< — Epilogue– > (2)
“Milady, the path for the child to come out is opened. Don’t put too much pressure on your stomach like that.”[1]
As she watched over the situation, the midwife continued to advise the mother giving birth. From the looks of it, the progress was slow because it was her first delivery. The midwife did not let her guard down even though she had delivered numerous children before. Childbirth had many variables. There were times when a delivery was proceeding very smoothly, then suddenly, there were unexpected difficulties.
An assistant approached the midwife and whispered to her:
“His Grace the Duke is asking about the progress.”
The midwife clicked her tongue. She didn’t know how many times he had asked this. The delivery had only just begun and two hours or so had passed. She had replied a couple of times to the Duke’s persistent questioning of the situation, that it was still far from over.
The midwife was in charge of the delivery of the precious noble lives in the royal family. The incoming baby was very important, but the parent could also not be ignored. No matter how busy and hectic it got due to the delivery, a proper level of tact was necessary.
“It looks like I need to go see the Duke. You, watch over the Madam and if you see anything strange, let me know immediately.”
The midwife left the bedroom, leaving her skilled assistant to take her place in charge.
As soon as Hugo saw the midwife, he urgently asked.
“How is it?”
“There is still a long way to go, Your Grace.”
“When exactly is that ‘long way’! You’ve been telling me the same thing since earlier.”
“Your Grace, I have said this several times. It will take a long time because this is the Madam’s first delivery. From the way the situation is progressing, I can tell the baby is not likely to be born anytime soon. So please, calm down. If you get some sleep…”
“My wife looks like she’s dying inside there and you’re telling me to sleep?”
The midwife smacked her lips as she watched the Duke fly into a rage. Calling a woman, who was doing fine and giving birth to a child, ‘dying’, wasn’t quite right. She hadn’t seen any signs of a difficult delivery and it had only been two hours since the labor went into full-swing.
“Can’t I go in and check if my wife is okay?”
“The delivery room zone is off-limits to men.”
“I’ll only see her face and leave.”
The midwife had never even imagined a man entering into the delivery room and hearing the Duke say that he would do just that, the midwife really doubted whether he was in his right mind.
When she delivered children in the royal family, the husband was only informed when the labor began and when the child was delivered. In the case of the king’s concubines’ delivery, the king often came a few days after the child was born.
This was the first time in the seasoned midwife’s long career, that a husband was lingering around the delivery room and raising hell.
‘It is unusual indeed.’
The elderly midwife had been quite nervous, leaving the palace and heading to the ducal residence, because it was her first time dealing closely with the Duke of Taran, who was rumored to be scary. However, the Duke of Taran whom she routinely met was much too different from the one in the rumors.
He had a big stature, but he couldn’t move an inch in front of the small sized Madam. Once he had a little free time, he would just be following the Madam around. She thought it was quite nice for a couple that had been together for 3 years now to have such a good marital relationship. However, she didn’t know that when the time for the delivery came, he would be this particular, without caring about appearances.
“Please wait, Your Grace. If Your Grace keeps asking about the progress, I cannot fully concentrate on the Madam. Your Grace cannot be interrupting if you want the Madam to give birth safely and healthily.”
The midwife said firmly, revealing her stern temperament. She wouldn’t stand for any interference with the process of childbirth, even if it were the King not the Duke.
“She will be safe, right?”
Hugo’s spirit dampened once the midwife mentioned his wife’s safety.
“Ease your worries. The Madam is doing well. Your Grace will be more anxious if you stay here. I think it would be better for Your Grace to wait somewhere else…”
“I’ll stay here.”
The midwife forced down her wry smile upon hearing the Duke’s determined reply. If someone saw this, they’d think the Duchess was the only person in the world that had given birth.
Hugo stood with a somber expression as he watched the midwife go back inside the room.
Fabian’s lips twitched as he stole a glance at his lord’s expression. Such a rare, precious sight. He knew he shouldn’t, he knew how serious the Duke’s state of mind was, but he couldn’t resist the laughter bubbling up within him.
Eventually, he stealthily withdrew. As he was coming down from the second floor, Fabian met Jerome, who was just climbing up the stairs. He grabbed Jerome by the arm and went into Jerome’s office.
“What is it?”
Jerome was momentarily dazed due to the serious look on Fabian’s face and let himself be dragged to his office. Fabian closed the door, threw himself on the sofa and burst out laughing. He was afraid the sound of his laughter would be heard beyond the door, so he giggled under his breath.
“Oh god, I’m going crazy. His Grace looks so soulless. I bet you won’t see that expression on his face even if the sky falls down.”
Fabian had heard the news from Jerome a little while ago and hurriedly ran over. His heart skipped a beat at the thought that the Madam might have encountered difficulty during delivery. To the Fabian who had run over till he was out of breath, Jerome said:
[You have experience. I called you because you might be of help.]
[Have I given birth before? Help? What help!]
Fabian lost his temper at Jerome because he had run over after being startled awake from a good sleep. Since he had already come, he couldn’t just go back. He had entered an arduous path where he was stuck until the delivery was over and he didn’t even know when that would be, so he didn’t even want to see Jerome’s face.
