After rushing to a private hospital in the morning to receive treatment, she remembered the wait for the results feeling like an eternity, even though she had decided not to expect anything.
Diana was dumbfounded and just licked her lips when she heard the doctor's confirmation that she was pregnant.
Even hearing this directly from an authority in the field, she couldn't believe it. She looked down at her flat belly with wide eyes. It wasn't so much joy as bewilderment at the unexpected outcome.
“You’re here now?”
Confused, she even asked the doctor a strange question. Noah, a truly eccentric man, exclaimed, "We've created a human being!" When he returned to the mansion and told Molly the good news, she nearly fainted, her usual composure gone, and she jumped up and down. Knight Florence was no exception.
“Congratulations!”
The response was even more enthusiastic than that of a couple having a child. The servants also smiled and congratulated her. Diana smiled outwardly, but dark shadows were cast under her eyes.
“Yes, I’m very happy too. This is the child I’ve been waiting for.”
Diana, exhausted, waved her hand listlessly and headed to her bedroom. As she climbed the stairs with Noah's help, she recalled scenes she'd often seen on television, of people twirling and cheering, or shouting "Hurrah!" But far from feeling joyous, she felt utterly listless. She hadn't taken her medication for two days, and that was partly due to the doctor's advice. She was consumed by worry, mulling over the doctor's findings after confirming her pregnancy.
“You have recovered a lot compared to before, but in your current condition, there is a high possibility of a miscarriage.”
“I am well now, Dr. Magnus.”
"I'm talking about mental health issues. You can't take medication. The high level of stress caused by not taking medication, as well as the medication itself, is fatal to the fetus. As of now, I understand there's no other alternative."
Since she was a Princess, he probably didn't suggest it directly, but the implication was that it was better to give up early to avoid harm. Diana didn't want to give up the child she had finally found. Just as she felt a tightness in her chest, a pain surged through her lower abdomen.
For some reason, the moment she got the definitive confirmation that she was pregnant, she felt even more nauseous, her body and mind feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds. There was intermittent stabbing pain in her lower abdomen and a throbbing headache. The child she'd been waiting for had arrived, but was this really how she felt? Amidst all this, the emotion that was clearly intermingling was anxiety. Noah, who had entered the bedroom and taken off Diana's coat, asked her worriedly.
“Are you having a hard time?”
"I've been feeling strangely tired lately. I'm not feeling well. Today, it's even worse."
"I told you to be careful early on. Just lie still. I'll take care of everything."
Noah seemed more concerned about Diana's mood and physical condition than the joy of having a child.
As he lifted her sweater and removed it, static electricity rippled through her jet-black hair. Diana leaned back listlessly on the sofa, feeling his touch with a listless expression. She didn't say anything about the possibility of miscarriage mentioned by the doctor. Knowing what Noah would do in the worst-case scenario, Diana didn't bother to bring it up.
Noah dressed her in thick, soft pajamas and put on warm wool socks.
"This is a big deal. You have no appetite, so you can't eat properly. Is there anything you want to eat?"
“Something refreshing.”
Diana answered in a slow, drawn-out tone. Even the answer seemed tiresome. Noah's expression grew increasingly bewildered as he heard her incomprehensible tone of voice.
“What is it?"
Diana was dumbfounded and just licked her lips when she heard the doctor's confirmation that she was pregnant.
Even hearing this directly from an authority in the field, she couldn't believe it. She looked down at her flat belly with wide eyes. It wasn't so much joy as bewilderment at the unexpected outcome.
“You’re here now?”
Confused, she even asked the doctor a strange question. Noah, a truly eccentric man, exclaimed, "We've created a human being!" When he returned to the mansion and told Molly the good news, she nearly fainted, her usual composure gone, and she jumped up and down. Knight Florence was no exception.
“The young lady has come to visit? What a joyous occasion!”
The response was even more enthusiastic than that of a couple having a child. The servants also smiled and congratulated her. Diana smiled outwardly, but dark shadows were cast under her eyes.
“Yes, I’m very happy too. This is the child I’ve been waiting for.”
