Chapter 11 (Part 10)

A day passed, then two days. Time flowed without stopping.

Noelis’s red cheeks lightened to a peach-like hue, and her hair grew thicker. Her features became more distinct. And she started to roll over.

Anthus never took his eyes off Noelis. Above all, every time she babbled and laughed out loud, Anthus clutched his heart and sat down.

“My heart has reached its limit, Ferrell…”

“Master, this humble butler’s heart has also reached its limit, but as a servant of the Rockbellion family, I’m enduring with mental strength. So, Master, you must endure this limit too. Now! Follow me and take a deep breath.”

Anthus followed Ferrell, exhaling a long sigh and taking a deep breath.

“Ferrell, it’s a big problem. Noel is too cute, it’s troubling. In the future, suitors will line up… Should we not debut her in society? Just do something grand and family-only… Should we?”

Worrying about a future that hadn’t come yet, Anthus clenched his fists tightly.

“For our world-class beautiful Noel, we need to hire a few combat maids like Luda. And female knights to protect her!”

“Yes, understood.”

“Yan.”

“Lia.”

“What were you talking about with Ferrell?”

“We decided to hire combat maids and female knights to assist Noel.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Um… Yan.”

“Yes.”

“I have something I want to eat.”

Anthus tilted his head. He was worried about her complexion, which was a little different from usual.

Was she not feeling well?

“Just tell me, and I’ll prepare it immediately.”

“I really want to eat peaches. Soft peaches. And I want to eat Za’arandu too.”

Seeing Yuliana mention the foods she craved when she was pregnant with Noelis, Anthus’s heart sank with a ‘thud.’

“Perhaps… do you want juicy meat and don’t want to drink lemon tea?”

“How did you know? I want to eat juicy steak.”

Every time Yuliana mentioned the foods she frequently sought when she was pregnant, Anthus’s eyes grew wider.

“Really? Truly…”

As Yuliana nodded, Anthus’s eyes began to widen. Ferrell, understanding Yuliana’s words, also took out a handkerchief and began to wipe his eyes.

“Yes. Lady Diana confirmed it for me. I’m pregnant.”

Yuliana’s pregnancy was met with great congratulations from people. Hearing that a second child was on the way less than a year after Noelis was born, people talked behind their backs about how good the couple’s relationship was.

As Noelis grew healthily, Yuliana’s belly also grew larger.

Anthus was engulfed in anxiety, remembering the day Yuliana screamed in pain during childbirth.

“I didn’t know I was such a coward.”

“The baby will be born healthy.”

“Yes…”

* * *

The day of Yuliana’s labor with their second child approached.

Just like when Noelis was born, Anthus screamed and paced anxiously, then burst through the delivery room door.

The midwife was very angry. Frey and Erzen, unable to watch any longer, subdued Anthus with force.

“Stay still!”

“Mother, please let me go! Lia is calling for me!”

The midwife clicked her tongue at Anthus’s screams coming from outside the delivery room.

“Why is he screaming more than the mother? Tsk.”

“Aaah!”

“Lia!”

“Just a little more strength, Duchess. The baby’s head is visible.”

“Liaaa!”

“Waaah.”

With Anthus’s cry, the sound of a baby’s cry began to echo in the room.

“It seems the baby is born. Mother, please release me! I need to go to Lia.”

Anthus opened the delivery room door and drew back the bed curtain. Seeing Yuliana’s face covered in sweat and tears, his eyes reddened.

“Tsk tsk. Duke, you haven’t changed one bit. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

The midwife handed the swaddled baby to Yuliana, scolding Anthus.

“Congratulations. It’s a handsome young lord.”

Holding the baby in her arms, Yuliana shed tears. Childbirth was hard, but meeting the baby made all the pain disappear. And she thought of Rosaline a lot.

“Hello, Michael.”

“Michael?”

“Before Noelis was born, we had already decided on names for both a boy and a girl.”

“I remember. We decided that if it was a boy, we would name him Michaelis, meaning noble.”

“That’s right. The nickname is Michael.”

Yuliana, though tired, smiled.

No one knows what the future holds. But because it’s unknown, we must live our best to protect the present moment and the future to come.

“I don’t think there was anything I wanted in life. Of course, until I fell in love with you, Yan.”

Knowing his heart well, she pondered.

“Yan, you created ‘a path of choices’ for me.”

Always allowing me to make good choices. So that I wouldn’t have regrets.

He led her to become a better version of herself than the day before.

“I only supported you.”

Yuliana initially didn’t want to choose Anthus. But he was too tempting.

“Yan, you always made me want to choose. So I think I made the right choice in choosing you as my husband.”

To Anthus, who made her want to choose through his efforts and love, Yuliana reached out her hand.

“I love you, Yan.”

“Really, Lia…”

“Yes?”

“There’s no one but you, Lia. Of course, I love Noel and Michael too, but I love you the most.”

Anthus brushed Yuliana’s wet hair aside and kissed her cheek.

* * *

Anthus felt complicated emotions. Noelis resembled him exactly, but Michaelis resembled Yuliana so much.

“It feels like I have two daughters.”

