Escaping to the capital

The young girl Maria is living a peaceful and fun life with her new husband Joseph, a very old man.

But one day the village is attacked by robbers and the fields are destroyed.
So Joseph can't do his job as a farmer anymore and they decide to flee.

There should be good jobs in the capital.
Even if he still has some savings, they won't last for too long.
The capital is pretty far away, though. It will probably take weeks, maybe even months to get there.
But it's still the best place they could go. So they're going to reach this place.

On their way, they regularly reach pensions, but sadly they can't stay there for long. Normally they just stay for one night, sometimes Joseph gets a small job and they stay for longer.

When Joseph has to work, and she can't help him, she looks around in the village and often gets to know boys and men to have fun and get money.

Over time, Joseph notices something about Maria.
Her body is changing.
First he puts it down to puberty, then to hunger, but eventually there's a real bump on her belly and he can't longer ignore it.

He knows she must be pregnant.
He's not exactly happy about that. He's sure they've never had sex yet. She wouldn't just have sex with him while he was sleeping deep after an exhausting day, would she?

He finally has to talk to her.
So one evening he mentions it.

What's wrong with your belly, Maria?

I don't know exactly either. Do you want to have a look?

I've looked at it long enough. You're pregnant. And not from me?

Maria seems a little happy.

You don't understand, what this means, do you?

Maria looks confused at Joseph.

I won't take care of your child. It's not my child.

I can take care-

When it's born, it will be killed immediately.

Maria gets scared.

No! Does this really have to be? I want to keep it!
Why? Don't you like kids?

You had another guy. I guess I just wasn't enough for you.
If you got bored at home, you could have helped me more at work.

It wasn't like that. I never got close to other guys.

Don't lie to me! You are pregnant. Where else would that come from?

It can only be from you. Who else should it be from?

We haven't had sex yet.
Do you think kissing and cuddling is enough?

No, I already know how it works.
But sometimes it was quite intimate.
Couldn't it be that something happened by accident?

No chance. Just admit it!

Maria starts to cry.

I really didn't do anything!

Stop crying. We'll make you a new one as soon as there's space again. I promise!

But I don't want a new one.
I want this child!
Why don't you believe me?

I want to believe you, sweetie.
Where is it supposed to come from?
Just tell me.

I don't know...
Maybe I have some special ability?
Maybe I don't need a man to give birth to children?
Couldn't this be possible?

Actually, I've really heard of this before.
But in that case it would definitely be a girl.
How was it supposed to be a man if no man was involved?

Maria calms down again.

It must be like that. I also don't have another explanation.

Joseph also starts to calm down.

If that's true, that would be really something special.
So are you really sure, you never had sex with another guy?
Maybe he just took you by force? You can tell me.

No, I wouldn't let anyone do this to me.

Joseph skeptically looks at Maria for a while until he finally answers.

Good, I'll believe you.
I must have got a very special girl.

Joseph looks friendly again.

I'm surprised myself. Do you really think that's the case?
I would be really happy.
But actually I'm still sure it has to be from you.

That wouldn't make any difference to me. I just don't want it to be from someone else.
I'm sure it's not mine, and I'll stand by that.
But the next child definitely has to be mine.

Definitely! After birth, I'll be ready for you.

The two go to bed and cuddle.
They fall asleep quickly.

As the journey continues, Maria likes to talk about the fact that she has the ability to give birth to a child as a virgin to everyone, especially when she is asked about her pregnancy, which is now obvious to everyone.

Word gets around, not always accurately, rumors arise and spread further.
People soon speak of a poor girl on the way to the capital with an old man who will give birth to a divine child.

So when they finally reach the capital, Maria is quite popular.