Pregnancy Is Too Much For The Villain - C151.1

They finally arrived at the port city where they could cross the Karab Sea.

Valentin looked around, blending in among people with slightly different attire from various regions. Even the fishy smell wafting from the fish market near the port felt like the scent of people living their lives earnestly, making his heart swell. He unconsciously took a deep breath. The vitality and energy were always wonderful to experience.

Asif came running towards Valentin, who was standing with an excited face, leading a camel and donkey with lightened loads.

“I’ve paid the fare. We need to board soon.”

“Alright.”

“I’ve already loaded the luggage on the ship, so now we just need to get on board. Are you sure you’re okay carrying that bag around?”

Asif asked one last concerned question, seemingly uncomfortable with the noble pregnant person constantly carrying the sturdy bag full of paper, sketchbooks, and art supplies. Valentin shook his head firmly at the question.

“I have to carry this myself, it’s fine. It can’t be tossed around carelessly either.”

His habit of never entrusting his art supplies and paintings to others remained unchanged. It would be troublesome if someone handled them roughly and broke the soft, fragile oil pastels.

“If you’re sure, I won’t push anymore. If you go into that alley, there’s a place that will look after the camel and donkey. I’ll leave these guys there and come back, so go ahead and board first. It’s the ship with the blue flag on the mast. Can you see it?”

Following Asif’s hand, Valentin saw several ships lined up at the port. Among them was a ship with a small triangular flag fluttering, as blue as the sea. Valentin nodded and replied, “Yes, I see it clearly!” Asif left with a relieved expression, taking the two grateful animals with him.

As Valentin started getting closer to the ship, a trumpet sounded loudly from the blue-flagged ship.

“Huh…?”

They said it would depart soon, but this quickly…? Asif hadn’t returned yet? Valentin unconsciously started jogging lightly.

“Are you trying to board that ship now?”

When a middle-aged man running alongside him asked, Valentin nodded vigorously.

“Hurry, so you don’t miss it! That ship only sails once a week! If you miss it now, you’ll have to wait a week.”

Saying he was late too, the man urged Valentin on while his black mustache fluttered. At those words, Valentin hesitated for a moment before increasing his speed. He thought it was a bit strange that there was only one ship crossing the Karab Sea per week, but as more people around him started running, that thought quickly disappeared and he just ran faster.

“Hurry up! That’s why I said to board early!”

“Oh my, dear! Don’t we all have our reasons?”

“You should eat well before boarding, it’s a journey of several days!”

Several days…? This is where Valentin should have sensed something was off and stopped in his tracks. But where could this long-standing life go, always getting lost and choosing the worst option no matter what?

“Huff, haa…!”

He was properly pushed by people urging him to quickly board the ship that was just about to depart. Valentin barely managed to board in a hurry along with people who looked like wealthy merchants, as if he was part of their group. It was only natural that he was breathing heavily.

Just as the boarding planks and ladders were being removed and the ship started to depart, someone called out loudly to Valentin, who was catching his breath at the railing.

“Valentin!!!”

“Ah… Asif! Asif!”

Valentin was startled, realizing he had boarded alone, leaving Asif behind. His guide and friend was waving both arms and shouting at Valentin from the port floor.

“My companion hasn’t boarded yet! Please stop the ship!”

“Hey, young man! Once a ship leaves, it can’t stop or turn back. Is this your first time?”

“Oh dear. His companion missed the time. It happens often.”

“That friend will have to take the next ship.”

Over the leisurely comments of the men who had just finished boarding, Asif’s shout continued.

“That’s not the right ship, Valentin!!!”

“What…?!”

“That’s not the right ship…! You boarded the wrong ship!”

*

Valentin sat slumped against the deck of the ship boldly crossing the middle of the Karab Sea, looking like someone who had lost all dreams and hope in the world.

