Side Story 10

“Evelyn.”

Dyffrin supported Evelyn. Isaac quickly handed over a handkerchief.

“Thank you.”

Evelyn wiped her mouth. Fortunately, since she hadn’t eaten anything, there was nothing unpleasant to see.

Once the canapé was cleared away, her queasy stomach also settled down.

However, for some reason, people seemed to be looking at her, as if they had something to say.

Evelyn didn’t know the reason and apologized for what had just happened.

“Sorry, I must have startled you.”

Oakley waved her hand.

“No, it’s alright. It’s just…”

“Yes?”

When Oakley hesitated to answer, Dyffrin spoke up.

“Are you perhaps pregnant?”

Seeing her retch, everyone had made that assumption. They just hadn’t mentioned it, fearing it might be a burden.

‘…Is this the right time to reveal it?’

Unexpectedly, another opportunity presented itself.

Evelyn swallowed dryly and opened her mouth.

“That’s right.”

A moment of silence followed. Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I’ve confirmed it. I’m pregnant… Ugh.”

Before Evelyn could finish speaking, Dyffrin pulled her into a tight embrace.

“Dyffrin… People are watching.”

Evelyn whispered, blushing, but Dyffrin didn’t seem to care at all.

Feeling a bit embarrassed by the stares, Evelyn soon thought there was no need to worry about others when it was such good news, and she hugged Dyffrin back happily.

As his warmth enveloped her, Dyffrin pulled away.

“Why didn’t you tell me right away?”

“I only found out yesterday. But you came home so late last night, I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”

At Evelyn’s words, Rykal shook his head.

“I guess I’m to blame.”

“No, thanks to you, I got to announce my pregnancy like the star of this party.”

Isaac and Oakley were genuinely happy too.

“I’m going to have another lovely niece or nephew.”

“Hm, what should I get for a birth gift this time?”

Dyffrin wrapped his arm around Evelyn’s shoulder.

“If you’re not feeling well, you can go back in.”

“It’s not that bad.”

Just then, Fenris came out and began his speech. People stopped what they were doing and turned to listen to him.

He concluded his speech by wishing for the empire’s peace and prosperity. From afar, Evelyn watched him, realizing he was now completely a stranger.

It felt strange, but not unpleasant.

On the contrary, she felt exhilarated and wanted to fully enjoy the party. She couldn’t have food or alcohol, but there was one thing she could enjoy.

As the party began in earnest, the band started playing their instruments. When a familiar waltz played, Evelyn grabbed Dyffrin’s arm.

“Let’s dance, Dyffrin.”

“What if you fall?”

“You’ll catch me before I do.”

Unable to resist Evelyn’s playfulness, Dyffrin finally stepped onto the dance floor.

Dyffrin led Evelyn as they began to move their feet. It had been a while since they danced, so Evelyn fumbled a bit with the steps but soon got the hang of it.

“I remember dancing here with you before.”

“It’s not a memory I like to recall.”

And for good reason.

When they had come here during their cold relationship, Karina, under Rachel’s orders, had tried to embarrass Evelyn using the resigned head maid as an excuse, and Fenris and Dyffrin had argued.

“At the time, I thought it was a bad day too, but memories seem to get romanticized. I only vividly remember dancing with you to the music here.”

“You weren’t very good at dancing back then.”

“So you taught me. You were quite a good teacher.”

Except for the scary face.

Dyffrin chuckled at Evelyn’s added comment. Seeing him smile, Evelyn smiled softly too.

“Do you know when I think you changed the most?”

“When I don’t frown even if you step on my foot?”

“…Sorry. That was an accident.”

“You certainly frown less than you used to.”

Dyffrin leaned down and whispered, 

“I only frown like that in bed.”

“You’re really…”

Evelyn glared at Dyffrin, embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Dyffrin laughed at Evelyn’s red face.

With his perfect face and refreshing laugh, the women dancing around them, even those with partners, couldn’t help but stare.

“…You’ve become too smooth.”

“I just want to see you blush like this.”

“Then you’ve succeeded.”

Evelyn grumbled and continued what she was saying.

