Side Story 14. A Beautiful Spring Day

It was perfect.

It was a mystery how they could completely change the interior in such a short time, but anyway, the baby’s room was completed to a very high standard.

Not only the necessary items and storage space for them, but also various toys.

Is that red one a strawberry doll? Where on earth did they get that?

It seems there’s nothing the Emperor can’t do or can’t obtain. Thinking that, I looked around the baby’s room with excited eyes.

“How is it? Do you like it?”

Johann kept following me around. I thought we were just walking together, but now I could see a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

No, why? Is he afraid I won’t like it?

How could that be possible?

“I love it so much. It’s perfect.”

I answered with a bright smile. Johann’s expression brightened as well.

Just then, Claude, who had entered the baby’s room with us, opened various drawers and cabinets here and there before casually remarking.

“The closet is completely empty.”

“It seems I’ll be the first to fill it.”

Mihail, seizing the opportunity, neatly hung the onesie he had bought earlier on a hanger in the closet. With just one item hanging there, it stood out remarkably.

Johann, seemingly displeased that Mihail was putting the finishing touch on something he had decorated entirely, spoke with disapproval.

“Do you think Marseus couldn’t do it? I just left it because we don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy yet.”

“You clearly know nothing about childcare. Babies wear these kinds of clothes first.”

“I’ve seen people dressing babies in pretty clothes, what are you talking about?”

“They wear both these and those.”

Mihail retorted without backing down an inch.

As if he really didn’t know much about childcare, Johann closed his mouth with a bubbling face.

But does Mihail really know better?

It was obviously a case of the pot calling the kettle black, but Mihail shamelessly pretended to know something.

“I wonder if it will be His Highness the Prince or Her Highness the Princess, I’m curious too.”

At that moment, Countess Adria, who had been leisurely looking around the room, quietly interjected. Suddenly, Mihail fell silent too.

He seemed worried that if he opened his mouth, his limited knowledge of childcare would be exposed.

I barely swallowed the laughter that almost burst out and looked at the Countess. She also turned her head towards me at that moment.

As our eyes met, Countess Adria suggested in a kind voice.

“You can fill that closet when Your Majesties go on a date.”

Ah, what a good idea!

As if seeking agreement, I turned my head towards Johann. Johann… was already looking excited, his eyes shining as if his mind was already in the bustling shopping district.

* * *

Did Claude have a good eye for picking fruit?

The strawberries were glossy to the point of being luscious, and as juicy as their sweet aroma suggested.

I’m not sure if it’s because I’m pregnant that the food I crave tastes even better, but anyway, it seemed to suit everyone else’s taste too.

We came out to the garden for a change of scenery, and the spring breeze was really refreshing.

Is it because summer is approaching?

The late spring air felt much warmer and softer than during the wedding.

Anyway, we were sitting around a round table. By the way, Countess Adria had withdrawn, saying she had seen enough that I was healthy. So now, only Johann, Claude, Mihail, and I were seated here.

Saaaa…

A breeze carrying the scent of flowers brushed over the table.

Clink.

The sound of a teacup being set down gently permeated the air. Mihail had just savored some herbal tea and slowly opened his eyes.

“Miss Sera.”

“Yes?”

I looked at him while chewing a strawberry in one cheek. The name he always called me sounded a bit different. I soon understood why.

“I’m going to return to Sahar now.”

“……”

Strangely, I couldn’t open my mouth.

It seems there wasn’t a hint of sincerity in the habitual question I’d been asking for the past couple of months about when he was leaving. Seeing how regretful I feel now.

My mind went blank.

However, I quickly pulled myself together and gave a small smile.

“Thank you for coming to congratulate us. You must come to Elmon again.”

“Of course.”

Mihail looked at me with eyes as beautiful and sad as the shimmering scales on the gently flowing Nilda River. Two months was a long time to be away from his post. Sahar was waiting for him.

“Purifier Seraphina.”

At that moment, Claude, who had been looking at the distant sky, called my name. Was the direction of the sky he was looking at towards the north?

“I’m leaving too. I’ve seen that you’re doing well, so that’s enough.”

“…Thank you.”

Oh no.

I felt like my nose might sting. My eyes might turn red too.

Claude growled at Johann one last time.

“If you make her cry, I won’t let you off easy.”

“It seems you’re the one making my Empress cry right now.”

Johann frowned and pulled out a handkerchief from his suit’s front pocket. Then he gently dabbed at my eyes.

