chapter 196
Side Story III. The news we’ve been waiting for!
An office where the only sound you can hear is the sound of a pen moving.
Frances, sitting at her desk, was immersed in a swamp of work, even skipping meals.
This was the reason why the magic revolution currently taking place throughout the empire had begun in earnest.
So, the owner of the Cartesian Tower that started the revolution, France and the head professor, Cazar, had a lot of work to do.
Even though they were already busy, the wizards who were burning with passion for learning here came up with new ideas and inventions while grinding their bodies.
Because of that, France had no time to eat or meet with Jean.
“after.”
Frances closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead as a headache came over her. Helena, who was serving her from the side, made a suggestion.
“Your Majesty, why don’t you take a little rest? You haven’t had much free time since your trip.”
It was just as she said.
It seems like it was just yesterday that we were enjoying our honeymoon, but already two months have passed. I guess I was so busy with work that I didn’t even realize how much time had passed.
“No, don’t worry, there’s not much left.”
But Frances refused Helena’s offer.
It was obvious that if she showed weakness and took a break, Jin would step forward and offer to help her. Frances didn’t want to ask Jin, who had done everything for her, to do anything else.
I just want you to be by my side.
“Then, since you haven’t eaten yet, I’ll bring it to your office… … .”
“Please,” Frances said, and moved her pen again.
Then Helena came into the office with food on a serving cart. Frances pointed to the sofa and table in the office with her hand.
“Put it over there.”
“yes.”
Knock, knock. The dishes and plates were placed on the table. Since Frances was such a picky eater, there wasn’t much.
Frances finished up what she was doing and got up from her seat. She sat down on the sofa and picked up her dishes. She was going to start with the mushroom salad… … .
“Ugh…!”
I felt nauseous. Was the smell of dressing supposed to be this bad? It felt like my stomach was rejecting the food.
“Oh, Your Majesty?”
Helena, startled, approached. Frances covered her mouth with one hand, crumpled her face, and pushed the plate forward.
“This smells a bit strange.”
This is the mushroom salad that she always ate. The aftertaste of the dressing is clean and the texture of the mushrooms is soft, so it was a dish that Frances ate often, but she suddenly didn’t even want to look at it.
“That’s weird? I did this this morning… … .”
Helena tilted her head and sniffed with her hand. It was no different than usual. Just in case, she tasted it. It was the same as she always ate.
“I don’t think there’s a problem with the food…?”
“… Really? It definitely smelled weird.”
Frances tilted her head and sniffed the salad again. The strong smell immediately made her frown.
“Ugh!”
Then came nausea. It was extremely uncomfortable, as if my stomach was churning and turning over.
“Uh, uh…!”
Helena, who saw that sight, stamped her feet, not knowing what to do.
“Hey, should I call Miss Dahlia? Isn’t she feeling unwell from working too much lately?!”
Helena, who had said that, opened the door to the office and left before Frances could even get permission.
thud.
Frances, left alone in the office, shook her head with a frown.
‘Why is it like this?’
Judging by his confused state, his condition worsened rapidly after smelling the food.
“Phew… … .”
It was then that I was leaning back on the sofa, holding my head. Suddenly! The door to the office opened abruptly and Helena and Dahlia came in.
“Your Majesty!”
Helena, who was becoming increasingly anxious, quietly bit her fingernails behind her. Dahlia approached Frances, catching her breath.
“I heard that you are not feeling well. I will first examine you. Are you okay? Since the Duke is a black magician, you may feel burdened by the divine magic entering your body.”
Every time I checked on Frances’ health, I had to be careful. Holy magic and black magic are incompatible.
Black magic is rare and tricky. It affects emotions, making it difficult to control, and it also depends on location and compatibility with other attributes.
“It’s okay. Check it.”
“If you feel any discomfort, please let me know immediately.”
Dahlia rolled up the sleeves of her dress and let out her divine power. Frances flinched in a moment of rejection, but she didn’t seem particularly uncomfortable.
“uh…….”
The corners of Dahlia’s mouth twitched subtly as she was examining her. Seeing this, Frances blinked and asked.
“Why, what’s going on?”
“that is…….”
Dahlia continued with a grin.
“Congratulations, Your Highness.”
“what?”
“Now you will see the successor.”
“… successor?”
Frances’s eyes widened. Was she having a child? She felt bewildered.
It’s true that I’ve wanted a child with Jin, but there was no good news. So I just thought it would happen someday and forgot about it…
I didn’t know it would come so suddenly.
“Huh, huh? What should I do? Where should I start… .”
Frances’s mind was in turmoil. Her tongue was tangled and her words were slurred. She was happy, but she was also embarrassed. There was still a lot of work to be done. Oh, I have to tell Jean.
Dahlia held onto Frances’ hand tightly as she giggled and struggled.
“First, I should go tell Mr. Jin. Isn’t this the good news we’ve been waiting for?”
Frances came to her senses only after Dahlia shrugged her shoulders. As she had said, she had to tell Jean first.
Because the fruit of love has finally come to fruition.
