#11

“Look.”

Ferio gazed at Varia’s belly with a look full of love. His large hand was already resting gently against it, as if cradling a precious treasure.

“It seems our Muscley agrees with his dad.”

Doubt it. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Varia scoffed down at Ferio’s dark crown of hair.

Because there was someone else Muscley seemed to favor far more.

“...Did the baby move?”

Just then, Leonia crawled over sluggishly. She settled beside Varia’s legs and began speaking to her unborn sibling.

“Did you sleep well, Muscley? Having fun in there?”

As soon as Leonia spoke, the baby responded, as if waiting. The thick hem of Varia’s dress shifted slightly.

“Wow.”

Scandia, quietly observing from the back, let out a soft sound of wonder. No matter how many times he saw the baby kick, he never got used to it.

“Come here and say hi too.”

“Yes, why are you standing so far back?”

Leonia and Varia pulled Scandia closer. Ferio didn’t seem particularly bothered.

“Is Dad not mad?”

Leonia whispered under her breath. Ferio squinted one eye at her.

“I’m not a child.”

“Coming from the guy who acts like one when it comes to this.”

“It’s good for a baby to receive love from many people even in the womb. So I should be generous about things like this.”

“Then be generous with my love life too.”

Leonia pouted and grumbled.

“Want me to completely oppose it instead?”

“Ahhh, Muscley~!”

Leonia wiggled where she sat and spoke again to her sibling. Ferio lightly patted his cunning daughter’s head.

“When we meet later, I’ll play with you a lot, okay? Promise?”

Leonia gently pressed her pinky finger to Varia’s belly as if making a vow. And once again, the baby moved. This time, the movement was gentler.

“Does it hurt?”

Scandia looked at Varia with concern. Varia gave a cheerful smile.

“It was surprising at first, but you get used to it.”

“But it looked like the baby was about to burst out...”

Before Scandia could finish worrying, the belly moved again—this time with a huge kick. The thick winter dress rippled like a wave.

This time it clearly hurt. Varia winced, eyes shut, groaning from the sharp movement. Alarmed, Ferio quickly supported her.

“...It always happens when I speak.”

Scandia lowered his voice. He sounded pitiful.

“I think the baby dislikes me.”

“Not at all.”

Varia smiled warmly. It was a sincere, radiant smile.

The truth was, Muscley reacted most to male voices—specifically, those that were tall and handsome.

Naturally, Ferio triggered a response, but even Lupe walking by and saying hello would earn a squirm, and the Gladiago knights also got responses.

The biggest reactions, however, were always for Scandia.

If Scandia even so much as spoke or placed a hand on Varia’s belly, the movement was strong enough to feel like the baby might burst out. That was when Varia first learned that fetal movement could hurt.

‘Is it because Ferio’s the father, so the baby reacts less?’

Even so, Varia—whose preference leaned more toward Ferio—found it curious.

“Definitely my sibling!”

Leonia was proud of the baby.

“You already know what’s what!”

She was thrilled to see signs of deviance from before birth. It seemed worthwhile to have shown her sibling her favorite books and muscular croquis.

“I’ve never felt so much kinship with a fetus.”

Leonia stared at the belly.

“...Is it a girl?”

That question made Ferio and Varia shudder for very different reasons. Ferio worried the second child might inherit Leonia’s corrupt taste, and Varia feared she’d have to live through this circus all over again.

“But even if it’s a boy, it’s fine!”

Leonia didn’t care about the baby’s gender.

“As long as they’re born healthy and strong. Don’t make Mom suffer too much. Just slip out like a tiny booger, okay?”

Her voice, which had been joking a moment before, turned serious.

“You both have to be safe...”

Spring had come to the North.

That also meant Varia’s due date was near.

The thing was, the due date wasn’t exact. They couldn’t pinpoint exactly when the second child had been conceived.

‘That doctor’s face back then...’

Leonia could still clearly recall the physician’s blank eyes as they listened to the list of estimated dates.

Ferio had dutifully provided a serious account of the couple’s intimate days and frequency—but to the doctor, it was borderline harassment.

Varia, blushing beside them, had been too exhausted to argue.

Still, with the help of Varia’s menstrual cycle and various tests, they had estimated her pregnancy week and concluded she was due sometime this spring.

Recently, however, the doctor suggested the baby might come earlier than expected.

Muscley had grown exceptionally well.

“...”

Ferio stared at the belly, his expression dark.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Sensing her husband’s concern, Varia tried to reassure him.

“The doctor’s on standby, and everything’s prepared.”

She was full of confidence, ready for the baby to be born at any moment. But the expressions on the beastly father and daughter remained gloomy. The days ahead filled them with both anticipation and dread.

“...You’re strong, Lady Varia.”

