Chapter 201: Side story 13

***

The reception in the morning was full of aristocrats.

I was happy to send invitations to the arrogant families who had only sent knights to my last wedding with Kalis.

They could attend the reception, but not the wedding.

It was usually the opposite, but anyway, as the Berg vassals insisted, it was a wedding that was carried out as splendidly as possible for everyone.

Even if not, there were no nobles who did not know that I and Lesche were a married couple.

Who would say a little change of custom?

Aristocrats who received only invitations could attend the early reception, but were not allowed to enter the ceremonial hall. Therefore, they were forced to wait to attend the reception after the wedding ceremony.

They were tired, but they couldn’t just leave without greeting the nobles in the central territory.

“Grand Duchess.”

When I changed out my wedding dress and entered the bedroom, the doctor was waiting for me. As he sat in front of me, my stomach trembled.

The day Lesche brought the doctor in while talking about his conception dream. No definitive results were confirmed.

If I were pregnant, it would be too early to diagnose.

“If you wait one more week, I will know for sure.”

I could send the guests back and take my time, but frankly, I was too nervous.

That there could be a child in this stomach…

I looked at the busy doctor. Said it would take some time. Even in the midst of the whirlwind, I was gathering my nervous hands as best I could, afraid that my wedding dress would be ruined.

“I’ll be back soon.”

The doctor who poked the tip of my finger to collect a drop of blood trembled and walked out the door.

Actually, I used to think about it.

Lesche and I had done it every night, so why didn’t I get pregnant?

I wasn’t really nervous, but I did have some doubts from time to time. Perhaps, if it hadn’t been for the time when I went through the world of Tuban to get the heart of Lesche, I would have wondered forever.

click.

I habitually pressed the red jewel in the circlet around my neck.

Of course, I would I longer have to go to Tuban’s world anymore.

However, I knew that the divine power of the circlet had become stronger than before.

It didn’t matter because there were several Sterns now, and the power of the star that was difficult to handle was divided, but Stern in the lost time seemed to have had a very difficult time having children.

“It’s obvious.”

The power of the stars was so strong that I lived with black bruises all over my body. How could a child be born easily in a body that seemed to be tortured all the time?

That world had collapsed and disappeared, but Tuban’s power was still hidden in my body. That was until Tuban unlocked the seal.

In other words, the power of the stars was preventing me from having children. Some sort of contraceptive role? As a Stern, I never thought that I could use contraception like this.

On the one hand….

‘If I adjust the power of the stars, can I continue to use it as a contraceptive?’

If the priests heard it, they probably would faint.

‘But it’s strange.’

Seria was the only Stern in the lost world, so it must have been very difficult to have a child, but why did Lesche accept the marriage when he was the Grand Duke of Berg?

The higher the rank, the more sensitive the nobility as well as the imperial family about heirs.

‘Because he wasn’t too attached to me.’

I had to ask Lesche. 

‘He must have been crazy about me.’

He probably would give an answer like this.

To be honest, I was a little embarrassed that Seria from the past was having love sickness after seeing Lesche…

Then the door suddenly swung open.

“Grand Duchess!”

***

“It’s such a perfect wedding.”

“Isn’t it really more glamorous than His Majesty’s wedding?”

Berg’s vassals were very satisfied. No one paid any attention to Seria’s meanness. Berg was weak against Stern from generation to generation, and the vassals were the same.

At this time, just two years ago, Seria Stern was very scary. She stayed only a week and they couldn’t wait for her to leave.

Of course, Linon was one of them, so he knew how to keep his mouth shut. It was a story that would be buried forever if there were only a few mistakes.

“By the way, the chief aide won’t get married?”

“Yes?”

Linon had no family, so some of Berg’s older vassals often treated him as a child of relatives from where he was picked up. Linon was so unfamiliar with this kind of place that he would only smile like a machine.

“Don’t get married too late. Aren’t you going to raise your child as an aide too? Oh, who’s taking the next one?”

“That… Maybe you forgot that His Highness was completely focused on the ability system…” 

“No! If you look like the chief aide, you’ll have a smart kid!”

Linon bit his lip.

“The Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess got married properly now, and they will have a child soon, but if the age difference between the master and subordinate is too much, the work efficiency will drop a lot.”

“That’s right.”

The vassals who were nodding their heads, saw Abigail passing by. There was no vassal who did not know how many demons that knight had slaughtered before the subjugation. Seeing the vassals rushing in saying they would make friends with her, Linon rubbed his face.

There was a captain who kept an eye on the vassals, so they wouldn’t dare say anything to Abigail.

