Time passed like a flowing stream and the second winter in the Grand Duke’s castle arrived. However, the atmosphere was not as gloomy as before.
Since morning, the workers have been busily running around the castle grounds.
“Fetch plenty of warm water and clean towels.”
As the Grand Duchess’ due date approached, everyone in the castle was very nervous, like knights about to undertake an important mission. Among them, the one who was the most anxious and worried was Daymond by far.
When he saw Anne lying on the bed and constantly sweating coldly, his face turned pitch black.
“Anne, are you okay… If it hurts a lot, don’t hold back and speak up. We have all the doctors on standby.”
“Huh… Don’t worry, it’s still bearable.”
“It looks difficult to me…”
“Because I have a reason to overcome this time. I will definitely give birth to a healthy baby. You can’t overestimate your health from now on.”
“I have nothing to worry about.”
His gentle lips touched her forehead, slightly soaked in cold sweat, wanting to comfort her. Before the alternating contractions intensified, Anne opened her mouth when she had made up his mind.
“Call Luciel. If I’m right, he’s probably nearby.”
“Luciel?”
She asked for a face that he didn’t want to call out of nowhere. But Daymond couldn’t refuse since he was determined to listen to her words.
“…Luciel.”
As soon as he spoke, Luciel appeared. Since that day, he hasn’t been seen in a while.
He appeared with his refreshing silver hair still shining. He stood in the middle of the room, looking incongruous with the rest of the room.
“Long time no see… Anne, Daymond.”
“Luciel, I called you because I have something to tell you.”
“…Anne, don’t you not want to see my face either?”
He seemed to have realized something in the meantime, and he fidgeted his hands with an anxious face.
She looked at his expression for a moment and then said what she had been thinking.
“Luciel, I have a favor to ask. Please be the godfather of the soon-to-be-born child.”
“Anne!”
Daymond, who was just listening quietly, tried to raise his voice but immediately controlled himself.
“Anne, are you relieved of your anger now?”
“No. It’s too early to forgive you completely. That’s why I’m giving you a chance. If you feel sorry for us at all… Remain by my child’s side and help him understand what you and the child are.”
He wrinkled the bridge of his nose, looking worried. But when he saw her firm expression, he nodded, and after a long time, he opened his mouth.
“I still don’t completely understand what Anne meant. I’ll explain it to the child, though. Just like I did with Daymond.”
He glanced at Daymond, who was glaring at him, and then disappeared.
Beyond the silence that had fallen, she could see Daymond taking a deep breath as the bed sank. Anne sighed softly and looked back at him.
“Are you angry?”
“Why did you ask Luciel to be the godfather without consulting me? He is different from us. No, he is different from me. He has absolutely no empathy for humans.”
Daymond must have been holding back until now, so as soon as the permission was given, he started asking questions one after another. Anne frowned at the slightly spreading pain and looked away.
“Can’t I even make this request since you’ve forgiven me too?”
“I mean… I wasn’t saying that…”
Startled by her sensitive tone, he lost his words and lowered his eyes.
When she saw that face, her heart weakened again. Anne held his hand as he lowered his head like a puppy and whispered.
“We are an ordinary human being who does not know the future, and since we will leave before the child, it would be good for Luciel to take care of the child. Isn’t that right?”
Anne slowly took him into her arms, who reluctantly agreed. His heart, now quite warm, was beating happily.
“I want to live this life properly. I don’t want to give up on either you or the child.”
“I was short-sighted. I’m sorry.”
He seemed to be reassured by her softer voice and pressed his lips against her again. The pain that was spreading within her body seemed to be fading away from the soft touch.
The pain continued for a long time, lasting over a full day.
Even Daymond, who had lived for such a long time, felt that it was an eternity. He did not leave the spot and stayed by Anne’s side as she struggled in labor.
Even though her nails dug deep into him and his flesh broke, he never let go of Anne’s hand. On the contrary, because he couldn’t experience her pain, he lost his senses and shed tears. He cooled Anne’s forehead, which was drenched in cold sweat, with his hand, and wiped away the endless tears along the corners of her eyes.
“Anne, never give up.”
He whispered in her ear to soothe his anxious heart.
The smell of blood mingled with the hot heat, and Anne’s screams became more and more frequent. As Daymond looked at her, his eyebrows also furrowed deep. He shook his head as the previous memories kept coming back to him.
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