* * *
The basement of the Descartes training ground.
With simple construction, it was made into a dwelling place for shadows.
Unfortunately, there is only Scarlett Visconti at the moment, but the number will increase gradually.
‘Where should we supplement our manpower?’
Bringing in outside talent is quick and easy, but it’s hard to build trust. Loyalty doesn’t come easily.
However, it was not possible to use slave contracts with criminals like Scarlett Visconti by asking Kazar every time.
‘Is it a voice?’
Taking in and accommodating homeless children was also a good option. I was a little hesitant about having them do dirty work, though… … .
It was at that time that I was pounding on the desk and lost in thought.
-Crackle. Crackle.
Suddenly, the magic communication device in my pocket rang. I quickly answered the call.
“what’s the matter?”
[Your Majesty, go to the bedroom quickly!]
“Why, what is it?”
[Hurry up, hurry up!]
Dahlia said urgently. Is something urgent coming up? I judged that something was wrong and moved quickly.
I hurried to the bedroom and saw Dahlia and Helena. Frances was half-lying on the bed.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick somewhere? What’s going on?”
Dahlia’s voice was urgent. Frances was in bed. Helena’s anxious eyes. It was clear that something was wrong.
“Can you all go out? I want to be alone with you two.”
As Frances spoke with a grin, Dahlia and Helena gave a quick greeting and passed me by. What is it?
“Here, this way.”
She smiled gently and motioned for me to sit in the chair next to the bed. I did as she said.
“Jin, don’t be surprised when you hear that.”
“what?”
“I have a baby.”
“……uh?”
For a moment, my eyes widened. I felt embarrassed, extremely happy, and deeply worried at the same time.
“Am I, am I going to be a father?”
“yes.”
Frances’s eyes drew arcs. The corners of her mouth curved into a bright smile.
“It finally happened.”
“I see… … .”
Until just a moment ago I was thinking about work-related things, but now my mind is completely occupied with thoughts about my child.
“Aren’t you happy?”
As I stood there blankly blinking without saying a word, Frances cautiously looked at me.
“No, of course I’m happy. I’m happy… … .”
To be honest, I was worried. I didn’t know if I could do a good job as a father. I didn’t know what to do.
When I was growing up as a prince, I was educated as a monarch rather than receiving love from my family. I grew up obsessed with the duty of being a prince.
The monarch’s education, economics, history, language, society, etc… … .
It was a far cry from the life of a child.
My childhood on Earth, beyond the world, was no different. Even then, I received more education than love in the name of elite education.
My parents forced me to study, saying that if I finished this, they would give me a present or make false promises to go out and play. That’s why I absolutely hate making promises that I can’t keep.
“Are you worried?”
It was France who immediately noticed my feelings. Was it written all over my face?
“…I can’t help but be worried.”
“Me too.”
Frances chuckled, her bright smile embedded in the center of her heart full of worry.
“I don’t know because I didn’t hear about it when you were young, but I didn’t receive much love from my family. My mother passed away when I was born, and I completely lost contact with my maternal side.”
Huh? Frances smiled, tilting her head while holding my trembling hand.
“So this is what I’m going to do. I’m going to give my child the love I wanted to receive when I was little. I’m going to give my child what I wanted to do and what I hoped for.”
I just blinked and listened to Frances’ words quietly.
“I will give my child as much love as I can. So much so that he or she will feel happy no matter what happens.”
It was Frances’ decision. Maybe she had decided it before she had children.
Frances, who had an unfortunate childhood, knows how lonely and painful it can be.
Also, that answer was close to the correct answer.
All you have to do is give the child what you wanted at the time. And then open your ears and listen to what the child wants.
“… That’s right. I also have to give them as much love as I can. And I have to protect my family so that they can grow up without any worries.”
Even if I had lived for thousands of years, it was a life like that of a doll, moving only for one purpose.
Even if I lived my life twice, living here and living on Earth, it wasn’t much of a different life.
I may be immature and have many shortcomings, but… … .
I have no choice but to do my best.
“What are you going to name the child?”
“name?”
“Yeah. I want to give it something meaningful.”
As for the name, I’ve never thought about it… … .
I put my hand on my chin and narrowed my eyebrows. France also put her hand to her mouth with a serious expression. The atmosphere was one of deep thought.
Then suddenly, I saw ourselves like this and smiled faintly.
Until just a little while ago, I was worried about whether I could be a good parent, but now the two of us are seriously considering a name. It was a happy worry.
“Well, no names come to mind.”
Frances shrugged and shook her head. Then she looked at me and smiled bashfully.
“How about if Dad builds it for you? Jin Daddy?”
When I heard the word father, my heart tingled. When I married Frances, I was so excited that my face turned red… … .
Now, a different kind of fever has risen again.
“Okay, from today onwards I’ll have to search through all the literature and find a good name.”
I readily accepted Frances’s offer, for nothing gives me more joy than naming my child myself.
“But I need to find two names.”
“…two?”
“Yeah. Because we’re twins.”
… … Twins?