It is the middle of the night, but the lights inside the Vacarella mansion aren't blown off. A certain occurrence happening inside, the Duchess is finally in labor. Sweat trickles on her body, hands turning pale as she gripped the sheets hard.
"I need you to push, duchess!" the maids scattered inside the room, getting ready for everything to assist the midwife and the duchess through the night.
"I need more clean towels!" the midwife shouts, another groan left the duchess' mouth.
meanwhile, outside the room there's Royce and a woman. Both were waiting with worry.
"What do you think will be the gender?" The woman ask at Royce. He was thrown off but answers, "boy, I suppose"
"Why?"
Royce groaned at the woman's follow-up question. "What do you mean why? Just be quiet, Patrice"
Patrice is one of the younger siblings of the Duke. Apparently she came home after learning of Mavis leaving the estate. She and Royce's wife were the ones who found the duchess in such a state. The Duchess and some maids were on the floor that day and asking for assistance, liquid had pooled under her. Royce immediately called for the family doctor.
"just when will my brother be here?" Patrice asked in annoyance, her foot tapped the ground repeatedly.
It is evident in her actions that she is worried to the duchess as giving birth is the most painful thing a woman can encounter in her life. Just imagine something big does not easily come out from your nose even though you blew hard and all and it will take you minutes before you finally get it out.
But childbirth is much more painful than picking your nose. No one can describe it, at the same time it is a beautiful thing.
"the children are still asleep?" Patrice asked and Royce nod as an answer.
The kids are with Anna. The kids don't know about the duchess in labor, except Yessenia who saw them stealthily entering the room and had the idea. Nonetheless they weren't aware of Yessenia.
Although the kid wants to see the baby first, but seeing that the younger ones will come along, she changed her mind and slept early. Besides, she immediately thought of Wren who isn't at home.
"just where is our ruthless big brother?!"
To answer that question. The Duke has been hunting the bandits on the borders as well as finding the remaining members of the assassins who escaped the Count.
When he heard that his wife and daughter are the target, he did not hesitate to think of killing them. Though Duke Aurea requested one person to be spared to investigate but later on he found them all burnt on the back of the slums.
Right now the duke is rushing home without replying to the letter his sister sent. Who in their right mind would leave their wife to give birth to their 4th child alone. A bastard will do that. Which might be him by the way.
They also sent a letter to Wren informing her mother was in labor. Of course, there was no reply. Then they sent one for Caesar. Not that they expect him to reply. They expect that Caesar will be here after 2 days.
A few more minutes passed and the door opened. Maids come out one by one from the room with bowels and towels with blood on their hands. Both of them hear the groans of the duchess.
It is terrifying as the groan sounded more compressed, why, the midwife gave her a rolled towel to bite on to avoid her lips being ripped.
Jemina who was on the side suddenly clasped her hands on the duchess and joined her in breathing. Suddenly the door burst opened, the duke entered with his blood soaked armor.
At this point he took over Jemina's place and calmly soothed the duchess. While his younger siblings are relieved to see him—mixed with disappointment upon seeing his appearance. Well, it is better he's like that than he didn't arrive at all.
"I can see the head, duchess! one big push!"
only her biting the towel hardens as her grip on the Duke tightens, she lets another groan while pushing it.
after pushing that hard, it left her in the bed like a withered vegetable as her sight became blurry. The voices inside the room feel like they are going farther for the duchess.
Sweat trickling down her face and chest, it hurts as she pushes more. That push felt like a relief when she felt something came out. She weakly blinks, the duke does not leave her side as he caresses his wife's cheeks.
"Your grace, a healthy baby girl!" Jemina excitedly said which made the other maid happy as they all slump on the floor.
Jemina walks at the duchess with baby on arms, she showed it to the two. As weak as she may be, she looks at the baby with blinking eyes.
The baby is carefully covered in a blanket, even so, she recognizes that the child looks like her, she extends her arms to reach the baby. The duchess' hand falls limply in the bed and her eyes close. It felt like time became slow and everyone stared in shock at the duchess.
