Arc-6 Ch-43

 "Aaaahh! ...Uuuhhh!"

What spilled from my mouth was not human speech but a groaning that could have been mistaken for a beast’s warning. Unable to even move properly, only the pain dyed my entire consciousness. "Even a single moment sooner, I want this time to pass" was the only thing I could think. In this moment alone, I could do nothing but forget my parents, my husband, even my own child, and continue groaning. Childbirth had already moved into the final stage, and all that was left was to wait for the child in my womb to come out safely. The pain from my lower body had reached its peak, and I continued straining through tears under this unbearable agony that exceeded any tolerance I had.

Why is anesthesia not recommended for childbirth?

It is because one must apply strength at the right times depending on the situation. Unless abnormalities requiring some kind of procedure appear during delivery, it is considered better for the mother's postpartum body to avoid anesthesia as much as possible. Even so, this agony utterly exceeds anything one could ever get used to. The very idea that someone without complications must suffer like this makes no sense at all. Leon, who tells me to endure this pain eight times, is an inhuman brute.

Once this child is born, I will make him abstain from the bed for several years.

"Uuuh...! Haaah...!"

The obstetrician and assistants were muttering something, but I could not understand the meaning of their words. With my mind hazy and almost all my senses controlled by pain and heat, it was only natural. I regulated my breathing and used the strength of my whole body to push out the one inside my womb into the outside world.

"――――, ―――"

Someone was calling out to me.

Barely being able to realize that was all I could manage. My body remembered that during Lionel and Ariel’s births, the pain right before the baby emerged was the most severe. The pain now matched that. Which meant the birth should be soon. Clinging to that faint hope, I repeated my straining for what must have been the countless time.

"――――――a"

I felt like I heard a faint voice.

Gradually my senses began to return to my body, and my consciousness started processing my surroundings.

"Aaaaahhh aaahhh"

I could definitely hear it. It was proof that a new life had arrived in the world. The joy welling up inside me overpowered even the terrible pain I should still have been feeling, overwhelming my entire awareness.

"Are you alright? The head has come out, so just a little more."

A human fetus is delivered starting with the head, which is the largest part. After that, I only needed to endure carefully until the baby’s whole body came out without trouble, and the nearly year-long pregnancy would finally come to an end. When my abdomen, which had been connected to my child until a few hours ago, became lighter, I felt an indescribable loneliness.

The sensation of something that had been a part of myself becoming an entirely separate being is something only a mother who has given birth can understand.

Listening to the newborn's cries that seemed to insist on their existence to me, I relaxed my strength, basking in the fulfillment of having completed my great duty.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Childbirth does not end the moment the baby is delivered. Once the umbilical cord is cut and the placenta is expelled, it is finally one step settled; if there are tears or bleeding, those must also be treated. Neglecting postpartum care can cause irregular menstruation or infertility, and in the worst case, illness during the puerperal period may lead to death. Fortunately, my physical damage from this birth was slight, and the obstetrician said my recovery would be quick as long as I did not strain myself. While I received treatment, the baby was bathed, purified, and underwent various examinations. To prevent a noble child from being swapped, a servant of the ducal house was present and examined the baby carefully for any abnormalities.

Given that no issues were found, we finally had our first meeting.

The baby wrapped in a clean cloth had black hair like his father Leon. There were a few other features that resembled Leon, but such parental bias only dulls judgment and causes trouble.

I had to tell myself constantly to remain calm with reason, or I feared I might crush him in my arms out of sheer emotion, so strong was the love overflowing from deep within my chest.

This baby had dwell within my womb for over ten months and caused me the greatest pain of my life these past few hours. And yet, I felt no hatred at all. Why?

Whether it was an instinct rooted in the continuation of the species, or a rational conclusion made with a calm mind, I did not know. I simply felt an overwhelming affection for the fragile being lying before me, eyes closed and breathing faintly. I wanted to give thanks to every part of the world for allowing him to be born safely. The only other time I had felt such deep maternal emotion was years ago when Lionel and Ariel were born. I savored that blissful moment fully, to the point that I felt I could die right then and have no regrets.

