Before Charlie could understand what Hector meant,

Whoosh–

The flames in the room’s fireplace flared up.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“……”

If you’re going to ask if I’m cold, shouldn’t you light the fireplace after hearing the answer?

No, that’s not it.

It’s so hot I could die because of the fire stone, why suddenly a fireplace?

Charlie frowned at the wave of heat.

“What’s really going on? Did something happen?”

The shock must have been considerable, as Hector remained motionless, seemingly forgetting to even blink.

“Hector.”

Charlie’s voice continued, demanding an answer again.

Hector moistened his dry lips and slowly opened his mouth.

“A…”

“A?”

“A baby…”

“A baby?!”

Hector, who had hesitated for a moment, reached out his hand.

“…here.”

Like he’s afraid it might break if touched.

A careful hand settled on Charlie’s belly.

Charlie looked down at her own belly in response.

Blink- blink–

Her eyelids, still sluggish from lingering drowsiness, slowly closed and opened.

Could she be dreaming?

Otherwise, Hector’s behavior of stammering and caressing her belly right after waking up couldn’t be explained.

But wait.

What did he just say…

“A baby?!!”

* * *

From that point, a short or long time had passed, depending on how you look at it.

“The stairs should be closer to the carriage. What if Her Majesty the Queen trips because her toes slip?”

Tanner’s energetic voice leaked through the large windows of Spinel Palace.

“Yes, sir!”

The servants moved the massive stairs, grunting, following Tanner’s instructions that wouldn’t tolerate even a 1mm gap.

‘It looks like there’s no more room to move it closer.’

Following that, a pair of purple eyes, mysterious like the boundary between day and night, gazed at the knights.

The solemn uniforms were enhancing the beauty of the Hunt Knights.

“Luke, did you prepare the water for Her Majesty the Queen?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve prepared everything, from the roseberry and dandelion recommended by Dr. Audrey to the rooibos from the temple.”

Luke gave a thumbs up and shrugged his shoulders.

Leon patted Luke’s shoulder, seeming satisfied.

“Good job.”

‘What a waste of resources. A waste of resources.’

What’s the use of being handsome?

Using those faces only for war and protecting their lord.

“Can you see, my child?”

By the window.

Charlie, who had been looking down at the coordinated movements, murmured while caressing her belly.

“…all this fuss.”

Hector’s instinct from the past wasn’t wrong.

Dr. Audrey, who had rushed in wearing her doctor’s gown backwards, confirmed Charlie’s pregnancy.

There wasn’t even a need to use the stethoscope developed for treating Zeros.

The magical power she felt from Charlie was proof enough.

Additionally, Michael, who had arrived barefoot, collapsed and wept before even opening the door.

And that’s not all.

Upon hearing the news, Kaisis postponed Oedipus’s crown prince coronation ceremony.

The official reason was for the crown prince’s adaptation to the imperial palace and completion of education, but in reality, it was to accommodate Charlie in her early pregnancy.

Amidst everyone’s overprotection, the baby grew very stably.

There wasn’t even a hint of morning sickness or the usual dizziness.

If it weren’t for her gradually swelling belly, Charlie might not have believed she was pregnant.

And so, today.

It was finally the day of the long-postponed crown prince coronation ceremony.

“So, I hope you don’t think you’re not welcomed.”

Could the baby have understood Charlie’s words?

A faint movement was felt in her belly.

Charlie continued with a smile on her lips.

“Oh, they say your evening wear is already finished. One dress for a girl and one tailcoat for a boy.”

Charlie let out a chuckle, finding it amusing even as she said it herself.

It was surprising that in this fantasy world full of magic, they couldn’t know the baby’s gender in advance.

And Isabelle, who had made the clothes without even knowing the baby’s gender, was even more so.

“Oh my, Your Majesty. What if you catch a cold?”

A wrinkled, rough hand hurriedly closed the window.

It was still the red-brown hair that suited her kind-hearted appearance so well.

Charlie frowned slightly, but not unkindly.

“I told you to just call me comfortably like before, Auntie Nova.”

Charlie was also without parents, after all.

Concerned about this, Hector had called Nova to the palace.

While Audrey had excellent skills as a doctor, she didn’t have maternal instincts for Charlie.

Emma was also unmarried and had no experience of giving birth.

So, upon hearing the news, Nova willingly stayed by Charlie’s side.

[No matter who you are, or who you become. I still think of you as my daughter.]

After learning about her pregnancy, Charlie was overwhelmed with worries.

What she should do for the baby.

Charlie didn’t even know what a mother was in the first place.

Before her transmigration, Charlie had grown up in an orphanage.

When she opened her eyes, she was alone, and her parents had abandoned her.

