Sidestory 18.2
* * *
‘I mean, of course, I was preparing since the due date was here.’
Aristine clenched her teeth.
“But how can the contractions start the very next day after Sion said that?!”
They said the second child would be much easier to bear.
That was all a lie.
Aristine bit her pale lips heavily.
“Rineh.”
Tarkan swept aside Aristine’s hair that was damp with sweat, not knowing what to do.
A golden aura arose from him and seeped into Aristine.
Every time it did, the pain eased slightly.
But soon after, it returned with vengeance.
“My dear, just hold on a little longer.”
“Oh my god. It looks so painful.”
“Tarkan, why does my sister have to suffer like this because of you?!!!”
Eventually, Launelian snapped at Tarkan.
Tarkan apologized with a guilty face.
“I’m sorry.”
“You should be the one giving birth if you’re going to hurt my sister like this!”
“It really should’ve been me…not with my fragile wife, who sways when I hug her even a little too tightly.”
Aristine was so dumbfounded that she stared at her husband and brother.
It was so absurd that the pain evaporated from her mind for an instant.
“This is driving me crazy! Everyone, get out!”
Umiru was irritated.
In that moment, she was the supreme power who could command even the emperor at will.
The people who were crowding around Aristine looked aggrieved, but they left the room without further comment.
“Now I can finally concentrate.”
Umiru sighed and paused.
“Your Majesty Tarkan, why aren’t you leaving?”
“This is the birth of mine and my wife’ child. Of course, I should be here.”
Umiru thought for a moment before nodding.
“Well, since Your Majesty’s power can ease the pain…”
“It’s only a shame that I can’t completely erase it.”
“Don’t worry about that. You can share the pain in a different way.”
“A different way?”
“There’s another way to ease Her Majesty Aristine’s pain. Stand there.”
Umiru pointed to the area beside Aristine’s face.
Tarkan quickly moved to that spot.
‘Umiru knows what she’s talking about. If Rineh sees my face when she’s having a hard time, she’ll feel better.’
That must be why she told him to stand here.
Right as he thought that, Umiru nodded.
“Bend down.”
“What?”
“Bend down so she can rip out your hair.”
“…”
In other words, when Umiru said, share the pain, she meant…
“You have so much hair, Your Majesty. I bet it feels great pulling it out.”
“…”
What doctor in the world would dare suggest to His Imperial Majesty that he should have his hair ripped out?
‘There’s one right in front of me.’
But Tarkan bent down and offered his head.
For the sake of his wife, hair loss was nothing!
* * *
The main square in front of the palace was packed with people.
“Oh, I pray for the safe birth of our Imperial child.”
“I’m sure Her Majesty Aristine and the Imperial Child will be just fine. They are chosen by the gods, after all.”
“Will the second Imperial child be a princess or a prince?”
“Look at Prince Actsion. He is so cute! My vote is for a prince.”
“What are you talking about? If anything, his cuteness makes me want a princess! I want to see a different combination.”
“W-Why does that make sense?”
“Right?! A princess that looks just like Her Majesty Aristine would be amazing!”
“But? What if it’s a prince who looks just like Her Majesty Aristine?”
“…!”
The eyes of the princess faction wavered at this new consideration.
“This is silly talk. They’ll be great either way. After all, this is the descendant of Her Majesty Aristine and His Majesty Tarkan.”
“You’re right.”
“Either way is great!”
The people nodded and looked up at the palace.
‘Please be born safely…!’
* * *
As if in response to the people’s wishes, a baby’s cry rang out from the emperor’s chamber.
“Waaah, waaah!”
It was a robust sound.
The people who had been anxiously pacing in front of the chamber immediately raised their heads.
“Is the baby out?”
“What about Rineh? Is our Rineh safe?”
They were ready to clamor for the door to be opened immediately.
Thankfully, the door opened before they could break it down.
“Don’t worry. Both the baby and the mother are safe.”
Umiru spoke with a weary face.
Hearing that, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
However, Paelamien felt something was off.
“The ‘baby and mother’? Does that mean there’s someone who isn’t safe?”
“Oh, Sister Paella, come on. Who else could possibly not be safe?”
Yenikarina chuckled.
However, Umiru’s reaction was a little odd.
“Well, you know. You’ll see.”
Umiru’s usual directness was nowhere to be found as she spoke evasively and avoided direct eye contact.
‘What the…?’
Just as they were feeling puzzled, the door opened again.
A large figure walked out of the birth chamber.
It was Tarkan.
‘…Hmm?’
However, he looked very different from his usual self.
Who was Tarkan?
A warrior among warriors, a man whose momentum never stuttered even when faced with the Great Demonic Beast of the demonic beast plains.
His back was unyieldingly straight.
The warriors had never seen him look weak even once.
And yet,
Trudge, trudge.
He was dragging his feet as if he was truly exhausted.
His expression was lost.
And more than anything—.
“Your Majesty? What happened to your clothes?”
His clothes were in tatters.
“Your clothes were fine a second ago, why are they suddenly so…”
“And it’s only chest area…”
Mukali burst into hearty laughter.
“It looks like someone ripped into your chest. Hahaha! Ha, ha…”
His laughter faded away.
A realization flashed through everyone’s minds.
“I-Is it…?!”
Tarkan firmly pressed his lips together.
“Bring me some clothes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The court ladies quickly replied. However, their faces were filled with mischievous smiles.
Hehehehe!
Yes, that’s right.
Overwhelmed with the pain of childbirth, Aristine remained true to her instincts.
Instead of tearing at the hair that she was supposed to grab, she reached for another part of his body.
Her husband’s chest.
* * *
“Ngh…”
Aristine slowly came to her senses.
Her throat was dry.
“Are you awake?”
She heard her husband’s voice and a hand helped her prop her upper body upright.
Tarkan lay beside Aristine, supporting Aristine’s body.
Soon, a cup touched her lips.
After swallowing some water, Aristine felt a little better.
“What about our baby?”
“Sleeping.”
Aristine nodded.
She had no strength left in her body.
She remembered holding the child just once after giving birth.
She remembered whispering a few words to Tarkan as tears dripped from her eyes.
And after that, she remembered nothing.
“You almost fainted.”
“Hmm.”
“It would be good to eat something, even if it’s just porridge.”
“But I’m so sleepy…”
“Do you want to sleep a little longer then?”
Tarkan asked, seeing Aristine’s half-asleep state.
“But I want to see the baby.”
“What are you talking about? Your eyes aren’t even open, and you saw the baby earlier. They’re healthy and they’re a perfect copy of you, so don’t worry at all.”
“I’m not worried; I just want to see our baby.”
Even as she said that, Aristine’s head drooped down.
Tarkan pulled her closer to prevent her from falling forward.
“Get some sleep and you can see them when you are fully awake. Our baby isn’t going anywhere. They’ll be by our side from now on.”
“Mn…”
Aristine replied hazily and leaned her head against Tarkan’s chest.
Just like he said, she wanted to just drift away to sleep like this.
But the next moment.
“…!”
Aristine’s eyes flew open.
She came to her senses like she was just splashed with cold water.
“You, you…!”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
Tarkan was shocked to see his wife grow pale and quickly asked.
“Why is your chest like that?!”
Once she saw the claw marks on her precious chest, the only thing out of Aristine’s mouth was a scream.
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