<Episode 149: Side Story (13)>
Meanwhile, John, who had returned to the mansion for spring break, came up to the floor where the delivery room was, out of breath.
“Hello, Uncle.”
“Yes, come on in.”
Now ten years old, John's hair had darkened considerably to a calm chestnut color, and his deep green eyes, like green leaves, had taken on a more mature glow than before.
“Aunt, is she okay?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Emily's screams could be heard from inside. Occasionally, it seemed as if curses at Killian were also mixed in.
“...It seems like she's not feeling well.”
“I asked you to come out quickly and not make things difficult for Mom.”
Payne looked dumbfounded at Killian's muttered words, biting his lip.
"How could a baby in her stomach understand that? It's not like he's trying to stay out."
“I told you, my baby understands everything!”
“Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.”
It seemed like he still didn't want to let go of the fact that Daniel had been a genius since he was a fetus.
“Uncle, please wait a little longer.”
If it had been normal, John would have teased his uncle for this, but since it was the right time, he reassured him.
“My aunt will give birth to a healthy baby.”
"...Yes."
Seeing even young John waiting with dignity, Killian calmed down and sat back down in his chair.
The three maids in the delivery room came and went several times on the midwife's orders, and each time Killian would jump up and ask if Emily was okay.
A few more hours passed like that.
“Aaaaah!”
Finally, the sound of a baby crying loudly was heard.
"Your Excellency."
Cezanne opened the door slightly and called Killian.
“What about Emily?”
“Madam and child are both safe. You may come in.”
Entering the room, Killian first examined Emily. She was drenched in sweat and completely worn out, but she was still the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Emily.”
"Honey..."
Emily, who seemed tired even from talking, took his hand with a faint smile on her lips.
“Your Excellency, would you like to say hello to Daniel?”
The midwife approached them carrying a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.
“...Isn’t it too small?”
"Such a small creature," Killian's voice trembled slightly, overcome with emotion.
"It's small. He's one of the finest babies I've ever delivered. That's why Madam had such a difficult birth."
“As expected, my child is the best at everything.”
“Please give him a hug.”
“Yes?”
Killian, who was suddenly left holding the child, was momentarily flustered, but then held the baby in his arms in a very familiar position.
"It's been worth all the hard work you've put into practicing with the doll. You're holding your baby better than most novice mothers."
The midwife's praise didn't even reach Killian's ears. His heart was so full of emotion that his ears were numb.
“Isn’t he pretty?”
Killian nodded at Emily's words.
"I've never seen such a handsome baby born so soon. I think he'll probably win the award for cutest baby in the world."
The couple's faces broke into smiles at the midwife's excitement.
Killian lowered his posture and showed Daniel to Emily.
“Hello, Daniel.”
I will take responsibility for your happiness in this life.
One holiday morning, Emily smiled happily at the sight before her.
Killian was reading a book to Daniel, and the baby seemed to be slowly closing his eyes on Killian's lap, perhaps comforted by his father's voice.
“Aren’t you tired?”
Emily asked with a worried tone.
This is because Emperor Kite gave him a huge amount of work to do after he returned from his long vacation, telling him to take care of the work he had been unable to do.
“It’s okay. I’ll be back soon after taking maternity leave.”
Killian couldn't help but grit his teeth when I thought about how much time he had to spend with his rabbit-like wife and children because of work.
"Don't do that. After that vacation, your workload will double."
The problem was that Emily had been taking an unnecessary, long prenatal leave since she was only two months pregnant.
'No, why did you create such a vacation in the first place!'
Emperor Kite feared that this leave would be abused, so he abolished it as soon as he returned to work.
That's why it was rare for a man to take this vacation and devote all his time to his pregnant wife like Killian.
“Raising children alone is difficult.”
'I guess I'll just quit my job now.'
It was a pointless worry since his resignation would never be accepted anyway.
“Do you know how many people work for Daniel in our house?”
Emily sighed deeply and picked up the child from Killian's lap, placing him on the bed.
Daniel's overall appearance was very similar to Killian's.
His hair was unusually thick and black for a child, and his distinctly handsome features and even the shape of his eyebrows were all taken from his father, Killian.
But the color of her eyes was a clear sky blue, just like her mother's, and that was what Killian liked the most.
“Is he that pretty?”
Emily smiled faintly as she looked at Killian, who was lying face down next to the child again and stroking his cheek.
“I didn’t know I had a weakness for cute things.”
She loved the way his perky lips twitched and licked her thumb. Why was it so hard to look away? This, too, was a disease.
"I invited Marlene and her husband to lunch today. They said the kids can go out now."
The corners of Killian's mouth quirked up in amusement as he thought of Knox, who had suddenly become a father of two children.
“They said there was a 1% chance that the detector would be wrong...”