So she had no family to miss, no reason to return, and no lingering attachments.

Perhaps that’s why she was more drawn to the character ‘Hector’ in the novel.

[Everyone becomes a mother for the first time.]

Nova took care of Charlie attentively and became a strong support for her.

Moreover, Nova even had experience as a midwife who had assisted in deliveries.

“It’s become a habit.”

It seemed she didn’t notice that she had just spoken informally,

Nova stroked Charlie once more then turned back to the bag.

She was checking Charlie’s luggage for her week-long stay at the Grand Ducal residence during the crown prince’s coronation ceremony.

Charlie sat quietly on the sofa like a good child, waiting for her.

“How thoughtful.”

Nova said in an excited voice, looking at the books filling the bag.

“If we were to stack all the fairy tale books His Majesty reads every night, it would easily fill a decent-sized mansion.”

Since Charlie became pregnant, Hector had been the busiest person.

From medical books on childbirth to books on prenatal education and childcare.

Hector seemed like a person trying to master everything related to pregnancy.

[They say the fetus hears the father’s voice better than the mother’s.]

And so, he read fairy tales to Charlie every night.

“I wish he would stop reading. I’m even dreaming about it now.”

Charlie shook her head.

“You know, yesterday I dreamed of fighting a dragon.”

“Isn’t the experience of bravely fighting and winning truly befitting prenatal education for the Hunt royal family?”

Oh ho ho–

Of course, it is. For a child who will one day take such a position.

Nova laughed heartily.

“Why do you think I won?”

“Because there’s no way a Grand Master would lose to a mere dragon.”

Nova said matter-of-factly while adding more socks for Charlie.

Charlie was still a Zero.

But the baby’s magical power was overflowing so much.

Objects would float around Charlie, or curtains would close the moment she thought it was too bright.

Thanks to this, Charlie had to learn how to control the magical power inside her body.

“Well…”

However,

Charlie drawled, beating around the bush.

Although it was just a dream, the feeling of flying in the sky, walking on the sea, and using magic freely wasn’t bad at all.

No, actually, it was quite thrilling.

Just as she was thinking this is why everyone goes on about magic, magic.

“Charlie.”

Along with a soft voice, gentle hands wrapped around her shoulders.

“You’re here?”

Charlie looked up at Hector, who had approached without her noticing.

Above the black cloak, the silver wolf fur and well-tailored royal formal wear boasted a majestic appearance.

Like a nuclear bomb that had leveled up from this killing machine.

“Who’s husband is this, he looks very handsome.”

Charlie brushed off Hector’s clothes a couple of times, even though there wasn’t a speck of dust on them.

“I’m someone’s husband.”

As if returning the gesture of affection, Hector lightly kissed her pale cheek.

Then, kneeling on one knee, he caressed Charlie’s belly as if communing with his child.

“Hello.”

“Say hello to Dad.”

At that moment, a squirming movement was transmitted to Hector’s fingertips.

“Oh my, did you greet Dad? Looks like you’re not upset anymore.”

Charlie burst into laughter.

Hector told Charlie about the dream he had.

And why he suddenly apologized.

In the process, he had no choice but to confess that he had been secretly taking contraceptives.

Although Hector’s unilateral action wasn’t pleasant, Charlie, knowing what his fear was, couldn’t bring herself to be angry.

Of course, the child seemed to feel differently.

The child would often squirm at Charlie’s words but remained particularly quiet at Hector’s voice.

“Thank you, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to meet you.”

Hector, feeling the baby’s movement for the first time, smiled brightly with his eyes wide.

“Please be born without hurting your mother.”

“……”

As if representing the child’s suddenly cooled emotions, Charlie’s belly became quiet again.

Nova bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

Who would have imagined that the great Hector Hunt was actually a doting father?

‘Mom is sorry… It’s because Dad loves Mom so much, can you understand a little?’

Charlie silently conveyed her apology to the child.

* * *

The Diamond Hall of the Sun Palace.

The high ceiling and grand interior boasted the majesty of the Graham Imperial Family, which had ruled the empire for 700 years.

The chandelier made of diamonds resembled a midday star, and the statue symbolizing God’s heart and the sun evoked solemnity in those who saw it.

The future emperor who would lead the Graham Empire.

The grandeur of the Crown Prince’s coronation ceremony was indescribable.

“Isn’t he truly beautiful?”

And below, the nobles gathered in small groups were busy praising Oedipus.

“It’s as if there are two suns in the sky.”

“And his magical power? I almost collapsed from the thrill that ran through my body as soon as I saw him.”

“His character is so noble. The other day, I heard he personally gave rewards to the servants of the Crown Prince’s palace.”