Diana, exhausted, waved her hand listlessly and headed to her bedroom. As she climbed the stairs with Noah's help, she recalled scenes she'd often seen on television, of people twirling and cheering, or shouting "Hurrah!" But far from feeling joyous, she felt utterly listless. She hadn't taken her medication for two days, and that was partly due to the doctor's advice. She was consumed by worry, mulling over the doctor's findings after confirming her pregnancy.
“You have recovered a lot compared to before, but in your current condition, there is a high possibility of a miscarriage.”
“I am well now, Dr. Magnus.”
"I'm talking about mental health issues. You can't take medication. The high level of stress caused by not taking medication, as well as the medication itself, is fatal to the fetus. As of now, I understand there's no other alternative."
Since she was a Princess, he probably didn't suggest it directly, but the implication was that it was better to give up early to avoid harm. Diana didn't want to give up the child she had finally found. Just as she felt a tightness in her chest, a pain surged through her lower abdomen.
For some reason, the moment she got the definitive confirmation that she was pregnant, she felt even more nauseous, her body and mind feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds. There was intermittent stabbing pain in her lower abdomen and a throbbing headache. The child she'd been waiting for had arrived, but was this really how she felt? Amidst all this, the emotion that was clearly intermingling was anxiety. Noah, who had entered the bedroom and taken off Diana's coat, asked her worriedly.
“Are you having a hard time?”
"I've been feeling strangely tired lately. I'm not feeling well. Today, it's even worse."
"I told you to be careful early on. Just lie still. I'll take care of everything."
Noah seemed more concerned about Diana's mood and physical condition than the joy of having a child.
As he lifted her sweater and removed it, static electricity rippled through her jet-black hair. Diana leaned back listlessly on the sofa, feeling his touch with a listless expression. She didn't say anything about the possibility of miscarriage mentioned by the doctor. Knowing what Noah would do in the worst-case scenario, Diana didn't bother to bring it up.
Noah dressed her in thick, soft pajamas and put on warm wool socks.
"This is a big deal. You have no appetite, so you can't eat properly. Is there anything you want to eat?"
“Something refreshing.”
Diana answered in a slow, drawn-out tone. Even the answer seemed tiresome. Noah's expression grew increasingly bewildered as he heard her incomprehensible tone of voice.
“What is it?"
“I don’t know exactly what I want to eat either.”
“I would appreciate it if you could just tell me the general types.”
“It’s sweet and not burdensome, which is appealing.”
"Lemonade."
"No."
"Cookie."
“I don’t think it’s candy.”
The trivial questions continued like a series of twenty questions, but neither of them could find a clear answer. Noah, unable to grasp the meaning, put his hand to his forehead with an anguished expression. Diana, sensing his concern, smiled brightly.
“I’ll tell you when I remember.”
“You have to take action to find the answer.”
Noah rose from his seat with a very serious expression. He looked like a husband going out hunting for his pregnant wife.
“As a husband to a pregnant wife, I feel a deep sense of responsibility and have a duty to bring you the food you desire.”
He left with such kind words and returned the next day, a full day later, carrying an envelope and a rose in his hand. Diana took the flower and envelope and checked inside. There were puddings and a small handwritten letter.
Thank you for liking our store’s pudding.
I'm glad you're feeling better. Congratulations on your pregnancy, Princess. - Karen Bakery
“It’s your favorite strawberry pudding.”
Noah, returning from an arduous journey far and wide, smiled warmly. Diana asked, her eyes wide.
“Have you been to Medea?”
“Yeah. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out what to do, so I just bought you something you like.”
Diana was reminded again of the man with the face of a nobleman, the relentless, conquering nature of a man who still had no backing.
The color in her eyes darkened as she watched her husband, who had been struggling to find something unidentifiable to please his wife. She soon responded with a bright smile.
“This is correct.”
“I know that’s not true.”
“I feel refreshed.”
Diana sat on the edge of the bed, spooning a mouthful of pudding. Her cheeks flushed like flower petals. She closed her eyes, savoring the pudding, and muttered in admiration.
