Ronae’s labor was long, lasting well over half a day. Even though they were in the room across the hall, Ronae’s screams were clear and piercing.

“What do we do? What if this drags on even longer? What if something happens to my sister…?”

“Lottie, calm down! Soon there will be something to celebrate, so we need to stay positive. We should be sending good vibes, not letting negative thoughts take over.”

Olivia’s calming influence had a soothing effect on Lottie, who nodded tearfully.

“Yes, you’re right. Gael has been captured, and Ronae will give birth safely. The baby will be healthy, too.”

“Exactly. No more scary thoughts. Hey, why don’t we guess the baby’s gender?”

Olivia turned to Marsden, who was sitting on the sofa, trying to hide his own tension.

“It’s a tough call… but maybe a boy?”

“A boy, huh… what about you, Lottie?”

Olivia gently asked Lottie, hoping to distract her from her nerves. Thankfully, Lottie responded.

“I think… a girl? Ronae’s belly is so big, even though it’s her first child, that it almost seems like it could be twins.”

“Twins! I hadn’t thought of that. Well, whether it’s twins or not, boy or girl, I think the baby will be big and strong.”

“That’s so vague, Olivia. No fair.”

“What’s wrong with that!”

Marsden laughed, and his laughter was contagious, bringing smiles to both Olivia and Lottie.

They continued chatting about the baby’s gender for a few more minutes.

Then, a cry rang out—clear and unmistakable.

All three of them turned their heads toward the door in unison. If they hadn’t misheard, it was definitely the sound of a baby crying.

The maid, who had been tending to Ronae, rushed into the room where they were waiting.

“Both the mother and the baby are healthy.”

“And the baby is…?”

Lottie, her voice trembling with emotion, approached the maid, who smiled and took Lottie’s hand.

“A healthy baby boy. It’s too early to tell for sure, but it seems he’s inherited his mother’s lovely pink hair.”

***

When they entered the birthing room, they saw Ronae, exhausted but cradling her baby with care. Olivia, along with Lottie and Marsden, slowly approached her.

“Ronae, are you… okay?”

Was it really appropriate to ask a woman who had just given birth if she was okay? Olivia was unsure, but Ronae gave a faint smile and answered.

“Yes, I felt relieved as soon as I heard him cry.”

Giving birth was a life-risking act, so for Ronae, hearing her baby’s cries while alive must have brought indescribable joy.

“You did well, sister.”

Lottie carefully hugged Ronae. Despite her gentle touch, the baby wrapped in white cloth let out a small cry, as if feeling constrained, causing Lottie to jump back in surprise. Ronae’s smile grew wider, finding her reaction amusing.

“Now, all you need to do is rest and recover.”

“Is it… really over?”

Ronae’s face, which had been relatively bright, suddenly darkened. Seeing this, Marsden, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke up.

“We captured him without incident. His body is too broken to use any escape magic, so you don’t need to worry. Even if he recovers, he’ll be imprisoned and won’t be able to get near you or the baby.”

“Thank you. I’m not worried about myself, but I was scared for the baby…”

Ronae gazed tenderly at the baby. Olivia, unable to take her eyes off the child, slowly approached.

“Have you decided on a name for the baby?”

“Oh, not yet.”

Considering the chaos with the baby’s father, they likely hadn’t had a chance to discuss it. Ronae’s eyes filled with sadness, prompting Olivia to quickly offer a suggestion.

“How about we decide now? There are a lot of us here, so why don’t we each throw out some ideas? Or did you have any names in mind?”

Ronae’s eyes brightened at Olivia’s cheerful tone. Lottie also seemed deep in thought.

“I was so focused on the baby’s safety that I only had a vague idea, but recently, there’s been one name that keeps coming to mind.”

“What is it?”

Olivia asked without much thought, and Ronae took a deep breath before speaking with determination.

“Bay.”

“…Bay?”

“Yes, Bay. If it had been a girl, I was considering ‘Vivi,’ the alias that Bay used at the count’s estate…”

Ronae continued, her voice trembling slightly as she looked at Olivia with tearful eyes.

“Sir Bay tried to help me even in the most difficult situations. He did things for me that even my personal maid or servants couldn’t. We didn’t have many conversations, but I could tell he was a warm person.”

Olivia was momentarily speechless. It was an unexpected revelation.

“So I want to name the baby Bay and use Sir Bay’s surname, Fitzroy, as the middle name. It’s my way of ensuring I never forget him. Would that be okay…?”

Ronae looked at Olivia with pleading eyes, seeking her approval. After taking a moment to calm her emotions, Olivia sat gently beside Ronae.

“It’s your baby, so you don’t need my permission. But… I think it’s a lovely name.”

At Olivia’s response, Ronae smiled brightly and kissed baby Bay’s forehead.

