Chapter 44 of the side story. Mother and daughter
2023.01.14.
Recently, for some reason, he was not feeling well, so visiting the imperial doctor was the beginning of his work.
Siana straightened her drowsy body and faced the imperial court.
“Please tell me what your symptoms are, Your Majesty.”
“hmm. I feel sleepy and have no appetite, and somehow I feel sluggish.”
“It’s spring, so I think it might be spring fatigue, but it’s better to see a doctor in detail.”
“yes. Please, from the imperial palace.”
The imperial physician began examining the place. Then, suddenly, he tilted his head slightly and looked at Siana’s previous medical records.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. Can I bleed on your fingertips? It’s just a little, very little.”
Seeing the serious expression on the courtier’s face, Shiana nodded bewilderedly.
The person involved was fine, but the face of the royal doctor who had to bleed was reddened.
He calmed his trembling hands and begged Cyana earnestly.
“Could you please, please, please keep the fact that I bled to Her Majesty’s prison body? Especially to His Majesty the Emperor of Hua.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Shiana realize why the imperial court was so nervous.
‘You’re doing this because you’re afraid Evan will harm you.’
There was plenty of potential for a laugh. Esteban was the kind of person she would turn over when she found out that Sianna had scars on her fingertips.
However, Cyana was stronger than Esteban.
Shiana smiled gently and nodded.
“yes. Nothing to worry about will happen.”
“Yes, then we will proceed.”
What the imperial doctor took out was a magic tool containing reagents. With his still trembling hand, he managed to draw blood from Cyana’s fingertips.
As drops of blood dripped down, the transparent reagent slowly turned golden.
At that moment, the imperial physician opened her eyes wide.
“oh my god.”
The imperial doctor who covered her mouth with both hands shouted in excitement.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty. You have resigned!”
“…gestation?”
The emotions I felt at that moment were surprise and joy.
‘Evan and my child…’
Siana, who was lonely, often imagined it from a young age. If I get married, I will have many children so that I will not be lonely.
I have ever imagined what it would be like to have a child after a national marriage. A child who resembles Evan and himself.
However, it was literally only imagination, so I couldn’t believe it at all when it became a reality.
“His Majesty the Emperor will be pleased. I really congratulate you, Her Majesty!”
The imperial palace doctor smiled broadly and congratulated her on her new arrival. But Siana couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
Her expression gradually darkened.
As Siana’s face darkened, the imperial physician, noticing that something was wrong, hesitantly asked,
“Why are you doing that, Your Majesty? Are you having any problems?”
“…First of all, please keep quiet.”
“yes? but-.”
Siana added with a smile.
“It’s because I want to speak directly to Your Majesty.”
The reason why I wanted to be the first to tell my husband about my pregnancy was a pretty plausible excuse.
The imperial palace doctor readily agreed to Siana’s request without any doubt.
“Oh, I see! All right. However, even if the report is delivered late, it must be written down in the medical record, so Her Majesty the Empress should understand that.”
“sure.”
He wouldn’t check his medical records right away, so that would be fine.
As we will soon find out, Sianna is not yet ready to tell Esteban about her pregnancy.
After several medical examinations, the royal physician diagnosed that she was about 5 weeks pregnant and asked for various precautions before leaving.
Left alone, Siana covered her flat belly with one hand. I couldn’t believe that there was life growing here.
It was a joy to have a child. I’m happy, but…
‘Wouldn’t this child be a source of trouble?’
Siana’s expression darkened.
She was well aware of her situation, her position, her responsibilities and meaning. It was because he had prepared for everything and decided to stay by Esteban’s side.
Whether Cianna wanted it or not, the birth of this child would inevitably pose a threat to Oscar.
I felt that I did not want to hurt Oscar and wanted to protect both children, but the reality was not a fairy tale.
‘Someone won’t welcome the existence of this child.’
I want to be a child who is loved by everyone.
While Shiana was lost in her thoughts, a sign came from outside the door.
