Raised the Villainous Daughter and Ran Away

Side Story III. A New Family.

As always, the days filled with happy times passed quickly and soon the seasons changed.

The end of fall and the beginning of winter.

The trees in the grove were gradually losing their leaves and color.

As the dry wind and cold grew stronger day by day, people’s clothes became thicker. When they exhaled, pure white breath came out.

Also, as she neared full term, Frances’s belly grew larger. Thanks to the meticulous care of our ducal family, there were no major problems.

And then there was the fact that we found out along the way: the gender of our twins.

It is not known who will be born first, but Dahlia said that there will be a boy and a girl.

After praying earnestly, God answered like this or something.

I thought I was abandoned by the goddess, having abandoned the title of saint, but it seems that those who are loved by the world are different.

“Have you decided on a name?”

“Of course. I decided after much thought.”

“what?”

Frances asked, her eyebrows slightly raised. Her eyes were filled with anticipation.

“The boy is named El Descartes. The girl is named Anna Descartes. They are both named in relation to us.”

When I told her my name with a smile, Frances tilted her head.

“El and Anna? Is that an ancient language?”

“That’s right. El means star. Ena means rose.”

Originally, I was thinking of linking them with the names Jin and France, but after much thought, I decided on a name that speaks of our connection.

When I first saw her, my first impression was of a garden full of roses, and that day was a particularly dark night with stars twinkling in the sky.

The children’s names were meant to be proof of the beginning of my relationship with Frances.

When I explained this reason to Frances, she seemed to like it very much and chuckled.

“That’s a good name.”

“yes?”

Actually, I thought a lot about other names, but I couldn’t find anything better than mine.

What could be better than our bond to speak of the fruits of love?

And if you look closely, it’s a name that has depth and profundity, and that fits Descartes well.

In this respect, it was very fitting for something I, who am not very good at detailing, made.

As they were looking into each other’s eyes and chatting about nothing, the bedroom door suddenly opened. Dahlia and the other servants came in.

Dahlia smiled and tilted her head.

“Your Majesty, Duke? It’s time now, so I need to check on your condition. Please step aside for a moment.”

I said yes and moved to my seat.

Perhaps accustomed to divine powers through the previous examinations, she accepted Dahlia’s divine powers quietly without any change in expression.

“Well, it will be soon when the aura and magic power are fully restored. At the shortest, it will be a week. At the latest, it will be two weeks.”

I already knew that she was full-term and that she was expecting a baby, but it was right around the corner.

I felt joy and at the same time a strange feeling that I couldn’t quite put into words. It was a tingling sensation that I had never felt before.

Becoming a father is a very thought-provoking experience.

“You should just rest and wait for the right time. Your Highness, please stay by the Duke’s side. That’s the most comfortable way to feel.”

That was the end of Dahlia’s treatment. Now, all that was left was to wait, and there was nothing else to do but maintain France’s stability and status quo.

“Do you understand?”

“okay.”

“Then please take care of it.”

“thank you.”

Dahlia, who had finished her examination, left first, perhaps because she had read the mood. The remaining servants quickly began to clean up the bedroom. This was because they had to maintain cleanliness right before giving birth.

After waiting a while, the servants left and France and I were left alone in the bedroom.

“I heard you were in a lot of pain, I’m a little scared… … .”

Suddenly she said. Her lips were smiling, but her eyes were not smiling at all.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m here with you.”

“Yeah, that’s right… … .”

Perhaps the words of comfort I had offered her had given her strength, and only then did Frances smile brightly.

“You don’t have to worry about anything. Everything will be okay. After everything is over, just like it has been up until now.”

Frances and I have had enough of hardship and adversity.

Even though we are living a life full of smiles now, the past cannot be erased. The painful and terrible events are still vivid in our memories.

So now it’s your turn to enjoy happiness.

If a goddess is watching over this world, she will surely wish for our happiness.

“So don’t worry. I love you, France.”

“… Yeah. Me too.”

I kissed her lips, full of anxiety. Frances giggled, as if she liked that.

It was a happy time just looking at each other.

* * *

After a little over a week, Frances went into labor.

“Euuu!”

The servants were busy. That was why they had to keep bringing hot water and disinfected towels.

Dahlia clung tightly to France.

“Ugh, uhhh!!”

Frances’s agonized groans echoed through the mansion. Tension filled all our faces.

“Kale, Ladea. Summon all the knights and return the mansion to a state of wartime security.”

“Understood. Follow me, Ladea.”

Kale, who was guarding the bedroom door, nodded and immediately moved. Ladea seemed confused by the new situation, but quickly followed him out.

“Kazar, as I said before, deploy the surveillance magic field to its maximum.”

“yes.”

Then, Kazardo moved to unfold the stationmaster. This is the end of preparations for the unexpected. I said to France.

