Side Story 6. I Didn’t Know It Would Be Like This (1)

Percy Stewart had always assumed that he and Sienna would have three children.

His reasoning, however, had nothing to do with finding children adorable or desiring a happy, bustling household. Sentimentality played no part in it.

‘If we had one child, she might take them and leave. If we had two, she’d suggest we split custody. But with three, kind-hearted Sienna would likely stay in Stewart.’

In other words, Percy viewed children as a way to anchor Sienna firmly by his side.

Percy’s own childhood had been far from happy. He’d grown up witnessing firsthand how cruel two people who didn’t love each other could become.

Human emotions were dreadful—fickle and volatile. Passionate love could turn into something else entirely in the blink of an eye.

And hatred born from the remnants of love burned hotter and brighter than anything else, refusing to extinguish until it consumed its target.

Percy couldn’t help but think that Sienna’s feelings for him might change someday.

‘I trust her, but I can’t trust her heart.’

By nature, Percy was a skeptical man, and his upbringing had only strengthened that tendency. No matter how much Sienna showered him with affection, as innocent and childlike as it seemed, he couldn’t fully trust her emotions.

So he’d come up with a plan: children.

Even if her feelings for him wavered, her love for their children wouldn’t. Sienna was someone who showed boundless affection toward family, even her half-brother Julius. Surely, her love for her own children would be even greater.

‘I don’t particularly want children, but if it’s what I need to keep her by my side…’

She loved even Julius, with whom she shared only half her blood. Surely, she would love the children they created together.

Even though Percy found the idea of her unwavering love for their children frustrating—terrifying, even—it was tolerable if it meant holding onto Sienna.

However, Percy realized how flawed his thinking was when Sienna went into labor.

Her first birth came suddenly, though that was to be expected with a first child. Sienna’s delivery was far more abrupt than anyone had anticipated.

Her belly hadn’t grown very large, despite Percy ensuring she was well-fed and well-rested throughout her pregnancy. As a result, neither the midwife nor the doctor could predict her exact due date.

Labor began at the worst possible time—when Percy had left the castle to inspect a landslide caused by heavy rain in the far reaches of the territory.

“Your Grace! Madam has gone into labor!”

Upon hearing the news, Percy immediately turned his horse around. However, he was at the easternmost edge of the estate, and it took him four hours to return.

‘The baby will already have been born by now.’

The news alone had taken four hours to reach him, and his return journey took another four hours. By the time he arrived back at the castle, eight hours had passed.

But instead of being greeted by the cries of a newborn, Percy was met with Sienna’s anguished groans.

“She’s still…?”

Eight hours of labor? Eight hours of suffering?

A sense of dread settled over Percy as he stormed toward the midwife.

“What’s going on here?”

“This is a perfectly normal birthing process,” the experienced midwife replied calmly.

“Is that supposed to look normal? She’s in agony!”

“All babies are born like this, Your Grace. Madam is doing exceptionally well. She’s maintaining the proper position, staying conscious, and clearly communicating her needs.”

The elderly midwife’s composure did little to comfort Percy. From the birthing room, Sienna’s piercing cries rang out again, and Percy’s face turned ashen.

“Aaah!”

“Sienna!”

Hearing her scream like that for the first time sent a jolt through Percy. He tried to storm into the birthing room, but the midwife blocked his path.

“When will the baby be born?!” he shouted.

“No one can say for certain.”

“What do you mean—?”

“Your Grace, as I’ve told you, all life enters this world through pain. Please stay by Madam’s side and give her strength.”

The midwife’s words were true. Sienna was fighting with all her might to become a mother. Percy’s role was to be her support, to encourage her as she endured the ordeal.

The midwife then added calmly, “But first, you must wash thoroughly and disinfect yourself. Laboring mothers are extremely vulnerable to illness.”

“…Understood.”

Percy glanced down at himself, realizing how disheveled he looked after rushing back from the landslide site. Embarrassed, he nodded and complied.

* * *

He quickly washed, changed into sterilized clothing, and entered the birthing room. Sienna was still in labor.

“Ahhh!”

“Sienna!”

Her pale face was drenched in sweat, and her fiery red hair clung to her skin. The sight of her struggling made Percy’s heart ache. He grasped her trembling hand tightly, and she returned the grip with surprising strength.

It was incredible how much power she still had left in her frail frame. She truly was giving everything she had.

“Madam, just a little more! You’re doing so well!”

“Breathe, Madam! Slowly, as we practiced!”

Though they all knew the technique, Sienna’s breaths came out in erratic gasps. The cloth between her teeth, meant to protect her, only seemed to make it harder.

“Sienna…”

Tears welled in Percy’s eyes as he watched the scene, taking in every painful detail with his crimson gaze.

An hour later—after nearly ten hours of labor—Sienna finally gave birth.

A loud, piercing cry filled the room, and the midwife exclaimed.

“It’s a boy!”

Percy sat frozen, utterly drained, still clutching Sienna’s hand. The newborn, wrinkled and tinged with bluish hues, was covered in blood.

The realization that the blood had come from Sienna made Percy’s chest tighten. The baby’s high-pitched cries sounded more like an alarm than a relief.

It seemed to scream, ‘Do you understand? Your wife nearly died.’

He did.

‘She could have died.’

Percy had heard countless stories of women dying in childbirth but had never thought it could happen to Sienna.

‘I could have lost her.’

The thought made his stomach churn, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. He was barely keeping himself together when he noticed Sienna turning her head weakly, as if trying to orient herself.

In a cracked voice, she murmured.

“A… boy?”

“Sienna.”

Her voice felt like a blessing. Percy smiled, his heart swelling with relief. Sienna, still weak, rambled softly.

“Did you hear that, Percy? It’s a boy. Everyone thought it would be a girl…”

“Are you alright?” he asked gently.

“I… don’t know. It was hard to breathe earlier, but I think I’m okay now. Maybe…”

After a pause, she added faintly, “I feel like I’ve forgotten everything that just happened.”

Her gaze was still unfocused, and she didn’t seem to realize how limp her legs were. Yet, even in her state, she met Percy’s eyes and worried about him.

“Why do you look so pale?”

Who was pale here?

Realizing what she had endured, tears burst forth from Percy’s eyes. He pressed his forehead to her cold hand, finally acknowledging how tightly his body had been wound.

“I’ve never felt so helpless in my life…”

It was true. If something had happened to Sienna, there was nothing he could have done to save her.

This was the first time Percy Stewart had experienced such powerlessness.

Tears streamed down his face as he bowed his head, his voice harsh with emotion.

“If we have more children, I’ll cease to be human.”

His hot tears fell onto Sienna’s hand. She blinked at him in surprise, then gently wiped his tears with her fingers, laughing softly.

“What are you saying? You said you liked the idea of a bustling household.”

“That was before I knew how much pain you would endure. If I had known how terrible this would be…”

Percy trailed off, unable to finish. He left the thought unspoken, out of respect for the woman who had risked her life to bring their child into the world.

 

 

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