158. Side Story 4

*

“Aaaagh!!”

Magnus’s face remained pale at the screams erupting from inside, and he couldn’t seem to come to his senses.

Anxiously pacing back and forth in circles didn’t change anything.

It was just a few hours ago that the midwife had chased him out, saying he was being disruptive as he paced around inside, shouting nervously.

‘No, not just a few hours.’

Several hours had passed.

And despite several hours having passed, intermittent screams of pain still erupted from inside.

The sound of Serena cursing could also be heard occasionally.

“This is maddening.”

“Please don’t get too excited. How can you be so agitated when you’re the one who needs to go in later and calm the Madam down?”

Pamel, who had been keeping watch together and couldn’t stand it anymore, finally spoke up with harsh words to his master.

Only after hearing those words did Magnus somewhat come to his senses and rubbed his face roughly.

‘What do you mean how?’

If something went wrong with either of them, he would die, and so would he.

His thoughts had swung to extremes and back again several times.

He knew it wasn’t normal.

He knew. Nevertheless, his mind was so noisy he couldn’t bear it. What was he supposed to do if his person died?

Serena was the only thing that was truly his in his entire life, and he didn’t know what he would do if something happened to her.

‘The child…?’

Maybe they shouldn’t have had it.

He should have just used contraception.

Or cut it off entirely…

No, not that. If he cut it off, he wouldn’t be able to see Serena crying and hugging him in bed.

Anyway, they should have just gotten rid of the egg.

After having such thoughts, he finally rubbed his face roughly.

Nothing was ever easy.

Who would have known that after 10 months of hardship, the reward would be this difficult delivery?

Feeling as if his insides were rotting away, he let out a rough sigh.

“Do you not know the situation inside?”

“As you can see, everyone except the midwife and helper maids has been forbidden from entering, so we don’t know.”

Pamel, who had not only children but also grandchildren, seemed much more at ease.

While thinking it was strangely annoying, Magnus also had the contradictory thought that it was fortunate Pamel was still sane.

If he had gone mad too, Magnus would have already lost his mind.

“Is this how it usually feels?”

“Please don’t get too excited. Is there anyone having a harder time than the Madam inside?”

“I know, I know, but…”

But what could he do about the anxiety?

His sensitive senses were already on edge from the smell of blood wafting from inside.

He wanted to knock on the door and ask what was happening, but he kept holding back, worried that something might go wrong with Serena if he did.

“You’re amazing. You’ve been through this how many times? How many grandchildren do you have again?”

“Two sons, one daughter, and three grandchildren.”

“Does going through it a few times make you have such a calm face?”

At Magnus’s words, Pamel’s eyes widened slightly, then curved into a round arc.

“I’m just as nervous. But I know that no matter how much I worry and tremble out here, there’s nothing I can do, so I just wait quietly. Isn’t it more efficient to think about what to say and how to act when it’s all over and we can go in?”

“…I see.”

“That’s right.”

“I understand.”

At Pamel’s words, Magnus seemed to regain his senses a bit and let out a long breath.

He rubbed his face with an impatient hand and then slapped his cheek roughly.

“Right, it’s Serena who’s having a hard time. Not me.”

“Of course.”

Magnus nodded once more at Pamel’s words, delivered with a smiling face.

Tick tock.

Time passed and passed.

In the meantime, screams and irritated groans flowed out several times.

And then finally…

“Waaah!!”

A loud cry burst out from inside.

Pamel’s eyes widened, and Magnus jumped to his feet.

“Can I go in now?”

“The midwife will come out. Please wait a little longer.”

While Magnus was pacing in front, the door swung open not long after, and the midwife, with blood still on her arms, appeared holding a small blood-covered bundle.

The midwife, who came out through the door opened by the maids, smiled faintly.

“It’s a lovely daughter.”

“Ah…”

He hesitated.

“It’s a girl.”

“Yes.”

The midwife nodded with a smile and held out the blood-covered bundle to him.

“Would you like to hold her, Your Grace?”

Magnus stared at the small, too small bundle, took a deep breath, and slowly took it into his arms.

“…She’s light.”

“She’s still a baby, after all.”

Isn’t she too light, though?

She looks like she might fly away with just a gust of wind. He didn’t even want to imagine how worried Serena would be if that happened.

“What about Serena?!”

“Pardon?”

“Is Serena alright?”

“Ah. The Madam is also safe. However, she’s very weak right now…”

As the midwife trailed off, Magnus handed the child back to her and strode into the room.

“Serena.”

Entering the room, it was clear they had hurriedly cleaned up, but the smell of blood was still strong.

He also noticed bloodstains here and there that hadn’t been completely wiped away. He took a deep breath and slowly approached the bed.

Fortunately, he could still hear her faint breathing.

“Serena…?”

Approaching bit by bit, he carefully placed his hand on Serena’s cheek, which had turned pale.

She was drenched in cold sweat, and her body was unbelievably cold.

Biting his lower lip hard, he carefully reached out and gently rubbed her cheek.

Then, her closed eyelids trembled slightly and slowly opened.

“Magnus…?”

Her voice was so hoarse that it immediately evoked sympathy.

“Yes, it’s me. You did well. Have you seen the baby?”

“Yes… they said it’s a girl.”

“Right, we’re not sure if it’s a girl or not, but if the midwife said so, it must be true.”

Guessing Magnus’s inner thoughts, who couldn’t bring himself to say that the baby looked like a lump of blood, Serena let out a faint laugh.

“Cough.”

“Are you in pain? Should I call for a physician?”

“No, just some water please.”

“Alright.”

He carefully poured lukewarm water from a nearby jug into a cup and tilted it gently.

Gulp, gulp.

Watching her swallow, Magnus slowly exhaled.

It was only now that he felt she was truly alive.

The sensation of her body, the warmth of her skin, everything vividly told him that she was alive.

“You did well, Serena.”

“Yeah… but I don’t think I can do it twice.”

“That’s right, there will absolutely not be a second one.”

Thinking about proper contraception, Magnus spoke as if to reassure Serena.

Gently caressing her still slightly swollen belly, he softly stroked her hair.

“But if she grows up alone, she might be lonely…”

“No, absolutely not.”

Magnus firmly responded to Serena’s mumbling.

For one thing, he didn’t think he could handle it. Experiencing this heart-wrenching feeling twice seemed too difficult.

“I love you, Serena.”

Thinking he might have been too harsh, he gently kissed her cheek and whispered affectionately, causing Serena to laugh softly.

“Can I sleep for a bit…?”

“Of course, as long as you want.”

“Okay… later… together… the baby…”

“Yes, let’s see her together.”

“And the name…”

“Right, I’ll think about it.”

Only after receiving Magnus’s responses several times did Serena’s head drop.

Rubbing her pale cheek, Magnus slowly pressed his forehead against hers.

“I’m glad you’re safe, you did well.”

Magnus whispered as he carefully covered her with a blanket and gently embraced her, sharing his body heat.