Side Story 1. Good News (3)

“Careful.”

Aster held Camilla’s hand and watched each step on the stairs.

Camilla’s belly was noticeably swollen as her due date approached. Her rounded belly adorably protruded over her pink, flowing dress.

Aster’s escort was so slow that a 10-minute walk took 30 minutes.

Unable to bear it, Camilla spoke up.

“Hey, I can handle the stairs by myself.”

“But you can’t see below because of your belly.”

“Well, that’s true, but….”

“Do you dislike me doing this?”

Aster’s eyes drooped as he put on a sullen expression.

He only used formal speech at times like this.

Even though she knew it was a ploy, seeing that expression made her heart waver. In the end, Camilla surrendered.

“Of course not.”

“Right?”

Aster smiled again and led her. His ability to switch moods instantly was quite artful.

Though she knew he was doing it on purpose, she fell for it every time, switching her mood just as quickly.

Camilla found Aster’s excessive protection both frustrating and endearing. It made her feel how much he cared for her and their child.

Since she became pregnant, Aster had been following her everywhere. After work, he stayed by her side, attending to her needs so thoroughly that she hardly needed a maid.

As she grew accustomed to his care, the due date finally approached. The more her belly swelled, the more she looked forward to meeting their child.

When they descended the stairs and headed to the greenhouse garden, a familiar face appeared.

“Camilla!”

Alyssa stood up and approached Camilla. Her face was noticeably tanner, indicating she had enjoyed her travels.

After winning her trial, Alyssa didn’t return to Kamatie but embarked on a journey to foreign lands. It was to fulfill Joseph’s long-held dream of traveling the world.

The journey seemed to have brought Alyssa great comfort. Judging by the postcards she sent, she enjoyed meeting new people.

Camilla held her hand and asked,

“Was it inconvenient for you to come? You didn’t rush here because of me, did you?”

“Of course not. I was planning to take a break anyway. And it’s even better to see my little niece or nephew.”

Alyssa smiled and handed something over.

“I prepared this just in case. I don’t know if you’ll need it, though.”

“This is….”

“I’m not very skilled, so if you don’t like it, you can throw it away.”

When Alyssa, feeling embarrassed, tried to take it back, Camilla quickly accepted it.

“I love it!”

What Alyssa handed over was a set of baby clothes. Usually, these were given by a mother when her daughter became pregnant.

Since Camilla didn’t have a mother, such things were left to her nanny. Knowing that Alyssa had made it thinking of her made her feel warm inside.

Blushing, Camilla murmured,

“I really love it.”

“Really?”

Alyssa felt awkward seeing Camilla so happy with the humble gift.

In truth, Alyssa made it knowing that Camilla and Aster had no mothers. No matter how well Duke Francis took care of them, he couldn’t provide a woman’s touch.

So, despite her lack of skill, she had made it with effort. She understood its significance. Seeing Camilla so happy made her glad she had given it. It seemed they were mindful of their mothers’ absence.

Feeling shy, Alyssa raised her voice.

“If I had known, I would have made ten of them!”

“Oh, this one is more than enough.”

Camilla was touched by Alyssa’s warm heart. Neither Camilla nor Aster had female elders in their families. They were all killed by Duke and Duchess Blanche.

In this context, Alyssa’s presence was significant. Though they were not related by blood, she had become an aunt to Aster.

The years they spent seeking revenge had forged a strong family bond between them.

“How long will you stay?”

“Until the baby is born. I’ll feel reassured seeing the baby born.”

“You’re welcome to stay longer.”

“Then won’t I become a nuisance? I can be quite a handful.”

Alyssa grinned mischievously. Thinking about the journey it took to bring back that smile made Camilla laugh.

“Everyone’s already here?”

Just then, Christopher cheerfully appeared. Soon after, Brix arrived, completing the guest list.

“Sister-in-law, the baby will be here soon. Is it okay for you to be moving around like this?”

“I was told to take light walks.”

“The baby will grow up strong thanks to you, Sister-in-law. I hope the baby is more obedient than Aster.”

Brix joked while congratulating her. Camilla laughed, taking it as a joke, but Aster’s gaze turned fierce.

“Oh, scary.”

Brix pretended to be scared, but his expression didn’t look frightened at all. He didn’t push his luck further, knowing he might get kicked out by Aster if he did.

And as if Brix’s words were prophetic, her labor began that night.

* * *

Late at night.

An unexpected light shone in Francis Castle. Camilla had gone into labor.

The midwife who had been on standby entered the bedroom to assist with the delivery. The family, having heard the news, waited outside the room.

Aster anxiously waited outside the door. From the moment he first noticed her water breaking, he had been out of his mind.

He didn’t even remember how he called the midwife. He was shooed away for being in the way of the busy people.

But even after a long time, there was no sound of a baby crying. Instead, Camilla’s groans grew louder, which made Aster increasingly anxious.

At that moment, Duke Francis patted Aster’s shoulder.

“Relax. You’ll collapse before Camilla does.”

“Father-in-law. Does it usually take this long?”

“Did you think the child would come out easily?”

Duke Francis chuckled. Having witnessed the birth of both Camilla and the twins, the Duke remained calm.

Of course, he wasn’t always this composed. When Camilla was born, he was even more anxious than Aster.

“The fanfare will soon begin.”

“Pardon?”

Aster tilted his head in confusion at the Duke’s words.

“Waaah, waaah!”

A cheerful and clear cry echoed from inside the room. Aster froze like a stone. Duke Francis spoke.

“Isn’t that a beautiful fanfare?”

“…Indeed. It really is.”

Aster finally understood his father-in-law’s words and bit his lower lip.

A moment later, the door opened, and a maid spoke.

“Please come in.”

“Let’s go.”

Duke Francis patted Aster’s shoulder and urged him inside. Aster took heavy steps and entered the room.

In the humid air, he saw Camilla’s sweat-drenched face. Though she was pale from the labor pains, she had never looked more beautiful.

Aster approached Camilla first.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

“You did great.”

Aster kissed Camilla’s sweaty forehead. He had never imagined that his wife would look so lovely after giving birth.

She seemed like a great woman. Especially after enduring a pain he couldn’t even fathom.

“Aster, did you see our baby?”

Camilla smiled and caressed Aster’s cheek. Only then did he remember the baby and turned around.

“Oh.”

The first meeting with his child felt like time had stopped.

A baby boy with white silver hair and clear blue eyes, like the sky, was fussing in the nanny’s arms. When he saw Aster, his eyes widened.

As if instinctively recognizing his father, the baby smiled brightly. As Aster cautiously approached, the nanny placed the baby in his arms.

Aster quietly looked into the baby’s eyes. The blue eyes resembled those of the woman he loved most. The silver hair had a subtle reddish tint, another trace of the woman he loved.

“Raphael.”

Aster called his son’s name. The baby, not knowing it was his name, just blinked his eyes.

The moment Aster saw the baby, he felt it. He would love this child for the rest of his life.

“I love you.”

“…….”

“Welcome to the world.”

“Waaah!”

Aster’s confession seemed to signal the baby to start crying again. It was the sound announcing the beginning of a new life, coming out of the mother’s womb into the big world.

That day, a baby boy was born to the Francis family. A child whom everyone couldn’t help but love.