Magic Tower Lord couldn't open his mouth easily.
Then, Linel, with an even more tense expression, urged him on.
"Speak, quickly!"
He was ready to jump into flames, no, even icy water, for the sake of me and the baby.
I, too, began to feel nervous about what Magic Tower Lord would say.
Magic Tower Lord looked reluctant to speak, then sighed deeply and spoke.
"Lady Zelda, thanks to the imprint with the Incarnation Sword, the pent-up heat has escaped, so you won't suffer from a severe fever anymore. However, due to your firepower, your body temperature is still higher than that of ordinary people."
So what effect would that have on the baby?
Seeing Magic Tower Lord's face, who paused for a moment and narrowed his eyes, my hands unconsciously reached out to my stomach.
"If the heat builds up in your stomach, the fetus won't be able to be born normally. To be honest, there's a higher chance of miscarriage."
It was what I had worried about.
My breath caught in my throat at the Magic Tower Lord's words.
"Simply put... the fetus will burn to death in the womb before birth."
The horrifying words were so powerful that I couldn't even utter a single word.
Linel wrapped his arms around my shoulders and tried to soothe me, but my shock wouldn't subside.
My baby will burn to death in the womb because of my fire powers!
Did I decide to imprint with the Incarnation Sword so easily?
Was it a rash decision?
I felt guilty toward the baby, and tears flowed down my face.
Magic Tower Lord, as if reading my thoughts, spoke comfortingly.
"Thanks to the imprint with the Incarnation Sword, the fetus can endure longer."
"Really?"
"Yes. The old heat that had been lingering within your body during the imprint was released and purified. Even so, it's still too much heat for the fetus to endure until birth."
"So what am I supposed to do? What do you mean, it depends on me?"
I felt his hand tighten around my shoulder.
Yes, since the Magic Tower Lord said that the safety of the unborn child depended entirely on him, there had to be some way.
But ominously, the Magic Tower Lord's expression was extremely grim.
"Your Majesty has hypothermia... You must use that to lower the heat in Lady Zelda's stomach."
"...Oh, right. Since my body temperature is significantly lower than that of the average person, it could be helpful for Zelda, who has a higher body temperature!"
He welcomed Magic Tower Lord's words, his stiff lips finally loosening.
"But is that all? How specifically?"
"Wouldn't it be okay if Your Majesty stayed by my side?"
I said to Linel, watching Magic Tower Lord's lips move slowly.
A moment ago, when he stroked my stomach with his hand, I felt a definite sense of comfort.
So, I thought it would be okay if he stayed by my side, by our baby's side.
"That alone isn't enough,"
Magic Tower Lord said, his voice forced as he looked back and forth between me and him.
"So... you're saying I need to do something more?"
“That’s right. To prevent Lady Zelda from getting feverish, you need to maintain regular contact... even during normal times.”
“Contact?”
“Rubbing her belly is good, but for the effects to last, more intense skinship is needed.”
“Are you talking about kissing?”
“Yes, and not only that, but unlike other women’s pregnancies, sharing love even in the early stages of your pregnancy helps the fetus be born with a normal body temperature.”
“What?!”
At first, I thought Magic Tower Lord was joking.
However, his expression was more serious than ever, and it even had a medical aura.
We were equally flustered.
However, unlike me, who remained flustered, his face was spreading with happiness.
“That makes sense. Do I have to use the same method every time I get pregnant?”
“...Yes. Since Lady Zelda has the power of fire, then yes.”
“Oh, my role must be really important, as you say... I’m confident in that kind of prenatal care.”
His confidence seemed to radiate from his entire being.
I can't count how many times his blue eyes, unable to conceal his excitement, flashed a beautiful light.
His lips, drawn upwards, seemed to already be harbouring plans for a second child.
"His Majesty is said to come to these quarters at night, but if Lady Zelda becomes agitated during the day, you must go to the main palace and... ask His Majesty for help."
The "help" Magic Tower Lord was talking about was ultimately feeling Linel's body heat, but to feel his heat, I had to make love to him, right?
Oh my, what a pregnancy this could be exciting!
I glanced at Linel.
He was grinning so brightly that I tried to maintain a neutral expression, trying to maintain my dignity.
But my cheekbones kept rising and falling on their own.
"That helps, through deep contact... ahem ahem ahem!"
He insisted on confirming with the Magic Tower Lord.