“Because of you, I lost my train of thought.”

“So, when do you think I changed the most?”

Evelyn looked at Dyffrin’s face intently.

“When you smile like this. You used to seem like someone who didn’t know how to smile.”

“I didn’t know how. You taught me.”

With the final turn, the waltz ended.

Evelyn stood still for a moment, looking at Dyffrin. Even with so many people around, it felt like they were the only ones in this space.

Dyffrin seemed to feel the same, smiling lightly as he looked at her.

It was a perfect moment.

* * *

When they returned to the ducal estate and announced Evelyn’s pregnancy, the whole place buzzed with excitement.

Ellia tried to act nonchalant but couldn’t hide her sparkling eyes.

“So I’m going to have a sibling…?”

Dunswell burst into hearty laughter upon hearing the news.

“Hahaha! This is a great event for the family.”

He suggested opening the gates for a big party, but Dyffrin dissuaded him. Evelyn had severe morning sickness.

Disappointed, Dunswell agreed to make a large donation to the almhouse in the name of the unborn child instead.

But there was one issue to address first.

“What should we name the baby…?”

“I haven’t thought about it.”

Asking Dyffrin was pointless. He wouldn’t have been daydreaming about baby names by himself.

Evelyn pondered for a moment. 

What kind of meaning would be good this time?

Soon, she remembered something she had thought of before and blinked.

“Woody. Woody sounds good. I hope our second child will have a gentle nature like a forest that embraces the earth.”

“What if it’s a girl?”

Evelyn bowed her head and touched her belly. It was still flat, but she felt a faintly different sensation.

“…Maybe it’s just a feeling, but I think it will be a boy.”

“Evelyn.”

“It’s not wishful thinking. I really feel that way.”

Implicitly, people around her hoped for a boy this time.

Evelyn felt that pressure too, and it would be a lie to say it wasn’t burdensome.

But Dyffrin repeatedly told Evelyn that the gender didn’t matter. Evelyn felt the same.

What did it matter if it was a boy or a girl? The child she carried for 9 months and brought into the world was precious and lovely.

She was just a bit worried about the biases and prejudices Ellia would face as a female head of the family.

So this thought was separate.

“There’s a motherly instinct. I think this child will be a boy.”

“…If you think so, then the baby’s name will be Woody.”

As always, Dyffrin understood Evelyn’s baseless claim.

As time passed, Evelyn’s belly grew. Unlike with Ellia, this pregnancy felt strange.

“This baby is unusually calm. The doctor said the baby is growing well…”

“Maybe the baby is quiet and gentle, just as you wished.”

Dyffrin said, stroking Evelyn’s belly. Evelyn decided to think that way too.

There was no need to think negatively.

Evelyn looked at Dyffrin.

“I’m due next month. How do you feel about becoming a father of two?”

“Happy and scared.”

“Scared?”

“Having someone you love is a scary thing. It makes you feel a heavy sense of responsibility.”

“You’ll do great.”

Evelyn kissed Dyffrin’s cheek.

“I hope the baby won’t be afraid of me like Ellia.”

“Then you can pretend to get math problems wrong again.”

“It’s not very pleasant.”

Evelyn shrugged at Dyffrin’s words.

“Raising a child is never easy.”

“Ellia has some peculiar traits.”

Evelyn couldn’t deny it. She looked like an angel on the outside but had moments of eccentricity.

For example, she would get curious and try cooking in the kitchen or swing a sword bigger than herself in the training grounds.

“Were you like that when you were young?”

“No.”

Dyffrin answered firmly.

“Maybe she has a mix of my personality.”

“That sounds about right.”

Evelyn spent happy moments chatting about trivial things with Dyffrin.

Thanks to that, she didn’t feel too nervous even as her due date approached.

Of course, the pain was another matter.

‘…I swear I’ll never give birth again!’

Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, a loud cry of a baby was heard.

From the sound, it seemed like a boy, but Ellia had also cried loudly when she was born, so it was still uncertain.

“Is the baby… healthy?”

“The baby is healthy.”

The midwife brought the baby, wrapped in cloth.