“Little one, your name is Bay. You’ve inherited the name of a truly remarkable person.”

Olivia averted her eyes, trying hard not to cry. With this baby bearing Bay’s name, even if Ronae left for another place, it would feel as if Bay was still alive somewhere.

That was enough. Olivia turned slightly toward Ronae.

“May I hold the baby… I mean, Bay? Oh! I already washed my hands.”

Not wanting to be mistaken for carrying germs, Olivia displayed her clean hands. Ronae gladly agreed.

With Lottie’s help, Bay was carefully placed into Olivia’s arms. The baby, who had been fussing a bit, quickly quieted down.

“What’s this, Bay! Do you like the Marchioness more than your aunt?” Lottie joked, though it was clear she was only half-serious. But Bay simply yawned widely, a gesture so endearing that it was obvious he took after Ronae rather than someone like Gael.

“Um, Ronae…”

“Yes?”

Ronae tilted her head in curiosity as Olivia hesitated, a rare occurrence.

“If you leave, could you write to me sometimes? We’ve been through a lot together, but…”

Olivia, her gaze still fixed on the baby, made the request in a small voice.

“I’d really like to hear how the baby is doing now and then. It feels like Bay is a kind of gift to me… like a celebration.”

“I will.”

Ronae answered firmly and gently wrapped her arms around Olivia’s shoulders. It was an unexpected gesture, but no one found it strange.

“I’ll write, Olivia.”

For a while, Ronae and Olivia remained in that position, with the baby nestled between them, surprisingly content and quiet.

***

Olivia and Marsden had a tight schedule. Not long after Ronae safely delivered her baby, Hellebore summoned the two of them.

Since Bay was born exactly at 11:50 PM, it was a rather late hour for the Emperor to call anyone.

‘Does being Emperor mean you can do whatever you want?’

Well, yes, it does. Grumbling about the power hierarchy, Olivia walked through the corridor with Marsden.

“Aren’t you tired, Olivia?”

“I feel like I could sleep for days. I wonder when we’ll finally get some proper rest.”

“If my guess is right, once we finish this conversation with His Majesty, we’ll be able to rest for a long time.”

“But doesn’t it seem a bit… too calm for a conversation like that?”

It was clear that they were being summoned to receive rewards and punishments, so it seemed more appropriate to meet in a more formal setting. Olivia had expected to be called to the audience chamber, but to her surprise, Hellebore had chosen the imperial palace’s back garden instead. He was a man whose intentions were often hard to read.

Normally, the garden would have been pitch dark at this hour, but dozens of lamps had been lit, creating a moody atmosphere. Olivia silently grumbled about the waste of money.

“Thank you for coming,”

Hellebore greeted them, lounging comfortably in his chair. Marsden saluted with perfect formality, and Olivia followed suit as best she could.

“I know it’s late for tea, but this was the only time I could manage. I’m leaving for an unofficial visit to Katlan tomorrow.”

“Katlan?” Olivia asked in surprise, and Hellebore nodded calmly.

“The throne of the vassal state is vacant. A candidate for the new king has requested a meeting. I considered summoning him to the Empire, but since I need to see the royal palace anyway, I’ll be heading there tomorrow.”

“When will you return?” Marsden asked. Hellebore took a sip of tea, setting the cup down with graceful precision.

“It will take a few days, at least. We need to discuss whether Katlan should remain a separate state or be incorporated into the Empire, and assess whether the new king candidate is fit to lead. Depending on the situation, it could take several weeks.”

Ah, Olivia thought, finally beginning to understand why he had called them at such an hour.

“So I’ve decided to determine your fates now. I don’t think either of you wants this to drag on any longer.”

Since that was true, Olivia and Marsden focused even more intently on his words.

“All the false charges against the Marchioness have been proven to be the work of Gael Abyss, so there’s no punishment for you. Moreover, you kept your promise to uncover the culprit within a month, so there’s no reason to strip you of your title. You may continue managing the prison as you see fit.”

The mention of continuing her desired prison management lifted Olivia’s spirits briefly, but she quickly grew somber again.

“The issue lies with ‘Sir’ Marsden,” Hellebore continued, pointedly avoiding using the title of duke since he had recently stripped Marsden of it. Marsden showed no sign of resentment.

“Even if you lost someone dear to you, reviving them is unforgivable. Have you considered the chaos that would ensue if this became known? Anyone who has lost a loved one would rush to dabble in forbidden magic. Necromancy would spread uncontrollably.”

“I am fully aware of my sin,” Marsden replied. Olivia wanted to interject, but she held back, knowing it wouldn’t help Marsden.

“…However, if you hadn’t brought the Marchioness back to life, none of this could have been prevented.”

A complex mix of emotions flickered in Hellebore’s eyes.

“I will now pass final judgment on you. This decision is absolute and will not be overturned.”

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