The Villainess in the Romance Fantasy Is Strange - Chapter 98



98. And Changing (4)

Eight months later, Leah’s due date.

It’s the end of November, and the weather is starting to get colder. Today is the day that the twins that grew healthily in Leah’s womb come out into the world… …but.

Since I was a member of the Imperial Knights, I went to work on that very important day and had a one-on-one sparring session with the captain.

“… … .”

The current time is 10:30 AM.

I left home after noticing irregular contractions since morning. I will probably be done with the baby before this evening.

In other words, I’m saying that there’s a good chance that Leah won’t be there to see her give birth to twins.

No, it’s not a big deal, it’s 100% likely. Unless Leah has a hard time giving birth, she will, and since that’s not the case, I’d rather not see her face.

It’s a shame, it’s such a shame, but I guess there’s nothing I can do. Just as Leah is important to me, it’s also important to fulfill my duty as a member of the Imperial Knights. It’s inevitable that I come out here and conduct this duel…

“… … Cain Reinhardt!”

──Thud!

The moment I was lost in thought, the sword I was holding flew out of my grasp with a terrifying noise and landed far away in a corner.

I was belatedly startled and just blankly stared in the direction the sword had flown, then turned my gaze away.

In front of me stood the Commander of the Imperial Knights, with a handsome white beard.

The manager, who was now past middle age and now well into old age, glanced at me as I stood there dumbfounded and clicked my tongue.

“If you can’t even block or dodge such a big move, where are you putting your mind?”

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something else for a moment and then… … .”

“Huh, that’s a different idea. Do you think it’s enough for an old man like me to think differently and deal with him? You’re really arrogant for a newbie.”

“Huh? Oh, no. I just… … .”

“Okay, let’s take a break. Go and get the sword.”

“Oh, yes. Okay.”

I walked over and picked up the sword that had flown to the corner of the training ground.

As I sharpened my sword and put it back in its scabbard, and bowed my head to show that I had learned a trick, I noticed that the captain was looking at me with a strange look.

“Your eyes look blurry today.”

Knock knock, the manager tapped the area under my eyes with his fingers.

“Is something bothering you?”

“… … Hmm, that’s it.”

It’s not that I’m worried, but there are some things that keep me from concentrating on the training.

As if he noticed that I was hesitating to answer, the captain sharpened his sword and asked again.

“If you have any concerns, don’t be afraid to tell me. I may not be able to offer a solution, but I can listen.”

“……ah.”

Yeah, well. They say that when you have worries, just talking about them can make you feel a little better.

“Well, actually. Today is my wife’s due date.”

“… … What? A wife? Did you have a family?”

“Yes. We got married in July this year.”

“It wasn’t that long ago, in July of this year. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“The captain was busy with His Majesty’s external security affairs, so I deliberately kept quiet because I was worried that if I told him anything, it would only burden him even more when he was already busy… … .”

“──Cain Reinhardt!”

The captain interrupted me with a shout.

The manager looks straight at me, startled, and scolds me.

“The honor of a member is the honor of the captain. No matter how busy I was with security, I was able to attend the wedding of a member I cherish!”

“Are you a member who cherishes… …?”

For over half a year, you’ve only been saying things like, ‘The tip of the sword is blunt, you’re big but useless, you still have more to learn, so don’t be proud of using the sword…’ But now you’re saying, ‘a dear member.’ Did I hear something wrong?

When I asked again with my eyes blinking, the captain moved his lips as if he was embarrassed.

“… … You b*stard!”

Suddenly he pulled out his sword and aimed it at me.

I took a step back in surprise, and the captain added a word as if threatening me.

“Stop asking useless questions and get ready to go home!”

“Huh? It’s not even twelve yet. There’s still half a day left until shift change-.”

“Nothing will change even if a punk like you misses a day. So go back immediately and stay by your wife’s side while she gives birth. This is an order to you as the leader. Do you understand?”

“Oh, yes. Okay, thank you… … .”

“… … There’s no need to be thankful. As a man, there’s nothing more embarrassing than not being able to protect your woman.”

As I gave my half-hearted thanks, the manager waved his hand as if telling me to leave quickly.

I bow my head once more, turn around, and walk towards my private room. I hear the manager’s words behind me.

“Oh, but… … When are you planning on having the 100th day celebration?”

“Oh, because it’s the 100th day celebration. I think it’ll probably be held around 100 days later.”

“Then, it would be around the first weekend of March.”

“Yes, I guess so.”

“… … .”

what.

When I glanced back, the manager was looking somewhere else, pretending not to care about someone like me.

I somehow thought I knew why the captain was asking me this question, so I said something suggestively.

“If you have any free time… … . Would you like to attend as well, sir?”

“… … Ahem.”

The captain nodded silently.

* * *

Thanks to the manager’s consideration, I arrived home in no time.

I was secretly, or rather openly, showing my nervousness, so I went straight up to the floor where my bedroom was and stood in front of the door without saying anything.