“Rather than saying it’s wrong, I think it’s because it’s in the testing phase that it can’t detect more than one.”
Marlene and Knox had twins, a son and a daughter.
“Somehow, Marilyn’s belly was a bit too bloated.”
Although no one said anything, everyone suspected that something was wrong with Marlene's nervous system that controlled her appetite.
“Knox was bragging about how pretty the kids were, and now I can finally see them.”
“No matter how pretty it is...”
Emily narrowed her eyes as she watched him trail off.
“You’re not trying to compete over the kids, are you?”
"Of course not. Daniel is the prettier baby, no need to compete. Don't you remember? The midwife said Daniel would win the world's cutest baby award."
“Originally, when a child is born, they all say such polite things.”
Killian's expression turned sour at Emily's words.
“Don’t you think our baby, Daniel, is cute?”
"It's not that he's cute. Even in my eyes, he's the prettiest. However, it's not good to show off too much in front of other people."
“I don’t want to show it, but I can’t help it. It’s Daniel’s fault for being born this way.”
Anyway, he was a very affectionate and unstoppable father.
It was lunchtime, and Marlene and Knox visited the Velvet Mansion.
“Welcome, Marlene.”
Emily greeted the couple and their little ones with a happy face.
“I understand why you’re so anxious to show the kids.”
She greeted the babies with eyes filled with affection. They all resembled their parents, and each had exceptional looks.
“What is your name?”
“My daughter’s name is Dorothea, and my son’s name is Hayden.”
The couple each held one, and Dorothea looked lively and wild, like Knox.
Hayden looked like Marlene, no... no one, so dignified and demure.
Knox also lived with Marlene's parents until the children grew up, as Marlene wanted to stay with the Marquis of Huppert.
“So, are we going down to Clive’s estate now?”
“I plan to go down when the kids turn two.”
As she led them to the table, Emily asked Marlene a question.
“Can you go and live in the countryside?”
The Marquis of Huppert's estate was not far from the capital, so Marlene spent most of her life in the city.
“I think the countryside isn’t a bad place to raise children.”
In the past, it would have been unimaginable for Marlene to live in the countryside. But seeing her begin to center her life around her child was both unfamiliar and fascinating.
“Hello, you two.”
John had also arrived early and was sitting at the table.
“Hey, it’s been a while. When did you grow so much?”
As Knox tried to pat his head, John skillfully grabbed his hand and stopped him.
Meanwhile, John, who had returned to the mansion for spring break, came up to the floor where the delivery room was, out of breath.
“Hello, Uncle.”
“Yes, come on in.”
Now ten years old, John's hair had darkened considerably to a calm chestnut color, and his deep green eyes, like green leaves, had taken on a more mature glow than before.
“Aunt, is she okay?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Emily's screams could be heard from inside. Occasionally, it seemed as if curses at Killian were also mixed in.
“...It seems like she's not feeling well.”
“I asked you to come out quickly and not make things difficult for Mom.”
Payne looked dumbfounded at Killian's muttered words, biting his lip.
"How could a baby in her stomach understand that? It's not like he's trying to stay out."
“I told you, my baby understands everything!”
“Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.”
It seemed like he still didn't want to let go of the fact that Daniel had been a genius since he was a fetus.
“Uncle, please wait a little longer.”
If it had been normal, John would have teased his uncle for this, but since it was the right time, he reassured him.
“My aunt will give birth to a healthy baby.”
"...Yes."
Seeing even young John waiting with dignity, Killian calmed down and sat back down in his chair.
The three maids in the delivery room came and went several times on the midwife's orders, and each time Killian would jump up and ask if Emily was okay.
A few more hours passed like that.
“Aaaaah!”
Finally, the sound of a baby crying loudly was heard.
"Your Excellency."
Cezanne opened the door slightly and called Killian.
“What about Emily?”
“Madam and child are both safe. You may come in.”
Entering the room, Killian first examined Emily. She was drenched in sweat and completely worn out, but she was still the most beautiful woman in the world.
“Emily.”
"Honey..."
Emily, who seemed tired even from talking, took his hand with a faint smile on her lips.
“Your Excellency, would you like to say hello to Daniel?”
The midwife approached them carrying a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.
“...Isn’t it too small?”
"Such a small creature," Killian's voice trembled slightly, overcome with emotion.
"It's small. He's one of the finest babies I've ever delivered. That's why Madam had such a difficult birth."
“As expected, my child is the best at everything.”
“Please give him a hug.”
“Yes?”
Killian, who was suddenly left holding the child, was momentarily flustered, but then held the baby in his arms in a very familiar position.
"It's been worth all the hard work you've put into practicing with the doll. You're holding your baby better than most novice mothers."
The midwife's praise didn't even reach Killian's ears. His heart was so full of emotion that his ears were numb.