My face flushed, so I nudged him in the ribs with my elbow.
"What's wrong? I'm asking this seriously for the baby's health."
He looked at me with a puzzled expression, waiting for Magic Tower Lord to answer.
Magic Tower Lord nodded unnaturally, his face a bit sullen.
Linel laughed happily, and Magic Tower Lord quickly added,
"However, excessive skinship can cause discomfort to the fetus."
“Didn’t you say earlier that if you felt a rising heat in your stomach, you needed my help right away?”
“That’s true, but what I meant was that you didn’t need to push yourself too hard if you didn’t feel any heat.”
“Your best friend will be the one to decide that, right?”
He looked down at me with a kind gaze and gently nudged my arm.
“...Of course.”
I replied, my face flushed.
“If you continue to feel the heat in your stomach after your contact with His Majesty or if you feel any other abnormalities, please let me know immediately. Then, I will visit you again tomorrow morning.”
Magic Tower Lord bowed silently, saying that he would visit my quarters every day for the time being to check on my health.
“Thank you for your hard work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I wanted to give Magic Tower Lord a hug.
But the jealous man standing right next to me was holding me back, so I could only express my gratitude with my eyes.
“Yes. Rest well, Lady Zelda.”
Magic Tower Lord smiled gently at me.
“Wait a minute.”
He called out to Magic Tower Lord as he turned away.
“Go ahead, Your Majesty.”
“I think it would be best to keep Zelda’s pregnancy a secret for the time being. What do you think?”
“Hmm, I think that would be a good idea as well.”
The master agreed, looking at me and continuing.
“There’s no need for me to reveal Zelda’s pregnancy. Don’t worry about that.”
It seemed as if he knew what he was worried about.
“Thank you, please.”
Linel said to the master with a smile still on his face, as if pleading with him.
“Oh, and after you examine Zelda tomorrow, please stop by my office for a moment.”
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
After the master closed the bedroom door and left, he lifted me up and hugged me, spinning me around the middle of the bedroom.
“I feel dizzy.”
Actually, I wasn’t dizzy at all.
I pretended to be weak for no reason, hugged his neck tightly, and burst out laughing.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Linel lowered me down until my feet were safely on the floor.
“Our baby’s health depends on what I do,”
He said in a profound, solemn voice, as if the very existence of the world rested in his hands.
“Yes, that’s right. Please take care of our baby until she’s born.”
“Why until she’s born? The real thing is afterward.”
He cupped my cheeks with both hands and tilted his head, then paused and whispered.
“Just give birth somewhere.”
“And then?”
I asked timidly. He frowned and said intimidatingly,
“I’ll make you feel that giving birth is the happiest thing in the world.”
His firm expression and eyes brimming with love as he spoke with determination made my lips dance over his.
His gentleness cooled my mouth, flushed with love.
I felt his love being transmitted directly to the baby in my womb.
“Can I start working on the baby’s health tonight?”
“Magic Tower Lord told me to refrain from feeling hot today.”
“Zelda, think carefully. You’re feeling incredibly hot, aren’t you?”
"Well?"
I slowly rolled my eyes and checked my temperature.
Listening to him, I think I have a fever...or maybe not...?
"I'm not sure."
"Really? Then let's lie down for now. Lie down and think about it again."
He led me to the bed.
I feigned defeat and lay down on the bed, asking him,
"How about bringing down the fever in advance?"
"Yes?"
"For the baby."
Actually, it was for my own good.
It wasn't wrong, since caring for myself ultimately means caring for the baby. Before I could finish, he was already on top of me.
"Is this enough?"
He asked cautiously, looking down at me.
"Hmm... I think it's a little lacking."
I awkwardly grabbed his collar and shook it.
"Oh, right. It's a little lacking to bring down the fever, isn't it?"
His lips slowly began to wander down my face.
Strangely, my thirsty stomach felt refreshed.
I thought he'd be a really good father...
Late at night, Hetor came to Roxana's bedroom. Roxana, having just laid down on the bed, asked Hetor,
"Did you find out?"
Hetor nodded and approached the bed.
"I see he finally found out about Bonis."
She once again pestered Hetor today, demanding to know about Bonis's whereabouts.
Ever since she saw Emperor Linel and Zelda tucked into the sofa in the main palace office, her mood had been unsettled.
This unease gradually grew, morphing into anxiety.