“France. Here, take my hand.”

Our hands were very different in size. Frances squeezed my hand tightly. She frowned and broke out in a cold sweat.

“Ugh, ugh!”

Frances gritted her teeth and endured the pain. She knew this would happen, but seeing it with her own eyes was heartbreaking.

But as a father, I had to come to my senses. This was the moment when my child and Frances’s were born.

“France, our existence is intertwined, so if you can’t bear it, send me the pain. If you don’t have the strength, take my strength. Do you understand?”

This is the best I can do right now. Other than that, I can only hold your hand.

“Dahlia is here and I am here. Nothing will happen. The baby will be healthy.”

I held Frances’s trembling hands with both of my own. She smiled weakly, perhaps feeling reassured by this.

“Eeeeek!!”

In that moment, Frances gripped my hand tightly and shook her body violently. Her scream echoed through the mansion.

“Everyone, it’s time! Get moving like I said before!”

As Dahlia’s order was given, the servants became busier.

I thought our mansion would be a mess because everyone was young and young after the remodeling, but everyone faithfully fulfilled their roles.

“Ugh!”

“Your Majesty, take a deep breath! I told you before!”

“Huh, ugh! Ugh!”

“Slowly! Calmly!”

“Huh, huff! Huuugh…!”

“Breathe! Breathing is important!”

In the midst of all this, all I could do was watch her writhe in pain with my lips pursed.

Frances did not intend to take this pain alone, nor did she attempt to send it to him or absorb its power.

And then.

“Gyaaah!”

Frances’ screams echoed loudly.

* * *

How much time had passed? Just as I was losing my mind, the loud crying of a newborn baby rang out.

Frances’ complexion was a little off, but under Dahlia’s leadership, the children were born safely and healthily. The servants also smiled brightly when they saw this sight.

“Your Majesty, thank you for your hard work. I will now begin the healing potion.”

The golden, glittering powder seeped into Frances, and her expression relaxed slightly, her complexion returning. Then, the maid, Helena, brought in the children who had their blood wiped off.

“Look at your Majesty! They are such beautiful children!”

Was it natural maternal love that blossomed? Frances reached out to the children. In her dazed state, it seemed to be just instinct.

“ah…….”

As the two children joined Frances, she looked at me with tears in her eyes, her face wet with happiness and emotion.

“Jin, look at our child… he’s so pretty… … .”

“That’s right. It’s more beautiful than anything in the world.”

I brushed away her red hair that was sticky and soaked with cold sweat and kissed her forehead.

“Haha… Look at that black hair. It’s just like Jin’s… … .”

“My younger sister, Elle, has red hair.”

My older sister, Anna, and my younger brother, L.

I can’t be sure who it resembles because its skin is still red and wrinkled and its eyes are closed…

Maybe it’s because we’re parents? We can naturally tell who looks like who.

“Ena looks just like her father… … .”

“El takes after her mother.”

Pick looked at Frances with a smile and she smiled in gratitude as well.

Our child came out into the world with this.

I could see myself and France in their faces. It was obvious to anyone that these were our children.

“… … .”

My heart ached. As before, strange emotions surged through me. It was a joyous feeling, close to joy. Also, I was moved to tears, but a smile formed on my lips.

Even I, the owner of a heart that beats without rest, couldn’t make a definitive judgment on what I was feeling, but it was definitely an emotion that came from happiness.

A smile appeared on Frances’ lips as she stroked the child. Watching this scene, I too must have smiled.

“Phew, that’s it. The wine of blessing and divinity is finished.”

After completing the ritual, Dahlia gasped for breath and wiped her sweaty forehead. Golden dust was fluttering and seeping into her body.

My heart felt at ease and warm. I thought I had lost my saintly powers, but Dahlia’s divine power was completely different from before.

“Thank you for your hard work, Duke. Duchess.”

Dahlia looked around at us with a big smile. I smiled faintly and shook my head.

“France did all the hard work.”

Then he held her hand tightly. Unlike before, it had stopped shaking.

“I will make you all… happy… .”

Frances said that and smiled faintly, then caressed my cheek.

“I will give the children the love I wanted… … .”

“okay.”

“I will… make you feel the warmth you wanted… … .”

“…That’s how it should be.”

“… I will work hard to make you feel glad that you were born into this world… … .”

Tears welled up in her eyes. It didn’t seem to be due to pain or aftereffects. There was a smile on her lips.

“I will make you all happy… … .”

As she spoke, all the sorrow and memories from the past flashed through her mind, and Frances cried endlessly.

“Huh, huk…! Really, I’ll make you happy…! Huk!”

I hugged France and the two children tightly, spreading my arms wide as if I was building a fence.

Let’s hug her tightly. She buried her face in my chest and shed pure white tears without stopping.

It was the moment when the family we had hoped for was born.