Having been admonished by Mako and the others, I returned to the White Demon Castle, but the banquet was already in its final stages, so I could only manage to convey that Prim had safely given birth.
Still, I received congratulatory words, and they even told me I didn’t need to come until around noon tomorrow.
It was a difficult birth that made Prim faint, and Flam will be giving birth soon too, so I’m truly grateful they said that.
After thanking them and returning to Alka, Flam was in the middle of giving birth.
At this rate, they said it would be around midnight, but as usual, I wasn’t allowed in the room.
I understand why, and this will be our fourth child, so I find myself getting a little used to it.
“By the way, where’s Prim?”
“She’s not awake yet. They said it would be better not to move her unnecessarily, so a healer will be watching her closely in that room tonight.”
Mina, who was in the living room, told me about Prim’s condition.
She’s still not awake, huh?
Mako and the others said she wouldn’t wake up until morning, but I’m starting to get a little worried.
“I understand you’re worried, but she’ll be fine. Rika and I just saw her.”
“Yes. The baby is also drinking milk from Mana, and we heard she’s getting better.”
I was wondering how they would feed the baby if Prim wasn’t awake, but Mana had been feeding her instead.
In times like these, having multiple wives who are mothers is a great help.
“That’s good. So, what about Flam?”
“It’s taking a bit of time, but they say the progress is normal.”
It seems Flam started to feel labor pains right after we left.
However, the child was having trouble coming out of the uterus, so it was taking time.
This is common for first-time mothers, and Rika apparently experienced the same thing, so there’s no particular concern about this.
Then, around midnight, Flam also safely gave birth to a baby girl.
Once the baby started moving, it was quick, and they said it was a rarely easy birth.
Given what happened with Prim, I’m truly relieved.
Upon receiving the report, I immediately went to the room and thanked Flam.
“You worked hard, Flam.”
“Thank you.”
Next to Flam, who was smiling broadly, lay Undine’s baby.
Since Flam is a Yokai, I assumed the child would also be a Yokai, but so far, all my children have taken on the race of their mothers, which makes me feel a little lonely.
“Yamato-san, you’ve decided on this child’s name, haven’t you?”
“Ah, of course. This child’s name is…”
“No, for the name, please use Prim-san’s baby’s name.”
I had already decided on the name for Flam’s child in my mind.
However, just as I was about to say the name, Flam stopped me.
“Why?”
“It’s past midnight, and Prim gave birth before this child, so this child will be a younger sister. It would be strange to name a younger sister before an older sister, and I’d like Prim to hear it too, so I think it’s better for her to be awake.”
Ah, that’s the reason.
Flam is energetic, but Prim has exhausted herself and is asleep.
Furthermore, although only by a few hours, Prim’s child is the elder sister, so Flam seems to think it’s right to name Prim’s child first.
There’s also the reason that she wants Prim to be involved, and I understand that, so I’ll gratefully go along with it.
“Understood. Then, when Prim wakes up, we’ll decide on the name.”
“Yes.”
Even with just a few hours difference, in terms of dates, Prim’s child is the elder by one day.
Flam was due later, but that’s just an estimate, and it’s not particularly unusual.
So, I’ll take advantage of Flam’s consideration and decide on Prim’s child’s name first.
“Well then, Yamato-kun, I apologize for asking as usual, but…”
“Yes, I understand. I’ll entrust the two of them to you.”
“Leave it to me. Ah, Sir Yuri and Carol are also going to the academy tomorrow, so please take the day off today.”
“Is that alright?”
“Of course. Fortunately, I can rearrange my schedule for tomorrow however I want, and I’m fine with not sleeping for a day or two.”
“Then I will gladly accept your offer.”
Yuri and Carol have the academy tomorrow, so their duty is done for today.
Only Mako and Apricot remain, but since both are A-rank healers, and Prim and Flam are fine, they can handle any situation.
“Flam, please rest well today.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“And… Prim, it was tough, but thank you for giving birth safely.”
I placed my hand on Prim’s cheek as she slept.
Then, I felt like Prim’s face softened slightly.
It seems it was really difficult, and according to Mako, Prim was considering the worst-case scenario, so I am truly relieved that both mother and child are safe.
This is all I can do for now, but when she wakes up, I’ll have to properly express my gratitude in words.
Side: Prim
When I opened my eyes, Mako and Mother were in front of me.
Why am I here?
As I moved my gaze, a small figure sleeping next to me came into view, and then I clearly remembered.
“You’re awake. It’s morning.”
“Mother. So, I’ve been asleep since giving birth to this child?”
“It’s more accurate to say you fainted rather than slept. I’m sorry, Prim. It was my first time using Telekinetic Magic during childbirth, so it must have hurt terribly.”
Recalling the threads of memory, I do remember enduring intense pain to give birth to this child.
But more than that, the fact that this child was breech and the fear that this child might not be born alive were overwhelming, so I don’t remember much of that.
Mako did say something, but I never thought she was using Telekinetic Magic on me at all.
“Now that I can say it, we were also underprepared. I’m truly sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. If it weren’t for Mako, this child wouldn’t have been born, and I don’t know what would have happened to me… So thank you, Mako.”
My childbirth was apparently a rare difficult labor even for the Healer’s Guild.
Furthermore, since I am the holder of the highest level of Ancient Class, Ludia and Carol, who were assisting with Mako’s Telekinetic Magic, had to hold me down with all their might, so if Mako hadn’t been there, I might have hurt not only myself and this child, but everyone.
