Vol 03 Chapter 95: Childbirth
It happened on the night of a full moon.
The two went into labor simultaneously.
「Sigh, why are both of them giving birth at the same time?!」
「I don’t know what to say to that…」
「My king, you are in the way, please leave the room.」
I was worriedly pacing back and forth between the two when the magicians and midwives drove me out.
How rude. It’s true that there’s nothing I can do, but still…
「What should I do?!」
「Please calm down, my king. Your confusion won’t help the babies be born.」
So noisy, Raymond. I know that much.
「Well, well, calm down. Why don’t you have a drink in the meantime?」
「Oh, okay. Thanks… But why are you here, Bartolo?」
Weren’t you supposed to be stationed at the border with King Domorgal’s Kingdom?
「I heard that the children of the two queens would soon be born, so I was standing by. Naturally, as a patrician, I want to be the first to see them.」
「Is that so… What did you do when your daughter was born?」
While guzzling his drink, Bartolo replied with a troubled look.
「What could I have done? There’s nothing a man can do. The pain of childbirth is something we only know through hearsay and our imagination. It’s not something we can take their place in, right? I was drinking.」
「Ah, I see…」
That’s right… there’s nothing I can do…
We took precautions against puerperal fever with boiling water sterilization and alcohol disinfection. And though I taught them the Lamaze method for pain reduction… There’s still the worry that the children could be born with disabilities. Aaah, why didn’t I go to medical school back in Japan?
If I had become an obstetrician, maybe I could have done something more. But no, there’s no use regretting that now.
「Bartolo… give me some strong liquor.」
「That’s the spirit.」
I guzzled the drink Bartolo handed me.
…I can’t taste anything.
「Drinking in despair won’t solve anything.」
I stopped drinking. It’s not distracting at all. Bartolo’s method isn’t helping.
「Hey, tell me something that’ll take my mind off things. Or come up with something. It’s a royal command.」
「What an unusual royal command.」
Raymond and Bartolo looked at me with exasperated faces.
Shut up, just say something.
「So tell me, how did both of them manage to give birth at the same time? Did you do it together with both of them?」
「……Around once every three times, I do them together…」
「You have quite the forgiving partners.」
Raymond exclaimed in surprise.
Well, I thought a threesome would be impossible… but I just casually mentioned it.
And surprisingly, both were quite receptive…
「My wife would flip out just at the mention of another woman. I envy you.」
「That’s tough.」
I guess I’m blessed. Julia-sama, Tetra-sama. Thank you for loving me.
As we engaged in such foolish talk, we heard a cry.
The sound was that of a baby’s cry.
This means…
「My king! The baby is born! Tetra-sama’s baby is born!」
My body moved before I could even think. I headed straight for the room where Tetra was.
◇
「Almus, I did it…」
Tetra was smiling. Her face was drenched with sweat, and her hair clung to her cheeks, but she was smiling.
In her arms, she held a baby wrapped in a clean cloth.
「It’s a healthy boy. Hold him.」
「……Yes.」
I lifted the baby… my child in my arms.
He’s quite heavy… I feel the weight of life.
「He got his hair from me, huh? His face is more similar to yours. Especially the look of mischief.」
「How rude.」
When I stretched my finger to the baby’s small hand, he gripped it tightly. Ah… so adorable… I almost want to eat him up.
「Name… give him a name.」
「Yes… his name will be Ankus. Ankus Aris.」
「That’s a good name. Ankus… the crystal of love between me and Almus…」
Tetra was smiling happily.
For now, it seems she’s alright.
Just as I felt a sense of relief, I heard a cry from the next room.
This means…
「Go to her.」
「Yes, I understand.」
I handed Ankus back to Tetra and hurried off to where Julia was.
Is she okay…?
◇
「Julia!!」
「Ah, Almus…」
Julia smiled at me. She didn’t seem as exhausted as Tetra, suggesting her labor wasn’t as difficult. But her expression carried a mix of joy and a slight hint of anxiety.
「Here. It’s a healthy… girl.」
Julia said as she handed the baby to me, her hands trembling slightly.
Sigh…
I kissed Julia on the lips.
「You did well. Thank you. I’m so happy.」
As I said this and smiled at her, the slight anxiety on her face seemed to clear, brightening her expression.
「What should we name her… Is it alright if I choose?」
「Yes. That’s your right as her father.」
Alright then…
「Fiona. Fiona Rosais. That’s this girl’s name.」
「Fiona, huh… Yeah, I like it.」
Julia smiled happily. My gaze shifted to Fiona.
Her hair is lavender-colored. Her facial features resemble Julia’s. She’ll probably grow up to be beautiful. I’m delighted. It’s a bit sad that I can’t see much of myself in her.
Ah, she’s so cute. What if someone says, ‘Please let me have your daughter’? That would be troubling.
「I’ll never give her away in marriage.」
「…We’ve just had her, and you’re already saying such things.」
Julia laughed out loud.
I’m glad you’re feeling better… Julia.
◇
After things settled down and both Julia and Tetra had gone to sleep, I found myself alone on the palace balcony, gazing at the beautiful full moon.
I was drinking alone.
「Leader…」
「Ron, huh? You’re a bit late.」
「I was a bit tied up. Sorry for the delay. Congratulations on becoming a father.」
Ron quietly joined me at my side.
