Chapter 11 (Part 7)

Currently, the Rockbellion Ducal estate constantly received fresh mangoes, various fruits, and new food ingredients. The chef, who had worked at the Ducal estate for 20 years, worked busier than ever.

“Lia, is there anything else you want to eat?”

“Actually, there is something I want to eat.”

Anthus held Yuliana’s hand tightly and asked.

“Please tell me anything. I’ll get it for you.”

Standing behind them, Ferrell and the chef took out notepads and quill pens from their bosoms to jot down Yuliana’s words.

“The… Za’arandu I ate at the engagement ceremony.”

Za’arandu is a specialty of the Florence territory, known for its bright red thin skin and extremely sour taste.

If you bite into Za’arandu as it is, the sourness is so strong it makes you frown. However, if you eat it with sugar and milk, you can taste the best sweet and sour flavor.

“I’ll prepare it immediately.”

Not long after Yuliana expressed her desire to eat it, Za’arandu from the Florence territory arrived at the Duke’s estate. The unique aroma of Za’arandu stimulated Yuliana.

“Sip.”

As soon as she saw Za’arandu, her mouth began to water.

Anthus watched Yuliana, whose eyes sparkled as she looked at Za’arandu, and picked up a fruit knife.

With a bit of mana infused into the fruit knife, he carefully cut the Za’arandu into bite-sized pieces for Yuliana and placed them on a plate. Yuliana picked up a piece with a fork and put it in her mouth.

The onlookers slightly frowned. Eating Za’arandu, which is more sour than lemon, with a happy smile… A pregnant woman’s taste was indeed unpredictable.

Yuliana began to devour Za’arandu, saying it was sweet every time she chewed it. Watching her eat with a happy smile, Anthus carefully sliced more Za’arandu and placed it on the plate.

“It’s delicious.”

“Please tell me anything you want to eat. I’ll get it all for you.”

“Yes.”

Afterward, Anthus decided to uproot Za’arandu trees from the Florence territory and grow them at the Ducal estate. It was to give Yuliana fresh Za’arandu picked straight from the tree.

“Ferrell, uproot Za’arandu trees and plant them.”

“But… it needs to be hot and humid.”

Za’arandu trees are fruits that grow in hot and humid places. If it gets even a little cold, Za’arandu won’t bloom.

“Wouldn’t it work if we built a glass greenhouse and planted warmth magic stones around it? Ferrell.”

“That should work.”

In the backyard of the Rockbellion estate, a large glass greenhouse began to take shape.

Seeing this, Philip and Frey, not wanting to be outdone, started raising various livestock, including cows, ducks, and pigs, in front of the Ducal estate. It was solely to feed Yuliana high-quality meat.

“Lia, if there’s any meat you want to eat, just say the word.”

“Actually, I’ve been craving fried chicken coated in flour lately.”

“I also enjoyed that food when I was carrying Yan.”

The chefs of the Loengrin and Rockbellion families often met to create nutritious, delicious, and fancy dishes for the pregnant Yuliana.

Anthus, Frey, and Philip were extremely protective of Yuliana, allowing her to eat whatever she wanted and do whatever she pleased. Thanks to them, Yuliana didn’t have to lift a finger and was thoroughly cared for throughout her pregnancy.

“All I do is eat and sleep… I feel like I’m going to gain weight.”

Anthus found Yuliana adorable and kissed her, gently stroking her cheek.

“It’s okay. There won’t be another pregnant woman as cute as you.”

* * *

Thus, day by day, Yuliana and Anthus’s days passed peacefully.

Before long, Yuliana reached eight months of pregnancy, where it was obvious to anyone that she was expecting. When the baby first kicked, causing her belly to bulge, Anthus, Philip, and even Frey were surprised and amazed.

Especially Anthus’s face, filled with emotion, was enough for Frey to tease him for being dazed. Every time the baby kicked, her waist and belly pulled slightly, but it felt like a signal that the baby was doing well. Yuliana smiled as she caressed her belly.

“Cora, let’s meet healthily.”

Thinking about the baby kicking energetically several times a day, Yuliana was happy.

As the master and mistress were happy, all the servants in the mansion happily watched them.

“Will it be a young lady or a young lord?”

“I’m curious too!”

“If the child resembles the two of them… they’ll surely be incredibly beautiful!”

“I hope it’s twins.”

“If it’s a young lady… what do I do… my heart is pounding so much.”

