No—she hadn’t just been here a few times; it was almost like she lived here.
The clinic was nothing more than a couple of creaky beds. The blankets had plenty of holes in them but at least looked clean. At the very least, it seemed the doctor had some basic understanding of hygiene.
After a moment, the doctor named Tao appeared, yawning as he walked in.
“Yeah, what is it?”
“This lady here needs a doctor!”
“Who’s this?”
The doctor was a middle-aged man with a neater and more cool-headed appearance than expected. He looked at me slowly as I took off my hood, then clapped his hands in recognition.
“This must be the noble lady you so ardently desire?”
“Gasp, when did I say I desire her?!”
“Was there ever a time you didn’t start your sentences here with, ‘Our Future Archduchess’?”
My first impression was that he seemed cold, but when I saw him smiling warmly at Narnia, it seemed like he didn’t have a bad personality. However, judging by his casual tone and lack of formalities despite the difference in their social statuses, he certainly wasn’t one for strict etiquette.
I swallowed dryly and turned to the doctor, calmly opening my mouth.
“I came here because I wanted to know something.”
“By all means, go ahead.”
The doctor stopped ruffling Narnia’s hair and turned his gaze to me. Strangely, those emotionless eyes, which didn’t waver even when looking at my face, made me trust him even more. I felt confident that I could trust this person.
“I want to know if I’m pregnant.”
“Gasp!”
Narnia was surprised to the point where my sudden words took her breath away. Since I’d mentioned it was a “friend’s situation,” she’d accepted it without any doubt. It probably hadn’t even crossed her mind that I could be pregnant. I gave Narnia a little smile and looked at the doctor.
“We have a family doctor, but I wanted to surprise my husband, and Narnia says you’re quite trustworthy.”
The doctor narrowed his eyes at my words. It was not the kind of behavior one would dare to show in front of a noble person, especially one who would be the wife of an archduke. One might say he had a bold disregard for propriety. But I decided not to point it out. If I wanted to, I could find plenty to fault, but somehow, I didn’t feel inclined to do so.
A person with principles, someone with a strong and upright character. He reminded me of my mother, in that he exuded a familiar, comforting atmosphere.
“Hmm, well… If you’re not pregnant, I won’t lose my hands over it, will I?”
“No.”
“And if you are indeed pregnant, my head won’t get cut off for the sake of keeping it a secret, will it?”
“Of course not. I didn’t even bring any escort knight with me.”
Actually, this was a bit of a lie. Because my fierce black cat was following me, sneaking behind me. He must be yawning somewhere at the end of this alley right now. Of course, this doctor wouldn’t notice any of that.
‘Besides, it’s not really a lie since its not a knight, right?’
I looked at the doctor, thinking rather shamelessly, as if to ask if he was going to diagnose me or not.
“Hmm. Very well, please take a seat in the patient’s chair.”
The doctor, after a moment of deliberation, nodded. As soon as I sat down in the chair, Narnia stood close next to me. She then placed her hands on her chest and let out a shaky sigh.
“I…can’t believe I get to witness such a historic moment. What should I do… … !”
Since there was hardly any way to avoid Lacius’s scrutiny, it was a bit disappointing that he wouldn’t be the first to know if I was pregnant. I scratched my cheek and held out my arm toward the doctor.
“It may sting.”
The doctor brought out a long instrument with a pointed needle on the end and pricked the tip of my finger. It stung slightly, just as he said, but it wasn’t painful. He probably intended to test my blood with this magical device, using the results to determine if I was pregnant.
After about 15 minutes, the doctor, unaware of my anxious heart, slowly opened his mouth.
“You are…”
Thump, thump.
It felt like my heart was about to burst. Had I ever felt this nervous in my life? Absolutely not. I stared intently at the doctor’s lips as he prepared to deliver the diagnosis. His lips moved so slowly that I couldn’t tell if he was about to say “yes” or “no.”
As time passed, where each second felt like dozens of minutes, the doctor finally solemnly announced the result.
“You are pregnant.”
“Gasp!”
“Well, congratulations. You’re carrying the first child of the Schweiden family.”
My first child! My first child with him.
I’m not the type to obsess over proof of love, nor do I believe in having children just because we’re married. Yet, now that it had happened, the joy was overwhelming.
I panted slightly, clutching my abdomen. I couldn’t find the words to express how precious this felt. Narnia, who was watching, cried out in a loud voice in my stead.
“Waahh. Oh my god! Oh my god!”
“… … !”
“Don’t worry about the popularity contest. I’ll take care of everything! All you need to do is listen to positive things and see good things. Don’t stress over anything, and just focus on your health!”
Narnia hugged me tightly with tears in her eyes. Still too overwhelmed to speak, I squeezed her shoulders at the mention of the “popularity contest.”
“Narnia, just a moment.”
“Yes?”
“I think I should abstain from the popularity contest. How can I prepare for the birthday banquet when I don’t even have enough time to relax?”
I hadn’t been particularly enthusiastic about it anyway, so this was perfect!
The doctor handed me a list of precautions with a nonchalant gesture, supporting my decision.
“That’s right, it will be best for you to rest. Also, try to avoid situations that could cause stress. ”
“Understood.”
“Avoid consuming anything harmful. Definitely avoid alcohol and tobacco. And since you have the means, consider recuperating somewhere with fresh air.”
“Recuperate?”
“The early stage of pregnancy is the most dangerous. I won’t say anything negative on a happy day, but it’s best to be cautious during this stage to protect the child.”
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