"…!"
Escar widened his green eyes in shock.
The first thing he saw after entering the room Villicia had directed him to was Shirley, his beloved wife, struggling with all her might.
Sweat drenched her body, causing her black hair to cling to her skin.
Her beautiful face twisted in pain, caught between the agony and her strained grimace.
"I can't …!"
Shirley screamed loudly.
She had truly given up on this feeling.
This … was the most painful thing she had ever experienced in her life.
"I …!"
"Please, keep pushing, My Lady! You can do it!"
The doctor who had first confirmed her pregnancy now assisted in the delivery.
"Ah, Sir! Come here!"
Realizing there was someone else observing them, the doctor motioned for Escar to come closer.
"Sit beside her, and please, give her strength."
Without hesitation, Escar did as directed.
He sat by the bed, beside Shirley, who was battling through this incredible ordeal.
Then … what now?
"Kyarghh! Huahhh!"
"Come on, My Lady! Breathe in~ breathe out~! Do it again!"
"Huftt, huahh. Hufft … huahhh."
"Good! Now push!"
GREP!
"…!"
Suddenly, Escar, who had not yet rested or even changed out of his armor, took Shirley's hand, which had been gripping the bed sheets tightly, and held it with both of his large, firm hands.
But, his hand ….
"…."
… It felt so fragile, trembling so violently now.
Wasn't it Shirley who was giving birth?
Then why, …?
TES!
"…!"
Why was it Escar who was crying, tears falling from his emerald green eyes, wetting Shirley's cheek?
Shirley, momentarily distracted from her pain, looked at her husband with an expression of annoyance and confusion in her fiery red eyes.
Meanwhile, Escar's heart raced with fear and anxiety.
Not from pride or shyness, but from terror.
In his aching heart, he prayed.
Oh, My Almighty Lord.
Oh, My Compassionate Lord.
Please, grant my wife strength.
Please, strengthen her through this labor.
Please, save her, and our baby.
Please … please—!
—GRPPP!
"…!"
In his deep concern, as he recited his prayer, suddenly, the hand he was holding was grasped back tightly with the strength of a grown man.
Escar was startled.
He couldn't deny it—this was such a strong grip, so strong that it made him wince in pain.
"Euarghh!"
However, when he saw Shirley in even more pain than the discomfort he felt from her grip, Escar hid his grimace and forced a smile, as always.
A sweet, warm, and friendly smile … despite the trembling green eyes and the tears streaming down his face.
"My lady! Just a little more—!"
—BRSTT!
Unknowingly, something had emerged from Shirley's groin.
The doctor then carefully reached into her open thighs and gently cradled it.
"Miss Villicia, please help me!"
"Of course!"
That something started to cause a stir among everyone in the room.
Especially when its loud cry echoed in the delivery room.
"Oeekk! Oeeekkk~!"
Yes.
A cry.
A cry that left Escar frozen, and Shirley exhaling in relief.
A baby's cry.
The small baby in the doctor's arms wriggled as it cried, its fine, silver-white hair visible.
"Oh My God, a girl! A princess! Come here~ come here," Villicia approached the doctor, wrapped the baby in a cloth, and took her into her arms.
"My Lord Escar, your daughter … she is … she is so beautiful~!"
As the doctor handed over the baby that had just been born, she turned back to focus her attention on the mother.
Casually, she posed a question that left the three key people in the room—Villicia, Escar, and especially Shirley—staring in disbelief.
"What are you waiting for, My Lady?"
"H-huh?"
"You still need to push!"
"W-what …?"
"…?"
Now, after hearing those words, Shirley felt something strange.
There … was still something blocking the birth canal.
"There's another baby still inside. You need to deliver it quickly."
"…!"
Shocked, the three of them gaped with their mouths wide open.
And, naturally, Shirley was the most astonished of them all.
"It won't be like your first baby. Since the passage is already open, this process will be much faster."
Another baby …?
There was still one more baby to be born?
"Now, follow my instructions again. Breathe in, and exhale!"
"Huhh, hufft~! Huuh~!"
Could it be …?
"Eukhh! Euwaaghh!"
… She was carrying and giving birth to twins?
BRSTT!
"Oeekk! Oekkhh!"
"Oh, God, thank you!" the doctor exclaimed joyfully.
Once again, her hands cradled a small, crying baby—a tiny red infant with hair that was darker than the first baby's.
"Thank you for your hard work, My Lady!"
It was over.
"Your second baby is a boy! A handsome prince!"
Finally, Shirley could breathe a sigh of relief, couldn't she?
"Huff! Hufh … huh."
TES!
"…!?"
Again, droplets of water wet Shirley's cheeks and other parts of her face.
When she looked up, she saw a man smiling warmly at her, ignoring the tears pooling in his emerald green eyes.
"…."
"…!"
Without making a sound, Escar mouthed something.
Something that left Shirley frozen, forgetting the excruciating pain she had just endured.