“That’s true.”
“Did you just lie?”
Noah, sitting next to her, looked a little disappointed. Diana giggled playfully.
“No. It was a feeling just now, and now it’s a taste.”
“Have I fulfilled your husband’s duty to satisfy your mood and the baby’s desires?”
“Yes, that’s right. Thank you very much.”
“Are you going to give me a prize?”
Diana looked calmly at Noah, who was rubbing her hand against his cheek. It felt strange to be receiving a bigger reward from someone who was demanding a reward.
The hand that touched his smooth cheek felt hot. Her face, seemingly anxious yet calm, never tired of looking at it.
Every time she sees that man, she feels a sense of pride that she made the right decision to marry him. This is especially true now.
“Oh, so pretty.”
Without realizing it, she let out her true feelings and hugged Noah's neck. The arms that held Diana's back were weaker than before, and he was cautious. After the previous time, when he'd been held so tightly that he'd almost been crushed to death, he was obviously being extremely cautious and careful. Diana asked.
“Can we be good parents?”
"Yeah. I'll take good care of the baby. I'll raise it."
She didn't mean it that way, but she felt good anyway. Her worries and anxieties slowly receded, replaced by a sense of confidence and happiness that they could do it. Diana kissed him lightly on the lips and pulled away, and the arm around her waist tightened slightly.
“That’s not enough.”
Noah looked down at Diana with a slightly embarrassed expression at the direct question.
“That’s not what I wanted. I’m not the kind of guy who thinks about that all day.”
“The body is honest. It’s also pitiful.”
Diana's fingertips lightly touched his broad shoulders, causing them to flinch. His face feigned impassiveness, but his ears were flushed red. Seeing his eyes, filled with embarrassment and humiliation, Diana felt a sense of accomplishment as she leaned closer. Her lips, barely touching his tightly closed ones, moved slowly.
“I can give another reward to my husband who has worked hard.”
Diana's fingers traced his neckline, reaching the neatly buttoned shirt. She pulled at the collar and flicked it with a deft flick, and it undid itself in an instant.
She pressed her lips against his exposed collarbone, then bit down on his neck. Noah's closed lips twisted. A low growl escaped his throat.
“Please do it somewhere they can’t see. My subordinates might tease me if they see it.”
She nodded, biting the hardened nape of her neck. A red mark ran down his neckline. The corners of his eyes, raised as he looked up, began to tear up. Diana, looking down at the fair-haired man who had gained the upper hand and now was utterly subdued, smiled with satisfaction. Finally, she issued a bizarre command he couldn't refuse.
“Take off the rest.”
News of Medea's daughter's pregnancy spread quickly. Newspapers across the nation covered the story, and the official residence was flooded with letters and gifts. Leaders of the United States government and Queen Grace sent congratulatory gifts and letters. Esmeralda, Countess Ruben, Geoffrey, and Penelope, the former Crown Princess of Frogen, who had fled to the Cappel Federation, also sent gifts from afar.
Diana didn't seem particularly moved. On the other hand, the outpouring of congratulations and attention seemed overwhelming. She was always tired, dozing off whenever she had the chance. At some point, she became a cat, spending most of her days sleeping. Fortunately, her insomnia has subsided.
She thought childbirth would be the hardest part, but the journey leading up to it was equally excruciating. After stopping the medication, she tried to avoid stress and, fearing a panic attack from the stimulation, avoided going outside, opting for light walks. However, morning sickness began early, and the constant nausea became a problem. Even driving was difficult, and she would often wake up in the middle of the night with pain. The severe morning sickness and lower abdominal pain forced her to stay in bed all day, making outdoor activities almost impossible.
"I feel like I'm going to die. This is... no one taught me. The day after drinking too much, I have a hangover and period cramps at the same time, and it's several times more painful than getting seasick on top of that... ugh."
Diana, who had lost more weight than before her pregnancy and was pale, muttered with a pained face.
