Side: Prim
September has arrived, and ten days have passed. The air is gradually growing cooler.
Though, I haven’t left Alka’s side, so I wouldn’t really know about the changing seasons.
Yamato and the others are working today as usual, but Flam and I are both heavily pregnant, so Yamato has been giving us very worried looks every time he leaves for the past few days.
It was the same with Mana and Rika-san before, and it makes me feel loved.
Since I have nothing to do today either, I spent the day helping Mana with her research and wandering around Alka. Now, I’m relaxing with Flam and Mother, having tea in the living room.
Dinner will be served soon, so it’s just tea for now.
“Rudea, how’s it going over there?”
“No abnormalities. How about Mako’s side?”
“Everything’s fine here too. I’ve prepared a few spares just in case, so if one gets crushed, we can replace it immediately.”
“Mana-sama was fine, but Prim might actually do it.”
I feel like they’re saying something incredibly rude, but Mako and Rudea have very serious expressions as they check the delivery tables.
Flam and I have due dates only a few days apart, with Flam’s being earlier. But as these are just estimations, it’s common for them to shift, so we can’t rule out the possibility of giving birth at the same time.
Plus, both Flam and I are Ancient Class, so we might accidentally crush the lapis lazurite bars during childbirth. They’ve made preparations so they can replace them quickly, even with spares.
Honestly, do they really need to check them every day?
“They’re also thinking about the day they’ll experience it themselves, so they can’t help but put their all into it.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s how it is.”
Did Mother experience something similar?
My other mother, unfortunately, couldn’t have children, but I remember she doted on me all the more.
She was always frail and passed away many years ago because of it. Now, I think Nelke-mother would have wanted to have children too.
When Mana got pregnant, I thought about wanting to bear a child with Yamato.
Mako and Rudea feel the same way, which is why they are so diligent with their checks on the delivery tables, going above and beyond what seems necessary.
“So that’s how it is.”
“Yes. So Prim, Flam-san, you’re about to give birth to a child with the person you love. Please accept this time, including when you can’t move, and give birth to healthy babies.”
“Yes.”
There’s a lot of meaning in those words.
For the past few months, Flam and I have been forbidden from hunting. In fact, we’ve barely been able to leave Alka.
The hunting ban is understandable since we’re pregnant, but I never realized how much stress I’d accumulate until it actually happened to me.
But this child in my belly is the one I’ve been waiting for with Yamato, so I’m determined to give birth.
That’s what’s been helping me get through it. But hearing Mother’s words, it sounds like this is just my own selfish desire.
“I’m back. Mako-san, Rudea-san, are you still checking?”
“Ah, Mina, welcome back~ Yeah, again.”
“It’s better to be safe than sorry. Well, we know we’re going a bit overboard, but still.”
Rudea and Mako are being teased by Mina, who just got back, but they at least acknowledge it. Speaking of which, Mina was in Alka until early afternoon, so when did she go out?
“Mina-san, where did you go today?”
“Float. Marie-an-san and Saya-an-san are pregnant, so I went to celebrate with them.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes. Lyra told me.”
Oh, so Rosemary-san and Saya-san are pregnant too?
Both of them are going to be wives of Grand Order’s Master Rex-san.
It seems Rosemary-san is four months pregnant, and Saya-san is three months pregnant. Starting today, they’ll be taking a leave of absence from their Order’s Guild duties.
Saya-san is a Hunter, but she’ll also be abstaining from activities until childbirth and will be resting at the Viscount Fallheight’s residence in Float.
Muse-san, who is not pregnant, will continue to assist Rex-san as usual. But the Grand Order’s Master’s workload is immense, so it will be tough for her until she gives birth.
“But with the Fallheight Viscount family gaining an heir, aren’t Dianos-sama overjoyed?”
“Yes, Father and Mother and everyone else were ecstatic. Although he’s appointed Viscount, he doesn’t have a territory, and my elder brother, the heir, cannot leave the Order’s Guild, so we don’t know what will happen in the future.”
Ah, that’s right. The Fallheight Viscount family, like the Fleidranthia Heavenly Noble House and the Lapislazurite Heavenly Noble House, are nobles without any territory.
The Fleidranthia Heavenly Noble House and the Lapislazurite Heavenly Noble House, meaning Yamato and Mana, are already destined to receive one. However, the fate of the Fallheight Viscount family remains undecided.
The reason, as Mina mentioned, is that Rex-san, who is the heir, bears the great responsibility of Grand Order’s Master, and it’s almost certain he’ll be given a senior position in the Order’s Guild even after stepping down.
Including us Wing Crest members, Rex-san is among the top five in terms of power with the Helios Orb and has a track record of defeating Demise Species.
His tenure is limited to thirty years, so when the time comes, he’ll have to step down from his position as Grand Order’s Master. However, there’s no way he’ll simply retire then. Even Dianos-san, Rex-san’s father and the Sub-Order’s Master of Feel, was previously active as an Order member and is a former Associate Order’s Master, so it would be difficult for him to manage a territory.
