Chapter 33. His Highness the Prince has been born!
2022.12.06.
Happy news arrived less than a month after the wedding.
“Congratulations, Her Majesty the Empress. You have resigned!”
In a very frenzied voice, the imperial physician reported the test results.
Of course, thinking that the empress would be happy, the royal court secretly raised her head and became embarrassed.
“Right. I see.”
Even though she was pregnant with a child who might be the heir to the next empire, the empress’ expression was the height of a grave.
‘Was I the only one who was happy?’
The embarrassing imperial court physician checked the empress’s complexion while arranging examination tools. The empress’ face was paler than usual.
“Your Majesty the Empress. I’m sorry, but can I upload a word of concern?”
“to do.”
“It is said that Her Majesty’s health is good, but if you are a pregnant woman, you should be more careful than usual. Be careful not to stumble, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.”
“Okay.”
“You also need to pay attention to your diet. I’ll stop by the restaurant and tell the head chef, but more than that, it’s more important that Her Majesty eat well.”
“Don’t let that happen.”
Normally, he would trust the empress and move on, but he was rather unreliable because he answered well.
However, since she couldn’t nag the empress of the empire any more, the palace doctor slowly withdrew with her tools.
During the examination, the maids of Pacifica, who had been in suspense, chattered in excited voices.
“If His Majesty hears this good news, he will come running right away.”
“that’s right!”
However, unlike the ladies-in-waiting mentioned above, Pacifica’s face was still calm.
“I want to rest.”
At those words with clear intentions, the ladies-in-waiting who were exchanging glances with each other quickly stepped back.
“Okay then, rest in peace.”
Eventually, Pacifica, left alone, lifted the newspaper from the table.
Starting from the next newspaper, the Empress’s pregnancy will be featured in the headlines, so today will be the last time we see a proper article published.
But the letters didn’t catch my eye.
‘…kid.’
I didn’t expect it to come this soon.
The number of times I’ve seen Esteban’s face after the wedding ceremony was on one hand. Even the only time I spent the night was at the beginning of the night.
To have a child in just one night, I never thought life would turn out so cruelly.
Pacifica’s thin hand covered the belly. It was hard to believe that there was life inside flat teeth.
What will be the fate of this child?
Pacifica closed her eyes and sighed lightly.
A national marriage conducted as a means to strengthen the imperial power of the emperor. Succession production also had the same meaning.
Therefore, this child in the womb was conceived with a clear purpose.
One thing was certain: she had no right to be involved in this child’s life after birth.
The emperor, who had offered him a contract marriage for the sake of his succession, could not give the child any affection.
Then, should this child grow up lonely?
Concerns that I had vaguely heard before became reality after conceiving a child.
It was a time when I was spending time alone, pretending to be nervous for some reason with a calm face.
“His Majesty the Emperor eats it.”
The emperor, whom they only occasionally met due to frequent meetings, went to the bedroom of the empress.
The ladies-in-waiting said that the emperor would come after hearing the news of the pregnancy, but Pasifika, who had denied it alone, was surprised inside.
“empress.”
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“Omit the example. you all go out Because you want to spend time alone with the empress.”
Esteban, who bit everyone who followed him, stood in front of Pacifica.
“I heard the news of the pregnancy.”
“yes.”
Esteban hesitated for a moment before parting his lips.
“Are you okay…?”
“yes?”
In response to Esteban’s behavior of asking an incomprehensible question, Pasifika asked involuntarily.
He averted his gaze and added as if making excuses.
“They say that having that child brings a lot of changes to the body. I heard there are a lot of things to be careful about.”
Esteban had once turned pale due to the precautions he had received from the imperial doctor along with the news of Pacifica’s conception.
I didn’t know much about pregnancy yet, and I was clumsy, so I didn’t know what to say.
Pacifica pretended not to see that Esteban’s ears were burning red.
“It’s early pregnancy, so there are no major changes yet.”
“Right.”
“That’s right.”
An awkward atmosphere passed. Esteban quenched his thirst by drinking hot tea.
“To be honest, I’m embarrassed because I didn’t know that I would have a baby this soon. Isn’t the empress like that too?”
