Side Story 13. Morning Sickness

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The three dances ended.

After that, no one else came to ask me for a dance. Johann, Claude, and Mihail didn’t ask anyone else to dance either.

Thanks to that, I became the only woman who had danced with all three heroes. Already drawing attention as the Empress’s debut, it seemed the social circles would be buzzing with talk about me for a while.

Well.

I guess I’ll have to get used to it if I’m in this position.

My heart was still fluttering, but I clenched my fist, determined to get accustomed to being the talk of the town.

“Would you like a glass of champagne?”

Just then, a servant approached with a silver tray, offering drinks.

As I was thirsty, I gladly took a glass. Johann, who was beside me, also reached out and grasped a sleek champagne flute…

“Congratulations on your debut, Miss Sera.”

For some reason, Mihail, who had been trailing behind me since the dance ended, also joined in this toast. And even Claude, who had somehow escaped from being surrounded by nobles and approached nearby.

“Perfect.”

Claude roughly grabbed the last glass on the tray and looked at me. The servant standing nearby was trembling all over, seeming weak-kneed just from being close to the Guardian of the North.

It would be nice if he treated them a bit more kindly.

Claude paid no attention to the servant. Knowing that cold face was his default expressionless look, I couldn’t help but smile vaguely inside.

Anyway, the servant with the empty tray hurriedly retreated.

“These vacations are too long.”

Johann shook his head, muttering to himself, but not really. Claude and Mihail no longer responded to such comments. It seemed they had decided to be completely shameless.

Johann, seeming to have half given up, looked at me.

“Congratulations on your debut.”

“I already gave that toast.”

“It was before I raised my glass.”

Things never ended smoothly until the very end.

I looked at Johann, Mihail, and Claude in turn.

No helping it, I suppose.

They would probably continue to be like this in the future.

Well. Perhaps deep down, I was hoping they would remain unchanging like this. My heart felt warm for no reason.

“Thank you for celebrating my debut.”

I raised my glass slightly.

Then the three men who had been growling at each other softened their expressions and clinked their glasses with mine at the same time.

Clink.

The clear sound pleasantly shook the air.

I tilted the champagne glass to my lips. Annoyingly, there’s even a proper way to drink this elegantly. How to hold the glass, the angle, where to look, and so on. Focusing on these things, I took the bubbly liquid into my mouth…

“Urgh.”

What’s this?

Did someone accidentally drop fish into the champagne?

How can champagne smell fishy?

I was taken aback by this unexpected physiological reaction. To stop myself from dry heaving more, I covered my mouth with my hand.

“Miss Sera, could it be…?”

“Could it be.”

Mihail and Claude muttered blankly, not understanding what was happening.

What do you mean ‘could it be’?

This has never happened to me in my life, why now of all times at my debut stage… I resented my body.

I felt like I might tear up from embarrassment. Seeing the nobles whispering about me, I felt even more nauseous.

“Ah… That, could it be…”

Even Johann was acting like someone broken.

“Urgh.”

At that moment, I couldn’t hold back and dry heaved again. The sound of the glass shattering as I dropped it was just an added bonus.

“Bremen! Go call Bremen!”

Johann called for the court physician while supporting my swaying body.

His flustered appearance looked foolish.

What’s wrong with my husband…

Why are you so panicked? You look somewhat flushed too.

“Bleurgh.”

“Sera, Sera. Is it morning sickness? Oh my. Tell them to come to Felice Palace right away!”

Unable to wait for Bremen, Johann lifted me up in his arms. People parted like the Red Sea on both sides.

I was so nauseous that I couldn’t think straight.

It wasn’t until the next morning that I learned the rumor of the Emperor rushing out with the Empress in his arms, looking disheveled, had spread throughout the social circles.

Along with the set rumor that Mihail and Claude had stood still like statues with dumbfounded expressions until the end of the banquet.

* * *

“It’s fine, please lie down. You need to rest.”

When I tried to get up from the bed, Countess Adria, who had come to congratulate me on my pregnancy news, gently but sternly dissuaded me.

Perhaps because I had been scolded so much during etiquette lessons, I lay back down like an obedient student. But I’m not sick, and it’s just early pregnancy, so there’s no need to rest this much…

“You need to be careful in the early stages.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I put aside my thoughts and listened to the Countess.