Damn… this fucking life…. What to do with this strange and ill-fated life with absolutely no luck…. Stupidly getting swept along with those uncles in that situation…. Valentin was dumbfounded, blaming his own idiocy that made him want to jump into the sea right away.

With his elbows on his knees, Valentin buried his head there. A sigh that seemed to sink the earth came out involuntarily.

His spineless self and the ship with the green flag that he should have boarded, docked right next to it…. It wasn’t even a blue flag to begin with. No, this damn ‘blue’ color is causing trouble in this language area just like in his previous life and now. Someone should ban it! Valentin sniffled his nose unnecessarily, feeling like tears might flow from his eyes.

[I’ll take your luggage to your destination!]

That was all Asif managed to shout with all his might at the end. The rest couldn’t be heard as he got further away.

Right… my luggage…. Except for the art supply bag on his back, Valentin was penniless and empty-handed.

“Oh my, where were you originally trying to go? I’ll help you, so cheer up!”

The uncle who had been running with him from the start spoke in an apologetic voice, seeming to have witnessed everything and understood the situation. Then he patted his thick chest.

“All sea routes are connected, you know. You can go anywhere no matter where you go!”

The uncle, who introduced himself as a merchant traveling the Silk Road and various continents, was extremely confident. Valentin opened his mouth, slightly whimpering.

“I was on my way to the city of Markant across the Karab Sea….”

“Ma… Markant?”

As the uncle hesitated for a moment, others around them chimed in.

“That’s completely the opposite direction!”

“This ship goes down to the African continent through the canal connected to the Karab Sea!”

“Taking someone who just needed to cross so far away?”

“You’re making the young man take quite a big trip because of you?”

“Well, as this man said, all sea routes are indeed connected! If you go halfway around the globe, that is.”

Valentin’s surroundings quickly became bustling with people clicking their tongues at the uncle’s boastful statement and others slapping his back saying he bore great responsibility. Indeed, true to the culture, people started gathering with the typical Middle Eastern and Central Asian mindset of ‘we are all family and friends’.

As Valentin turned pale and more tearful at those words, the middle-aged and older men looked at a loss, as if seeing a crying son.

“Is Markant your home?”

“No….”

Valentin’s answer was accompanied by an involuntary sniffle.

“Then where are you trying to go?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? Would someone who looks like this be from Markant? He must be from the Western Continent!”

“No, I’m just asking in case! Why are you looking down on people?”

“I’m a Markant native! Whose house were you going to?”

When Valentin mentioned the Babur noble family who was taking care of him, chaos broke out among them again.

“Our family is also a descendant of Emperor Tamar like that family!”

“I’ve done business with the in-laws of that family’s second son!”

“That family’s great-grandfather three generations up was my father’s grandfather’s peer!”

“The late head of that house and our daughter-in-law’s father-in-law are from the same synagogue!”

At this point, it’s beyond being a distant relative…. Despite being almost certainly strangers, declarations of guarantees typical of people from this cultural region who consider such loose connections almost family or friends followed.

“If you’re a guest of that family, you’re my guest too! So, where exactly are you going?”

“I’m going to the Heston Empire….”

When Valentin raised his teary eyes and spoke, everyone’s expression changed as if they were looking at a hamster that had lost a lot of sunflower seeds.

“Oh dear, what should we do about this…?”

“Looks like you’re in for quite a detour….”

“I think the fastest way would be to get off at Israel, the midway point, and go up to the Western Continent.”

“Yes. There’s no other way but that.”

“But you said you left all your luggage behind. Do you have travel money?”

Perhaps because it was a large galley ship mostly boarded by wealthy merchants, the uncles surrounding Valentin exuded wealth. There were especially many people wearing jewelry made of gold typical of the Middle East, so it was quite something. They rummaged through their pockets as if ready to help this lost, pitiful lamb right away. The uncle who had led Valentin onto this ship was already pulling out parchment from somewhere and started writing.