This is undoubtedly the first time I’ve felt such immense fear.
If Mako hadn’t been there, I truly don’t know what would have happened…
“There’s no need to thank me. Ah, but I have to report this childbirth to the Healer’s Guild, so please consent to that.”
“Of course.”
A difficult birth that will be recorded, and it’s of an Ancient Class, so it will be a record the Healer’s Guild definitely wants.
“Ah, someone’s here. Well, it’s probably Yamato-kun. Please come in.”
“Excuse me.”
As Mako gave permission upon a knock on the door, Yamato entered as Mako had predicted.
I feel bad that he looks so worried, but I also feel relieved.
“Yamato.”
“Prim, you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
“I can’t say I’m perfectly fine, but I’m okay now.”
“I see, that’s good…”
Yamato’s sigh of relief makes me happy somehow.
I lost consciousness right after giving birth and have been asleep until now, so Yamato must have been worried too.
“Prim, have you seen the baby?”
“Yes. She’s a Foxy girl, and a Winged Tribe too?”
A child of the Winged Tribe doesn’t necessarily become a Winged Tribe.
I think Mako told me right after giving birth, but I only remember being relieved that she was born, so I’m truly surprised.
“Fwah… Ah, good morning.”
“Good morning, Flam.”
“Prim-san, are you alright?”
“I made Flam worry too, didn’t I? Yes, I’m fine.”
The fact that there’s a baby next to Flam as well means Flam also successfully gave birth after me.
I haven’t heard about Flam’s labor yet, but it couldn’t have been as difficult as mine.
“Flam and the baby… seem to be okay.”
“Yes. Ah, Yamato-san, can you name these children?”
“Huh? You still haven’t named them?”
“Ah, Flam told me to, but I also thought it was wrong to do it while Prim was asleep.”
Both Yamato and Flam were considerate of me.
I’m happy and grateful, but at the same time, I feel sorry.
“So, Yamato-kun, what are the names for these children?”
“Prim’s child is Tsubaki, and Flam’s child is Mizuki.”
Tsubaki and Mizuki, huh?
Knowing Yamato, there must be a meaning, but I wonder what it is?
“I was thinking of naming Prim’s child Apricot, because her fur is yellow like an apricot. But since she’s a Winged Tribe, and you were called the Crimson-Winged Princess, Prim, weren’t you? So, as a princess of the wings, Tsubaki.”
I don’t recall being called the Crimson-Winged Princess, but I did hear that some people called me that.
I didn’t expect this child to be a Winged Tribe either, but that’s why Yamato gave her that epithet as her name.
“I see. But Yamato-kun, did you realize?”
“Realize what?”
“Apricot in English is ‘Apricot.’ Whose name is that, I wonder?”
“Eh? Seriously?”
He seemed to be thinking of Tsubaki’s fur color, but I never imagined the name would be the same as Mother’s.
Thinking that it might have been given that name is a little disappointing.
“Ah, sorry. I really didn’t notice.”
“It can’t be helped. It might be disappointing for Mother, but it’s also possible for the second child, and it could be Neige-nee-sama’s child too? Ah, it could be Mother’s child too.”
“No, that would be questionable.”
Well, Yamato would say that.
Besides, if it’s Mother’s child, it would be like a sister to me, and things would get complicated.
Perhaps for that reason, Mother seems to have no intention of having children, so she uses Contracepting magic when Yamato holds her.
“Yamato-san, Mizuki’s name also has meaning, right?”
“Eh? Ah, of course, it does. It was almost certain that Mizuki would be born as an Undine, wasn’t it?”
“There was a possibility of being a half-breed, but that’s true.”
Indeed, it was possible for him to be a boy of Undine half-breed, but the possibility was extremely low.
“Furthermore, Flam will soon become a Baron and the Administrator of Prada. In that case, Mizuki will be the next Administrator. Prada is located between the Nadal Sea and Lake Veil, and the Nadal Sea is an inland sea, so it can be considered a large lake. Therefore, I put the meaning of ‘Princess of the Lake’ into it.”
“A princess of the lake? That’s the best name for an Undine.”
Flam is right. Both Tsubaki and Mizuki are wonderful names.
“So, these children are decided as Tsubaki-chan and Mizuki-chan?”
“Yes.”
There’s no way I would object to the names Yamato gave.
Ah, but wait a minute.
Saki is of the Lapislazurite Heavenly Noble House, and Asuma is the heir of the Marquis Amatista family.
And if Mizuki becomes the heir of the Baronial family who will be Prada’s Administrator, then doesn’t that make Tsubaki the heir of the Fleidranthia Heavenly Noble House?
“Hm? No, that’s right.”
Seriously?
No, while it’s true, what if someone has a boy in the future? Wouldn’t it be better to make that child the heir? Of course, it’s not guaranteed that a boy will be born, but I’d prefer to decline, or rather, it’s too soon to introduce the blood of the Valentia Beast King family into the Celestial Emperor’s Family…
“That’s not true. Besides, I think everyone else would definitely hesitate. In that case, wouldn’t it be less problematic if Tsubaki, as the second daughter, inherited the position by seniority?”
That’s not something I can deny. Well, I don’t know what will happen in the future, and the formal designation as heir won’t be until after graduating from the academy, so for now, I’ll accept being a candidate. It’s pointless to think that far ahead when they’ve just been born.