「Sorry, I only have one cup.」
「No, that’s fine. And… you seem to be in a bit of a predicament.」
「Can you tell?」
「Yes… It’s about Julia-san, isn’t it?」
So he’s seen through it. Well, it’s something that would naturally cross anyone’s mind.
The next king is expected to be Julia’s son. That’s an unspoken agreement. Everyone in this country is aware of that.
Naturally, if I were to pass the throne to Tetra’s child, the country would be split in two. Especially the Rosais Family. It’s clear they would openly oppose if the agreement was breached.
I’m aware of that too, which is why I didn’t give Ankus the ‘Rosais’ family name. That child has no claim to the throne. It’s to show that.
Julia gave birth to a girl. And Tetra to a boy. This situation is a bit complicated.
However, Julia’s position won’t be shaken by just this. But if this pattern continues, it could become a problem.
That is, if Julia continues to only have daughters and no sons.
Choosing not to sleep with Tetra until Julia has a son is an option, but it’s not feasible. I don’t want to make Tetra wait that long, and besides, Abraham… that old man would surely have something to complain about.
If it weren’t for that old man, we wouldn’t be in such a complicated situation.
I’ve heard that it’s the sperm that determines the gender of a child. So, is it my fault? But then, it seems the mother’s physique also plays a role. The two have part of the fault… no, it’s not right to say it like it’s something bad.
「Well, I’m genuinely happy. I wanted both a girl and a boy. The odds are fifty-fifty, so it’s unlikely that we’ll only have girls repeatedly.」
「Yeah, I think so too. Julia-san and Tetra… both are important for me too. I don’t want to see them in conflict.」
「Right, I won’t let that happen. Absolutely not.」
I glared at the full moon. The moon, ignoring me, continued to shine brightly.
◇
As the peaceful days passed and June arrived, I heightened our vigilance against the anticipated invasion by King Domorgal’s Country and the expected siege that would accompany it.
And as expected, the peace came to an end. The only thing that wasn’t as expected was that the disruption of peace wasn’t caused by an invasion from the Domorgal army, but by internal strife within King Domorgal’s Country.
◇
Chapter 95.5: Presenting Them to the Family
「She’s so cute… Nice to meet you, I’m Grandpa!!」
Fiona looked curiously at Father-in-law’s face. Being newly born, Fiona’s vision is almost nonexistent. However, to Father-in-law it seems like she’s staring right at him, so he is overjoyed.
「Yes, she looks just like Julia. Julia was also this small when she was her age… And to think she’s now having children…」
Suddenly, Father-in-law started crying. It seems a strange switch has been flipped in him.
「Where is Tetra Aris?」
「Tetra? She’s in the other room with Ankus.」
She said it would be intrusive for her to be here. And decided to wait in another room.
Neither Julia nor I mind, but it seems Tetra herself feels awkward. Well, there’s no particular reason to force her to come.
「That won’t do. Go call her.」
Upon saying this, Father-in-law summoned a slave to bring Tetra over. Tetra arrived quickly, a look of tension visible on her face. Ankus, in her arms, was sleeping peacefully.
I gestured for Tetra to sit beside me, so I could protect her at any moment…
Father-in-law smiled warmly and said,
「Let me hold the child.」
「Eh!?」
Tetra showed a bit of surprise, probably mirroring my expression. Of course, there is no blood relation between Tetra and Father-in-law.
I thought he might give us a warning, but that wasn’t the case.
「The husband of Julia is my son. That son’s wife is my daughter. And that daughter’s child is my grandchild, right?」
Father-in-law smiled. Tetra looked perplexed but soon stood up and brought Ankus to Father-in-law.
「Here you go…」
「Mm.」
Father-in-law gently lifted Ankus, as if he were handling something fragile. Then, while looking at his face, he spoke to Tetra.
「Yes, a fine child. Your son. He will surely grow to be a wise man.」
「…Thank you.」
Tetra expressed her gratitude with a slightly flushed face.
After Father-in-law returned Ankus to Tetra, he asked Julia and Tetra to leave and I was left alone with him.
Silence dominated the room for a while. It was Father-in-law who broke the silence first.
「Understand this: regardless of their own will, conflicts will arise. There will always be those who seek to elevate them for their own purposes.」
「I am aware.」
I will protect the two and their children, no matter what. As a husband, as a father, as a king.
「I’ve seen my grandchild. But I cannot rest in peace until I’ve seen the crown prince.」
「I will do my best.」
The next king must be a male child from Julia. This is imperative. Otherwise, the country will break in two. After all, my primary role is to produce a male heir for the Rosais lineage.
「In the worst-case scenario, Ankus and Fiona might have to marry. I would prefer to avoid that.」
「I understand. Sigh…」
The worst-case scenario would be incest. I’m not sure if I should lament that or be relieved there’s a last resort.
RELEASE RATE
Otherworld Nation Founding Chronicles
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>The worst-case scenario would be incest.
I would normally rebut with “wincest is best”, but there’s just no way I’m shipping babies.
I mean that’s what the King and former King are talking about, and it’s for necessary political reasons, but that just feels so wrong. They’re newborns. Be glad if they grow up healthy and happy.