Noah, too, had only heard stories of pregnancy, embellished with grandeur and fantasy. Was Queen Grace struggling this much? He tried to remember. There was a time when she couldn't leave her room. She probably wouldn't have shown her struggles in front of him, who was a child.
It was only now, having witnessed the entire process from his wife's side, that he realized the reality. He felt a sense of helplessness. He could do nothing but take a vacation and be by her side. After taking the morning sickness medication and iron prescribed by the doctor, she calmed down a bit and opened her pale lips.
“I had a dream last night, and it felt like a prenatal dream.”
She sipped some herbal tea and lay down. Noah, who had been patting her back and providing a pillow, asked.
“What is a prenatal dream? This is my first time hearing about it.”
"It's a dream about a child. It's a dream that foretells what kind of person he or she will become in the future."
Do highly civilized people even predict such things through dreams in their subconscious? Indeed, with that much accumulated records and information, it might be possible to statistically infer what a person's personality type will be. Noah nodded, having finished interpreting it in his head.
“What was your dream?”
Diana, who had been resting her head on the pillow, closed her eyes and answered.
“The full moon has risen, and the rabbit that lives there... says hello, it’s been a while... when did we last see each other?”
Her voice slowed like a broken record, then suddenly stopped. Suddenly, a steady, rhythmic breathing could be heard. Will our child grow up to be a rabbit? Are we rabbit breeders? He thought to himself, pulling the blanket up and covering her sleeping body.
I hope you get better soon.
After twelve weeks, they'd heard that morning sickness would subside, and her physical condition would improve. Noah took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Diana's forehead. He wished he could share her suffering. After hearing that she was likely to miscarry, Diana had been feeling a little depressed, though she didn't show it.
Noah carefully placed his hand on Diana's lower abdomen. He spoke in a gentle voice to the baby, who was causing Diana to suffer from morning sickness.
"Good boy, don't make things hard for Mom. Eat whatever we give you. I'll play with you when you're born."
Diana would be happy if the baby were born healthy.
Diana was sitting on a garden bench, enjoying the breeze. Boaz brought her a ball and begged her to throw it to him. She smiled and threw it to him, and he ran off happily.
"Princess, we have visitors. They didn't make a prior appointment, but since they're the people you sponsored, I thought I'd bring them to your attention. We've completed the body search and identity verification."
Florence's voice was cautious. It would be extremely rude to visit the royal residence without a formal invitation, but she seemed to be asking for an exception and asking for her opinion.
“Really? It’s okay if we meet.”
Diana also readily agreed without much thought.
A group of people in tattered clothes entered the drawing room, their hands full of something. An old woman with a hunched back and a worn-out hood held out a basket of vegetables.
"Princess, my name is Callie Smith. These are tomatoes, carrots, and beans I grew myself. I'd love to give you something in return, but they're nothing special... I chose vegetables that are good for pregnant women."
Florence quickly took the basket and turned to Diana. Diana stared at the dirt-covered carrots poking out of the basket. She finally rose and took the old woman's wrinkled hand. It was calloused and rough from years of farm work.
“Thank you, I will enjoy the meal.”
The woman approached Diana, who was smiling, and handed her a small box.
“I made baby swaddles. I cut them from a high-quality silk dress I wore as a young girl.”
Then a retired soldier on crutches held up a leather notebook.
“This is a notebook I made myself. I hope you like it.”
They were people who lost a lot in the war.
Still, she never lost her kind heart, the one that felt grateful for someone's small favor and the desire to repay them, however small. She recalled the letters and drawings the orphanage children had recently sent her. She felt a pang of sadness, but also a sense of joy.
“Thank you. I love it so much. I’ll treasure it.”
Diana's smile brought a smile to people's faces.
Diana provided housing and financial support to those struggling after the war.
Councillor Cheshire, following Diana's advice, introduced a bill to provide them with monthly stipends and encourage housing assistance and employment. A veteran on crutches rubbed his reddened eyes with his sleeve.
“After being discharged from the military due to an injury, my future was uncertain, but with the Princess’s help, I was able to receive treatment and find a job, and I was able to live again.”
