# 54
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The audience gave faint exclamations in response to Kenneth's answer.
“Oh my God...”
“Well, they're still in the honeymoon phase.”
Although his elegance and attractive appearance attracted attention, his slightly distant demeanor made it difficult for anyone, except someone like Mrs. Morris, to address him.
But to say such words in front of strangers!
But Ariana felt her heart sink.
'This is just a compliment.'
Would he have declared to everyone, “Our child is wrong and unwanted”? Even if it's the duke?
'But please, don't say such things.'
These words are not sincere.
I have never forgotten a word you said in two lifetimes.
But unlike the storm that ravaged her heart, Ariana smiled sweetly and responded.
"I'm embarrassed to say this. Children are precious no matter who they look like."
Fortunately, the topic of children passed.
The men then rose to discuss business among themves.
At that moment, Theodora slowly approached the place where the women remained.
“Can I join you?”
“Of course, you do! Miss Byrne.”
Mrs. Morris welcomed her warmly, and Theodora smiled lightly and sat next to Ariana.
"You seemed to be having an interesting conversation. May I ask what you were talking about? Ma'am."
Ariana just smiled. Opening her mouth now would result in a torrent of curses.
'As if you didn't hear everything.'
In her senses, she was sure that Mrs. Morris' overly cheerful question was something Theodora had planted beforehand.
Whew. Does this woman have an instinct to discover other people's weaknesses?
Or do weak people unwittingly reveal their weaknesses?
She felt as if her mind was drowning in deep water.
[I know she will be a wonderful mother. Most likely, if he looks like my wife, he will be beautiful]
She couldn't deny that this praise hurt her heart.
'Because these are the words I wanted to hear before I died.'
She hoped Kenneth would say their child was loved and perfect.
Even if she, the mother, is an abhorrent sinner, at least their daughter is.
With Kenneth's recent actions stirring her wounds, she felt like she was going crazy.
'It can't go on like this.'
Ariana took a deep breath and stood up, smiling.
Mrs. Morris rose in surprise.
"Ma'am? Are you okay?"
“I apologize for a moment, Mrs. Morris. I'm feeling a little sun-sick...”
“Ah, like this then!”
Mrs. Morris blamed her negligence and pointed to the cathedral.
“Why don’t you rest inside? There are no masses today, you can sit comfortably.”
“But, if the priest is there...”
“No need to worry. Because of the charity event, the priest and nuns are all outside.”
“…Okay. I’ll cool down a bit and come back. Wait for me, ma’am.”
Up until that moment, Ariana had managed to maintain an elegant smile. She knew that Theodora was behind her, so she could not collapse.
But when Emily tried to accompany her to the cathedral, Ariana waved her hand awkwardly.
“Emily, I'm going in alone. Just for a few minutes.”
“What? But, your face looks so pale...”
"I'm really fine. I just want to be alone for a bit."
Ariana insisted stubbornly, and opened the heavy wooden door, leaving the anxious maid behind.
As Mrs. Morris said, the cathedral was empty and quiet.
The gray-white walls decorated with religious paintings and rows of long benches made the interior quiet, as if the noise outside was blocked out.
“Ha...”
Ariana sat on the nearest chair and lowered her head. She began to calm down in the silent space, but she could not stop these thoughts.
'Will I really be able to give birth to Baby in this life?'
When I tried to think positive, she would laugh and say, “Maybe my baby will come in time.”
But although her nights with Kenneth had increased compared to her previous life, there was no news, which sparked a new anxiety.
She longed to walk with her daughter in a light rain park, see a rainbow, and eat strawberry-filled trifles together.
But is this future really possible?
Ariana slowly raised her heavy head with sadness. And at that moment, I first noticed a person beside the altar, where the shadow of the arched window frame was falling.
'How long has he been there?'
She was sure the cathedral was empty when she opened the door...
But when she saw that the person was a nun, Ariana quickly got up from the chair, stuttering.
“I'm sorry, I thought there were no prayers today...”
At that moment, the nun's face became clearer as the colors of the stained glass intensified.
Goosebumps spread down Ariana's back.
“…why are you here?”
The figure in front of her was the nun she had seen in the Central Cathedral when she had returned to this life.
[You must register your name in the donation register before you leave]
The nun who insisted on registering her name even though it was not mandatory.
Which made her write “Anne Clark”...
But Ariana opened her mouth in shock as the memories flowed like a tide.
'no. This was not the first meeting.'
Baby's christening, which Kenneth does not attend.
The sad funeral after her daughter died of high fever.
During the short time Ariana spent with her daughter, this character was there for every sad moment.
She didn't pay attention to her then because she was focused on her baby, but this character was always hovering around Baby.
"Yes …!"
The realization hit her hard. Ariana trembled with surging fear.
'What's going on?'
As she faced him directly, her face became dull in her mind.
She knew that if she turned and left the cathedral, she would forget the color of her eyes and her age.
The nun approached, stepping onto the floor lit with the colors of stained glass.
“Hello after a long time, Ariana.”
“This is the first time we have met in our two lives here.”
At those words, Ariana collapsed to the floor.
But the nun calmly helped her get up and sat her on the nearest chair.
“If you're tired, stay seated. My time is short anyway.”
“You...”
Who are you? Are you human?
Ariana's lips trembled, but she felt like she almost knew the answer.
This place is named after a saint who protects mothers and children dying from diseases.
‘Even when I went to the Central Cathedral, it was her memorial day…’
She shuddered at the terrifying realization, but when the nun gently tapped her shoulder, Ariana regained consciousness.
“You have been working hard to meet Beatrice. What you wish for will come true.”
Hearing this, Ariana quickly held out her hand.
“Really, will Beatrice, my child, be born as she is this time? But will she also die early from the disease?”
If you gave birth to Baby and lost her again to a cough, what would you do?
Fear choked her.
The nun smiled kindly, as if she knew everything.
“With the return of time, many things have changed. The child will not die from the disease. Don’t worry.”
"Yes …!"
“In this life, Beatrice will be completely free from the grip of illness.”
Tears began to well up in Ariana's blue eyes.
She feared that her desire to return her child to the light of the world was fish.
As Ariana was crying in relief, she heard a sudden sound.
"If you have a question, you can ask it, Ariana. I'll answer what I can in this short time."
In an unexpected situation, with an unexpected question, Ariana's mind went blank.
'Where do I start?'
If she had known this opportunity would come, she would have arranged her questions in advance.
In her haste, Ariana stammered out what came to mind.
“If there was a miracle to reverse time, why didn't I go back to being eighteen?”
“If I could go back to before everyone got infected...”
The nun, or who might be Saint Colette, lowered her eyebrows sadly.
“Unfortunately, since you took your own life, I couldn’t give you a miracle directly. I know your life was painful.”
“So...”
“So, the child who died through no fault of his own was the only one able to receive the miracle. That’s why you remember Beatrice.”