Yuliana laughed.

“Don’t laugh. It’s serious. I’m worried that insects might swarm around Michael. You have no idea how many perverts there are in the world.”

Having gone from a fool to his daughter to a fool for his son, Anthus was serious about everything concerning his children.

He had already started looking for tutors for Noelis.

But he couldn’t find any. Because of Cloud.

“If only it weren’t for His Majesty the Emperor…”

In a noble meeting, Cloud made a statement akin to nuclear magic, turning Anthus’s insides upside down.

<Let’s establish an academy unique to the Sirius Empire, like other empires.>

<It’s not bad to have an academy for noble children. If the trial is successful, I’m thinking of setting up an academy for commoners too. Who knows? Maybe a sword master will emerge among them.>

The ministers actively agreed with Cloud’s opinion, seeing the opportunity for noble children to interact at the academy.

<I’m thinking of sending Ian to the academy too.>

Anthus couldn’t bear the anxiety.

“Why? Do you dislike the idea of an academy being established?”

“I’m worried that the Crown Prince might chase after our Noel. I’ll definitely oppose the establishment of the academy.”

“Many people want the academy.”

“Even if I have to resort to bribery…”

“Would you give up on the chance to interact with the Crown Prince at the academy? Even with bribery?”

“I won’t give up.”

As Yuliana said, Anthus’s firm resolve didn’t work.

An academy began to be established right near the imperial palace. And at that time, Anthus didn’t know. That Yuliana would become a teacher at the academy.

“By the way, Lia… Today is the day we leave the children with the wet nurse.”

Anthus’s peculiar gaze was fixed on Yuliana.

“Michael has monopolized you so far, but today, I’ll be the one to monopolize you. I thought being taken away by a son was someone else’s story… but seeing you only care for Michael, I fought my feelings of loneliness alone, Lia.”

“Who was the one who always held onto Noel?”

“I didn’t just hold Noel. I held Lia too.”

At Anthus’s confident words, Yuliana burst into laughter.

“Indeed, you look the prettiest when you smile, Lia.”

Anthus buried his face in her neck and nuzzled.

“Yan, don’t.”

“What do you mean?”

Anthus hugged her tightly, stroking her hair as he drew closer.

“What do you mean, don’t? Please tell me, Lia.”

“Only at times like this…”

Anthus’s large palm moved cautiously along her back and waist. He smiled as he looked down at her, gently laid back.

“Even if it’s not at times like this, I plan to do this whenever I get the chance.”

“If I don’t like it, I can push you away.”

“Since I plan to do this, I have no intention of being pushed away.”

Sweet breaths filled the space between Yuliana’s lips.

As his gentle touch and kisses grew longer and deeper, all the strength drained from her body. As familiar and lovely sensations repeated, her rationality began to show its bottom.

“Stop.”

Anthus held Yuliana’s chin with his hand, slowly brushing and caressing her lips.

“I don’t want to stop…”

Seeing him lower his eyes at her words to stop, Yuliana playfully kissed his cheek while hugging his neck. Anthus, satisfied, smiled widely.

Seeing his eyes light up with joy from the kiss, Yuliana beamed brightly. Anthus mischievously kissed and tickled every part of her neck, lips, eyes, and lips again.

Yuliana laughed until she was out of breath from the tickling.

“That’s enough. I’ve laughed so much my stomach is tight, Yan.”

At the mention of her stomach being tight, Anthus backed away in surprise.

“Is your stomach uncomfortable? Should I call the doctor, Lia?”

“It’s okay; it’s just from laughing too much.”

With a worried expression, Anthus hugged Yuliana tightly.

“Lia, should we have a third child?”

Yuliana looked up at Anthus with wide eyes. It wasn’t that she disliked children, but she didn’t expect Anthus to want a third.

And she remembered a conversation she had with Anthus after their first kiss in the Rockbellion greenhouse.

“You said one of your dreams was to have two children, Yan… Don’t you remember what you said before?”

“What I said before…”

<I’m a straightforward man.>

<Wouldn’t it be empty after achieving the dream?>

<No, a new dream will arise simultaneously with achieving that dream. For reference, I think two children would be nice.>

“Lia, I only said two children would be nice.”

Yuliana smiled and lowered her head. Uncontrollable laughter escaped.

“I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“What is the next dream of the straightforward man who achieved his dream?”

“I have a dream I dream every day.”

“A dream you dream every day?”

“Confessing my love to you every day. Being loved by you, Lia… And being a good father to the children… I’m working hard to achieve my dream every day.”

“I know you’re always trying, Yan.”

“Aren’t you curious about the straightforward man’s other dream?”

“Okay. Tell me what your other dream is.”

“To be clear… it’s a dream only you can grant, Lia.”

“I’ll listen to your dream and grant it.”

“Without you, Lia, my dream cannot come true.”

Anthus kissed Yuliana’s forehead and smiled.

“My current dream is to have a third child.”

“Really?”

“I didn’t know I would desire children this much.”

Yuliana’s cheeks turned slightly red. She hugged Anthus tightly and whispered in his ear.

“That dream will come true.”