A Barbaric Proposal Side Story 4

[Flambard] "No matter how I look at it, it must be a girl."

She gritted her teeth, momentarily pausing her needlework. She was convinced that Liene’s first child could be nothing other than a daughter.

Liene’s appetite was the primary evidence. It was identical to how she had felt when she carried her own daughter. Liene constantly sought out sour fruits and couldn't stand the slightest scent of anything fishy. Above all, the shape of her belly was the deciding factor. A rounded swell that rose evenly without leaning to one side was undeniable proof of a girl.

[Flambard] "And yet, I wonder what that woman has been listening to, for her to be so stubborn... Tsk, tsk."

Despite such clear signs, Madam Henton insisted otherwise. Having birthed two sons, she claimed she couldn't possibly be mistaken. She argued that the shape of the belly indicated a boy, and that the Princess’ cravings were simply a reflection of her own tastes, regardless of the child’s gender.

[Flambard] "That’s not it!"

The mere thought made Madam Flambard shout aloud in frustration.

[Flambard] "The Princess has never been one to complain about food, from her childhood until now!"

The frequent declarations that she "couldn't eat this or that" weren't Liene’s natural traits. It was honestly the morning sickness at work. Since morning sickness was caused by the child, it meant the babe in the womb was the one making the demands. Therefore, it had to be a girl.

As her thoughts drifted there, the tension in her face softened into a smile.

[Flambard] "Oh, goodness. Just imagine how beautiful she will be..."

A child of Liene’s. The baby would be lovely beyond words. Even if Liene had married the plainest man on earth, the child would have been stunning—but she had married a man as handsome as Lord Tiwakan, a face the likes of which Nauk had never seen.

Thus, "beautiful" seemed too small a word to describe the child.

[Flambard] "How fulfilling it will be to care for them every single day. My heart is already fluttering with excitement."

Calming herself, she resumed her embroidery. It was a bib for the baby. She was stitching a bright red pomegranate onto high-quality blue silk.

If a daughter was born, her name was to be Shellan. She planned to embroider that name right next to the fruit.

---

[Henton] "What does that woman know to be so headstrong?"

She was similarly stomping her feet in annoyance. In her room, needlework was also underway, though the one holding the needle was not her, but Klima.

When he heard it was for the baby’s bib, he asked to learn embroidery himself.

Initially, his mother had scolded him, asking what he thought he was doing with those rough fingers. However, it seemed blood told; her son showed an extraordinary talent for the craft. Though he had ruined the first few attempts, his work was now flawless. Her only job was to select the thread colors and ensure the knots were tidy.

[Klima] "Uh, well... it could be a daughter..."

Klima attempted to bite the thread with his teeth like a seasoned veteran of ten years. Madam Henton immediately swatted his back.

[Henton] "What do you think you’re doing! Putting your mouth on something the little one will use!"

[Klima] "Oh... my apologies..."

He quickly pulled away.

[Henton] "Tsk. If you’re going to continue this, fix that habit. You must put several times more care into things meant for the royal child."

[Klima] "Yes, Mother."

He nodded obediently.

She watched him with a momentarily pained expression before shaking her head. He couldn't remain a child under her wing forever; he needed to grow. In that sense, his desire to learn embroidery was a fine thing.

In truth, Madam Henton didn't believe her son strictly had to be a knight. Her husband had been a fine knight, but he hadn't been a good father, nor a good husband. She hoped Klima would focus on building a happy home rather than just becoming a soldier.

[Henton] "Perhaps seeing the lovely child will inspire such thoughts in him..."

[Klima] "Yes, Mother?"

Her son looked up from where his nose was nearly buried in the embroidery frame.

[Henton] "Nothing, just keep working. We must finish before that other woman does."

He nodded.

Thinking of the rivalry made her irritation flare up again.

[Henton] "I’ve birthed three children, so how could I not know? No matter how I look at it, it’s a boy. One only needs to look at the shape of the belly."

The fickle appetite and the way the baby constantly kicked at night, waking Liene up—those were all signs of a son. A daughter would have been much gentler and wouldn't have troubled her mother’s body so. It was certain to be a boy.

[Henton] "Oh, imagine how dashing he will be."

She smiled at the thought of a young prince, though the smile turned slightly bittersweet. She couldn't help but think of her second child, who had passed away.

[Henton] "...I hope the Prince will not be sickly."

She remembered that Prince Fernand had been smaller and frailer than his peers as a child. Fortunately, both parents were now young and healthy, so she could only pray that the child would be the same. Such a tragedy must never happen again.

[Henton] "Since you are handling the embroidery, I shall head to the Temple."

[Klima] "Why are you going there?"

[Henton] "To offer prayers for the Prince’s birth."

[Klima] "Then wait until I’m finished, and let’s go together. It would be better to have the baby’s things blessed while we are there."

[Henton] "Shall we, then?"

Her husband would never have thought of such a thing. Her son undeniably had the makings of a good father.

[Henton] "It will be slow if you do it alone. Give me some; we’ll split the work."

[Klima] "Yes, Mother."

Mother and son sat with their heads close together, finishing the embroidery.

On a bib of blue silk adorned with a red pomegranate, they stitched the name they had already chosen for a prince: Dief.

---

[Henton] "What brings you here, I wonder?"

[Flambard] "I was about to ask you the same."

They had run into each other exactly at the entrance to the Temple steps.

Madam Flambard scanned Madam Henton and her son from head to toe. She had a bad feeling about this—the two of them visiting the Temple so suddenly in this season, when the roads and stairs were frozen solid.