“This is a letter of guarantee signed by Abdullah of Baghdad. With this, you shouldn’t have any problem renting a horse when you get off in Israel. The third house from the port! Show this to the shop owner there and he’ll give you a horse right away. I’m really sorry about this.”

“It’s partly my fault for mistaking the ship…. Thank you.”

Valentin, still unable to shake off the shock and sorrow, held out both hands with his chin dimpled and received the parchment.

“Take a long swig of this. There’s nothing better for calming a startled heart.”

Another old man wearing a stylish turban opened the mouth of the leather liquor pouch at his waist and handed it to Valentin. The strong alcohol scent hit Valentin’s nose directly, it was such a strong drink.

“Ugh.”

At the involuntary retch, the eyes of the uncles crowded around widened.

“I’m sorry…! It’s not that the offered drink is disgusting, but I’m currently pregnant…”

As Valentin waved his hands, not wanting to appear rude in refusing their kindness, the eyes of the older men now bulged out completely. The uncle who had offered the liquor pouch was so startled that he spilled alcohol all over the back of his hand.

“Pregnant?”

“Oh my, an omega?”

“Hey! There’s a pregnant person here!”

“Because of you, a pregnant person lost all their luggage and became a beggar!”

“No, I really thought we were boarding the same ship and just wanted to help!”

“Enough, bring out whatever you have. How can a pregnant person be dressed so coldly? They probably don’t have any clothes!”

“I have a fox fur scarf!”

“What good is just keeping the neck warm? You need to properly cover the ears, man!”

The uncles went into a frenzy, trying to provide whatever they could upon hearing the word “pregnant”.

“Eh…?”

Thus, Valentin ended up in a ridiculous yet seemingly very warm, strange outfit by those who showed great concern. A fox tail scarf they said was made from what they caught themselves, a vest with colorful embroidery on leather, a turban covering up to the ears which they said was a spare, a shawl and coat with geometric weaves typical of the Arab region, and even rabbit fur leg warmers covering the ankles.

Overall, it was a clown-like appearance focused entirely on “warmth” without any consideration for aesthetic combination. Like an old lady surrounded by pigeons feeding them in Central Park in an old movie… Though the appearance was bizarre, Valentin couldn’t help but smile, truly grateful for their kindness.

When he refused the gold coins they offered out of pity, saying it was too much money to accept, the uncles’ eyes grew even more teary as they picked out silver or copper coins one by one, insisting he take them for travel expenses.

Still unable to accept money for free, Valentin drew simple portraits for them in turn. The middle-aged men laughed heartily, satisfied with their uniquely drawn pictures.

A few days later, with pockets full of coins earned this way, Valentin disembarked in Israel, still in his warm but comical attire. He had also received numerous papers and parchments guaranteeing his identity. Feeling that while his life was always terribly unlucky, he was blessed with good people, Valentin waved his hands widely to bid farewell to the merchant uncles he had grown fond of over the past few days. Then, after seeing off the ship with wistful eyes, he took his first steps.

In fact, unbelievably, this was Valentin’s first time being truly alone.

Born as a noble omega, he grew up receiving abundant love. He was always cared for by the alphas of his family, and after marriage, he was under his husband’s care. Even during his travels, though he ventured into rough places where other nobles never went, he was always accompanied by guides or those responsible for his safety.

But now, all he had was his bare body, coins exchanged for drawings, and warm clothes obtained from kind-hearted people. That was all Valentin currently possessed. With just these meager belongings, he had come to a country he had never visited before, to a place he never intended, at a time he never planned.

Whenever fearful thoughts surfaced about someone threatening his safety or harming him, Valentin steeled himself. He wanted to prove to himself that he could now stand completely on his own as an adult.

Valentin calmly used the letters of introduction he received on the ship to obtain a horse in the unfamiliar city and bought water, dried bread, and jerky. Though he had gathered supplies, it was still too risky to cross this harsh desert alone. He lacked experience and was clumsy at finding his way with a compass.