An old woman who had lost her entire family took out a handkerchief and wiped her wet face.
"I had a son just like you. After he died, I wanted to follow him. But I'm trying to live again, thinking of them all as my children. It's all thanks to the Princess's help."
A woman who lost her husband and child smiled sadly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“The Princess is my savior.”
Diana, who had been staring blankly at them with her mouth slightly open, shook her head and rubbed her cheek.
“I didn’t do anything that great.”
“You gave hope and a world to those who had lost everything, so they could live again.”
They, filled with hope, smiled joyfully at Diana. It was a work they had begun to do to heal and help others. Instead, their smiles mourned the loss buried deep within Diana's heart, comforting the painful and sad memories.
"I am..."
I'm not a good person; I just survived.
The words that were barely managed to be spoken were lost in the end, dissipating like a heavy sigh.
Dr. Ruegen, Millia, Ted, Maria, Eileen, Barbara.
The good people who left first. Even though the peaceful world they deserved had arrived, the reality that they were no longer here was heartbreaking.
Diana, recalling the last smiles of those who followed the call of goodness and headed for the other shore, raised her hands and covered her face. The breeze and sunlight streaming in through the wide-open window gently caressed her cheeks.
“I would appreciate it if you could just tell me the general types.”
“It’s sweet and not burdensome, which is appealing.”
"Lemonade."
"No."
"Cookie."
“I don’t think it’s candy.”
The trivial questions continued like a series of twenty questions, but neither of them could find a clear answer. Noah, unable to grasp the meaning, put his hand to his forehead with an anguished expression. Diana, sensing his concern, smiled brightly.
“I’ll tell you when I remember.”
“You have to take action to find the answer.”
Noah rose from his seat with a very serious expression. He looked like a husband going out hunting for his pregnant wife.
“As a husband to a pregnant wife, I feel a deep sense of responsibility and have a duty to bring you the food you desire.”
He left with such kind words and returned the next day, a full day later, carrying an envelope and a rose in his hand. Diana took the flower and envelope and checked inside. There were puddings and a small handwritten letter.
Thank you for liking our store’s pudding.
I'm glad you're feeling better. Congratulations on your pregnancy, Princess. - Karen Bakery
“It’s your favorite strawberry pudding.”
Noah, returning from an arduous journey far and wide, smiled warmly. Diana asked, her eyes wide.
“Have you been to Medea?”
“Yeah. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out what to do, so I just bought you something you like.”
Diana was reminded again of the man with the face of a nobleman, the relentless, conquering nature of a man who still had no backing.
The color in her eyes darkened as she watched her husband, who had been struggling to find something unidentifiable to please his wife. She soon responded with a bright smile.
“This is correct.”
“I know that’s not true.”
“I feel refreshed.”
Diana sat on the edge of the bed, spooning a mouthful of pudding. Her cheeks flushed like flower petals. She closed her eyes, savoring the pudding, and muttered in admiration.
“That’s true.”
“Did you just lie?”
Noah, sitting next to her, looked a little disappointed. Diana giggled playfully.
“No. It was a feeling just now, and now it’s a taste.”
“Have I fulfilled your husband’s duty to satisfy your mood and the baby’s desires?”
“Yes, that’s right. Thank you very much.”
“Are you going to give me a prize?”
Diana looked calmly at Noah, who was rubbing her hand against his cheek. It felt strange to be receiving a bigger reward from someone who was demanding a reward.
The hand that touched his smooth cheek felt hot. Her face, seemingly anxious yet calm, never tired of looking at it.
Every time she sees that man, she feels a sense of pride that she made the right decision to marry him. This is especially true now.
“Oh, so pretty.”
Without realizing it, she let out her true feelings and hugged Noah's neck. The arms that held Diana's back were weaker than before, and he was cautious. After the previous time, when he'd been held so tightly that he'd almost been crushed to death, he was obviously being extremely cautious and careful. Diana asked.
“Can we be good parents?”
"Yeah. I'll take good care of the baby. I'll raise it."