I would like to just open the door and go in, but I would be distracted if I went in while labor was in full swing, so I stopped for now.

First, I took a deep breath and put my ear against the tightly closed bedroom door.

─Ms. Leah, please relax. If you are too tense, your body will stiffen up and it will be more difficult, so please relax unconditionally until the pain comes. Okay?

─Okay, I got it, Maria.

─Okay, I’ll teach you the basic breathing technique, so try following along. Wet, wet. Phew.

─Wet, wet. Phew… … ?

─Right, good job. Just do it three more times. Okay, wet, wet, hoo!

─Wet, wet, hoo. Wet, wet, hoo… … .

From what I could tell from eavesdropping, it seemed like Maria, Leah’s personal attendant and someone who had given birth before, was teaching breathing techniques.

She must have been very anxious because she was about to give birth for the first time and I wasn’t there with her. But I feel a little bit relieved knowing that Maria, who has been by her side for a long time, is here with her.

Anyway, it’s not yet time to start, so I guess I can go in.

Just in case, I knocked on the door first to make a sound.

dripping-.

“Leah, I’m home.”

─… … Huh, bro? bro?

“Yeah, that’s me. Can I come in?”

─Okay, come in quickly!

Creak, I opened the door and cautiously stepped inside. The atmosphere in the bedroom had changed a lot. On either side of Leah were an elderly midwife who would help with the birth, and Maria. Several other servants were waiting, standing a little way from the bed.

There were also white curtains hanging from the ceiling that Leah could grab and pull. I looked around at the completely different scenery and approached the bed where Leah was lying.

“Leah, are you okay?”

Let’s hold her hand gently and Leah smiles brightly.

“Yeah, it’s still okay… …. Husband, how did you come now? Wasn’t today your work day?”

“That’s right. I explained the situation to the manager and he sent me away early.”

“Oh, really? He’s such a nice person. Shouldn’t I go and say hello to him later?”

“Right? That’s why I’m planning on inviting you when our kids have their 100th day celebration. What do you think?”

“Yeah, good. It seems like a really good idea. I’ll definitely… … later. Ugh.”

Leah suddenly frowned as she spoke. I looked at the old midwife in surprise, and the midwife, who had been examining Leah’s body, said something.

“Miss, does your lower abdomen feel tingly regularly?”

“Oh, yes… … . I think so.”

“So, the baby will be born within an hour or two. The father should step aside or watch from a little further away… … .”

The midwife, whose words were trailing off, glanced at me. I immediately got up from my seat.

“Yes, I understand. I will go outside so as not to be a nuisance.”

Even if there is a very small chance that my presence as a man could interfere with childbirth, I think it would be better for me not to show my face.

I greeted the servants as a way of asking for their help, and told them that if Leah were to give birth to twins in good health, everyone here who helped with the birth would be given a special allowance, before leaving the bedroom.

─Ms. Leah, is there anything that feels uncomfortable?

─Miss, it’s normal to feel pain in your lower abdomen, so don’t be too scared. If you’re really scared, hold on to this curtain and take a deep breath, okay?

─I’ll change your towel, Leah.

Perhaps because of the mention of special allowances, the servants and midwives are more motivated than before. As they say, money is the best no matter where you go.

Well, if Leah can give birth to a healthy child, money isn’t an issue.

I stood with my back against the hallway outside my bedroom and slowly closed my eyes.

“… … .”

In just a few hours, I will go from being a father-to-be to a real father. And not just any father, but the father of twins.

Will the girl or the boy come out first? Who will be the older sister and who will be the older brother? How will the child react when he finds out that he is the younger sibling with a difference of just a few seconds?

It was still a long way off, but just imagining it made my heart swell. Strangely, I raised my hand to my chest to suppress my trembling and nervous heart. I let out a sigh that I couldn’t hold back any longer and took a deep breath.

“Oh, really… … .”

I’m sure all the fathers in the world have felt the same way as I have at least once.

Well, even I, who have reached the level of Myeonggyeongjisu, am trembling like this. I don’t know how other fathers can maintain their composure in this state of tension.

My heart is trembling with a different feeling than when I’m facing the woman I love, so my lips are dry and I can’t keep my feet still.

I opened my eyes wide and waited patiently, walking back and forth down the hallway as if I was anxious.

“… … Phew.”

… … It must have been about 20 minutes since I started pacing around like that, making noise with my footsteps.

──Leah, strength. Strength!

──Ah, huff… … .

──Just a little bit more, just a little bit more!

──Bam, thump!

──… … Oh my, oh my! Curtains, curtains! Lady Leah, hands! Hands first!

──Miss, don’t worry about it and just use your strength, your strength… !

Suddenly, a noise like a large piece of paper being torn apart was heard from inside, and people were startled and panicked.

“What, what is it?”

Instinctively realizing that something was wrong, I opened the bedroom door without hesitation.

“… … Leah! Are you okay?!”