After thoroughly enjoying my encounter with my child, I was transported with the baby to a private room for mother and child.

Personally, I would have been fine using my own room that I had used since childhood, but it was cramped due to all my belongings, and it was not suitable for storing the tools and staff needed for infant care. Father had even gone so far as to renovate one of the rooms in preparation.

Whether it was purely the love of a grandfather celebrating his grandchild’s birth, or whether it was politically motivated to protect a child who carried the Bartfort blood, would greatly change the meaning. The colorful flowers celebrating the baby's birth soothed my heart.

When I lay on the clean bed, the baby was carefully brought over in a wheeled infant bed.

Even though we had been apart for only a few hundred seconds, I could not help feeling restless. After all, infants are among the most delicate beings in the world. Trouble regulating temperature may cause a fever; even drinking milk may cause choking; these are only minor issues compared to how simply rolling over can cause suffocation. They are terrifying beings that instead dominate the lives of their parents.

When I gently received him in my arms, he began to move his tiny hands as if searching for something. It had been over an hour since the birth; it was about time to feed him breast milk.

I opened the front of my loose clothing and brought my breast close, and the baby slowly groped for it. When he took the slightly darker nipple into his mouth, he latched on vigorously.

Rather than sucking, biting down seemed a more accurate description as he began drinking my milk with great intensity. Seeing my child desperately drinking, driven by instinct not to let go as he struggled to live, I even felt a sense of reliability. During my previous pregnancy, I had struggled quite a bit even though I naturally produce plenty of milk, due to the twins.

It was ironic that after dealing with hardship the first time, caring for the third felt easier.

Once he had drunk his fill and seemed satisfied, the baby began breathing in a steady rhythm.

Now then, what should I do from here?

To be honest, I felt so sleepy I could hardly stand it, with waves of drowsiness hitting the moment my mind relaxed. I had lost an enormous amount of stamina from childbirth, and my abdomen throbbed as my insides stirred. After all, until just a short time ago, the baby had been inside my belly. My uterus shrank like a deflating balloon, and as the organs that had been compressed began shifting rapidly, my abdomen changed shape with noises. The human body truly is mysterious. I wanted to eat something to regain strength for what came next, but in this condition, doing so felt dangerous. As I absent-mindedly thought about the future, the door to the room opened. Entering were my husband and my children. Oh right, they existed.

It may seem somewhat unfeeling, but childbirth is a grueling labor between mother and baby alone.

I had used up so much physical and mental strength that the presence of others had slipped from my mind.

"Mother"

"Mother"

"...Ah, you came."

I wanted to cover up the unsightly state I had been in before giving birth and say something, but what escaped my mouth was only a hoarse voice. Even trying to speak gently proved more taxing than expected, showing just how exhausted I truly was. Meanwhile, the children were full of curiosity toward the baby I held.

"Angie, good job."

"...Yes."

"How are you feeling?"

"Not bad."

"I see."

Leon spoke to me, but even replying felt like a burden. For several days after returning to the ducal residence, we had not even seen each other, and today I had snapped at him thoughtlessly because of the labor pains.

No matter what either of us said, it would only sound like excuses, and it was clear we were both struggling with how to approach each other.

I should be the one to take the first step without being stubborn. With that in mind, I slowly shifted the baby in my arms so that Leon and the others could see him better.

"Wow…"

"Ooh…"

"See, he’s a cute little boy, isn’t he? He’s your younger brother."

"………………"

Lionel and Ariel were watching the sleeping baby’s movements with sparkling eyes.

Leon, on the other hand, looked somehow gloomy. It felt distant or awkward, as if he couldn’t keep up with processing his emotions.

"Leon?"

"…What is it?"

"About this child’s name."

"Ah, right. Yeah…"

As I thought, something was off.

Back before Lionel and Ariel were born, Leon had been thinking of names whenever he had free time, yet now he could only manage vague, evasive words. But it didn’t seem like he had no interest in the baby; rather, he was keeping a deliberate distance, as if afraid to touch him.

"I’ve been thinking about various things. Sorry, I just couldn’t come up with a good name."

"Hmm, then for now, hold him."