“If the child resembles the master…”

The faces of the servants turned ashen.

“The master is incredibly handsome, I admit… but I hope the child only resembles his face and takes after madam’s personality.”

“I hope so too.”

Anthus’s nicknames include War Maniac Sword Master, Cold-blooded Lizard, and Poisonous Mushroom, among others. People say his personality softened a bit after marrying Yuliana, but that softness is exclusive to Yuliana.

“He’s only kind to madam…”

“Yeah… honestly, I’m still scared of the master.”

“I hope the child takes after madam more…”

The servants nodded in unison.

“Let’s just hope for a healthy birth!”

Time flowed without pause. Yuliana’s due date approached.

Anthus brought a new table and chairs to the bedroom and began working on documents next to Yuliana.

Every time he saw Yuliana complaining of back pain, unable to lie straight due to her swollen belly, his heart felt like it was being torn apart.

“I’ll give you a massage.”

“Yes.”

Lately, Anthus had been placing Yuliana’s legs on a hot towel, massaging them, washing her feet with warm water sprinkled with herbal powder, and giving her massages.

Yuliana initially refused, but Anthus insisted it was a husband’s duty and that he wanted to give her massages.

So she couldn’t tell him not to. And honestly, the massages Anthus gave were quite refreshing and nice.

She would often fall asleep. Later, Luda told her… even when she was asleep, Anthus would give her gentle massages on her calves, shoulders, and back, using oil to relax her.

She was very grateful to him. He had always been kind before she got pregnant, but after she got pregnant, he became even more caring and overprotective.

But Yuliana didn’t know… that the kindness Anthus showed was reserved only for her… So when people mentioned bad rumors about Anthus, she would laugh it off as just rumors.

* * *

It was a warm day. Sitting in the garden, sipping Za’arandu tea, and spreading Za’arandu jam on tarts, Yuliana felt something strange.

And she looked at her swollen belly. It felt like an immense pain was coming.

“Ugh…”

“Ah… Miss? Could it be?”

Yuliana’s pained groan turned Luda’s face pale. Yuliana held her belly, writhing in pain.

“It… hurts.”

Luda calmly informed the maids around them that Yuliana’s delivery was imminent.

“We need to bring the midwife quickly!”

The pain in her belly, which subsided and then returned, was unmistakable. It was the beginning of labor.

Anthus was at the imperial palace at Cloud’s summons when he read the red letter sent from the Rockbellion family, and his face turned pale.

As soon as he arrived at the Duke’s estate, his heart dropped upon hearing Yuliana’s piercing screams. He clenched his fists and broke into a cold sweat.

He wanted to rush in and tell Yuliana to hang in there, even offering his hair to be pulled out. But during childbirth, only the midwife, her assistant, and the maids carrying hot water were allowed in and out.

“Cora… don’t make Mommy suffer, just come out smoothly! Smoothly!”

When the maids came and went several times to change the hot water, Anthus shouted to Yuliana and Cora through the momentarily opened door.

A minute felt like a day. Anthus asked the maids who came and went if the baby hadn’t come out yet, but they just told him to be quiet and went back into the room.

“Aaah!”

With Yuliana’s screams continuing, Anthus couldn’t keep his composure. He clasped his hands and prayed to a god he usually didn’t seek.

The family, who rushed over upon hearing the news of Yuliana’s labor, stood outside the door with serious expressions, clicking their tongues as they watched Anthus pray.

“Aaah!”

“Lia! Lia! Hang in there! I love you!”

Anthus continued to shout from outside the door. Yuliana’s screams during labor, combined with Anthus’s encouragement, turned the area in front of the delivery room into chaos.

“Lia! I love you! Lia! Cora!”

The door suddenly opened, and the elderly midwife shouted at Anthus.

“I can’t concentrate, so please shut your mouth, Duke Rockbellion!”

“Uh, uh… When will it be born? Is our Lia okay?”

“It’s her first child, so it might take a while.”

“Aaah! Ah! Help me!”

“Oh, Lia! Midwife… can’t I go in?”

“You absolutely cannot come in, and please stop shouting, Duke. It’s distracting and makes it hard to concentrate.”

With Yuliana’s continuous screams, Anthus sat helplessly on the floor.

‘If I had known it would be like this, I would have been more careful not to get her pregnant… Why did I get greedy for marriage and make Yuliana suffer?’

He lamented to himself.