Younger Sibling (3)
Chapter 103
Autumn was approaching.
As the weather grew colder, Bella’s belly swelled. With Bella nearing full term, Ray felt it was time to head to the manor.
Staying here wouldn’t change anything; Count Philips would surely send someone soon.
“Mom, I need to talk to you.”
Ray sat Bella down and explained that it would be best to have the childbirth at the manor.
Upon hearing Ray’s explanation, Bella nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
“Son…”
Bella’s eyes darted around uneasily.
Unless one were a fool, there was no missing the reason why Ray insisted on having the birth take place at the manor.
Anxiety filled Bella’s chest, making her breathing grow rapid.
Ray quickly grabbed Bella’s hand.
“Mom, don’t worry about strange things.”
Ray carefully explained the reasons they needed to go to the manor, trying to ease Bella’s concerns.
“Surely you’ve heard some rumors, but in some noble families within the Empire, certain distinctive traits are passed down through generations.”
There were cases where unique hair or eye colors or even particular physical developments ran in families.
“If my younger sibling… inherits the bloodline of such a noble family, we might need to take some ‘measures.'”
“Measures…?”
“The measures aren’t much.”
Ray gripped Bella’s hand tighter and twisted his own hair with the other.
“If the baby is born with unusual pink hair, for instance, we could just dye it. And if there’s something dye can’t cover, we could ask a mage to use an illusion spell to conceal it.”
In the long term, they’d need to find a more permanent solution, but for now, these measures should suffice.
Ray reassured Bella as he spoke.
“It would be troublesome if the villagers saw the baby and started suspecting things. So, the count has kindly arranged for us to safely give birth at the manor and take any necessary measures.”
“That’s… true.”
Bella’s ragged breathing began to calm.
Ray brought Bella’s hand to his face and smiled gently.
“I’ll protect my younger sibling, so don’t worry, Mom. I promise.”
Bella silently looked at Ray.
Though he often disappeared or caused trouble, worrying her endlessly, no one loved or relied on him more than she did. He was dependable.
After stroking Ray’s face affectionately, Bella smiled warmly.
“If my son says he’ll protect us, then I believe him.”
Who else could this mother trust if not her own son?
Bella’s heartfelt muttering softly echoed throughout the room.
And some time later…
Bella came to bitterly regret trusting her son.
*
Bella moved to the manor.
After settling into the manor, Bella received excellent treatment from the staff employed by the manor.
Although Bella felt uneasy about whether she truly deserved such treatment, she accepted the count’s generosity for the sake of the child in her womb.
The count was fully aware of the potential scandal this situation could create.
Bringing an outsider into the birthing chamber, which was traditionally reserved only for members of the family, was undoubtedly a matter that could attract criticism.
However, such fleeting gossip was far from important.
Such trivial gossip was nothing more than a minor issue.
Count Philips assigned a middle-aged woman named Andrea to assist Bella in her daily life.
Noble families traditionally employed midwives dedicated to serving their lineage, and Andrea was the midwife for the Philips family.
Trained to keep secrets tightly guarded, Andrea set aside any lingering questions and diligently assisted Bella in her daily routine.
About two weeks after Bella began living at the manor, signs of labor appeared.
With Andrea’s help, Bella began preparing for childbirth.
Every sensitive aspect, including enemas and hair removal, was handled carefully by Andrea by her side.
Because of this, Bella naturally assumed…
That Andrea would be the one to deliver the baby.
Even as Bella finished all preparations and focused on controlling her contractions using breathing techniques, Andrea remained close by.
But when the contractions intensified, Andrea suddenly disappeared.
“…Did she go to the restroom?”
Bella waited calmly, suppressing her anxiety.
Soon, the doorknob of the birthing chamber turned.
Creeak!
Bella turned her head, ready to greet Andrea.
Instead, a figure cloaked in cloth covering their mouth entered—someone far beyond Bella’s expectations.
Startled, Bella instinctively closed her legs and frowned.
“Son…?”
“Ah, Mom.”
Ray, dressed in clean clothes and gloves, having thoroughly disinfected himself, cheerfully approached Bella with a bright smile.
“After giving it serious thought…”
“…?”
“I think it would be best if I personally delivered my younger sibling.”
Bella’s thoughts momentarily froze at the absurdity of the statement.
*
Ray had genuinely pondered deeply about who should assist Bella during childbirth.
This was a highly dangerous task—not only for Bella but also for whoever would witness the birth.
Anyone who laid eyes on the bloodline of royalty would forever live in fear. There was always the possibility that assassins might come to silence them.
Jimmy had expressed similar concerns, lamenting that it would have been better if he hadn’t known anything at all.
After much deliberation, Ray realized that no one could be completely trusted in this matter—not even Count Philips, the knights of the baron’s territory, or even Jimmy and Matthew.
Thus, Ray made a decision.
No one else but himself should see his younger sibling’s face first.
Of course,
Bella had not consented to this arrangement.