"It’s fine. I’m scared I’ll break him if I touch him."

"Honestly, you’re acting strange right now."

"Sorry."

Normally I would scold Leon, but having exhausted both physical and mental strength through childbirth, I didn’t even have the energy to get angry. As an awkward atmosphere lingered, the room’s door opened and Father and my older brother entered.

"We’re coming in, Angie."

"Are you feeling well? If you need anything, don’t hesitate to say so."

"Thank you for your concern. But I have no particular issues right now."

"Is that the child you’re holding, the one who was just born?"

"Yes, a boy who resembles my husband."

"Indeed, resembling his father, he will surely grow up brave and strong."

"…Your words of praise are sincerely appreciated."

Father probably meant it as a compliment, but Leon was not the type who enjoyed conflict.

If anything, he was the kind of man who would desperately stop his own child from going to the battlefield and go fight in their place.

No one else in the room noticed Leon’s attitude, so absorbed were they with the baby.

…It can’t be helped. I suppose I will have to resolve this.

"Leon, I want to change my position, so help me. Lay the baby on the bed."

"…Alright."

Leon, holding the baby nervously and transferring him to the infant bed, looked rather adorable. Father, my brother, Lionel, and Ariel all shifted their attention from me to the baby. With everyone gathered so closely, Leon probably found it hard to speak.

"Father, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Would you name this child?"

"Hmm."

Hearing my proposal, Father raised his eyebrows, his expression filling with delight. In noble society, becoming a child’s name-giver is equivalent to being entrusted as their guardian.

The Bartfort family was treated as vassals to the Redgrave ducal house, but because of the recent reconciliation efforts with the royal family and the uproar Leon caused at the ducal estate, relations had become strained. To prevent further deterioration, I intended to have Father serve as the baby’s name-giver, improving our relations.

For Father, being asked by his own daughter to name his grandchild could hardly feel unpleasant.

Even so, I felt self-loathing for using the son I had just given birth to as a political tool, but my pale face from childbirth conveniently hid my true feelings. Everyone focused on the baby, who had been moved a short distance away from my bed.

The only one remaining beside me now was Leon, who still looked gloomy.

"So, what do you want to do, Angie?"

"What do you mean, what do I want to do?"

"Well, will you stay with me from now on too?"

"Do you dislike having me by your side?"

Leon shook his head frantically. If he disliked it that much, he shouldn’t have asked. A man feared by surrounding nations and even nobles of the kingdom as a dangerous knight now shrank timidly before my words. His reaction was so adorable it stirred my sadistic impulses.

"If Angie wants to stay in the ducal estate, I can’t stop you."

"Then why don’t you try your hardest to stop me?"

"My wish is for you and the children to be happy. If you don’t want to be with me, I’ll endure it."

"Can you endure it?"

"Probably not. But plenty of noble couples live separately, don’t they?"

Indeed, many noble households had husbands and wives living apart. It wasn’t only because of poor marital relations. Nobles with territories near the border often had their wives and children live safely in the capital or the wife’s family home; or when the husband held a high-ranking position in the royal capital, the wife managed the territory alone. While living apart, the husband might acquire a mistress, leading to inheritance disputes. Because noble marriages involved many circumstances, one could not generalize.

However, there would be little benefit if Leon and I lived separately. Whether I lived in the ducal estate in the capital or in the vast Redgrave territory, it would only be inconvenient. There was no reason for me to live away from Leon.

"I read the reports on the Bartfort territory. It seems my brother-in-law is doing his best."

"Dorothea seems to be helping quite a lot. I think she knew too much about the Bartfort territory even before marriage."

"The report was well-organized and easy to understand, unlike the terrible letters you sent me."

"…Were they really that bad?"

"They were weak-willed, you dragged the children into a marital issue, and your expressions were unrefined and far too direct."

"I have no excuse."

"But your feelings came through well enough, so I’ll forgive you."

A letter with sincerity rather than smooth words was far more comforting. Though, since what irritated me was Leon’s actions, the whole situation felt like a bit of a farce.

"Father and Brother are helping, so things are fine for now, but without you, there are too many parts that don’t work."