“yes.”
“It’s not an embarrassing face.”
Esteban looked at Pasifica, whose expression did not change, and smiled broadly.
She was truly an incomprehensible woman. Esteban expressed the worries that had come to his mind after hearing the news of his conception.
“If you are in trouble because the contract period is shorter than expected, you don’t have to worry. Divorce can be suspended if you wish.”
At that, Pacifica asked in a low voice.
“Shouldn’t we discuss that matter after giving birth?”
“Why?”
“I am not sure of the gender yet.”
Esteban tilted his head and answered firmly.
“No matter what gender you are, it doesn’t change that you are Jim’s child. Even a princess can become the successor.”
Of course, since succession to the eldest son was a tradition of the Hermano family, he knew to follow it, but Esteban had a different idea.
‘Rather, my thoughts were narrow-minded.’
Pacifica reflected on her thoughts and bowed her head.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. My thoughts were short.”
“It’s not so, Empress. Raise your head.”
Esteban, seeing his temporary wife bowing her head over trivial matters, stood up with a mischievous smile.
He went crazy thinking that he would not be able to rest comfortably if he were with him.
“Anyway, don’t think about anything for the time being and get some rest.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
about 9 months.
It was the remaining period until the end of the contract marriage.
***
News of the empress’s conception soon spread throughout the empire.
In commemoration of the conceiving of the first child, the emperor pardoned those who committed minor crimes and opened his private treasury to bestow grain and goods to the impoverished people.
Among the people celebrating the empress’s inauguration, there was one person who was most excited…
“Your face bled even though you were in the hospital.”
“Heh heh heh. is it? Not even that. Didn’t Her Majesty say that she had conceived?”
It was the Empress’s father, Duke Donovan.
Every day people came and went to the Donovan mansion in the capital. Countless people were anxious to catch the eye of Duke Donovan.
The news was delivered intact to Hwangseong’s Pacifica.
‘My father doesn’t even have a conscience.’
It wasn’t that Pacifica didn’t do anything while she was the empress.
Rather, after holding power, it became clear who was on my side and who would put the sword.
In order to arrange the post-divorce situation, the family’s internal situation was always on the alert and closely watched, so Duke Donovan’s actions were the first priority to report.
It was necessary to deal with writers who sold their names and started various businesses with investments from other nobles.
It was Pacifica who had become more languid lately, but it was time to get up from her seat to do what she had to do.
Esteban, who had just entered, was disgusted and seated Pacifica back.
“empress. where to go sit down.”
“I have work to do.”
“Is it about your father?”
Esteban, noticing the affirmation from Pacifica’s silence, put his hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t worry about that, you just stay still.”
“This is something I have to deal with.”
“Didn’t you hear what the palace doctor said? Pregnant women were told not to overdo it. I haven’t been able to eat properly lately. So you only think about your health.”
“But Your Majesty.”
“Jim solves it.”
Esteban’s attitude was so determined that Pacifica couldn’t say no.
Indeed, Esteban handled the situation neatly so that Pacifica could not intervene.
Duke Donovan, who was flying wildly, lost a large fortune in one shot, and then again suffered in pain and confined himself to the mansion.
Duchess Donovan came to the imperial castle to seek help, but was kicked out of Esteban’s line.
Thanks to that, Pacifica was able to lead a peaceful life.
Time passed.
In May. It was finally the half moon.
There was a strange feeling of tension throughout the imperial castle.
This was because the empress, who began labor pains early in the morning, had not given birth to a child for a long time.
Esteban, who had put off even an important meeting, busily wandered the long corridor, waiting for news.
“Why is it taking so long?”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. Originally, first childbirth takes a long time…”
Occasionally, he grabbed a servant who came in and out and asked him rather harshly about the situation.
Seeing the emperor look like he was about to explode at any moment, the people around him held their breath and prayed for the safe birth of the empress.
Did their earnest prayers work?
wah wah-!
A loud cry was heard through the door.
Esteban, who had been banging his head against the wall, raised his head.
After a while, the door to the birthing room opened and the midwife came out.
“His Highness the Prince has been born!”
At that cry, Esteban rushed at him.