So for safety, he carefully entrusted himself to a group of wealthy merchants, requesting to move with them. The various signatures from the uncles vouching for his identity proved their worth. They nodded, oddly lowering their guard against Valentin, who looked like a beggar but seemed like a prince.

From the village where he had disembarked with nothing, he managed to reach Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, with such efforts.

“We’re going to stay here for a while and do business. How about it, want to come along?”

The leader of the merchant group he had traveled with for several days asked.

“No, thank you so much for everything until now! I plan to just briefly visit the temple and then continue on my journey.”

He wanted to return to the Empire as soon as possible to meet Reynard. There was no time to delay.

After exchanging farewells with them, wishing him to take care, Valentin grabbed the horse’s reins again. It was the Great Temple mentioned in the Bible. As a devout believer, it felt regrettable to just pass by such a highlight of a pilgrimage he might never be able to make again in his lifetime.

‘I want to pray for the child.’

Though it was an unexpected pregnancy, it was a precious child. He didn’t want to lose this one at any cost. His desperate heart naturally sought God.

Valentin left his horse and luggage at a travelers’ inn so the horse could rest, and headed towards the Great Temple. A historic place built on yellowish-brown dry land. He walked vigorously to pray directly at the place where the Messiah was said to have spread his teachings, to pray for the well-being of his family. He picked out only the shiny silver coins from his pocket full of jingling coins for the offering to the altar.

After waiting in line among pilgrims from various countries and offering the silver coins, Valentin finally found an empty chair, sat down, and clasped his hands together.

‘Please keep my whole family healthy, let this child be born safely without any problems, let no accidents happen on my way home. …And I hope Reynard doesn’t reject me and the child…’

He cautiously added his anxious thoughts at the end of his prayer.

In fact, his worries didn’t disappear even as he was going to meet Reynard. Whether it was okay to return so shamelessly asking to be taken back, after leaving confidently telling him to meet someone else… Valentin still wasn’t sure.

The arduous journey, his unwell body, and anxious mind somehow made tears leak out and he was sniffling, when the old man sitting next to him tapped Valentin and held out a snow-white handkerchief.

“…Thank you.”

As the place was overflowing with foreigners of various races and ethnicities, Valentin expressed his gratitude in the local language. And the moment he raised his head to receive the handkerchief…

“…Archbishop?”

What are you doing here…? Somehow, a familiar melody flowed in his ears.

Evidence

“Ho ho, my. Grand Duke Dennox’s consort! I didn’t recognize you because your attire is so different.”

It was Archbishop John, the elderly head of the Church of England, the state religion of the Heston Empire, who had officiated Valentin and Reynard’s wedding ceremony.

“No, what is this…?”

Valentin was so surprised that he couldn’t even greet him properly and stammered. He naturally shook hands with Archbishop John, but the current situation was so unbelievable that he fumbled stupidly.

“What brings you here…?”

Despite the fact that his own presence here at this time and place was strange, he was blurting out things like ‘Oh my, what brings you to this humble place?’ as if he had seen an unexpected guest at his home. It was truly a festival of stupidity.

“What else could bring one to the Great Temple besides a pilgrimage?”

The still kind-hearted Archbishop John laughed heartily and gently answered Valentin’s foolish question.

“It seems the Grand Duke’s consort has come on a pilgrimage as well.”

“No, I… Yes… I just happened to pass by here…”

Unable to explain all the eventful adventures he had been through, Valentin continued to stammer. As if he had no intention of prying into his circumstances, the old man nodded.

“Everything is the Lord’s will.”

“Ah, yes…”

Valentin simply nodded in agreement at such a truly clerical statement.

“Um… But Archbishop. I’m no longer the Grand Duke’s consort…”

It had been a while since the divorce proceedings began. While Valentin was wandering abroad, the divorce process would have been completed, and the couple would have become strangers. Feeling somewhat apologetic and uncomfortable with being repeatedly addressed by the Dennox name, Valentin spoke carefully. Especially Archbishop John would surely have already signed the divorce papers as a witness and officiant of their marriage.