She was undoubtedly the Empress of the Lapion Empire, but being in the same room with them made her feel like a dirty impurity caught between them.
Even though she tried to ignore it, her subconscious clung to it, refusing to let go.
She couldn't forget Emperor Linel's cold gaze, glaring at her with contempt, as Zelda sat on his lap.
His gaze had been unkind before, but not this cold today...
Something about it made her feel uneasy.
'I only trust my face...'
With the burns on the right side of her face, she worried that any chance of gaining the Emperor's favor would be lost forever. She desperately needed Logan's help to obtain a magical potion that would temporarily erase the scars.
Since it would be easier to use Logan's daughter, Bonis, again, the first thing to do was find out why she hadn't returned to the palace with Zelda and her companions. As soon as she left the office, she took out her anger on Hetor and pretended to lament her hardships, which worked.
"Where is Bonis now? Why didn't she come with you to the palace?"
"To answer your question, first of all, I don't know where she is."
Roxana, dissatisfied with Hetor's answer, frowned and tried to get angry, but seeing Hetor's serious expression, she waited silently for Hetor's next words.
"The reason she didn't come with them to the palace is because she's already dead."
"...What?! Dead? Why?"
"According to information I got from Commander Macrom's subordinate, she died on the day Zelda and her companions left for the Tebello Empire, struck by an arrow from our allied forces heading to the monastery."
"Ha!"
Roxana's mouth fell open in shock.
“That day, as I recall, the commander of the Principality of Aklatto recognized the Incarnation Sword hanging from the back of the Magic Tower Master on the hill. Immediately, on my orders, some soldiers chased after Zelda and her party, and I think that’s when Bonis was struck by an arrow.”
“What should we do...”
Roxana slowly raised her head from her deep bow.
Hetor thought, ‘Is she lamenting Bonis’s death?’, but that was just his imagination.
Roxana, picturing Bonis’s face, spat out angrily.
“She died before she could even fulfill her purpose… What should I do with her!”
To Roxana, Bonis’s death was nothing more than that.
A broken object that couldn’t even be properly used, nothing more, nothing less.
Roxana, who kept asking, ‘What should we do?’, bit her lower lip, then a chuckle escaped her lips, and she opened her mouth.
“We have to come up with a plan. Yes! First..."
Then, Linel, with an even more tense expression, urged him on.
"Speak, quickly!"
He was ready to jump into flames, no, even icy water, for the sake of me and the baby.
I, too, began to feel nervous about what Magic Tower Lord would say.
Magic Tower Lord looked reluctant to speak, then sighed deeply and spoke.
"Lady Zelda, thanks to the imprint with the Incarnation Sword, the pent-up heat has escaped, so you won't suffer from a severe fever anymore. However, due to your firepower, your body temperature is still higher than that of ordinary people."
So what effect would that have on the baby?
Seeing Magic Tower Lord's face, who paused for a moment and narrowed his eyes, my hands unconsciously reached out to my stomach.
"If the heat builds up in your stomach, the fetus won't be able to be born normally. To be honest, there's a higher chance of miscarriage."
It was what I had worried about.
My breath caught in my throat at the Magic Tower Lord's words.
"Simply put... the fetus will burn to death in the womb before birth."
The horrifying words were so powerful that I couldn't even utter a single word.
Linel wrapped his arms around my shoulders and tried to soothe me, but my shock wouldn't subside.
My baby will burn to death in the womb because of my fire powers!
Did I decide to imprint with the Incarnation Sword so easily?
Was it a rash decision?
I felt guilty toward the baby, and tears flowed down my face.
Magic Tower Lord, as if reading my thoughts, spoke comfortingly.
"Thanks to the imprint with the Incarnation Sword, the fetus can endure longer."
"Really?"
"Yes. The old heat that had been lingering within your body during the imprint was released and purified. Even so, it's still too much heat for the fetus to endure until birth."
"So what am I supposed to do? What do you mean, it depends on me?"
I felt his hand tighten around my shoulder.
Yes, since the Magic Tower Lord said that the safety of the unborn child depended entirely on him, there had to be some way.
But ominously, the Magic Tower Lord's expression was extremely grim.
"Your Majesty has hypothermia... You must use that to lower the heat in Lady Zelda's stomach."
"...Oh, right. Since my body temperature is significantly lower than that of the average person, it could be helpful for Zelda, who has a higher body temperature!"
He welcomed Magic Tower Lord's words, his stiff lips finally loosening.