“Isn’t he pretty?”
Killian nodded at Emily's words.
"I've never seen such a handsome baby born so soon. I think he'll probably win the award for cutest baby in the world."
The couple's faces broke into smiles at the midwife's excitement.
Killian lowered his posture and showed Daniel to Emily.
“Hello, Daniel.”
I will take responsibility for your happiness in this life.
***
One holiday morning, Emily smiled happily at the sight before her.
Killian was reading a book to Daniel, and the baby seemed to be slowly closing his eyes on Killian's lap, perhaps comforted by his father's voice.
“Aren’t you tired?”
Emily asked with a worried tone.
This is because Emperor Kite gave him a huge amount of work to do after he returned from his long vacation, telling him to take care of the work he had been unable to do.
“It’s okay. I’ll be back soon after taking maternity leave.”
Killian couldn't help but grit his teeth when I thought about how much time he had to spend with his rabbit-like wife and children because of work.
"Don't do that. After that vacation, your workload will double."
The problem was that Emily had been taking an unnecessary, long prenatal leave since she was only two months pregnant.
'No, why did you create such a vacation in the first place!'
Emperor Kite feared that this leave would be abused, so he abolished it as soon as he returned to work.
That's why it was rare for a man to take this vacation and devote all his time to his pregnant wife like Killian.
“Raising children alone is difficult.”
'I guess I'll just quit my job now.'
It was a pointless worry since his resignation would never be accepted anyway.
“Do you know how many people work for Daniel in our house?”
Emily sighed deeply and picked up the child from Killian's lap, placing him on the bed.
Daniel's overall appearance was very similar to Killian's.
His hair was unusually thick and black for a child, and his distinctly handsome features and even the shape of his eyebrows were all taken from his father, Killian.
But the color of her eyes was a clear sky blue, just like her mother's, and that was what Killian liked the most.
“Is he that pretty?”
Emily smiled faintly as she looked at Killian, who was lying face down next to the child again and stroking his cheek.
“I didn’t know I had a weakness for cute things.”
She loved the way his perky lips twitched and licked her thumb. Why was it so hard to look away? This, too, was a disease.
***
"I invited Marlene and her husband to lunch today. They said the kids can go out now."
The corners of Killian's mouth quirked up in amusement as he thought of Knox, who had suddenly become a father of two children.
“They said there was a 1% chance that the detector would be wrong...”
“Rather than saying it’s wrong, I think it’s because it’s in the testing phase that it can’t detect more than one.”
Marlene and Knox had twins, a son and a daughter.
“Somehow, Marilyn’s belly was a bit too bloated.”
Although no one said anything, everyone suspected that something was wrong with Marlene's nervous system that controlled her appetite.
“Knox was bragging about how pretty the kids were, and now I can finally see them.”
“No matter how pretty it is...”
Emily narrowed her eyes as she watched him trail off.
“You’re not trying to compete over the kids, are you?”
"Of course not. Daniel is the prettier baby, no need to compete. Don't you remember? The midwife said Daniel would win the world's cutest baby award."
“Originally, when a child is born, they all say such polite things.”
Killian's expression turned sour at Emily's words.
“Don’t you think our baby, Daniel, is cute?”
"It's not that he's cute. Even in my eyes, he's the prettiest. However, it's not good to show off too much in front of other people."
“I don’t want to show it, but I can’t help it. It’s Daniel’s fault for being born this way.”
Anyway, he was a very affectionate and unstoppable father.
***
It was lunchtime, and Marlene and Knox visited the Velvet Mansion.
“Welcome, Marlene.”
Emily greeted the couple and their little ones with a happy face.
“I understand why you’re so anxious to show the kids.”
She greeted the babies with eyes filled with affection. They all resembled their parents, and each had exceptional looks.
“What is your name?”
“My daughter’s name is Dorothea, and my son’s name is Hayden.”
The couple each held one, and Dorothea looked lively and wild, like Knox.
Hayden looked like Marlene, no... no one, so dignified and demure.
Knox also lived with Marlene's parents until the children grew up, as Marlene wanted to stay with the Marquis of Huppert.
“So, are we going down to Clive’s estate now?”
“I plan to go down when the kids turn two.”
As she led them to the table, Emily asked Marlene a question.
“Can you go and live in the countryside?”
The Marquis of Huppert's estate was not far from the capital, so Marlene spent most of her life in the city.
“I think the countryside isn’t a bad place to raise children.”
In the past, it would have been unimaginable for Marlene to live in the countryside. But seeing her begin to center her life around her child was both unfamiliar and fascinating.
“Hello, you two.”
John had also arrived early and was sitting at the table.
“Hey, it’s been a while. When did you grow so much?”
As Knox tried to pat his head, John skillfully grabbed his hand and stopped him.
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