But the Archbishop denied Valentin’s words.

“You are still the Grand Duke’s consort.”

At the firm answer without a hint of hesitation or reluctance, Valentin unconsciously tilted his head, looking straight at him with wide eyes.

“I have not yet signed your divorce papers. So you two are still married, and you are still the Grand Duke’s consort.”

Valentin gaped blankly, looking at Archbishop John’s benevolent smile that seemed to know everything. Where and how…? What was this nuance of knowing their circumstances in detail?

“On the day the divorce application came up to me, Her Highness Princess Ellison suddenly visited.”

“Yes…”

Not sure how the princess’s story came up, Valentin listened attentively to the clergyman’s continued words, like a devout believer.

“Her Highness urgently ordered me to take a sabbatical year.”

The Archbishop chuckled, saying wasn’t it funny to be given a sabbatical when more than half the year had already passed, and continued.

“Then she said she would take responsibility for everything and told me to leave for a pilgrimage immediately. So I packed lightly and left right away. I immediately understood with what thoughts and intentions that thoughtful person recommended this trip, Grand Duke’s consort.”

Archbishop John gently patted Valentin’s back with his wrinkled hand.

“It seems Her Highness the Princess wanted to give you two, the couple going through a difficult time, a bit more time. Whether it’s time for the heart, or time for some event she’s thinking of to pass.”

“Archbishop…”

“Lord Dennox, you are loved by many. Kindness and consideration always follow good people.”

At those words, tears suddenly fell from Valentin’s wide eyes. It was an unexpected bout of tears he himself didn’t understand.

“…I’m not someone who deserves such kindness… I’m just a selfish runaway.”

Valentin buried his face in the handkerchief, at a loss with his burst of tears.

“I still haven’t forgiven the person who made us like this. I just endured, ran away, and avoided it as I always have…”

If he had been a good person deserving of such favor, he would have forgiven the Third Prince long ago. But he couldn’t. He just endured, suppressed it deep in his heart, and ran away.

“But didn’t you ‘persevere’?”

Valentin’s head shot up at the firm voice.

“There is a saying of Solomon that he who is slow to anger and rules his spirit is better than a mighty warrior.”

The Archbishop pointed to the ceiling, saying wasn’t this said by the one who built this massive Great Temple we’re sitting in now. The columns decorated with gilded pomegranates gleamed sacredly.

“It’s very easy to get angry. It’s easy to confront, refuse, argue, and take revenge. But isn’t the hardest thing to endure and persevere?”

“……”

“Anyone who has tried probably knows how difficult patience is. You’ve already accomplished the most difficult thing. So you’ve done something more remarkable than anyone else.”

Valentin’s sobs echoed through the temple as he buried his face in the handkerchief.

*

When the two came out of the temple after finishing their prayers, the Archbishop asked if Valentin would like to accompany him. He seemed to have guessed that Valentin, with his unusual appearance, was in some kind of trouble. However, true to his nature, he didn’t pry into the circumstances.

“I’m planning to return to Eldon quickly like this, Archbishop John.”

“Is that so? Then take this with you.”

The Archbishop ordered the modestly dressed priest assisting him to hand over a pouch. A jingling sound rang out. The open cloth bundle contained coins that could be easily used anywhere.

“No… How could I… If anything, I should have made an offering to you, Archbishop…!”

As Valentin vigorously waved his hands, the Archbishop smiled and stuffed it into the bundle of luggage Valentin was carrying on his head.

“Everything is the will of the saint. That we met here, that I was given the heart to help you, all of it.”

Valentin kept bowing his head, promising that as soon as he arrived in the capital, he would make an offering several times this amount. The Archbishop just patted the back of the young man who was at a loss, embarrassed, saying to do as his heart guides him.

“Actually, I wasn’t confident even as I’m returning to my husband now, but hearing your words gives me courage.”

