Tired of crying, Rion now renamed Arion, unconsciously fell asleep in his new mother's arms. When he woke up, he was lying in his cot. The sun was already high outside. There was no sign of his new family member.
Arion felt that his eyes were swollen and itchy. So was his nose, itchy and stuffy. He tried to rub them, but his hands were too weak to move.
'I haven't cried this much in a long time. My eyes and nose are itchy. This sucks.' He unintentionally let out a small whimper of discomfort. Suddenly, someone approached him, startling him slightly.
'I didn't notice anyone here because the room was completely silent.' Arion noticed the person before him. Since she wore a servant's uniform, she might have been a servant or a nanny.
Her brown eyes looked at Arion warmly with a gentle smile on her face, "You are awake, Your Highness."
Arion blinked a few times, 'Your Highness? Me? Did I become a prince or something?'
The woman in front of him looked to be in her early 60's with her brown hair and warm brown eyes, 'She is more worthy to be called my grandmother than my nanny.'
Arion didn't feel any vibrations of danger from this woman, so he could be sure that she wasn't bad.
'Must be a good person.' Arion made a small mumbling sound. The maid chuckled as she took him in her arms.
"Your mother hasn't returned yet, so let's bathe you first, Your Highness."
Arion frowned reluctantly, 'She's going to bathe me? But I'm a man, even if I'm a baby now.'
Even so, he resigned himself to what would happen next. He remained silent during the entire bathing process, which left the servant astonished.
"You are very calm. Even your older siblings were very rebellious as babies."
'My soul is not a real baby, and I don't want to get into trouble for a little resistance.' Arion shuddered as some unpleasant memories flashed through his mind.
The servant quickly covered him with a towel and went to get clothes and everything a typical baby uses.
'I was so emotional yesterday that I forgot something important.'
Remembering it again made Arion's cheeks slightly red with embarrassment. His soul was 17 years old, and crying like a baby was embarrassing for him.
'Where exactly is this?' He looked around the room, which was too big for a baby. Its luxurious design made him frown slightly in surprise.
'What world is this? The world of novels? Or an anime world?'
Arion saw his very small hands clench weakly, 'So I was reborn? Like all the novels and comics I've ever read?'
Feeling tired, Arion put his hands down, 'It sucks to be a baby. This body is so weak and helpless.'
Glancing at his returning servant, Arion sighed softly, 'Calm down. Just be thankful for what you have. Don't complain.'
As the servant dressed him, Arion couldn't stop his mind from working, 'I still lack information.'
Moments later, the door to the room opened, revealing the white-haired woman who was the first person he had seen in this world.
'Oh, that's my new mother.'
She smiled brightly as the servant took him into her arms. She kissed his forehead gently, "Arion, Mom is back."
Arion blinked, 'That's right. My name is Arion now. Surprisingly, not too different from my former name. That makes things easier.'
The servant bowed, "Welcome back, Your Majesty."
She smiled, "Thank you for taking care of him and bathing him, Nova. You may go."
The servant smiled back before bowing again and leaving the room. His mother sat comfortably in the chair while she carried him.
"Has Arion been a good baby?"
'So this is my new mother. The difference is so great.' Arion made a small mumbling sound to answer her. It was all he could do not to be mistaken for a mute.
She squealed softly, "My baby is so cute!"
Arion refrained from frowning at being called cute. His teenage soul automatically rejected the title.
She hugged Arion tightly as she rested her cheek on his head, "Sorry to leave you alone. Mommy was just talking to Daddy. He is taking care of your brother and sister."
He was immediately filled with curiosity. He had never had a sibling or a sibling-like figure in his old life. That made him a little curious.
The only people who were nice to him were his old boss and the chief. But both of them were too old to be considered brothers. They were more like uncles to him.
His mother smiled and then gently kissed his forehead, "Mommy's baby must be hungry. It's time for lunch."
Arion started to panic when he saw her undressing her chest, 'Wait! This time I'll never be ready even if I'm given time to prepare!'
"Come on, Arion." She coaxed as she brought Arion's mouth to her breast.
He closed his eyes tightly and kept his face away from the sight in front of him, 'I'm still a man. Even though she is my mother now, it still feels inappropriate.'
She frowned in surprise, "Don't want to drink? Does your stomach hurt?"
'It is my soul that feels bad.' He felt his mother's hand gently rubbing his stomach, which made him feel a little better.
When Arion continued to refuse to drink milk, she began to worry and moved from her position, "Maybe I should take you to the doctor."
Arion groaned inwardly, 'It's probably better that I die again, right?'
They arrived in front of the room where the palace doctor was. She knocked on the door before entering without waiting for the occupant of the room to answer and opened the door for her.
"Uncle! I'm coming in!" She cheerfully greeted the only occupant of the room.
There was a man in his early 60's in a doctor's coat sitting at his desk with several documents piled high. When he saw who the intruder was, he just let out a resigned sigh.
"Your Majesty, you should have waited for my answer before going in. What if the one waiting for you is an assassin?" He rebuked the queen in front of him.
"Don't worry. I can defend myself." She said confidently. As if she forgot that her hands were full with the baby.
Inwardly, Arion grimaced nervously, 'I'm the one who can't...'
"That's not what I meant..." The doctor said resignedly. He always ran out of words when arguing with his queen.
The doctor cleared his throat and stood up to approach her, "Is there something you need my help with, Your Majesty?"
Arion can see his mother frowning, "There are only two of us here. Don't be so formal with me, Uncle Chris."
The doctor called Uncle Chris reprimanded her with a resigned smile, "You can't be so casual even if there are only two of us here, Natalie."
Arion was curious about the name he had just heard, 'Is that the name of my new mother? When I heard her called Your Majesty, I thought she was a queen. Are they close enough for this doctor to dare call a queen by her name alone?'
She ignored his rebuke, "Can you examine Arion? He refuses to drink milk even though it's past his drinking time."
Now he returned to his professional appearance, "Please put the prince on the bed, Your Majesty."
The doctor examined Arion's abdomen carefully but thoroughly. He pressed and patted his stomach several times before he looked at the queen who was standing anxiously next to him.
"There is no problem with the little prince's stomach. Everything looks fine." The doctor explained to his queen, who carried Arion back after examination.
She looked worriedly at her son, "This is strange. He refuses to drink milk. There was no problem before."
Arion secretly felt a bad feeling, 'Before?'
The doctor stroked his beard lightly, "This is the first time you breastfed him while the prince was awake, isn't it?"
The queen blinked in confusion, "Is there a problem with that?"
Arion almost screamed in embarrassment, 'I was breastfed in my sleep?'
The doctor waved his hand, "I'm sure there isn't. Perhaps the prince is just being fussy because he is awake."
She still looked at Arion anxiously, "I see."
'I'm glad I don't remember.' Arion made a small mumbling sound, which was greeted with a kiss on the forehead by his mother.
Arion frowned in confusion, 'Why does she like to kiss my forehead so much?'
Doctor Chris looked at her with a gentle smile, "Don't worry, my dear. How about trying to drink it some other way?"
"With a bottle?"
She let out a disappointed sigh when she saw her uncle nod. A small frown appeared on her face. The doctor cleared his throat to hide the laughter that was about to come out.
"Though I want to breastfeed him directly." She sighed again, which made Arion feel bad."
'Are you trying to make me feel guilty? I am dying of shame here, you know!'
Arion made a sound of protest and moved his body slightly. His mother patted his bottom to calm him down.
She scowled resignedly, "Alright. Anything for my little Arion."