Clutching her aching stomach, Bella screamed at the top of her lungs.
“Someone get him out of here!!!!!!!!”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve mastered the theory. I even observed several deliveries while following the midwives!”
Over the past few months, Ray had watched countless births.
Additionally, experienced midwives and priests capable of divine magic were on standby nearby in case of emergencies.
Everything was perfectly prepared.
There was only one thing Ray overlooked:
Bella’s mental preparation.
“Get out already!!!”
Bella was overwhelmed.
Besides Ray, Count Philips, two knights, and Jimmy were also present in the birthing chamber.
Bella wondered:
Did noble families have a tradition of men crowding in to watch childbirth?
While Bella wasn’t overly concerned about the count or Jimmy observing the birth—after all, she’d bared her legs in front of others before—
Still,
There was absolutely no way she could tolerate letting Ray deliver her baby.
“Hey!!!!! Get out already!!!!!!”
“Mom, stop yelling and spread your legs wider.”
Hearing Ray’s earnest response, Jimmy, standing in the corner of the birthing chamber, covered his face with both hands.
Despite witnessing every ugly scene imaginable during his mercenary career, this chaos was new to him.
Lacking the strength and focus due to continuous contractions, Bella desperately wanted to kick Ray out.
Ray firmly held onto Bella’s struggling hands.
When Bella momentarily regained composure, Ray whispered gently into her ear.
“Mom, do you trust me?”
“?
“You said you trust me, right?”
“I trust you, but…”
“Then trust me enough to spread your legs.”
“Just get out already!!!!!”
Ultimately, harsh words escaped Bella’s lips.
She was desperate to drive Ray away.
Unfortunately, time was not on Bella’s side.
As the contractions grew closer together, her cervix fully dilated, and her water broke.
Eventually, despite herself, Bella had to entrust the delivery to Ray.
Under normal circumstances, she would never have agreed to this, but the pain of childbirth left her mind scattered, which was perhaps fortunate.
After an incredibly embarrassing series of events too delicate to describe in detail, Ray began to see the baby’s head.
A thin layer of hair covered the baby’s head.
Ray took a deep breath and examined the baby’s hair color.
The baby’s hair was…
Silver with a hint of red.
‘Shit.’
The slight bleeding from the birth process made it appear slightly reddish, but the baby’s hair was clearly white or silver.
Bella, preoccupied with the labor, hadn’t noticed, but the moment the baby’s head became visible, the tension in the birthing chamber skyrocketed.
Ray gritted his teeth.
There was still one last hope.
It was possible for the external characteristics of royalty not to manifest entirely.
If the baby’s eyes weren’t red—that cursed vertically slit red eyes that revealed themselves upon using mana—it would be fine.
If Bella’s child inherited only a faint trace of royal blood and possessed ordinary eyes, the worst-case scenario could be avoided.
The silver hair could be excused as discoloration from eating something wrong, or simply dyed if necessary.
Time continued to pass.
Though not a severe case of difficult labor, Bella suffered quite a bit before the baby finally emerged.
“Aaaaah…!!!”
Bella let out a scream bordering on a cry.
Finally, the baby slipped completely out of Bella’s womb.
Ray cut the umbilical cord, helped Bella expel the placenta, and checked for any significant bleeding.
Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any major issues.
“Huff…”
Relieved, Ray removed any foreign objects from the baby’s nose and mouth, then wrapped the newborn in a clean cloth.
The newborn sibling was fast asleep with eyes closed.
By peering closely at the slightly parted eyelids, one might glimpse the iris color, but Ray postponed confirmation.
“Kwa-a-a-ang!”
The baby cried out.
Ray approached Bella and handed her the baby.
“It’s a girl, Mom.”
“Really?”
Bella joyfully received the baby.
With tears mixed in her voice, Bella prayed for blessings over the child before collapsing into exhaustion.
Ray quickly checked Bella.
Thankfully, her breathing was stable, and her pulse was fine.
There was nothing more Ray needed to do as a midwife.
After tidying up the area briefly, Ray placed the baby on the nearby bed.
The baby’s cries continued to echo through the birthing chamber.
However, beneath the cries lay a cold, oppressive silence.
Now it was time to confirm the baby’s eye color.
Ray chuckled dryly as he discarded his gloves.
He couldn’t help but feel absurd at what he was doing.
Everyone’s eyes were on Ray.
Ray felt a mix of frustration and strange excitement.
‘Let it be what it will be.’
Yes, the situation was already unfolding.
There was no going back, no exchanging or returning the baby.
All that was left was to accept the result.
Looking around at Count Philips, the knights, and Jimmy, Ray asked excitedly,
“Is everyone ready? Let’s proceed with the eye check.”
Anything but red. Just not red.
If the eyes weren’t red, everything could return to normal.
Ray’s finger gently lifted the baby’s eyelid.
Between the raised eyelids, the baby’s irises revealed themselves.
Red.
“Damn it.”
KAGANG!!!
Four swords were drawn simultaneously.