"But is that all? How specifically?"
"Wouldn't it be okay if Your Majesty stayed by my side?"
I said to Linel, watching Magic Tower Lord's lips move slowly.
A moment ago, when he stroked my stomach with his hand, I felt a definite sense of comfort.
So, I thought it would be okay if he stayed by my side, by our baby's side.
"That alone isn't enough,"
Magic Tower Lord said, his voice forced as he looked back and forth between me and him.
"So... you're saying I need to do something more?"
“That’s right. To prevent Lady Zelda from getting feverish, you need to maintain regular contact... even during normal times.”
“Contact?”
“Rubbing her belly is good, but for the effects to last, more intense skinship is needed.”
“Are you talking about kissing?”
“Yes, and not only that, but unlike other women’s pregnancies, sharing love even in the early stages of your pregnancy helps the fetus be born with a normal body temperature.”
“What?!”
At first, I thought Magic Tower Lord was joking.
However, his expression was more serious than ever, and it even had a medical aura.
We were equally flustered.
However, unlike me, who remained flustered, his face was spreading with happiness.
“That makes sense. Do I have to use the same method every time I get pregnant?”
“...Yes. Since Lady Zelda has the power of fire, then yes.”
“Oh, my role must be really important, as you say... I’m confident in that kind of prenatal care.”
His confidence seemed to radiate from his entire being.
I can't count how many times his blue eyes, unable to conceal his excitement, flashed a beautiful light.
His lips, drawn upwards, seemed to already be harbouring plans for a second child.
"His Majesty is said to come to these quarters at night, but if Lady Zelda becomes agitated during the day, you must go to the main palace and... ask His Majesty for help."
The "help" Magic Tower Lord was talking about was ultimately feeling Linel's body heat, but to feel his heat, I had to make love to him, right?
Oh my, what a pregnancy this could be exciting!
I glanced at Linel.
He was grinning so brightly that I tried to maintain a neutral expression, trying to maintain my dignity.
But my cheekbones kept rising and falling on their own.
"That helps, through deep contact... ahem ahem ahem!"
He insisted on confirming with the Magic Tower Lord.
My face flushed, so I nudged him in the ribs with my elbow.
"What's wrong? I'm asking this seriously for the baby's health."
He looked at me with a puzzled expression, waiting for Magic Tower Lord to answer.
Magic Tower Lord nodded unnaturally, his face a bit sullen.
Linel laughed happily, and Magic Tower Lord quickly added,
"However, excessive skinship can cause discomfort to the fetus."
“Didn’t you say earlier that if you felt a rising heat in your stomach, you needed my help right away?”
“That’s true, but what I meant was that you didn’t need to push yourself too hard if you didn’t feel any heat.”
“Your best friend will be the one to decide that, right?”
He looked down at me with a kind gaze and gently nudged my arm.
“...Of course.”
I replied, my face flushed.
“If you continue to feel the heat in your stomach after your contact with His Majesty or if you feel any other abnormalities, please let me know immediately. Then, I will visit you again tomorrow morning.”
Magic Tower Lord bowed silently, saying that he would visit my quarters every day for the time being to check on my health.
“Thank you for your hard work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I wanted to give Magic Tower Lord a hug.
But the jealous man standing right next to me was holding me back, so I could only express my gratitude with my eyes.
“Yes. Rest well, Lady Zelda.”
Magic Tower Lord smiled gently at me.
“Wait a minute.”
He called out to Magic Tower Lord as he turned away.
“Go ahead, Your Majesty.”
“I think it would be best to keep Zelda’s pregnancy a secret for the time being. What do you think?”
“Hmm, I think that would be a good idea as well.”
The master agreed, looking at me and continuing.
“There’s no need for me to reveal Zelda’s pregnancy. Don’t worry about that.”
It seemed as if he knew what he was worried about.
“Thank you, please.”
Linel said to the master with a smile still on his face, as if pleading with him.
“Oh, and after you examine Zelda tomorrow, please stop by my office for a moment.”
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
After the master closed the bedroom door and left, he lifted me up and hugged me, spinning me around the middle of the bedroom.
“I feel dizzy.”
Actually, I wasn’t dizzy at all.
I pretended to be weak for no reason, hugged his neck tightly, and burst out laughing.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Linel lowered me down until my feet were safely on the floor.