Even the duke has his eyes wide as he immediately—gently shake her limp body. "Carina open your eyes." His voice became shaky while keeping his gaze on the Duchess.
To no avail she didn't replied nor moved at all. He felt his heart pulsing hard and fast. Is she dead? What happened? Those were the questions in his mind.
"Duchess...?" Jemina called hoarsely and she held the baby tightly, fearing she might drop the baby. With a trembling body she snapped herself out of it and looked around the room.
their fear came from when the duchess gave birth to Astreia, she was on verge of death that time as she suddenly collapsed. Seeing it again, it triggered their fears. The midwife checks the duchess' pulse. It was faint, but it means she is still with them.
"Your grace, the Duchess is just sleeping due to exhaustion..." she calmly explained to the Duke, sighing with relief, he turned around and ordered to clean the duchess and the room.
However he remained by her side while changing his clothes. It was a long day and he wouldn't forgive himself if something had happened to Carina.
"You did well. I will be here until you wake up"
"You are right on time," Patrice said while Royce patted him on the shoulder. Mave didn't bother at all and let his younger siblings be on their way.
"Congratulations brother, another girl... huh?" before they knew it they were outside of the room, "He chased us out easily! Pfft"
"Well, that wasn't the first," Royce shrugged it off. He was used to it, being ignored by his brother ever since they were young.
He looked at Patrice and said, "I will return to my fief with Aria."
She was taken aback by his sudden announcement. It turned awfully out of nowhere. However, Royce did not pay attention to Patrice who has questions written all over her face.
The former Duke Vacarella has 6 children, four of them were male and two female. Every child is talented in his eyes, but only Mave, the eldest stood out and became the successor after the former duke died. Mavis, his twin sister married a foreign man and they haven't seen its face ever since. She and his husband even took the Vacarella surname.
Meanwhile, Patrice the 3rd child, married a mercenary and also did not change her surname however his husband remained no surname.
Royce, the 4th child, was given a fief in the north and was given a title of count even though carrying the surname of Vacarella. He is well-known in having many connections. Then, the last child, Tristan was a bachelor and is currently roaming the continent.
Because there are 6 children born in the Vacarella; even if they are a woman they have the right to inherit the title, it is a gossip circulating that they might kill each other for the succession. As to why some people don't want to associate with them, some wants to take advantage only to fail to do so.
"It will be next week though, since Brother Mave has many things..."
"You deserve it. Among us siblings you are the most lax." Patrice huff and smack him in the head.
"Ahhahahaa that hurts. Lexus really takes after you."
"That kid? I thought Laxus took after me." He froze at the obliviousness of his sister.
everyone in the mansion saw how the oldest looked exactly like his mother in her younger days as she always bullied the younger ones and often watched on the sidelines to watch how they suffer.
"What?"
Royce chose to ignore it despite the fact that the lady wants to know what his look meant.
---------------------------------------------------
"whaaatt?!" I covered my ears at the loud shout. I didn't realize that the quiet Ceisia had a loud voice. She was even more surprised than I am.
"But... this was sent hours ago? Are you going to leave then?"
I nod and stood up, leaving her in the garden. I am excited to see my new sister. I hope she looks like mom, it will disappoint me to see her looking like our father where he has Caesar as his duplicate.
I can't help but to sigh. The maids helped me pack my belongings as I stride my way to my uncle's office to announce that I will leave, that is the plan alright.
but then, when I announced it, Alef and Uncle objected to the idea as both of them said that I will leave once the upcoming festival is done which is in a week.
and so I did not leave the estate and thus my training with uncle continues. It was hell as I practiced with my only spirit—who was fussing so much that I wished I erased that mouth.
Another day passed and a maid was already waiting for me at the door, "where are we going next young miss? The duke says you are free today."
"really?" As expected he will ditch again!
He will show up one of these days ambushing me with magic attacks and this spirit of mine being uncooperative. Just thinking about it makes me want to strangle the two of them. Gasping at the sudden realization, Caesar and others might rub their ideas on me.
Uh... "Young miss?"