Unless one was exceptionally devout, few visited the Temple in this weather, and even the priests rarely ventured down the mountain.

And yet, here she is. A woman who complains that her knees and back ache in the cold, just like mine.

There could only be one reason: she had come to have the baby’s things blessed.

[Flambard] "Well, go on about your business. I’m heading up."

She was quick to realize Madam Henton’s intent as well. It was only natural, as they were similar people with similar thoughts.

[Henton] "Slow down. Your knees are in no better shape than mine. You go first, Klima."

She handed a bundle wrapped tightly in blessing-cloth to her son. Klima blinked innocently.

[Klima] "It would be better if we all went together... if someone slips, there should be someone to help..."

[Henton] "You dense boy!"

She swatted his back. He winced, muttering a small complaint about the pain.

[Henton] "Get moving! This woman can make her own way up!"

While the mother and son bickered, Madam Flambard hiked up her skirts and stepped onto the stairs.

[Flambard] "Go ahead and keep scolding him. I’m leaving."

[Henton] "Why such a temper at your age? Let’s hurry, Klima."

Lest she fall behind, Madam Henton scrambled after Madam Flambard. And then, the accident happened.

---

[Klima] "Ugh..."

It was, perhaps, an expected accident. In their rush to climb the frozen stairs in their dress shoes, someone slipped. In their panic, they grabbed at each other's clothes, and both went down hard. It was fortunate they had only just begun the climb.

As a result, Klima had a difficult time supporting both women on his arms as they returned.

Madam Flambard had a massive bruise on her knee, and Madam Henton had suffered the same on her elbow. It was a relief that no bones were broken, thanks to Klima throwing himself into the fray to protect them.

He now had a lump on the back of his head and bruises all over his back. Upon returning to the castle, he took to his bed in pain.

[Klima] "Urgh... oh... Your Highness?"

Klima, who had been groaning, scrambled to sit up when he saw Liene entering the room. Seeing that, it seemed his groaning was a bit of an exaggeration—likely a natural reaction to having his mother nearby.

[Henton] "Oh, why have you come all this way? Your body is so heavy now."

She stood from her chair.

[Liene] "Stay where you are, everyone. Why are injured people trying to stand? I heard you were hurt, and I couldn't just sit still."

Liene wasn't alone; Madam Flambard stood hesitantly behind her, leaning on a cane. It was a pitiful sight.

[Liene] "I heard the general story. No bones are broken, and the bruising will fade in a day or two. But seeing you in bed, you must be in a lot of pain."

He struggled to rise again.

[Klima] "I-I am fine! It doesn't... h-hurt... ugh."

[Liene] "How can you say you’re fine?"

She approached him.

[Henton] "Sit here, Your Highness."

Madam Henton pulled her chair over, wincing as she used only one arm.

Madam Flambard, unable to bear the sight, tried to hobble over with her cane to assist.

Liene shook her head at both of them.

[Liene] "Madam Flambard should sit in that chair. Your leg is the one bothering you right now."

[Flambard] "Oh, no, I am quite..."

Madam Henton snatched the cane from her awkward hand.

[Henton] "Just sit. What do you think you’re doing on that leg?"

[Flambard] "Oh."

With her cane gone, she had no choice but to plop down into the chair.

Liene nudged Klima’s feet aside and sat on the edge of the bed, patting the space beside her.

[Liene] "Madam Henton, sit here."

[Henton] "No, my legs are perfectly fine."

[Liene] "You are a patient too. Sit."

[Henton] "It’s just a bruised arm, it’s no great matter."

[Liene] "Please."

At Liene’s insistence, she reluctantly sat on the edge of the bed.

The two women awkwardly avoided eye contact, while Klima turned beet-red, unsure what to do with himself.

[Klima] "I... I really will recover quickly..."

[Liene] "You don't have to recover quickly. Just rest well and make sure you heal properly. That goes for the Madams, too."

Klima nodded, and the women looked down, avoiding a direct answer.

My goodness. Everyone is so shy.

There was a reason Madam Flambard had followed them with her cane; she likely wanted to thank Klima and apologize.

There was also a reason Madam Henton had taken the cane to force her into the chair; she wanted to thank her for coming to visit in that condition and tell her not to overexert herself.

Liene let out a soft chuckle.

[Liene] "Since we’re all gathered in one room, let’s have some tea. I’m actually... craving some roasted pears. Does anyone else want some?"

[Flambard] "Then you must have them. I will go and get some."

Shestarted to rise with her cane, but Madam Henton quickly stopped her.

[Henton] "Don't you dare. Where do you think you’re going on that leg? I’ll go."

[Flambard] "And what are you going to do with that arm? Sit down. I’ll go."

[Henton] "Whether it’s the one with the cane or the one with the arm..."

[Flambard] "I don't technically need the cane."

[Henton] "Don't put on airs. If you don't take care of your knees at your age, you’ll be stuck with a cane for life."

[Flambard] "Are you the only one at this age? We’re growing old together!"

[Henton] "I believe I am a year younger than you!"

[Flambard] "What difference does a single year make!"

It looked like another argument was brewing.

Liene pulled the cord for the bell used to summon servants.

[Liene] "Just call someone. We have so many more workers lately."

Bells were in the Madams' rooms, and Liene’s bedroom, but the people of Nauk Castle were so used to doing things themselves that the bells were rarely rung.

The bell chimed, and a moment later, the door opened.

[Black] "Did you call for me?"

It wasn't a servant, but Black.

The two Madams, who had just been raising their voices, suddenly looked as if they had both swallowed a mouthful of honey, changed drastically to become gentle, calm, and shy.

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