She didn't mean it that way, but she felt good anyway. Her worries and anxieties slowly receded, replaced by a sense of confidence and happiness that they could do it. Diana kissed him lightly on the lips and pulled away, and the arm around her waist tightened slightly.
“That’s not enough.”
“Didn't I tell you not to get involved early on?”
“That’s not what I wanted. I’m not the kind of guy who thinks about that all day.”
“The body is honest. It’s also pitiful.”
Diana's fingertips lightly touched his broad shoulders, causing them to flinch. His face feigned impassiveness, but his ears were flushed red. Seeing his eyes, filled with embarrassment and humiliation, Diana felt a sense of accomplishment as she leaned closer. Her lips, barely touching his tightly closed ones, moved slowly.
“I can give another reward to my husband who has worked hard.”
Diana's fingers traced his neckline, reaching the neatly buttoned shirt. She pulled at the collar and flicked it with a deft flick, and it undid itself in an instant.
She pressed her lips against his exposed collarbone, then bit down on his neck. Noah's closed lips twisted. A low growl escaped his throat.
“Please do it somewhere they can’t see. My subordinates might tease me if they see it.”
She nodded, biting the hardened nape of her neck. A red mark ran down his neckline. The corners of his eyes, raised as he looked up, began to tear up. Diana, looking down at the fair-haired man who had gained the upper hand and now was utterly subdued, smiled with satisfaction. Finally, she issued a bizarre command he couldn't refuse.
“Take off the rest.”
***
News of Medea's daughter's pregnancy spread quickly. Newspapers across the nation covered the story, and the official residence was flooded with letters and gifts. Leaders of the United States government and Queen Grace sent congratulatory gifts and letters. Esmeralda, Countess Ruben, Geoffrey, and Penelope, the former Crown Princess of Frogen, who had fled to the Cappel Federation, also sent gifts from afar.
Diana didn't seem particularly moved. On the other hand, the outpouring of congratulations and attention seemed overwhelming. She was always tired, dozing off whenever she had the chance. At some point, she became a cat, spending most of her days sleeping. Fortunately, her insomnia has subsided.
She thought childbirth would be the hardest part, but the journey leading up to it was equally excruciating. After stopping the medication, she tried to avoid stress and, fearing a panic attack from the stimulation, avoided going outside, opting for light walks. However, morning sickness began early, and the constant nausea became a problem. Even driving was difficult, and she would often wake up in the middle of the night with pain. The severe morning sickness and lower abdominal pain forced her to stay in bed all day, making outdoor activities almost impossible.
"I feel like I'm going to die. This is... no one taught me. The day after drinking too much, I have a hangover and period cramps at the same time, and it's several times more painful than getting seasick on top of that... ugh."
Diana, who had lost more weight than before her pregnancy and was pale, muttered with a pained face.
Noah, too, had only heard stories of pregnancy, embellished with grandeur and fantasy. Was Queen Grace struggling this much? He tried to remember. There was a time when she couldn't leave her room. She probably wouldn't have shown her struggles in front of him, who was a child.
It was only now, having witnessed the entire process from his wife's side, that he realized the reality. He felt a sense of helplessness. He could do nothing but take a vacation and be by her side. After taking the morning sickness medication and iron prescribed by the doctor, she calmed down a bit and opened her pale lips.
“I had a dream last night, and it felt like a prenatal dream.”
She sipped some herbal tea and lay down. Noah, who had been patting her back and providing a pillow, asked.
“What is a prenatal dream? This is my first time hearing about it.”
"It's a dream about a child. It's a dream that foretells what kind of person he or she will become in the future."
Do highly civilized people even predict such things through dreams in their subconscious? Indeed, with that much accumulated records and information, it might be possible to statistically infer what a person's personality type will be. Noah nodded, having finished interpreting it in his head.
“What was your dream?”
Diana, who had been resting her head on the pillow, closed her eyes and answered.
“The full moon has risen, and the rabbit that lives there... says hello, it’s been a while... when did we last see each other?”