Nevermind. Today is sunny, I will relax in the garden. Moments later, I was relaxing myself with cookies and milk in the gazebo, it was nice without Ceisia or Boaife.
One maid and a knight accompanying me per my Uncle's instructions. "Is there anything else you like, Young Miss?"
"No," I can't even finish these tarts. In my past life these foods are pricey for one slice and I always... share it with my sibling.
The last memory I can remember about them is that... they are looking forward to share something with me.
"We greet his imperial highness, Prince Zairon."
The food stuck on my throat, my eyes shot wide open when I saw Prince Zairon with a knight behind him. What are they doing here? His gaze soon found mine, Now I have a bad feeling.
the lump of food in my throat, I can't feel it anymore. I was surprised that the food went down easily and I was rooted on my seat.
"Leave," my maid and knight look at each other and lowered their heads before heading out, leaving me alone with this kid.
Don't leave!! I can't be alone with this guy for a minute!! Goodness, I'm screaming in my mind behind my blank face. I should scold the two of them later. I thought they would protect me from danger and yet they left me here.
He sits down in front across me and I was too stunned to move. "Why are you not eating?"
"Who would eat at times like this?" I clasped my hands on my mouth, immediately. He tilted his head and he raised a brow, "You don't want to eat?" he crossed his legs and stared at me, waiting for my answer
"I am... er... full, your imperial highness" Totally full especially with that stare.
"Really? Eat more. I heard a lot that you fall ill, a lot" wow, it feels like he was concerned and yet It felt like he was mocking me.
Seeing that I do not take anything, he grabs a knife and slices a piece of tart, puts it on a plate, and pushes it across the table.
"... ..."
What is this atmosphere...?
"Oho... are you not going to accept his... hmm? ... kindness?"
and then I felt a lukewarm breath on my nape
"... !"
I jolted in my seat at the low whisper of Boaife right in my ear, I glared at her. To find her focus was on the treats in front of her, "Hey, can I have one?"
This spirit... can I annul my contract with her? Why is she like this?
"I have something..."
"what? I am in the middle of something," I whispered and she huffed angrily, "You know, the thing I told you about..."
A snap of a finger caught our attention as we looked at the prince. His gaze was rather... scary. Anyway, he was intently staring at me, baffled at that.
"Who are you talking to?"
"No one in particular, your imperial highness," I said and drank my milk when he raised another brow.
"When did you start talking to me with formalities?"
...
"Eh? I thought..." well, he was a prince and I figured that the engagement between us might never happen, it was better to show respect for the prince... or not?
"You didn't though when we first met" I froze, feeling ashamed of my past actions. Should I call it my dark past?
I mean if I was already aware that I transmigrate I wouldn't do that. Really, it is embarrassing enough to remember
"Your brother looks like he doesn't care if I am the prince of this empire. I bet he will cut me open despite my status"
He seems to know what I'm thinking... I can also see that happening but you are the one who will cut him if our fate goes according to the book. So, shouldn't I be the one worried here not him?
"Anyway, I'm here because my father told me so."
you could at least refuse his orders as his son. Besides, I don't want to see him. This tart is tangy and sour, perfect for my mood now.
"Are you displeased?"
Unaware, I nod and ate the tart in front of me, the prince only stared at me once more which I did not notice.
"Hey, about the..."
"Not now Boaife," I'm crying inside because these are really delicious, "REALLY! THIS GIRL!"
I can feel her anger, but my hands are too full to entertain her. uh, wow, this cake is scrumptious. It lightens my mood as I taste the sweetness and the bitterness of the chocolate.
Waahh! A pure bliss! Whoever made it should have their salary raise! The sweets I have at Count Holton are not like this.
"Wren," I did not look and kept eating the cake in front of me. Like he said, I will eat well.
"Yes, Your Imperial highness?"
"Nevermind."
I looked up at him, but he looked away. Definitely looking at the flowerbeds. Wow, his ears and nape are bright red. It may be because of Boaife, psh. It is unusually hot today since this fire spirit besides me, fuming in anger.
"Go away Boa"
"No way!" This phoenix... I really should roast her when I had the chance.