“What about the empress?”
“You are all right.”
“What about the child?”
“You are very healthy.”
Only then did a smile of relief spread across Esteban’s nervous face.
Entering the birth room, Esteban approached Pacifica first.
Even though she was sweating cold from long labor pains, Pacifica greeted the emperor with a blunt face.
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
“Even though I told you not to say hello.”
“It’s difficult when it becomes a habit.”
“…hmm.”
Esteban kept his mouth shut at Pasifika’s suggestion that it would be after the divorce. There were more ears to hear than to say more.
As the newborn child burst into tears, Esteban gave Pasifika words of encouragement.
“You have suffered a lot, Empress.”
Then the midwife handed the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes to Esteban’s arms.
Esteban, who carefully held the child in his arms, unable to give proper strength in case it would break, looked into the swaddling cloth and smiled.
It was the face of a father who was infallible.
‘It’s unexpected.’
Pacifica’s thoughts about Emperor Esteban changed very little.
“No matter how you look at it, he looks exactly like Jim.”
“…Is that so.”
“ah. The empress should also hold the child.”
“it’s okay.”
Esteban stopped abruptly at the unexpected refusal, then returned his gaze to the child casually.
“okay? …Let’s hug you later.”
The newborn, wrinkled child muttered. Esteban touched the baby’s cheek and brought up a topic he had been thinking about for a long time.
“The child’s name should be Oscar.”
“Oscar. That’s a good name.”
Thus, ‘Oscar Alle Hermano’, the first prince of the Hermano family, was born.
***
Esteban left the office early in the morning and went to Oscar’s room as usual.
It was early in the morning, when the cold air hadn’t gone away, and various thoughts came and went in his head.
Among them was a report from Pacifica’s maid.
“It seems that Her Majesty the Empress does not like Her Highness the Prince.”
Naturally, when the child was born, the appearance of Pacifica, which refused to hold it, came to mind together.
Arriving in front of Oscar’s bedroom before he knew it, Esteban saw light pouring in through the slightly open door.
Inadvertently opening the door slightly, Esteban caught his breath at the scenery inside.
’empress.’
Pacifica was watching the sleeping child under the soft lantern light.
Holding my hands tightly together as if I couldn’t dare to touch them.
Esteban, who had been peeping at the scene, silently turned away.
***
It was Pacifica who first asked for a divorce.
“Now that I have fulfilled the terms of the contract, I want to divorce you.”
Only 3 weeks had passed since giving birth. When he asked for a divorce in a situation where he hadn’t gotten it right yet, Esteban couldn’t give it right away.
“I’m sure you’re not ready to return to your family yet.”
“no. Enough.”
“If you say so, there must be a basis.”
In less than a year of marriage, Esteban had learned a lot about Pacifica.
She doesn’t talk empty words.
Also, move when you are confident.
Finally, keep any promise.
It was this part that Esteban considered the most important when choosing a partner for national marriage.
After all, didn’t Pasifika ask for a divorce without any regrets?
‘I didn’t look at the wrong person.’
Esteban smiled and nodded.
“okay. Let’s announce the divorce sooner or later.”
I wanted the story to end like that, but it didn’t. Pacifica made an unexpected request.
“I have one request.”
“what?”
“I want Oscar to take full responsibility for his education until he comes of age.”
It meant that he would be in charge of educating the only heir to the empire. Pacifica also said something, but there was no expectation.
I assumed he would decline. However, Esteban, who had been looking at her face for a long time with puzzled eyes, nodded happily.
“okay. Jim will not interfere.”
“Is that true?”
“Does Jim look like someone who would talk nonsense?”
“…”
Pacifica was silent. Realizing that it meant positively, Esteban shyly looked away.
“Anyway, it means do as you please.”
“thank you.”
Only then did Pasifica stand up, as if the business was over. Esteban, who was looking at her, reached out a hand to Pasifica.
“I look forward to seeing you at the conference hall.”
The words to proudly become the owner of the family contained infinite trust.
“I hope you are at peace.”
Just as they had met while talking about a contract marriage for the first time, the two shook hands again as they finished.
The short-lived marriage came to an end.