"So, you want me to come back because you’re worried about territory management?"

"You know it’s not just that."

"Then say it properly. Do you need me for the sake of the territory? Do you need me as the mother of your children? Or do you simply want me as your wife?"

"Umm… for now, I guess all of that."

"That’s where you should say, ‘I want you back because I love you the most.’"

"But saying that feels like cheating somehow."

"Even so, there are words I want to hear. You really don’t understand a woman’s heart."

Leon must have thought hard about how to be sincere toward me. He was an endlessly awkward man. This was the true nature of the infamous knight feared by surrounding countries and nobles alike. The moment I found that side of him adorable, I had already lost.

"I’ll come back properly, so don’t worry."

"Really?"

"Not right away, of course. I have to stay in the ducal estate until my postpartum period ends and I recover."

"I know."

"Your problem is that you always lose your nerve at important moments, you coward."

"Sorry."

With the joy after childbirth added on, I felt incredibly at peace.

I finally understood why pardons were granted during national celebrations or royal auspicious events in the past.

When one is wrapped in this much happiness, it’s no surprise a king or queen would forgive criminals who had been insolent to them.

It seemed that when I gave birth, I expelled the resentment that had been smoldering inside me as well. Leon took my hand and slowly squeezed it, so I gently squeezed back. Hands and fingers made rough and knotted by training and farm work, unsuitable for a noble. The familiar sensation I felt after so long was dear to me.

Pop…

Something touched the back of my hand. Wondering where the droplet that slid across my hand and fell onto the bed, leaving a stain, had come from, I looked up. Leon was crying. Tears poured from both his eyes in torrents, and the sight was so unusual that my face stiffened.

"Why are you crying?"

"Sorry… when I let my guard down, the tears just came out…"

"Did you really hate the idea of parting from me that much?"

"Of course I did."

"Honestly, you really are a helpless husband. Now, stop crying already."

Knowing that he would not be separated from me, Leon began to cry, and I gently stroked his head. Even as I was exasperated by how simple he was, the Leon who continued to cry was unbearably adorable. Foolish man, it should have been my role to cry from being moved by the joy of childbirth. If you act like this, I will forgive you unconditionally no matter what you do.

In the end, it seems I am destined never to be able to leave Leon. Having no choice, I lightly held Leon’s head against me. What am I going to do with him, really. Normally, it should be the husband’s role to comfort his wife after childbirth and offer kind words. If he is this unreliable, I will have to watch over him until the very end.

"It seems you’ve calmed down."

"Yeah, somehow I feel relieved."

"Soon, we should invite Father-in-law and Mother-in-law to the royal capital too. We have caused them quite a lot of worry."

"…Don’t tell them I cried."

"That depends on how you behave."

I suppose I should stop teasing the visibly embarrassed Leon soon. Noble families have many procedures required after childbirth, and my tired mind struggles to think clearly. For a little while, enjoying family time shouldn’t bring punishment. After all, we were the ones who worked to suppress the kingdom’s turmoil. Our time as a couple had been stolen because of that foolish uproar. The economic and time losses were immeasurable.

"So, in the end, things are back to normal."

"It cannot be helped. Angie repeatedly said, ‘I have no intention of leaving.’"

"…Father, Brother, please do not say unnecessary things."

Father and my older brother interjected into the conversation between Leon and me. The twins were still absorbed in watching the baby sleeping on the bed.

"Calm down. I have no intention of stopping you or my grandchildren from returning to the Bartfort territory."

"We have no idea what he might do. If the estate is damaged any further, it will interfere with government affairs."

"It is Father and Brother’s responsibility for making an enemy of Leon. Your arrogance in thinking you could command my husband produced these consequences. Please keep this fact in mind from now on."

"Good grief. The moment you reconcile, you take the son-in-law’s side. Gilbert, having a daughter is a loss. No matter how much affection you pour in, the one she ultimately chooses is her husband and their child."

"We were the ones who arranged the marriage, so blaming Angie would be unreasonable."

"Honestly… women truly are terrifying. Before I knew it, my adorable daughter had turned into a lioness."