It was a beautiful spring day.

The shining sunlight seemed to warmly embrace our shoulders, as if comforting us as we parted.

* * *

Time passed, and my belly became full-term.

It was difficult to move around because my body was heavy, but they said it wasn’t good to just lie down all the time, so I took short walks whenever I had the chance.

Until a month ago, I was still handling work that came to the Empress’s office, but now the workload has completely stopped. Johann had strictly forbidden it.

He said something about severe punishment if even a single sheet of paper was caught entering the Empress’s office.

I wasn’t doing much to begin with, but anyway, it was too much fuss.

In any case, I was still walking in the garden now. That garden that could be seen from Johann’s office.

“Your Majesty, it’s quite cold today.”

At that moment, Joseph, my guard knight, spoke with a worried voice.

I turned around. Arnaud was also beside him, and both of them had faces that looked like they were worried sick.

Come on, it’s not like I’ve gone out to some remote place, I’m just taking a walk in the imperial garden, why are they acting like this?

This is all because of Johann.

He kept saying that pregnant women need to be careful, treating me like someone who might collapse at the slightest touch, and that attitude was spreading to those around me.

“That’s why I’m dressed warmly, you know.”

I answered with an awkward smile.

Right.

It is winter, after all.

But even so, is there a need to wrap a person up like this, like I’m in a blanket? It’s not actually a blanket, but anyway, I’m wearing many layers.

<I’ve put on a scarf and gloves too. Don’t worry, Faye.>

<No, it won’t do. Isabella, could you bring one more thing to wear on top of this?>

Through the collaboration of the four maids, I had become quite bulky. It’s not because of the baby, but because of the clothes that I can barely walk, you fools.

Anyway, even though I’m bundled up like this, Joseph and Arnaud were still expressing their boundless concern that I might catch a cold.

“Oh no, the wind!”

“There’s wind from this side too!”

“……”

The winter wind was cold indeed. But was there really a need to rush to my left and right, standing like a wall to block it?

It’s a bit embarrassing to say this, but…

I felt a bit ashamed for my guard knights too.

I think I need some time alone…

As the wind passed, the two knights returned to their original positions. I looked up at the window of the office where Johann would be working, listening to the footsteps following a step behind me.

How many rounds do I have to walk before he notices me?

Oh?

It’s Johann!

“Sera!”

Johann opened the window wide and called my name loudly. Anyone would think we hadn’t seen each other for days. We were together just this morning.

But Johann, who was there just a moment ago, disappeared in the blink of an eye. I blinked in surprise.

What’s this? Magic?

I could guess Johann’s destination by seeing Ionia and Jesuf rushing to the window.

“Your Majesty! You need to review these documents!”

“Give them to me, I’ll take them to him and come back.”

As he said this, Jesuf climbed onto the windowsill. Of course, he was stopped by Ionia.

“Where do you think you’re trying to escape with that trick!”

“Ack! Ionia, please, anything but paperwork…!”

Still the same.

I lowered my head after seeing Jesuf being dragged away by his ear by Ionia. Johann, who had jumped out of the window, was running towards me.

“What brings you out here in the cold?”

With a welcoming face, Johann closed the distance in an instant. His bright smile turned sharp for a moment when he looked behind, and when I turned my head, Joseph and Arnaud had disappeared.

Hmm…

When it’s this obvious, even someone as slow as me can’t miss it.

“You’re dressed warmly, I see.”

“……”

Johann’s doting was getting worse by the day.

Don’t you really not feel anything strange seeing this? Your wife is waddling around like this?

Anyway, he’s hopeless.

By the way, I brought it just in case, but it feels nice to see it in broad daylight like this.

I took out the handkerchief I had finished this morning from my pocket. It was a gift filled with care, with embroidery I had stitched myself, stitch by stitch.

I started because I was bored since they wouldn’t let me do anything, but since I couldn’t do full-scale dress sewing due to my physical discomfort, I decided to embroider handkerchiefs in a small way.

But do men like flower-shaped embroidery?

Belatedly, I thought I hadn’t considered the recipient’s taste enough. Recalling the handkerchief Johann usually keeps in his front pocket, it felt even more like an unsuitable gift.

“What’s that?”

“It’s nothing.”

When I hid something behind my back, Johann tilted his head suspiciously.

I smiled awkwardly. The clothes were so thick that my arms wouldn’t bend well.

D*mn it, Faye and the maids!