"Thank you so much," were the words formed by Escar's soft pink lips.
Words spoken with genuine sincerity, followed by a single act.
CHUUP~!
A long, lingering kiss landed on Shirley's sweat-drenched forehead.
SYAKK~!
Letting go of his grasp on his wife's hand, Escar lifted his trembling arms to frame Shirley's sticky face.
CHUUP~!
Once more, he kissed her.
This time, it was on the crown of her jet-black hair—the same color she had passed down to their second baby.
"Miss Villicia, please hold this one again. I need to tend to the lady."
After bathing Escar's first baby to clean away the blood and grime, wrapping her in a fresh, thick, warm cloth, and placing her in a spacious, safe, and comfortable crib for now, ….
"Understood!"
… Villicia took the second baby from the doctor's hands.
Ah, thank goodness.
Thank you, God.
The delivery had gone smoothly.
And both twins and their mother had made it through safely!
"Thank goodness. It's finally over."
After finishing with Shirley, the doctor glanced back.
"My Lady Aschenford."
Where Villicia had also completed her task.
"Now that your twins are cleaned up for their comfort, you may nurse them both."
"What?"
"…?"
Surprised by her reaction, the doctor looked at the Marchioness in confusion.
"This is for your and the babies' own good."
Carefully, she began to explain.
"The benefit for you is that it prevents your milk from being trapped and causing swelling in your chest. For the babies, it will provide excellent nutrition."
The pained expression Shirley had worn earlier vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, angry glare.
Her brows furrowed deeply, her teeth clenched in frustration, and she growled in irritation.
"I won't do it," she declared in a restrained tone, shocking the three key people still in the delivery room.
The crimson eyes rolled suddenly.
They stopped to meet the emerald ones, radiating a furious, inexplicable glare.
Abruptly, Shirley clenched both her fists tightly, shut her eyes, and screamed at the top of her lungs.
"I WON'T! I ABSOLUTELY WON'T!"
"…!"
Of course, this left Escar utterly stunned.
He was deeply shocked by Shirley's sudden change.
And that wasn't all.
SYUKK~!
As the Marquess tried to calm his wife by holding her hand again, … Escar received an unexpected response instead.
PLAKK!
Yes.
Shirley slapped his arm away without hesitation.
"GET OUT!"
Her shouts, growing louder and louder, woke the twin babies, who had briefly fallen asleep lulled by the warmth of their swaddling.
"Oeekhh! Oekkh!"
"Uwaangh~! Huwaanghh!"
"LEAVE AND LEAVE ME ALONE, OR I'LL THROW THOSE BABIES AWAY!"
"…!"
Defeated, unable to protest, … knowing that ignoring such a threat could turn it into reality, Escar signaled Villicia and the doctor to comply.
"In that case, I'll check on you again once you've calmed down," said the doctor.
Each of the women who had assisted in Shirley's delivery carried a newborn Aschenford baby in their arms.
Followed by ….
"…."
… Escar, who briefly turned his sorrowful face toward his wife before finally leaving.
In his heart, he wished for something once more.
He prayed that whatever was troubling his wife's mind and heart would soon be resolved.
KRIEETT~!
The door closed slowly, leaving Shirley alone in the now quiet room.
"…!"
Even though she was now undeniably alone, her hardened expression, sharp glare, and clenched fists … did not subside.
"Ah, damn it!" Shirley cursed bitterly.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
She repeated her expletives over and over.
Her mind was completely chaotic.
"How could I have given birth to two babies at once?!"
Shirley raised one arm, bringing her thumb close to her lips.
GRTT!
Unconsciously, she began biting her nails.
"Damn it! Just one baby can make other mothers' bodies grow wider! What about me, who gave birth to twins?! Will I turn into a pig?!"
After chewing the nail of her right thumb, she moved on to the left one.
"No way! No, no, no! I'm still young; I can't live the rest of my life looking ugly!"
Shirley's crimson eyes darkened.
"I have to make my body look good again!"
Her pupils quivered, as if holding back tears, yet her expression was blank.
Meanwhile, in a corridor not far from the softly closed door, stood three adults and a pair of newborn twins, only minutes old.
"What should we do, Your Excellency? The lady is deeply shaken," Villicia spoke, her tone dripping with worry.
The doctor added, "If this continues, it's unlikely she'll want to nurse in the coming days. What if we hire a wet nurse?"
A wet nurse?
Was that a good idea?
"Would that be acceptable to you, Milord?" the head maid asked, her anxious gaze shifting between the first baby, the second, and finally Escar.
It would certainly be better if their biological mother, Shirley, nursed them exclusively, wouldn't it?
But what could they do?
Escar couldn't bring himself to force her, especially after she had just survived such a harrowing, life-threatening ordeal.
With no other option, ….
"…!"
Escar resigned himself.
Rather than arguing and further distressing Shirley, who had just endured such a monumental struggle, he weakly nodded, agreeing to the doctor's suggestion.