Her voice slowed like a broken record, then suddenly stopped. Suddenly, a steady, rhythmic breathing could be heard. Will our child grow up to be a rabbit? Are we rabbit breeders? He thought to himself, pulling the blanket up and covering her sleeping body.
I hope you get better soon.
After twelve weeks, they'd heard that morning sickness would subside, and her physical condition would improve. Noah took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from Diana's forehead. He wished he could share her suffering. After hearing that she was likely to miscarry, Diana had been feeling a little depressed, though she didn't show it.
Noah carefully placed his hand on Diana's lower abdomen. He spoke in a gentle voice to the baby, who was causing Diana to suffer from morning sickness.
"Good boy, don't make things hard for Mom. Eat whatever we give you. I'll play with you when you're born."
Diana would be happy if the baby were born healthy.
***
Diana was sitting on a garden bench, enjoying the breeze. Boaz brought her a ball and begged her to throw it to him. She smiled and threw it to him, and he ran off happily.
"Princess, we have visitors. They didn't make a prior appointment, but since they're the people you sponsored, I thought I'd bring them to your attention. We've completed the body search and identity verification."
Florence's voice was cautious. It would be extremely rude to visit the royal residence without a formal invitation, but she seemed to be asking for an exception and asking for her opinion.
“Really? It’s okay if we meet.”
Diana also readily agreed without much thought.
A group of people in tattered clothes entered the drawing room, their hands full of something. An old woman with a hunched back and a worn-out hood held out a basket of vegetables.
"Princess, my name is Callie Smith. These are tomatoes, carrots, and beans I grew myself. I'd love to give you something in return, but they're nothing special... I chose vegetables that are good for pregnant women."
Florence quickly took the basket and turned to Diana. Diana stared at the dirt-covered carrots poking out of the basket. She finally rose and took the old woman's wrinkled hand. It was calloused and rough from years of farm work.
“Thank you, I will enjoy the meal.”
The woman approached Diana, who was smiling, and handed her a small box.
“I made baby swaddles. I cut them from a high-quality silk dress I wore as a young girl.”
Then a retired soldier on crutches held up a leather notebook.
“This is a notebook I made myself. I hope you like it.”
They were people who lost a lot in the war.
Still, she never lost her kind heart, the one that felt grateful for someone's small favor and the desire to repay them, however small. She recalled the letters and drawings the orphanage children had recently sent her. She felt a pang of sadness, but also a sense of joy.
“Thank you. I love it so much. I’ll treasure it.”
Diana's smile brought a smile to people's faces.
Diana provided housing and financial support to those struggling after the war.
Councillor Cheshire, following Diana's advice, introduced a bill to provide them with monthly stipends and encourage housing assistance and employment. A veteran on crutches rubbed his reddened eyes with his sleeve.
“After being discharged from the military due to an injury, my future was uncertain, but with the Princess’s help, I was able to receive treatment and find a job, and I was able to live again.”
An old woman who had lost her entire family took out a handkerchief and wiped her wet face.
"I had a son just like you. After he died, I wanted to follow him. But I'm trying to live again, thinking of them all as my children. It's all thanks to the Princess's help."
A woman who lost her husband and child smiled sadly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“The Princess is my savior.”
Diana, who had been staring blankly at them with her mouth slightly open, shook her head and rubbed her cheek.
“I didn’t do anything that great.”
“You gave hope and a world to those who had lost everything, so they could live again.”
They, filled with hope, smiled joyfully at Diana. It was a work they had begun to do to heal and help others. Instead, their smiles mourned the loss buried deep within Diana's heart, comforting the painful and sad memories.
"I am..."
I'm not a good person; I just survived.
The words that were barely managed to be spoken were lost in the end, dissipating like a heavy sigh.
Dr. Ruegen, Millia, Ted, Maria, Eileen, Barbara.
The good people who left first. Even though the peaceful world they deserved had arrived, the reality that they were no longer here was heartbreaking.
Diana, recalling the last smiles of those who followed the call of goodness and headed for the other shore, raised her hands and covered her face. The breeze and sunlight streaming in through the wide-open window gently caressed her cheeks.
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