“Our baby’s health depends on what I do,”
He said in a profound, solemn voice, as if the very existence of the world rested in his hands.
“Yes, that’s right. Please take care of our baby until she’s born.”
“Why until she’s born? The real thing is afterward.”
He cupped my cheeks with both hands and tilted his head, then paused and whispered.
“Just give birth somewhere.”
“And then?”
I asked timidly. He frowned and said intimidatingly,
“I’ll make you feel that giving birth is the happiest thing in the world.”
His firm expression and eyes brimming with love as he spoke with determination made my lips dance over his.
His gentleness cooled my mouth, flushed with love.
I felt his love being transmitted directly to the baby in my womb.
“Can I start working on the baby’s health tonight?”
“Magic Tower Lord told me to refrain from feeling hot today.”
“Zelda, think carefully. You’re feeling incredibly hot, aren’t you?”
"Well?"
I slowly rolled my eyes and checked my temperature.
Listening to him, I think I have a fever...or maybe not...?
"I'm not sure."
"Really? Then let's lie down for now. Lie down and think about it again."
He led me to the bed.
I feigned defeat and lay down on the bed, asking him,
"How about bringing down the fever in advance?"
"Yes?"
"For the baby."
Actually, it was for my own good.
It wasn't wrong, since caring for myself ultimately means caring for the baby. Before I could finish, he was already on top of me.
"Is this enough?"
He asked cautiously, looking down at me.
"Hmm... I think it's a little lacking."
I awkwardly grabbed his collar and shook it.
"Oh, right. It's a little lacking to bring down the fever, isn't it?"
His lips slowly began to wander down my face.
Strangely, my thirsty stomach felt refreshed.
I thought he'd be a really good father...
***
Late at night, Hetor came to Roxana's bedroom. Roxana, having just laid down on the bed, asked Hetor,
"Did you find out?"
Hetor nodded and approached the bed.
"I see he finally found out about Bonis."
She once again pestered Hetor today, demanding to know about Bonis's whereabouts.
Ever since she saw Emperor Linel and Zelda tucked into the sofa in the main palace office, her mood had been unsettled.
This unease gradually grew, morphing into anxiety.
She was undoubtedly the Empress of the Lapion Empire, but being in the same room with them made her feel like a dirty impurity caught between them.
Even though she tried to ignore it, her subconscious clung to it, refusing to let go.
She couldn't forget Emperor Linel's cold gaze, glaring at her with contempt, as Zelda sat on his lap.
His gaze had been unkind before, but not this cold today...
Something about it made her feel uneasy.
'I only trust my face...'
With the burns on the right side of her face, she worried that any chance of gaining the Emperor's favor would be lost forever. She desperately needed Logan's help to obtain a magical potion that would temporarily erase the scars.
Since it would be easier to use Logan's daughter, Bonis, again, the first thing to do was find out why she hadn't returned to the palace with Zelda and her companions. As soon as she left the office, she took out her anger on Hetor and pretended to lament her hardships, which worked.
"Where is Bonis now? Why didn't she come with you to the palace?"
"To answer your question, first of all, I don't know where she is."
Roxana, dissatisfied with Hetor's answer, frowned and tried to get angry, but seeing Hetor's serious expression, she waited silently for Hetor's next words.
"The reason she didn't come with them to the palace is because she's already dead."
"...What?! Dead? Why?"
"According to information I got from Commander Macrom's subordinate, she died on the day Zelda and her companions left for the Tebello Empire, struck by an arrow from our allied forces heading to the monastery."
"Ha!"
Roxana's mouth fell open in shock.
“That day, as I recall, the commander of the Principality of Aklatto recognized the Incarnation Sword hanging from the back of the Magic Tower Master on the hill. Immediately, on my orders, some soldiers chased after Zelda and her party, and I think that’s when Bonis was struck by an arrow.”
“What should we do...”
Roxana slowly raised her head from her deep bow.
Hetor thought, ‘Is she lamenting Bonis’s death?’, but that was just his imagination.
Roxana, picturing Bonis’s face, spat out angrily.
“She died before she could even fulfill her purpose… What should I do with her!”
To Roxana, Bonis’s death was nothing more than that.
A broken object that couldn’t even be properly used, nothing more, nothing less.
Roxana, who kept asking, ‘What should we do?’, bit her lower lip, then a chuckle escaped her lips, and she opened her mouth.
“We have to come up with a plan. Yes! First..."
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