Scandia, watching quietly, finally spoke.

“Everything will be fine.”

Varia smiled.

Muscley gave another vigorous kick in agreement.

***

“How was the capital?”

Though a bit late, Varia finally asked her husband and daughter about their trip to the capital.

“It was just so-so.”

“Yeah, nothing special.”

Ferio and Leonia replied dryly.

“The weather’s weird there. Gloomy skies, endless drizzle or slush.”

“Definitely not a comfortable place to live.”

“You think so too, Dad?”

Leonia and Ferio took turns complaining about the capital.

“I grew up in that capital, you know.”

Varia gave a wry smile.

“Mom, this is a secret, but I actually really like the capital.”

“It’s always been said to be a lucky place.”

“Exactly! That’s why Dad spent three straight years building up good karma in the capital before finally meeting me at the orphanage.”

“So all the good fortune must’ve drained out.”

“Dad!!”

Leonia groaned dramatically.

“How was the coronation?”

Scandia asked.

“Loud and messy.”

Leonia said while sketching the coronation on paper.

The side profile of Chrisetos wearing the imperial crown, the winter landscape of the capital, the snow-covered mansion...

Her drawing was delicate and detailed, as if she had captured the moment firsthand. Varia and Scandia felt as if they had actually been there.

“Marquis of Hesperi and his wife attended too.”

Former Empress Tigria had been made Marchioness of Hesperi after the crown prince’s investiture. She returned to the capital for the new emperor’s coronation.

Unlike the solemn air of the investiture, the coronation banquet was disorderly.

Although the marquis gracefully ignored all the attention directed at him.

“His Majesty burst out laughing.”

Leonia said as she quickly sketched the moment. Her hand moved faster, but the lines became even clearer.

“Apparently he thought everyone’s shocked faces at seeing the marquis were hilarious.”

“In a way, the marquis is quite something.”

Ferio chuckled. He appreciated the boldness of Emperor Chrisetos, who laughed even in a situation that might’ve sparked rumors.

“Now he just needs to get married.”

Varia murmured.

“I hope he meets someone good.”

The tragedy of the Bellius imperial family had truly begun with the former emperor—who had no love and not even a sense of responsibility.

Knowing this, she hoped the current emperor wouldn’t repeat those mistakes.

“I think so too.”

Scandia agreed.

“I hope His Majesty can also form a good match with someone he loves, like I did.”

“Boom-boom...!”

Leonia gasped at the sudden, unexpected confession and covered her mouth with both hands.

“I love you too!”

She immediately leapt into Scandia’s arms. The paper in her hand fluttered into the air.

“...”

Ferio, meanwhile, was mentally throttling Scandia again.

By now, he had murdered imaginary Scandia over twenty thousand times.

“Ah, here.”

Leonia handed Scandia several letters. They were from the Marquis and Marchioness of Hesperi, and Emperor Chrisetos, whom she had met at the banquet.

“They were there too. Maybe I should’ve gone.”

Varia sounded a bit regretful.

“Absolutely not.”

Ferio spoke firmly.

Since the kidnapping and the Northern Mountains incident, he had strictly forbidden Varia from going out alone. As Duchess, she could only attend events if Leonia accompanied her.

Varia pouted slightly—a tiny rebellion.

But even that was quickly smoothed over by Ferio’s hand.

Meanwhile, Scandia began reading the letters.

“You can read them alone, if you want.”

Leonia offered. If the letters were personal and emotional, she thought it might be better for him to read them privately.

“It’s fine.”

Scandia, however, read all three letters on the spot. The Voreoti family quietly waited as he did.

“My mother says...”

Scandia said after finishing.

“...not to impose too much on my in-laws.”

“In-laws?”

Ferio scoffed.

“Is it a trend now to call any family your in-laws?”

“Dad, seriously, ease up already.”

Leonia finally snapped.

“I mean, come on!”

She pointed to Scandia’s face, body, and height in turn.

“Look at that face, those muscles, that height!”

Scandia blushed faintly under her enthusiastic praise.

Ferio stared at him with a mix of pity and exasperation. What’s there to smile about? Nothing about him sat well with Ferio.

These days, Ferio often regretted things.

‘Why’d I even help him?’

Why had he allowed this daughter-thief to be born of his kindness?

Why had he connected the marquis and Lord Ibecks?

Unaware of her father’s internal turmoil, Leonia kept proudly boasting about her boyfriend.

“What’s wrong with my Boom-boom?”

“Boom-boom...”

Varia’s shoulders trembled. She still wasn’t used to that nickname.

“I’ve got all that too.”

Ferio snorted. He had heard those praises directed at him enough ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) to grow calluses on his ears.

“You’re not going to marry me, are you.”

Leonia shut him down like he’d said something disgusting.