And then—it happened just as we returned to the mansion from the tailor’s shop.
“Eh? The servants are moving around the mansion busily.”
“What’s going on?”
When we arrived, the manor was in an uproar. Attendants hurried through the halls, their faces were tense. Even Shiro tilted her head curiously, peering through the doorway.
That’s when the Margrave’s wife spotted us. She lifted her skirts slightly and hurried over, her expression both anxious and excited.
“Ah, Fina—perfect timing! I was just about to send someone to fetch you from the shop.”
“Mother, did something happen?”
“Yes, dear. It’s your sister-in-law—her baby is about to be born!”
““““Eeh?!””””
Hearing the Margrave’s wife’s words, we were all taken aback.
Fina-san’s sister-in-law was in her final month of pregnancy. It wouldn’t have been strange for the baby to come at any moment.
But now… it seemed the time had finally arrived.
That explained why the entire mansion was in such a flurry. Servants were rushing through the corridors, their footsteps echoing with urgency.
Then, the Margrave’s wife turned toward Sue.
“I’m sorry to trouble you, Sue-san, but could I ask you to stay on standby? Uhm, just in case something happens.”
“Yes of course.”
Sue replied without hesitation.
“Mother, Ao and Pearl said they’ll stay with Sue-oneesama as well.”
Fina-san added.The Margrave’s wife nodded.
“That’s a good idea. It’s always better to have more than one healer available.”
With that, she led Sue—cradling Ao and Pearl in her arms—toward the inner rooms of the mansion.
Of course, as a man, there was nothing I could do to assist with the childbirth. And it went without saying that a five-year-old like Horn couldn’t help either. It was best to leave everything to Sue, Ao, and Pearl, in case something happened to Fina-san’s sister-in-law.
We also shouldn’t make too much noise, so we decided to move to the drawing room.
“Oh, Fina—you’re back.”
“Father, Brother? You’re not in the study?”
Inside the drawing room sat the Margrave and Fina-san’s older brother, both calmly sipping tea. Neither of them seemed to be in the mood to work.
“The whole mansion is filled with noise right now. We finished the urgent matters early and moved here to get away from the commotion.”
The Margrave answered with a wry smile.
“To be honest, I can’t focus on work at all right now. But at a time like this, men can’t really do anything except pray to the gods.”
“I see…”
Fina-san nodded softly, her voice tinged with understanding.
I heard that even in my previous life, most men could only fluster helplessly during childbirth—so really, this was no different. There wasn’t much they could do.
“Actually, the contractions started early this morning.”
“Really?”
Fina can’t help but be stunned.
“My wife didn’t realize it at first—it’s our first child, after all. She just thought it was a little stomach pain. Honestly, I didn’t understand what was happening either until Mother explained.”
Hmm, that made sense. I was a man myself, and things like contractions were completely foreign to me.
For now, all we could do was wait.
“Hmm… not yet?”
“Childbirth takes such a long time, doesn’t it?”
Two hours had already passed since we’d returned from the tailor’s shop. Everyone is holding their breath, waiting for the moment the baby would be born.
—Suddenly,
Click.
“The child has been born, everyone. He’s a healthy baby boy.”
“Yaaaay!”
“A boy, huh.”
The margrave murmured, a deep smile tugging at his lips.
“Well then, go and see your son.”
The margrave gave Fina’s brother an encouraging pat on the back.
“Yes, of course!”
The servant who entered the drawing room announced the long-awaited news, and the tension that had filled the air melted in an instant. Fina-san and Shiro let out shouts of pure joy, while Fina-san’s brother, prompted by his father, hurried toward the room where his wife awaited.
Naturally, we followed after them—Fina-san, Shiro, and the rest of us—our hearts still racing with excitement.
“It’s me. May I come in?”
Fina-san’s brother asked softly at the door.
“Yes, come in.”
When Fina’s brother called out softly through the door, his wife’s gentle voice answered from within. As we entered the room, both the Marquise and Sue were there to greet us, warm smiles lighting their faces.
“He’s a fine heir for the future. You must be so relieved.”
“The delivery went smoothly. There wasn’t even any need to use healing magic.”
Sue added with a calm smile.
“Thank you… truly, thank you.”
Fina-san’s brother replied, his voice trembling slightly as he turned toward the bed.
There, his wife lay resting, pale but peaceful, a tiny newborn nestled beside her. He gazed at them both, eyes shining with emotion.
Around the bed, Fina-san and Shiro leaned in with bright faces, while Ao and Pearl peeked curiously at the baby swaddled in soft cloth.
And so, a new life was welcomed into the Margrave’s household.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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