Soon after, Esteban entered and immediately ran to Sianna and held her in his arms.
“Siana. How are you feeling?”
“are you okay. You don’t have to worry.”
“It’s my job to worry about you. I heard that the imperial doctor went there, but what about the results of the examination?”
Esteban knew everything about Siana’s routine even though he had quietly called the palace doctor.
She quickly hid the fingertips, which were still slightly scarred, and covered up with the words she had thought of beforehand.
“It’s called spring fatigue. It must have been languid because it was spring.”
“It’s spring fatigue…”
“It’s really not a big deal, is it?”
Cyana asked vigorously, but Esteban still looked at her face with a serious expression.
“I’m anxious. Because you are too weak…”
To Esteban, Cyana was a very weak being.
From the fact that he stayed in Yeongji because he was not feeling well when he was young, to the story that he went back after playing the debutant ball because he got seriously ill once.
‘Just getting soaked in the rain is enough to catch a bad cold.’
For a normal human, that would be enough to catch a cold, but Esteban’s standards were extraordinary.
Siana smiled shyly.
“It’s all a thing of the past. I am very healthy now.”
“Healthy. If you overdo it a little, the heat will rise quickly. Besides, Shiana, you are too talkative. You should eat a lot. Wouldn’t it be nice to increase the amount of food? Because it happened like this, come out during dawn training and exercise together-.”
Cyana quickly covered Esteban’s mouth.
“Are you going to make me a knight?”
Esteban answered something, but Ciana’s hand was still covering her mouth, leaving only a muffled sound.
Cyana asked with her eyes narrowed.
“Are you going to nag again?”
Shaking my head. As Esteban shook his head, Cyana removed her hand from his mouth. But Esteban immediately excused himself.
“It’s a nag with love in it.”
After thinking for a moment, Esteban added while fiddling with the nape of Siana’s neck.
“Otherwise, exercising at night is good. Jim.”
“Evan!”
As Cyana screamed, her face flushed red, Esteban smiled mischievously and kissed all over her face.
While Cyana was caught off guard by the ticklish kiss, Esteban started playing tricks again.
“Or you can do that exercise now.”
Esteban’s hand caressing Siana’s cheek became blatant. Anyone could see that it was a hand full of sincerity and clear purpose.
At that moment, the imperial court’s new request passed through Siana’s mind.
“You should always be careful in the early stages of pregnancy. especially! Be most wary of His Majesty the Emperor.”
omg. Shiana, who hastily came to her senses, twisted her head and refused to kiss Esteban.
“Oh no.”
Esteban was somewhat shocked, as he had not expected Cyana to refuse so firmly.
“…why?”
“No way.”
“for a moment-.”
Before Esteban could say anything, Cyana averted his eyes and pushed her chest away.
“I remembered now that I had something to do. I will go.”
For some reason, Cyana, who had become contemplative, went outside in a hurry.
“…Siana?”
Esteban belatedly called her, but Siana was not there.
Esteban’s head became complicated in an instant at the obvious avoidance action.
“Are you tired of me…?”
As a result, the remaining Esteban began to ponder over what he had done wrong and what he had done.
The expression of despair was like a people who had lost their country.
***
“Her Majesty the Empress!”
Oscar, who spotted Ciana from afar, smiled brightly and Odo also started running.
“Oh, Oscar. Be careful!”
Siana’s concerns were put to shame.
Cheeky!
Oscar, who had been running excitedly, fell as if he were watching.
“Oscar! Are you okay?”
Surprised, Cyana hurriedly approached and lifted Oscar from the fall.
Oscar, who had become covered in dirt in an instant, cried out.
“Ooh… it hurts.”
“What if I run like that? You always told me to be careful.”
“But, is Her Majesty the Empress? Hurry up and use the sipper.”
“Is it?”
“yes. I’ll be careful next time!”
Oscar quickly finished his reflection before Ciana could scold her. I couldn’t even nag at it, so Siana could only laugh.
She took her son’s hand and headed into the building.