However, because of the sight from earlier, his anger at Jerome had changed to gratitude. Thanks to Jerome, he was able to enjoy such a scene.
Jerome slapped his brother on the back of his head. Fabian held the back of his head and screamed.
“Hey!”
Jerome firmly seized the back of Fabian’s neck and pulled him up.
“They say there’s still a long way to go. What will come out of standing there till it’s over?” (Fabian)
“So noisy. Master is very anxious, so as a subordinate, you have to share his pain.” (Jerome)
“Do it yourself!” (Fabian)
As he was dragged away by Jerome, Fabian protested but Jerome acted like he couldn’t hear anything.
* * *
The morning sun shone blindingly through the window, causing Fabian to close his eyes. His whole body felt sore after sleeping scrunched up on the sofa and he stretched with all the strength he could muster.
“Is the baby born?”
Fabian had endured passably till around dawn. In order to fight off the sleepiness, he had drunk so much tea till it was stale in his mouth, but his eyes kept closing and he felt like he would lose his mind. He hadn’t even stayed up all night when his own baby was born. He couldn’t treat the situation of his lord’s child being born as serious as his job.
Still, he thought of it as the predicament of a subordinate and endured. He could hear the vivid screams of childbirth pain, coming from beyond the walls and they chased the sleep away from his sunken eyes. However, before he even realized it, he dozed off.
Jerome couldn’t keep watching Fabian, who kept nodding off, so he sent Fabian to sleep. Fabian acted like he was giving in, went downstairs and fell asleep on the sofa in Jerome’s office.
He had only slept for a few hours but his mind felt refreshed. Fabian poked his head out of the door of the office and looked around. It was quiet and he couldn’t see anyone. He began to climb up the stairs while checking around him.
Remembering the expression his lord had on his face till around dawn, he chuckled lightly. It was his first time seeing the Duke look so aghast and restless. He couldn’t stay still for even a moment and went back and forth in the same place for hours.
When he reached the second floor, it was quiet but as he walked through the hallway, he could hear a scream from afar. The delivery was still currently underway. Fabian wove himself in as if he had been staying there all night. The Duke didn’t have the leisure to care about his vacancy.
‘How energetic.’
The Duke’s footsteps as he walked around impatiently were still with much vigor. Fabian wasn’t very surprised since he had already witnessed the Duke filled with resilient energy even after staying up for a few nights.
‘Even if we say His Grace is His Grace. The amazing one is that guy.’
When he was born, he was Fabian’s twin brother, but later on, he was reborn as a servant of the Taran family without permission from his parents. That Jerome was standing there, with his feet firmly rooted to the floor as if he was waiting for the birth of his own child.
‘Why did you call me then? Huh?’
Fabian completely wiped out his gratitude towards Jerome for letting him get some sleep and inwardly poured out curses on his intolerable brother.
But suddenly, Jerome lifted his head. Surprised by this, Fabian also shifted his gaze. The Duke who had been senselessly walking around also came to an abrupt halt and stared at the bedroom door.
Fabian sensed a strange silence and immediately realized the change. The noise coming from inside the room had disappeared. Everyone held their breath for a short moment, but it felt like a long time. And from inside the walls, the cry of a child could be heard.
“Phew…”
It was unknown who had sighed. There was also a smile at the corner of Fabian’s lips. Although he was grumpy throughout, he had been very worried too.
At a glance, it looked like everyone was easily having children, but there were many women who were left with issues after quietly giving birth. Fabian didn’t even want to think about the unpleasant things that would follow if something had happened to the Madam. He couldn’t imagine the Duke of Taran without the Madam by his side.
The Madam was like a kind of safety device to Fabian. She was the last fortress. In the past, the Duke’s decision was a final decision. If you were asked to die, you had no choice but to do so.
But now there was room for a final struggle. There was somewhere to cling to if you were going to die either ways. He hoped that the Madam would tame the beast known as the Duke and hold onto his collar for a very long time.
Translator Corner:
[1] I dunno what this is trying to say tbh. Never given birth nor am I a doctor. When I don’t know, I translate as literally as possible. (Apparently, putting pressure on your cervix makes it hard for the baby to come out.)
*.*.*
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The uterus contracts during delivery to allow the passage of the baby. Putting pressure on the cervix would make it harder for the baby to come out. That’s why there are breathing techniques in childbirth, to ease the pressure and to safely put pressure at the right time.
I can’t imagine how much Lucia’s or any other woman who’s giving birth.
The uterus literally rips itself apart so that the baby could pass safely. That’s why childbirth is one of the most painful thing in the world.
Learning new things everyday
It’s one of the reasons why some women can/should/do deliver on their sides or on their hands and knees. There are some chairs where you are kneeling/leaning against something to deliver. 🙂 IIRC birthing pools, they encourage you to be on your hands and knees, or leaning on your knees against the side of the pool.
Fun fact, it is sometimes easier for the mother to give birth in a pool of water. Interesting thing about babies is, they will never breathe for the first time until exposed to air. So if one gives birth underwater, the baby will hold its breath until it surfaces. This and several other factors has led some scientists to theorize that humans evolved from semi-aquatic apes.
