T/N: It seems my automatic uploader is broken since this should have already been posted…orz. Anyways, enjoY~!
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While the people of the empire were overjoyed, Aristine felt like death.
“Ugh…”
Even the divine blessing that allowed her to see all truths couldn’t save her from morning sickness.
“Are you okay, little sister?”
“Oh dear, my daughter-in-law can’t even eat anything.”
“Sister Rineh, just one bite; just try one bite.”
“Is it normal to have such a hard time eating when pregnant? It’s like she can’t eat anything at all.”
Launelian, Nephther, Yenikarina, and even Hamill were gathered around Aristine with worried expressions.
Tarkan watched them with a slight frown and stepped forward with a plate.
“Here, I have chicken. You liked this when you were pregnant with Sion.”
Chicken personally prepared by His Majesty, Emperor Tarkan himself.
Aristine’s face lit up as she lifted the cloche.
But then…
“Urck…”
Despite how much she usually loved chicken, right now, it just reeked of a fishy smell.
Launelian looked at Tarkan smugly.
“How can you call yourself a husband when you can’t even cater to my little sister’s sensitive and delicate tastes! Watch and learn!”
Launelian signaled to a court lady, who quickly approached with a plate.
“Here, Rineh. Big brother cooked this just for you,”
Launelian opened the cloche confidently.
And then—.
“Urck!”
Aristine quickly covered her mouth and turned her head.
Launelian looked at his sister, heartbroken.
Tarkan quickly closed the cloche and laughed.
“It seems I have much to learn from you, Brother-in-law.”
Tarkan moved closer to Aristine. “Let me see. I’ll massage your arms and legs. Your appetite might return if you feel better.”
With gentle hands, Tarkan kneaded Aristine’s arms and legs. When Aristine was pregnant with Actsion, Tarkan had mastered all kinds of prenatal massages.
And not just prenatal massages either.
When his wife complained of muscle aches after a few long nights, Tarkan learned every kind of massage in existence.
Of course, some of those massages weren’t just for muscle pain; they were helpful in other areas too.
For instance, at night…
“Your Majesty, your hand is too light. How can Sister Rineh feel anything if you do it like that?”
“You’re using too much force. My dear daughter-in-law is delicate, you have to be gentle with her.”
“No, that’s the wrong spot. My sister will feel more refreshed if you massage the spot next to it.”
“There’s a secret massage technique I learned from the black market. I think that would work better.”
“…”
Tarkan ground his teeth.
He wanted to throw all these useless meddling people out right then and there.
But they were in front of his pregnant wife.
Hence, Tarkan clenched his teeth and held back.
‘I need to find an excuse to kick these people out somehow…’
Right at that moment.
There was a knock on the door, then the door opened.
It was Paellamien.
Paellamien glanced around the room and frowned.
“So all of you were here. What a surprise.”
“Paella…”
Nephther, who was usually very calm, flinched and called out to his daughter.
Paellamien gave a faint smile.
“Don’t you all have plenty of work to do? I’m sure you’re here because you’ve finished everything and you’re taking a break, yes?”
“Well—”
“I trust that none of you are galivanting over here, ignoring the mountains of tasks that need to be done.”
“We need to take care of my pregnant daughter-in-law first! Everything else can—”
“Taking care of these tasks would be a huge help to your dear daughter-in-law, who is pregnant. After all, this will reduce Her Majesty’s workload, even slightly.”
Paellamien cut in firmly.
The empire was already overloaded with work and the news of the second imperial child had only increased the workload.
The second imperial child carried immense symbolic importance.
This was the first child conceived after Aristine and Tarkan ascended to the throne and united Silvanus and Irugo.
Celebrating the birth of this child would bring the people of the empire even closer together, further solidifying the great unification.
Therefore, no matter how busy they were, they couldn’t neglect things.
“…You’re right,” Nephther admitted.
“Then let’s hurry up and get to work.”
Paellamien didn’t even blink after subduing the Emperor Emeritus and turned to Launelian.
“Your Grace, Grand Duke Launelian.”
“…Marquis.”
“Don’t you have a pile of work to do, Your Grace? There are still tasks you need to complete that were assigned to you by His Majesty before he left on his trip.”
“…But my sister is pregnant.”
“Yes, exactly. So, you should be lightening your sister’s work right now. Hurry up and get to work.”
With Launelian down, she turned her gaze to Yenikarina.
“Yenika.”
“Y-You said I’m not much help with state affairs! I don’t have any work!” Yenikarina yelled, already spooked.
“Well, that’s true,” Paellamien agreed, causing Yenikarina to pout.
Even though it was practically permission for her to stay, she still felt a little annoyed.
‘I could be helpful if I worked, too…’
“But this time, we’re going to need your help.”
“What?”
Yenikarina looked at Paellamien in shock.
Sister Paella, asking for her help? It was unheard of.
“W-With what? Balancing the budget? Creating a new policy? Is it a diplomatic issue?”
“No.”
Paellamien flatly shut those down.
The very thought of entrusting such important matters to Yenikarina was terrifying.
Yenikarina, for her part, felt a little relieved.
To be honest, even she knew she didn’t have much confidence in handling those things.
“Then what is it?”
“Preparing the banquet. We’re going to throw a grand celebration for the pregnancy. You can handle that, right?”
“Yes!”
Yenikarina’s face lit up.
That was certainly her area of expertise.
“Alright, then you get to work too.”
“Huh? Oh…”
Yenikarina glanced wistfully at Aristine’s belly then she slowly nodded.
Hamill watched it all in amazement and whispered to Aristine, “None of them can say anything in front of Paellamien? That’s amazing.”
“Paella is the real power here. Even I can’t argue with her.”
Hamill chuckled.
Then again, Paellamien had always been a smart and capable child.
It was only due to his royal mother’s suppression that she had been forced to restrain her competence.
Seeing her capability on full display like this made him feel weirdly good.
And right at that moment…
“What are you doing?”
Paellamien bluntly called out to Hamill.
“Huh?”
“You’re back after all this time. Where’s that skillfulness of yours?”
“Uh…?”
“We’re so busy that even Yenika has to help.”
Yenikarina bristled at those words but remained silent.
“You want me to work?”
“Did you think you were just going to play around by yourself?”
Hamill fell silent.
He had thought that his return would only cause chaos in the palace, so he had avoided anything related to state affairs.
He didn’t even meet with any of the nobles he knew.
But now…
“…I missed you, Elder brother.”
Hamill’s eyes widened at Paellamien’s unexpected words.
“That and we do need someone to share this workload.”
“….”
“Anyway, I’ve made my point. We need to divide the tasks, so hurry up and come with me.”
Paellamien left the room first.
Aristine smiled at Hamill, who still seemed dazed.
“That’s great.”
“….”
“Paella’s forgiven you, Lu.”
“You’re right. She had such a hard life because of me.”
“No, it was not because of you. It was because of someone else.”
Aristine was referring to Hamill’s mother.
“…But it was also my fault. Even so, I didn’t expect Paella to treat me like this.”
“Either way, you’re still siblings, no? And one she thought was dead but returned. Alright, hurry up and go.”
Hamill nodded and left the room.
As soon as the door closed…
“We’re finally alone.”
Aristine’s husband whispered in her ear.
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