The two walked down the aisle, talking about Oh Soon Do-soon.
“My knee is a bit chapped, so let’s go and put some medicine on it.”
“yes.”
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“It tingles a little.”
“Wouldn’t it sting more if I applied the medicine?”
“Aww… that’s fine. It hurts more during training.”
Still, Oscar’s expression was still dead, as if he didn’t like being sick.
Ciana, who entered Oscar’s bedroom amicably, spoke to the lady-in-waiting, received the medicine, and skillfully treated the child’s wounds.
It was truly admirable to see her keep her mouth shut and pretend to be okay even though she must be sick.
“All right, I’ve been cured.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Oscar laughed and hugged Sianna. The round silver crown was so lovely that Shiana gently stroked the child’s head.
I raised Oscar from the time he was a speechless baby to the time he became a spirited child.
Even when she first spoke, took her toes, and started running, Siana was by her side.
To Sianna, Oscar was the first son who did not hurt even if he put it in his eyes.
However, I had no intention of depriving Oscar of his ‘real mother’.
The hat and hat facing each other with snacks for Oscar had a tea time today as usual.
“Today is the day I go to see my mother.”
“yes! …yes.”
Oscar’s brightened face instantly turned sullen.
Since Lisandro was in charge of education under Pacifica’s orders, Oscar has tried to act more resolutely.
But only in front of Siana, as before, she would tell her what was inside.
“Your Majesty the Empress. I guess my mother doesn’t like me.”
“Why do you think so?”
“I never once or twice said that I was good at it. I’m sorry you never laughed at me. It is clear that you are trying to kill me.”
Siana, who knows Pacifica’s blunt personality better than anyone else, could understand Oscar’s concerns.
After all, Oscar was a child who needed parental affection.
Cianna couldn’t forget the time when Pacifica smiled softly as she told the story of Oscar.
“eye.”
“Your green eyes resemble me.”
It was the first time I had ever seen a Pacifica smile so softly, and even now, years later, I still remember it often.
It was absurd that such a Pacifica hated Oscar.
‘I’m guessing he’s deliberately treating Oscar coldly, Pacifica too.’
It wasn’t hard to guess why.
Falling in love with a child in a contract with Esteban that had an end would have been unexpected.
The only way Pacifica could protect Oscar would have been to educate her to be a strong child.
To be a flawless successor.
I couldn’t even guess what the heart was like having no choice but to be strict with the child you love.
Ciana sighed secretly, examining Oscar’s still sullen face.
‘Still, it’s okay to show your feelings a little.’
But between the two hats, she was a third party and was not allowed to intervene.
Instead, Ciana kindly asked Oscar.
“Oscar. Eat slowly.”
“yes!”
Seeing the child smiling brightly, Siana smiled.
Because all Cyana could do was give Pacifica the love she couldn’t bear to give.
***
The next day, after finishing the empress’ duties, Sianna went for a walk to take a breather. Wanting to be alone, I purposely bit all the escorts.
On both sides of the promenade that Sianna was walking on, there were cherry trees that Esteban had planted just for her.
Falling cherry blossom petals made a superb view.
Facing the rain of flowers, Siana was still immersed in her thoughts.
“I should probably tell you.”
Esteban would surely be delighted. I was sure.
Still, the reason why he couldn’t say it was purely because of his own greed.
I just wanted to put off the fact that this child could be a threat to Pacifica and Oscar.
However, it could not be avoided forever.
‘Let’s talk to Esteban.’
It was at that time that the wind blew so hard that the petals that were precariously attached fell in abundance.
rustle.
Just as I closed and opened my eyes, someone stood in front of me.
A girl with the same hair color as if looking in a mirror and light blue eyes that she sees every day.
Crisp.
The necklace hanging around the girl’s neck was seen to break.
“Uh…”
The girl, who was about to say something, covered her mouth with both hands.
She was recognizable at first sight.
‘…my daughter.’
It was instinct.
mother’s instinct.
