I Became the Maid of the Lout Prince-Chapter 500: Pregnancy (2)

After spending three days in Ironhold, Ethan had concluded that there was nothing more to gain from staying here.

It was practically certain that Lilith had moved on to another town. The ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) only thing left was to gather any remaining information on where exactly she might have gone.

During those three days, Ethan uncovered a single lead: information about the “priestess Mirif,” the last person who had been in a party with “Assassin Lily.”

‘Since Ironhold has no other religious institutions apart from the Aurelia Church, she’s likely a priestess affiliated with them. This woman might even know Lilith’s last whereabouts.’

Not wanting to arouse suspicion by visiting in his full Blackwood attire, Ethan disguised his occupation and visited the Aurelia Church, only to receive a somewhat surprising response from the head priest.

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“You’re saying Priestess Mirif has gone to another branch?”

“Yes. Sister Mirif was reassigned to another branch over two weeks ago.”

“I see... I had hoped to thank her personally for her help...”

Religious people generally find it hard to ignore the emotions of others.

Their duty is to heal and care for those who are hurt or in pain, so they cannot easily leave a troubled person behind. Ethan, well aware of this due to the presence of the Aurelia Church in Blackwood territory, knew what to expect.

“If it’s alright, could you possibly tell me where Sister Mirif was sent?”

“...I don’t mind, but are you sure it’s okay to share that information?”

“Yes. She didn’t go very far, after all. It wouldn’t be right to turn away someone who’s come from a distance just to express their gratitude to her.”

With a steady, composed act, Ethan learned that Mirif’s new location was the trade city of Ermia.

Disguising himself as a commoner who could hardly take down a single goblin without a priest’s help was nothing if it meant finding Lilith.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Trade City Ermia.

It was a nearby city, just half a day’s journey from Ironhold.

After an hour in town, Ethan’s first impression was, “This is not a place to stay for long.”

The overcrowded population, the expressions of fatigue etched on every face, and the absurd cost of 50 silver for a single night at an inn made this place nearly unbearable.

If Lilith had intended to settle down anywhere for long, it certainly wouldn’t be Ermia.

‘Maybe I’ve been heading in the wrong direction from the start.’

If she’d left, she would’ve gone to another town with reasonable living costs and consistent job opportunities, like Ironhold.

The idea that she’d relocate just to follow a low-ranking priest she met for a single day might have been nothing more than wishful thinking on his part.

Thinking of Lilith’s tendency to get involved with people she barely knew, he realized that his thinking might have been overly influenced by that memory.

‘But I might as well check the adventurers’ guild while I’m here.’

There was an adventurers’ guild even in this overpriced town, and it wouldn’t hurt to confirm that she hadn’t passed through. With that thought, Ethan visited the guild without high expectations.

“Looks like Lily isn’t here today. She’s one of the few adventurers who heads out in the daytime.”

“She usually comes every other day, doesn’t she? She’ll probably be back tomorrow or the day after.”

Overhearing the guild receptionists’ casual conversation, Ethan found a reason to stay longer in Ermia.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

The staff at the Ermia Adventurers’ Guild had far more professional pride than those at Ironhold.

Perhaps it was because living in such a high-cost city made it hard to get by without a decent job. When Ethan offered 20 gold coins in exchange for information on “Assassin Lily,” the guildmaster responded with a stern warning: “If you continue to trouble our staff, we’ll have to bar your entry.”

It was an improvement over the Ironhold guildmaster, who regarded the lives of low-ranking adventurers as disposable. But either way, Ethan’s search for Lilith’s trail had to slow down.

‘This is costing me more than expected. I didn’t bring much travel money, thinking I’d be back soon....’

In Ermia, even just sleeping for two nights drained one gold coin.

It wasn’t easy to camp outside the city walls either, with carriages coming in and out even at midnight. Most camping spots were already claimed by adventurers living in Ermia.

Some even traded prime camping spots by the city wall for cash.

Female adventurers who couldn’t afford it had turned to side jobs as prostitutes—truly fitting for a “trade city” in more ways than one.

‘I hope this place hasn’t negatively influenced Lilith.’

Ethan trusted Lilith’s strong-minded commitment to chastity, but even he couldn’t deny that this wasn’t an ideal place for her to stay.

He believed that the best thing he could do was find her and take her away from this city as quickly as possible, even if he wasn’t entirely certain that the “Assassin Lily” here was truly his Lilith.

With that faint possibility, he’d stayed in Ermia for about a week, hoping she might still be around.

“Assassin Lily...? Come to think of it, I heard that name mentioned once when I went out during the day...”

“...Could you tell me more? If it’s the person I’m looking for, I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”

Ethan realized that, unlike the diligent guild employees, the impoverished adventurers were surprisingly willing to share information.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

“You said you’ve seen someone called ‘Assassin Lily’?”

...Unbelievable.

Am I dreaming right now?

Not only was someone here who absolutely shouldn’t be, but he was even going around questioning adventurers about me, using my alias.

Up until last night, I’d wanted to see that face of his so badly, but meeting him like this brought more shock than joy.

‘Isn’t it the middle of the school term...?’

Did he skip?

No, considering the distance between Ermia and Knowledge Island, it wasn’t just a matter of cutting classes... he must’ve given up on attending altogether, much like I had.

‘I left just before classes started to give him time to adjust, but this messes everything up....’

The original plan was for me to escape the Blackwood estate and force Ethan to focus on his academy studies.

After all, the rules at Luminoir Academy required that any leave of absence be submitted at the end of the previous term. Barring unavoidable personal circumstances like territorial disputes or family feuds, personal reasons weren’t accepted for taking a leave of absence.

So Ethan was giving up his graduation to chase after me...

“......”

To be honest, it made me a little happy.

His actions made it feel like I meant more to him than some diploma.

Part of me wanted to run out of the alley and shamelessly strike up a conversation with him...

‘But if I get caught this time, he definitely won’t let it go.’

I wasn’t exaggerating—I might come face to face with the Ethan I’d seen in that dream. He’d leash me and force me to eat off the floor like a dog or make me roam the fourth floor of the mansion naked.

“......Ugh.”

If he really wanted, maybe I’d indulge him once, but if I went back now, it wouldn’t end at just once.

Moreover, there was a more pressing reason why I couldn’t let Ethan see me right now.

‘I can’t let him find out that I’m pregnant.’

It’s only been a month, so my belly isn’t showing yet, but in a few months, it would be unmistakable.

If he found out that I’d carelessly conceived his child without proper contraception, a typical punishment wouldn’t suffice.

He might even go so far as to kill the child upon birth, reasoning that it’s an illegitimate child. Losing the fruit of our union for such a petty reason was something I refused to witness.

‘Let’s get back to the church.’

Now was not the time to leisurely search for a place to stay in Ermia.

Firm in my resolve to avoid Ethan, I hurriedly returned to the Aurelia Church branch in Ermia, gathering my belongings and grabbing my horse, Zeon-2, as I went.