"Say whatever you like. Despite how I look, I have admired the ideal of a good wife and wise mother since childhood. If Leon and the children wished it, I would not hesitate to burn the royal capital to ashes."

"Stop with those dangerous jokes. If the children heard that, it would be bad for their upbringing."

"I am completely serious."

Father looked up at the heavens in exasperation, apparently deciding that my upbringing had been a total failure. But originally, I was raised for the convenience of the Redgrave ducal house and the Holfort royal family. I had been nothing more than a tool to preserve the kingdom, my true self suppressed. If someone pours affection into such a mechanical woman, some dissonance is inevitable. It is the fault of those who raised me and of Leon who changed me, so I cannot be blamed for any complaints.

"Well, fine. For now, I have thought of a name. Whether you are satisfied is up to you."

"Understood."

"Leah Fou Bartfort. How does that sound?"

"That is…"

To others, it might sound like an ordinary name without any notable features. As nobles, they would think the father, Leon, simply twisted his own name to create one for his child. However, the name ‘Leah’ carried serious meaning for the Bartfort family.

Leah Bartfort.

The ancestor of the Bartfort house, an adventurer who should have become the kingdom’s first king. For a duke who once plotted rebellion against the royal family to give his grandchild such a name was a dangerous matter. At worst, people might think Father had not yet abandoned the idea of seizing the throne. I frowned at Father’s action of giving such a name that contained veiled irony.

"You do not like it?"

"It is not a matter of liking or not; you chose that name fully aware of its meaning."

"Are you dissatisfied with inheriting the name of a capable ancestor?"

"It may invite suspicion where none is warranted."

"Then stand tall and prove it. Show them you harbor no treasonous intent."

Father’s expression shifted to that of a dignified statesman as he admonished us. It did not seem to be harassment toward the royal family or toward us. Rather, I sensed a strong will concerned for the future. A half-hearted response could not answer Father’s intentions. Forcing my exhausted body to straighten, I faced him.

"Consider this name a reminder. For the rest of your life, think about whether leaving the Holfort royal house intact is truly the best choice, or whether it would have been better for the Redgraves to seize the throne. I lost the chance to make my child king for the sake of temporary stability. Do not allow such a thing to happen again."

"…Understood."

"I am not foolish enough to give my grandchild a taboo name out of malice. Strive so as not to lose to your ancestor, and train him so that the name Leah Bartfort will not be feared but will become a pillar of the kingdom."

"Thank you very much."

"Good."

Relieved that Father bore no sinister intentions, I felt grateful. I had hoped to avoid bloody discussions at a celebration. I prayed wholeheartedly that Leah, who had just been born, would have a future full of happiness.

"But still, my own child and grandchild cannot become king. As a father, as a man, it is regretful."

"Your feelings alone are more than enough, Father."

"My son lacks ambition, and my daughter is so deeply loved by her husband that it obstructs the path of conquest. Where did I go wrong, I wonder."

"Perhaps you should have made me the female head of the Redgrave house."

"Do not be ridiculous. You are far too severe and might destroy the house."

It had been a long time since we last had such peace. No, perhaps it was the first true moment of peace between Father and daughter since I married Leon. With this day, the reconciliation between the Holfort royal family and the Redgrave ducal house, as well as between the Redgrave house and the Bartfort viscountcy, was achieved. Our third child, born on this day of peace, was named Leah Fou Bartfort and blessed by everyone.

┳⁠━━━━⁠━⁠⁠━⁠━⁠━━━⁠┳

Authors Note

┻━⁠━━━━⁠━━⁠━━━⁠┻

The third child, Leah Fou Bartfort, has been born.

A child who has existed in the series for a long time yet never had a name. (Sorry.)

His appearance is set to resemble his father Leon more than his older siblings. Various issues are planned regarding that point in the later epilogue.

The next chapter will cover honors and rewards. Someone capable cannot simply retire easily, right? (Roland-style)

Additional note: At the request of the commissioner, illustrations for this chapter were drawn by DanZr and Ponu.

Thank you very much.

DanZr: Pixiv

Ponu: Pixiv

I would be very happy to receive your thoughts or impressions as encouragement for future work.