But… at least they would say they respect her.

“Ah, who will take the next generation?”

Abigail pricked her ears at that.

“Senior aide!”

“Let’s go! The reception is starting!”

Perhaps because there were many people, few people had noticed that the main characters of this wedding and reception did not show their faces.

Linon did the same as he glanced at Abigail.

***

“You’re pregnant!”

I was speechless for a moment as the doctor screamed and trembled. There was no need to ask if it was real. Because the doctor was running around like he was going to pass out.

‘It’s true.’

“It’s been about a month.”

“One month?”

“Yes. Grand Duchess.”

…Then when?

Was it around the time Lesche saw her wearing a bunch of rings?

Contrary to the fierce calculations in my head, my hands were already on my stomach. I didn’t even realize it, but now my heart was beating wildly.

Then, as soon as Tuban regained some strength, I immediately became pregnant.

No one would know the details of this, but it was strangely embarrassing. Besides, it didn’t feel real.

…can I raise the child well?

Am I too immature? Besides, it’s very painful to give birth, will I be okay? Can I give birth? Will the child grow up safely? What if something happens? All kinds of worries swirled around and filled my brain.

I was already out on the terrace.

I thought I would calm down after a little bit of a cold wind. The giant silver tree was visible from here. What’s more, the reception was going on there, bright lights were shining greatly.

It was dazzling.

I heard the sound of the terrace door opening.

I immediately looked up at the man standing in front of me.

“…Lesche.”

‘Did he run?’

Lesche, who had very good physical strength, did not have trouble breathing or anything. However, his hair, which Begonia had paid as much attention to as mine, was a little disorganized.

I reached out to smooth his hair but my hand was caught.

“Ah!”

Suddenly he gripped my waist and lifted me up.

I screamed.

“I’m pregnant! Put me down!”

Lesche who was uncharacteristically embarrassed put me on my feet.

“…I’m going crazy. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but don’t just lift me up like that.”

In the meantime, I was worried that the dress might have wrinkles. This was the main work of the season that Begonia prepared while staying up all night, but fortunately, the dress was intact. When I lifted my head, it seemed that Lesche had barely come to his senses.

How unfamiliar those reactions were, and 

 the tickling under the neck.

“What about your hands?”

“You can hold it.”

Immediately, both of my hands were caught. I asked bluntly. 

“Have you heard from the doctor?”

“I heard. I did.”

Lesche’s eyes alternately scanned my face and my stomach.

“…Seria.”

At the end of that sentence, Lesche covered his mouth with my hand. As I stared at his slowly reddening face, I felt like my heart was submerged in warm water. Strangely I felt choked.

What should I say? 

Hearing the report that all the water sources in Berg had suddenly turned into constellation gold, he seemed to have that kind of expression on his face. 

Early evening. Time for the real banquet to begin. In the sky that turned blue, the stars rose little by little.

“What should I say now?”

“You said you would hand over all of Bergs to me.”

“I’ll give you all.”

“You said you would give me the title of Grand Duchess too.”

“I’ll give it to you. Is that all?”

“Kiss me too. But don’t mess up my makeup…”

I couldn’t finish telling him to be careful.

Lesche immediately bowed his head and came to meet my lips. However, it was a very careful touch, unlike the usual kiss that burned with passion.

Was it because it was very overwhelming? It seemed to swell petals on my chest. The kisses were as soft as cotton wool.

“Seria.”

He licked my lips and said in a whisper.

“Can I be honest?”

“What?”

“I’m scared.”

“…yes?”

“You… you’re too weak.”

One side of my heart ached at the rare appearance of Lesche’s weakness. How long would it be if I added up all the days I couldn’t wake up while sleeping? How could this man be waiting for me every time and not saying anything?

“Seria?”

Lesche frowned.

“Why are you crying? Where are you hurt?”

“I’m not hurt. The doctor told me earlier that pregnancy makes emotions worse.”

Using the doctor as an excuse, I carefully wiped the corners of my eyes with my fingertips. A little bit of tears were shed. At the thought of Begonia going to faint seeing my messy face, I decided to somehow hold back my tears.

“I’m not.”

I deliberately laughed.

“Come to think of it, you should have taken the contraceptive pill.”

A soft smile was also drawn on the corner of Lesche’s lips.

“Yes. I should have done that.”

“Is that a joke? What if Berg doesn’t have a successor?”

For a moment, Lesche looked at me without saying a word. Then his arms wrapped around me.

“Honestly, all I need is you.”

“…”

“Other than that, it doesn’t matter. That’s the problem.”

***