For me the most important part for the mother is how strong she is during labor….bcoz it’ll need your strength for that pain, especially when the times is closer, even sleep is imposible….and the breathing technique also help….a bit.
Epidural is the gift from God for childbirths.
Unless they do it wrong and cause an allergic reaction when trying to fix their mistake. Along with leaving the tape on creating a rash for my sister for 2 weeks. Good nurses and doctors are a blessing
To be fair to them, they won’t know a person’s physiology is allergic until they actually did it. It’s less “do it wrong” and more “unique phyisiology bad luck”. Allergies are individual things.
I agree but it’s more on how unorganised everything was, the doctor was frustrated at the nurses and almost kicked us out. Before that she was induced and the nurse thought she broke her water, she didn’t, when it was 6 hours early and accidentally removed the string to induce her . They gave epidural and my sister felt numbing up her arm, they realized they did it wrong and after that everything started. They gave it to her three times. She wasn’t completely dilated, the contractions almost suffocated the baby. It was in the midst of it to help her something to deal with pain that as soon as they gave it to her she developed hives, tbh that only just adds to the things she had to deal with. A lot more things happen, also took two days for them to realize they didn’t take off the tape. Everything is completely fine now but the procedure and aftereffects could of went a lot better.
Yeeees I’m soo happy you chose YGTWHV THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭
God finally the baby is born safely I can’t wait to see his reaction I just know it will be so cute
Omg am i the first ?
Thx for the chap miss ruby love u so much
I’m mother of 3 btw
At least Fabian is entertained by Hugh’s anxious fussing. I am too. 🤣😂
LMAO Rip Fabian’s sleep and aww the baby is born UwU. Please be a mini Lucia 😣😣
Thank you for the chapter, Ruby. 💚💚💚
Thanks for the new chapter!
Thanks for the chapter 🙂 and I hope that there will be an extra scene that shows us the bonding time of the duke’s family ^0^
Can’t wait to see mini Lucia 🤣
Omg thank you so much! My mood lifted up so much because of your update! Lol this is too funny 😂😂😂 poor hugh. I can’t wait for the baby Ugh if only I gt shmoney for patreon
O my gosh. THE BABY AAAA
Thank you for chapter 😜😜😜
Congrats to lucia and hugh 😀😀
Thanks for the chapter~
Thank you for the new chapter!
The birthing comments scare me a bit ahaha. God bless my mum and all the other mums out there!
I can’t wait to see Hugo act like a crazy doting father.
Thanks for the new chapter.
Now i am most excited to know if its a girl and how hugh is gonna interact with the baby~
Oh my grapes! We survived. Thank you for the chapter and I can’t wait until I see the new member of the family and how everyone reacts. I’m looking forward to see Damian, again, too! Such a cute kid, I don’t know why they didn’t get him to visit at least once a year.
aaaw I can’t with Hugo, it’s beautiful
I want to know about the baby <3
Omggg! I’m so glad the baby was born safely😭 Watching Hugh getting so worried made me smile and my heart went giddy! This new chapter lifts my mood! Thank you so much for the update!💖 I can’t wait to see mini Lucia (or mini Hugh)!👶 Congrats to Hugh and Lucia! AAAAHHHH MY HEART💘💘💘
When you’re in the act of pushing the baby out, the best layman term to do is “push like you’re doing your number 2” into the toilet. Don’t even try to clamp your vagina like when you’re trying to stop your pee/wee or When others were told to push, what they usually do was to just stop their breathing and focus entirely on their neck, which is very wrong. The newborn won’t come out that way, it will only lead to fetal distress which isn’t good. Childbirth is the hardest part of being a woman. There’s a saying in my country that a foot of woman who’s in labor is half buried to the soil, which meant that there’s a 50% chance she’ll not gonna make it. Specially during the early years where medical tech isn’t that advance.
YES!!!! the baby has arrived.
can’t wait to see the reaction of Hugh!
Me encanta, muchas gracias por tu trabajo 🥰🥰🥰😍
It so funny to watch Hugh restless😂😂😂
Btw like your tranlation👍👍👍👍
I bet he is going to Lucia first
Awwwwww, seriously, Hugh is so damn cute uwu <3 I love how much he worries and pesters the nurse hahaha. He just loves Lucia that much! Let him see her to relieve his stress Ajdkajd. And to think he didn't move from there in hours. He is so amazing <3 He'll be an amazing dad uwu Also, Jerome is so loyal <3 Petition for him to be the god father o3o <3 And Norman should be the god mother uwu
Thank you for your hard work!!! <3
I really want to see this illustrated. I hope the manhwa can portray this scenes perfectly.
Me too, but unfortunately the manhwa is still a bit far from that arc.
“When he was born, he was Fabian’s twin brother”. I believe that instead of Fabian’s name here should be Jerome’s name, since it was Fabian who had such thoughts.
Thanks for the chapter! 💖
This is one of the most realistic child birt descriptions I have read in a romantic novel. With my first kid I have 24 hours of labor. I couldn’t even sleep. It’s pure torture 😩