Therefore, if the Fallheight Viscount family were to receive a territory, it would likely be after the child Rosemary-san or Saya-san gives birth comes of age and inherits the family headship.
That’s at least twenty years from now. By then, the investigation of the Retisencia region should be complete, and the abandoned bridged city of Libertà can be rebuilt. New lords will be necessary. It’s entirely possible that one of them will be granted to the Fallheight Viscount family.
No, considering Rex-san’s achievements, they might even be promoted to Earl or Marquis.
Well, that’s all in the distant future, anyway.
“Excuse me. Everyone, dinner is ready.”
At this point, Alice came to call us. Yamato went to Bestia and Deseo with Sister Hilde and Lydia, so he said he’d be late today. It’s also preparation for Sister Hilde’s abdication, so I heard dinner would be at the White Demon Castle. Raus and the others must have returned too, so that must be why it’s ready.
“Understood. Then, Flam, Mother, shall we go…?” Flam?
However, as I tried to stand up, Flam clutched her stomach, looking a bit distressed.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“Flam-san? Does your stomach hurt?”
“A little… but it’s okay… Ow!”
” ‘Examining’! It’s as I thought! Mako-san!”
“I know! Flam, I’ll carry you to your room, just bear with it a little longer!”
“S-sorry… Ouch…”
Following Mother’s instructions, who quickly used the healing magic “Examining,” Mako used Telekinetic Magic to take Flam to her room.
Could it be that she’s going into labor?
“Rudea-san, hurry and bring the midwife!”
“Y-yes!”
If Mother is telling Rudea to bring the midwife, then there’s no mistake. This is going to be trouble.
“Alice-san, after you inform everyone, stay here and watch Prim. Make sure she doesn’t get into Flam-san’s room.”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
Mother then instructed Alice to inform everyone that Flam was going into labor, and then gave her a direct order to watch me.
I’m also heavily pregnant, so I wouldn’t dream of helping with the delivery… Ow!
“Huh? Prim?”
“Wa-wait! Don’t tell me Prim is too!?”
Well, I wonder… But it’s undeniable that I’m being hit by a pain I’ve never felt before… Ouch, ouch…
“Alice-san, wait! Eat later, just bring everyone! Hurry!”
“Y-yes!”
“Mako-san! I know it’s a lot to ask, but help me move Prim too! To that room we prepared just in case!”
“Understood!”
Mother is giving additional instructions to Alice and Mako, but Mako, without a word, hoisted me up with Telekinetic Magic and, without rushing but with speed, carried me to the room that had been prepared in advance.
The childbirth was originally planned to take place in my own room on the third floor of the Main Hall. However, Flam and I became pregnant around the same time, and our due dates were close.
So, considering the possibility of giving birth on the same day or a day apart, we renovated one of the empty rooms on the third floor to accommodate multiple simultaneous births.
I never thought we’d actually use it, but if this is how it goes, will my child and Flam’s child be non-identical twins?
While pondering such trivial things, Flam and I endured the pain and were carried to the large room by Mako, then immediately laid on the beds.
Mako also set up the delivery tables that she had been checking until just a while ago.
“How are you two?”
“I feel a bit calmer now that I’m lying in bed.”
“Me too. Oh, sorry, maybe not…”
Flam seemed to have calmed down, and I thought I had too, but the next moment, I was struck by another intense pain in my abdomen.
Ah, it really feels like it’s about to come…
“Hey!”
Even Mako seemed quite flustered. She had assisted at the Healer’s Guild several times, besides Mana’s and Rika-san’s births, but she said she had never experienced two at once.
And it’s understandable; during childbirth, two to three midwives or obstetricians typically attend to one pregnant woman to support the delivery.
But in this large room, there are only two pregnant women and one Healer. Even for Mako, it’s an overwhelming situation. Even though Mako is an A-Rank Healer, it’s physically impossible for her to manage two pregnant women and support their delivery.
Rudea has gone to fetch a midwife, but it’ll probably take about an hour. Until then, Mako and Mother will have to do their best.
“Ugh…!”
“Are you okay!?”
“Y-yes… But this… Ah, sorry Mako. Could you take a look at this for me?”
“Your water broke!? Okay, I’ll get you undressed!”
Since Flam and I are both heavily pregnant, we’re wearing clothes that make childbirth easier. Mako called it a maternity dress, but after lifting the skirt and removing the wet underwear, Mako’s face showed surprise.
“No way… Are these feet?”
The moment I understood the meaning of those words, my mind went blank. Huh? Feet… Why?
“It’s breech! Don’t worry, just calm down!”
“Y-yes… But…”
“It’ll be alright!!”
Even I know what a breech birth is. The cause is unknown, but normally the baby is born headfirst. When the baby is born feet first, there’s a high risk of complications such as the umbilical cord wrapping around the neck, leading to stillbirth. While in the womb, it might be fine, but during birth, the neck could be constricted… Huh…? No… way…
