I would love to hear your opinion on an important political matter.
— Ah… — Snapping back to the present, Deona immediately recognized the scene she had stumbled into. So my gender swap is actually affecting the plot? — And what exactly would that be? — Already knowing what was coming, the albino mentally started counting down.
Three.
Two.
One.
— What if same-sex marriage were legalized?
Den, standing nearby, and the princess’s personal knight both stared at her as if she had uttered something otherworldly.
"As expected." Deona let out a small sigh.
Sitting beside his sister, Cruel remained expressionless, though the fact that he had completely frozen spoke volumes. The news had made him forget entirely about his original reason for coming—the matter of the Demon Realm.
°°°
What Happened Earlier in the Demon Realm.
— I would like to… — A letter fell onto the desk, a short resignation statement written on it in hopes of being approved and signed. — Submit my resignation.
The girl who said this fell silent, watching the reaction of the man whose desk had just been given this piece of paper. He sat there, staring blankly at the writing before a surge of magic began to radiate from his body.
— …What did you say? — The force of the released magic sent all the documents flying, creating a small mess. — How dare you… try to leave me..?
The dark-haired man lunged toward the girl, dropping to the floor before her and wrapping his arms around her legs. Suddenly, the oppressive pressure in the room vanished, followed by the man’s frantic outburst.
— No! Never! I won’t let you go! — The Demon King, now humiliatingly clutching the albino’s knees, lifted his head and started rambling. — You’re not serious, right?! Why would you do this all of a sudden?
It couldn’t be…
His strongest card, his literal joker! The one who possessed undeniable strength unrelated to demon magic. A power that could not be attained even through sheer effort…
Her intellect surpassed that of many advisors and strategists. Even the aura she exuded…
She was his greatest ally, the first person in centuries who truly intrigued him.
So who had the audacity to approach her?! Which fool decided to test their luck?!
Could it be that she was discriminated against while he wasn’t around? Or had she grown tired of his presence and decided to leave him? Was she abandoning him?!
— My subordinates have done nothing wrong. — Before the Demon King could say anything else, Deona preemptively answered the unspoken question. — And I am treated well.
— Then what..? — Cavert couldn’t grasp her thoughts. The albino’s face was always unreadable, betraying not a hint of the emotions she truly felt. Many theories swirled in his mind, but her next action only deepened his confusion.
— It’s… — Deona hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. But seeing Cavert staring at her, tense, bracing for whatever fate had in store, she sighed.
Her gaze dropped. A dull twist of hunger coiled in her stomach.
Obzhor had warned her to eat before coming. She should’ve listened. She should’ve eaten after that recent expedition, where she had drawn upon ancient forces.
And on top of that, with these past few days…
Ugh… Again.
— Hurts… — As if on cue, she absently ran a hand over her lower abdomen, trying to soothe the discomfort.
Something clicked in Cavert’s mind at that moment.
His eyes widened, and the remaining magic lingering in the air suddenly dissipated, replaced by an entirely different emotion.
— You… — His voice wavered. At the thought of it… everything suddenly made sense.
Of course.
She wouldn’t just decide to leave for no reason. She wasn’t the type to abandon what she started.
And if that was the case… it meant she had a reason. A very important reason.
He shot up to his feet so fast that his chair crashed to the ground with a loud bang.
— Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! — His face was a mixture of shock, excitement, and a strange blend of fear and fury.
— What are you—… — Deona frowned as he cut her off before she could explain her actual reason for resigning.
— Is this why you want to leave?! — Cavert pressed on, barely listening to her. — I… I told you that you could rely on me! Do I look like someone who would abandon you in a moment like this?! I-I’ll handle everything! Just tell me what you need!
He was so serious, so earnest, that she didn’t immediately grasp what he was getting at.
— I… just need some rest? — She said, frowning uncertainly.
— Rest? Yes, that makes perfect sense! — Cavert nodded as if confirming something to himself. — We need to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. I’ll order the best accommodations immediately!
Before she could even blink, he was already calculating something in his mind, coming up with plans on the spot.
— I’ll gather the best healers! Though… demons don’t know much about this, but still… — He tapped his lips thoughtfully. — I need to find out what kind of complications might arise.
— Complications? — She echoed, still not understanding where this was going.
— And of course, I need to inform the corps commanders! No, wait, I should keep it secret! At least for now… It’s too early!
— Keep what secret..?
But Cavert was already too deep in his thoughts. He was practically glowing with the realization of something incredibly important to him.
— This is the first case in all of history! The first known occurrence of— (Bro thinks Deona is pregnant with a half-blood. But is she really?) — He abruptly stopped himself, shaking his head. — Doesn’t matter! This isn’t even up for discussion!
— Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. — He turned back to Deona, his face filled with a mix of excitement and determination.
— …Alright? — Deona blinked in confusion but, deciding now wasn’t the time to dig into details, simply nodded.
Cavert nodded back, already lost in feverish planning.
Meanwhile, Deona quietly left his office, unaware that their conversation had just shifted into an entirely different realm of understanding.
Well, not that she cared much.
The important thing was that she was finally getting some rest for once.
A lazy life, here she comes!
°°°
That evening, a meeting was held, but Deona was not invited, with the excuse that she needed rest. She didn’t mind, and no one was going to drag her out of her room. Perfect!
At the same time, the division commanders were displeased with the sudden gathering. Things had been improving ever since Deona's arrival, so why were they summoned here?
The Demon King sat at the head of the table, looking both anxious and unusually composed. That alone was a troubling sign. Cavert rarely showed such seriousness unless it involved wars or Heroes.
"I'm glad you all made it, though some couldn't attend for certain reasons..." His gaze drifted toward the empty seats of the second, sixth, and eleventh division commanders. "Let's not beat around the bush. I've gathered you here to discuss something extremely important."
"Did something happen?" Jaykar was the first to speak, studying the Demon King intently. The others exchanged glances, waiting for an answer.
"No, no, everything is fine! Even better than you think!" Cavert grinned, but his expression betrayed the struggle to contain his emotions.
"Then why are we here?" Asild grumbled, crossing his arms. He could have been training instead of sitting here, waiting for who knows what. He had planned to spar with the strongest warrior in the Demon Realm today!
"Oh, it's very important." The Demon King stood up, looking at them with an unusual excitement. "Deona..."
The commanders tensed.
"What about the commander of the Zero Squad?" Edellia asked cautiously, idly twirling her fan.
"She’s resting," Cavert nodded, as if convincing himself that everything was going as planned. "And she should be resting!"
"Logical," Oell murmured but then added, "Although that’s strange. Deona didn’t look tired."
"Exactly!" Ririnel suddenly exclaimed, clenching her fists. "She’s our strongest ally! Why isn’t she here?"
"Because she needs rest," Cavert said firmly, his own hands clenching into fists.
"Is she injured?" Jaykar frowned.
"No."
"Was she attacked?"
"No."
"Then what?!" Asild snapped, losing patience with the King's cryptic answers.
"She..." Cavert took a deep breath and finally said it. "She's pregnant."
.
.
.
Dead silence.
The air in the room seemed to freeze. Someone choked on nothing. Someone dropped a Rubik’s cube they had planned to gift the supposed birthday girl of this gathering—who, of course, wasn’t here.
"HOW?!" Ririnel shot to her feet, her eyes burning with the excitement of a fangirl seeing her idol on stage.
"W-what…?" Edellia snapped her fan shut, her lips trembling for all to see—but no one was paying attention.
"Oh, demons…" Jaykar covered his face with his hands.
"Deona is pregnant?!" Asild repeated dumbly, staring at the Demon King.
"Yes," Cavert confirmed proudly.
"How does she have a child?" Oell blurted out before Dernivan, her second-in-command, swiftly clamped a hand over her mouth, preventing the others from hearing.
Chaos erupted in the hall.
"But that’s not—"
"How is this possible?!"
"W-who then…?"
"Who dared?!"
"What a bizarre turn of events..."
"I need to see her!" Ririnel made a move to rush out, but Cavert stopped her with a gesture.
"No. No disturbances. She must rest."
"But—"
"No buts! This is the first case of its kind! No one is to disturb her."
"We need to conduct research!"
"Oh, the Tree... Does this mean… Another problem?"
"Deona… a mother?.."
"WHO IS THE FATHER?!"
The question seemed to snap everyone out of their initial shock, and the room fell silent once more.
"Uh…" Cavert, too, was momentarily stunned, only now realizing that, for humans, conception usually required a second parent.
Though he had never been particularly interested in such matters, he at least understood the basics of human biology.
"You don’t mean to say…" Jaykar gave him a sharp look. The others followed suit, all eyes now fixed on the brunette.
"You?!" Ririnel’s eyes widened in realization.
"What?!" Edellia covered her mouth with her hand.
"Oh my." The fifth division commander also voiced her shock, though not as loudly as the others.
"Wait!" Cavert tried to intervene, but no one was listening. The room descended into panic once more.
"So this means—"
"They—"
"They were together?!"
"I'm not ready for this revelation!"
"Wait, is this why you’re so close?! Are you really that close, Your Majesty?!"
"I'm in shock."
Meanwhile, Deona peacefully slept in her chambers, completely unaware that utter chaos was unfolding in the palace. As always, she had stirred up trouble and then dozed off, leaving others to deal with the consequences.