Ch.90Spring (2)

“Mmm… mmm…”

“Haa… haaa…”

“Lady Ines and Lady Chloe, both of you have given birth to healthy daughters.”

When I was told I could come in now, the… scene was somewhat, how should I put it… amazing? Bewildering? Moving?

The room is filled with a fishy smell, but in contrast, the bed where the two are lying and the floor are immaculately clean. A few hours ago, I saw servants carrying in bedding, and I wondered what that was about—now I know why.

The exhausted pair are sprawled on the bed with their eyes closed, seemingly lacking the energy to open them, yet still holding their babies tightly in their arms. The babies, who were crying vigorously until just a while ago, are now breathing softly, feeling their mothers’ warmth.

Their faces were so wrinkly that I was a bit startled at first, but since they’re my children, even those wrinkly skins started to look somewhat adorable. Is this what they call paternal love?

“Haa… haaa—huk?!”

“What… now—eek?!”

Just then, Chloe, who had barely opened her eyes, noticed me in the room and made a cute sound of surprise. Hearing that, Ines also frowned as she opened her eyes, showing a similar reaction of surprise.

Seeing their reactions, it seems the servant didn’t tell them I was coming in. No wonder they opened the door so quietly.

“Are you okay?”

“You, you shouldn’t have come in…”

“But it’s over now.”

“Well… that’s true…”

“Hey, hey, don’t get up. Rest, rest. You shouldn’t strain your waist by lifting it. You too, Ines.”

“Yes, yesss…”

The surprise was nice because I got to see their cute reactions, but when they suddenly tried to get up from the bed to greet me, I frantically stopped them.

Really, they were so exhausted they didn’t even notice me coming in, yet they still try to do something like that.

“When can they start eating?”

“Since both ladies had smooth deliveries, they should be able to eat from this evening. Of course, they should avoid solid foods and continue to rest in bed until then.”

“Thank you, this is your compensation.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Indeed, in this era, experienced midwives are better than doctors.

The other servants who assisted showed great displeasure at the disinfection that soaked their entire bodies with distilled alcohol, but the midwives knew from experience that cleaning the body thoroughly was essential, so they washed without complaint.

“And… who came out first?”

Until just now, I had been asking the midwife questions as if in casual conversation, but this time I lowered my voice to a whisper so Chloe and Ines couldn’t hear.

Given their personalities, the one who gave birth later might be greatly disappointed.

“Lady Ines’s child was faster.”

Sensing the intent behind my question, the midwife also whispers quietly to me.

Ines… I will of course treat both of them and their children equally, and I’ll work to ensure the two daughters get along well, but officially, Ines’s status is clearly higher than Chloe’s.

If the age-based title and status-based title were mismatched, they would have received many unfavorable glances externally, so it’s fortunate that the two titles can be unified—no.

‘…What am I doing right now?’

Already calculating gains and losses on such a joyous day.

I should just forget everything and enjoy the moment.

“…Do you all have names in mind already?”

“Whatever… my husband wishes…”

“No, we should decide on names through discussion.”

Historically, we avoid names of heavily criticized people, but there aren’t any specific naming rules or generational characters to follow.

It wouldn’t be right for me alone to name our children, would it?

“What…? But naming a child is the monarch’s right—”

“Ines, right now I’m not a monarch but an ordinary husband, think of it that way.”

Trying to treat me as her lord rather than family—honestly, it’s a bit disappointing.

“Uh… yes, yesss…”

‘…Huh?’

I spoke a bit firmly out of disappointment, but somehow Ines’s reaction seems a bit strange.

She seems slightly intimidated yet oddly pleased… what’s going on with her?

“Ahem… brother.”

“Yes?”

Just then, Chloe suddenly calls out to me. Even in her greatly exhausted state, I can clearly sense a hint of displeasure mixed in her voice.

She must have really disliked me talking with Ines.

Understandable—if I had just worked hard to give birth and my husband was getting along with another woman, I’d be upset too.

…How did it come to this?

What’s done is done, but objectively looking at myself… sigh.

“I’d like our daughter’s name to be similar to ours. Like Clovis, Cleh… something like that.”