The Countess continued.

“The risk of miscarriage is higher in early pregnancy. The baby in the womb is very small and fragile, so the mother needs to be extra careful.”

“Is that so? Countess, you’re really knowledgeable.”

I said it as a compliment.

Countess Adria looked at me, now a mother, with a gentle gaze and closed her eyes. Her wrinkled eyes seemed to hold a hint of sadness.

“These are things you naturally come to know as you live. And it’s also my personal experience.”

“Ah…”

I had heard she had no children…

I had no idea there was such a sad story.

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized hurriedly. It wasn’t intentional, but I had touched on the old lady’s pain.

Countess Adria nodded, saying it was okay with an unperturbed face.

“It was a long time ago.”

That was all.

Hng…

Don’t speak so nonchalantly. That makes it even sadder.

I felt like I might cry, but since the person herself seemed unbothered, I couldn’t openly express sadness.

It was then that a knock was heard.

“Come in.”

There are a lot of visitors today.

I guess rumors spread that the Empress’s morning sickness has subsided a bit and she looks better now. I wasn’t just saying it, I really meant it.

The imperial palace was a scary place.

Eyes and ears were everywhere.

Anyway, I wasn’t surprised at all by the visitors who entered when the door opened. Somehow, I had a feeling it would be them from the moment they knocked.

The three heroes, that is.

“How come you three came together?”

I asked, puzzled. Judging by their expressions, it didn’t seem like they came together on purpose, but rather met by chance on the way.

But there’s no need to glare at each other like that.

Anyway.

They’re hopeless.

That’s when Claude spoke first, scratching the back of his head.

“I bought this. To give you.”

“Oh…”

It was a fruit basket filled only with strawberries. I thought he was used to slow news since he’s from the North, but it seems coming to Elmon has made him quite quick with information.

Even during the severe morning sickness of the past few days, strangely, I was able to eat strawberries. I kept thinking about them.

It seemed the child in my belly really liked strawberries.

“Thank you. Looking at them makes me want to eat them.”

“Hey. Go wash them.”

As soon as he spoke, Claude growled at a nearby maid. The maid who got caught was Faye, one of the four.

She took the fruit basket and quickly disappeared behind the door.

“I heard they put these on babies.”

Mihail brought baby clothes.

“I chose white since we don’t know the gender.”

“Wow, it’s so cute. To think something this small will be worn…”

I felt a mix of emotions as I imagined it in my head. It was like a wave of touching emotion.

To think I’m becoming a mother.

The mother of this tiny child…

As I stared at the white onesie, I unconsciously cradled my belly. Even though it wasn’t showing yet, the fact that there was life inside suddenly hit me tremendously.

We need to prepare all the baby items too.

Thinking that, I looked at the person who would become the father of this precious baby. Johann approached me with eyes dripping with honey.

He perched on the edge of the bed and kissed my cheek, not minding at all that there were many people watching.

Please, show some restraint.

“I’ve picked out everything that seemed necessary for now.”

“……?”

“Our baby items.”

“Oh, already?”

I opened my eyes wide.

How long has it been since we found out about the pregnancy, and you’ve already bought baby things?

“It seems the rumors were true.”

At that moment, Countess Adria, who had been watching us from a step away, spoke up. There was warmth in her eyes, which had always been stern.

“I heard His Majesty the Emperor personally went to the shopping district and swept through the area.”

“……?!”

In the midst of his busy schedule?

I looked at Johann with surprised eyes. As if the Countess’s words were true, he was rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding my gaze.

“I thought it would be nice to choose with you, but I couldn’t wait…”

Wow.

What is this man saying?

To think the great Emperor Marseus would have so little self-control. But why does that make me so happy?

I found Johann too adorable to bear.

Smooch.

Do couples grow alike?

I kissed his lips even though there were people watching.

Johann looked at me with a surprised face. I just smiled brightly.

“Let’s go shopping again. Let’s choose together.”

It was my first time initiating a date.

“Sera, actually, I’ve already decorated the baby’s room. Would you like to come see? It’s right next door.”

“I’d love to.”

Johann’s excited appearance was so childlike that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

What should I do with this adorable man?