Who knew that the fact they were still legally married would be such a great comfort.

Regardless of how they parted last, if they were still married, Valentin seeking out Reynard was a justified act even in others’ eyes. There was no reason to lose confidence. And Reynard wasn’t the type to meet another omega while the divorce proceedings were incomplete. Thinking that he probably hadn’t proceeded with marriage to anyone else yet, it felt like a huge worry in his heart had disappeared.

But the Archbishop’s final words not only resolved the burden in his heart but gave Valentin even more courage.

“The Duke will be waiting for you.”

“Waiting?”

To the extent of waiting…?

“Haven’t you heard the news?”

“…What news…? I’ve been away from the Empire for a long time.”

Valentin pointed at the turban he was wearing and opened his eyes wide.

“Marquis of Valkyries has built a charity hospital.”

“What?”

Valentin jumped up. That person isn’t the type to do such things…? It’s awkward to say in front of others, but there’s no way my alpha would be such a selfless person, what on earth is this…

“He established a hospital with the help of the church, and I approved it.”

The old man’s lips curved into a benevolent smile, saying he had signed off on that precisely before leaving.

“It’s to save those dying from the side effects of New Poppin. The hospital established by the Duke is providing free treatment and rehabilitation support for the poor. Everything is being run with the Duke’s personal funds and some donations.”

Valentin’s mouth fell open. He had no idea Reynard had done such a thing.

Those were the pitiful people who couldn’t be cured despite all his efforts running around Gray Chapel Street…. Did he know that Valentin had been running around trying to help the innocent victims of the Third Prince? Valentin’s nose was starting to sting again. Seeing him like this, the old man drove home the point.

“Do you know what the name of that charity hospital is, my lord?”

“What’s the name?”

The Archbishop smiled gently and left just one last word.

“The Good Valentin Hospital.”

At the Archbishop’s answer, Valentin burst into laughter while tears streamed down his face. Even if hair or horns grew in intimate places he couldn’t tell others about, there was nothing he could do about it now.

* * *

After parting with the Archbishop’s group, Valentin set out on his journey again right away.

With the more ample money, he bought more water and food for the long journey, and at night he could sleep in shabby but shelter-providing lodgings that protected from cold and dew. It was all thanks to the help of the Archbishop he had met by chance. To save the few remaining silver coins, Valentin still drew pictures of people he met during his travels whenever he could. People received the portraits Valentin drew for them and kindly discounted the price of stew and even provided feed for his horse.

Thus, he barely managed to cross the Mediterranean and reach the port city where ships bound for the Empire were docked. By the time he entrusted his horse and scraped together his entire savings for the fare, he had become not just beggar-like, but a complete beggar.

And finally, someone found this pitiful beggar. It was just as he was about to land in the Empire after several days on a fast clipper ship that had just docked.

“Your Highness…!”

A strange man exclaimed in shock upon seeing Valentin disembarking from the ship, carrying his art supplies bag and a bundle containing food and blankets. He recognizes me in this state? The shabby beggar’s head shot up.

The brown-haired man was an unfamiliar figure. Who is he? As Valentin tilted his head in confusion, the turban wrapped around his head tilted even more unsightly, pressing down on one of his eyes.

“What on earth is this appearance?!”

“…Who are you?”

When Valentin asked, the man hurriedly, yet in a very exaggerated manner, bowed and began to introduce himself.

“I am Felix, one of the Marquis of Valkyries’ closest aides. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He discreetly rolled up his sleeve to reveal a tattoo on the inside of his arm. A sea dragon with a twisted body holding a number in its mouth within a geometric diamond shape. It was exactly as Reynard had once described to Valentin.

[Those with this crest tattooed on their bodies are my closest aides. They go by number nicknames. Remember this in case something happens.]

He said that since most of them operate in the shadows, they wouldn’t usually reveal themselves, but just in case, to memorize it well visually. True to his nature as an artist with excellent visual memory, Valentin