Chloe continues with what she wants to say while I’m feeling a bit bitter inside.

Hmm… this is very like Chloe. I can clearly feel her desire to pass on the names Claude and Chloe, which our mother gave us, to her child as well.

“Um, I… I mean… I’d like my daughter’s name to include the lily that appears in the Lorel family crest.”

Following Chloe’s lead, Ines, who was flustered by Chloe taking the initiative, states what she has in mind.

Ines is truly noble-like. I can subtly sense her desire to boast about the union of the Bourgogne and Lorel families.

Their differences in values are quite apparent even in these small details.

“Then how about Claudia for Chloe’s daughter, combining our names, and Lilianne for Ines’s daughter, combining lily and Anne? What do you think?”

They might seem simple for royal names… but that should be fine.

Rather, if they were too old-fashioned, it might feel awkward when calling the daughters. These are cuter and much nicer.

“Yes!!”

“G-good…”

Fortunately, both seem to be very pleased.

Chloe answers with a bright smile, happy that her connection with me has strengthened, while Ines answers shyly with a blushing face, pleased that her request was granted.

Both are equally lovable, neither better than the other. If they were physically well, I would have instinctively hugged them—

“Your Majesty, other servants are watching.”

“A-ahem…! Right. I’m happy that you’re happy.”

Ah, just when things were getting good.

……….

“Haaa…”

The birth of new life is certainly something to be celebrated. Even if the mothers’ vessels are flawed.

Still, I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed.

‘No, having such envious thoughts is sinful. Besides, those two have become much less tainted, haven’t they?’

Until just a few months ago, going near them would cause a foul smell to sting my nose, making it very uncomfortable, but lately that smell has diminished greatly.

Even when I saw them a few times while working as a maid, the disgusting aura emanating from their bodies, though not completely gone, had become very faint. Like thick mud being washed away by flowing water, becoming very diluted.

For those two who were so wicked to improve this much… it must be pregnancy, right?

‘Ugh…’

Throughout the winter, I tried to appeal to the Saint in various ways using my position as a maid, but all I got in return was an awkward smile.

Soon I’ll be going to university, which means I’ll have even less time to work at the castle, and consequently, I’ll meet the Saint less often…

Seeing that he has two women, he doesn’t seem to have any burden in that regard, so why doesn’t he have such feelings for me? Do I look ugly in the Saint’s eyes?

In this case, perhaps I should follow Chloe’s example and—no, this won’t do. A relationship without consent is sinful.

“Where have you been when we’re so busy!?”

‘What’s going on?’

Jeanne, who had been lost in thought while cleaning, shifts her attention to a sudden loud noise beside her.

She sees a servant angrily confronting another servant who has just opened the door and entered.

“Huh? The queen is in labor so everyone’s busy, right? We needed to bring new bedding to the delivery room, but there was no one in charge, so I decided to handle the task first and get approval afterward.”

“If there’s no one in charge, you should at least tell someone else before going!”

“Ah… that’s true.”

“Sigh, since it was urgent, I’ll let it slide. But next time, no matter how urgent, tell someone before you go, even if it’s not the person in charge.”

“Sorry, I will next time.”

‘Approval… afterward?’

While cleaning and observing the situation around her, Jeanne catches one phrase from the noisy exchange.

Retroactive approval.

When there’s absolutely no time to get permission, you handle the urgent matter first and then get approval later.

Certainly, a relationship without consent is sinful.

But… what if consent is obtained after the relationship?

Come to think of it, Chloe also said she received approval this way.

Yes, this is it.

This is the answer.

“…Good.”

I want to rush in right now, but today is the day the children were born, so I can’t.

Even if I plan to get retroactive approval, on a day like this, he would feel guilty and surely resist desperately. In that case, the best course of action is to make plans from now and choose an appropriate day.

I need to watch for moments when the Saint lets his guard down in daily life… and then strike like a hawk snatching a rabbit from the sky.

‘About a month until the university opens.’

Once I enter university, opportunities to interact with the Saint in daily life will greatly decrease.

I need to finish this before then.