The Villainess's Daughter Is Getting an Obsession

After a whole commotion in the morning, Valery eventually returned to about a tenth of his original state. He acted as if he would return to my side at any moment, but when I firmly warned him not to, he reluctantly agreed to check on me once every hour. There was no stopping that.

 

As soon as I urged him to leave, he looked at me with such a sad expression I couldn’t help but give in. He knew I was weak to his looks and exploited that. It wasn’t funny at all.

 

I had said that except for absolutely necessary people, no one should be informed until we were ready, but Valery’s behavior was so conspicuous that it seemed everyone would notice. Yet, seeing Valery treating me as delicately as a feather, perhaps fearing something might go wrong, secretly pleased me.

 

Despite never showing such affection before, his obvious joy was apparent. But as much as he was being overprotective, I couldn’t let it continue.

 

After all the fuss, Valery finally called the doctor, received a lecture, and seemed to get much better. Or so I thought.

 

But that was just the beginning.

 

* * *

Several months had passed. After entering the stable period, we no longer hid the truth.

 

“Bella, see you later.”

 

“Don’t come in between again.”

 

“Hmm, Gery, Daddy will come back.”

 

Valery ignored my comment, bowed to my belly, and greeted it.

 

I remembered the day we decided to tell others, a day we happened to enjoy tea together after a long while. Juri mentioned that she had such a dream because sometimes people dream about these things before a child arrives.

 

Even then, Valery hadn’t yet decided on a nickname we were supposed to be considering. I also didn’t rush him because I was worried. But after hearing that conversation, Valery decided on a nickname that very night.

 

“Tiger would be nice.”

 

“Tiger? Not a name?”

 

“There’s Plumpy, why not Tiger?”

 

“But surely, not because of that dream?”

 

He doesn’t wish for anything but its health, and he hopes that the baby will not cause too much trouble for me, even as he ponders and strokes my belly every night.

 

Although the chosen prenatal nickname ‘Tiger’ sounded too modest for something Valery decided upon, using the best paper, the best pen, and the best ink, I immediately thought it was incredibly cute and just right when I heard it. Nevertheless, Valery even made nicknames from it, calling it ‘Gery’ or ‘Tigy.’ Thus, the prenatal nickname became ‘Tiger.’

 

* * *

Several months passed. The affectionately made prenatal nickname seemed to work as the baby in my womb grew without causing me any trouble.

 

At first, I felt awkward and unaccustomed when Valery talked to the belly every day, wondering if I lacked maternal instincts. However, as my belly grew, I found myself naturally stroking and talking to it like Valery, and it became a natural action, like breathing.

 

When my belly had visibly grown, we finally had a chance to spend a week-long vacation together at a villa.

 

“Bella, are you uncomfortable?”

 

As soon as we got out of the carriage, a large hand wrapped around my waist.

 

“No, the trees have grown denser, so it feels comfortable here… The leaves will turn red around my due date.”

 

Although I often scolded Valery for being overprotective, I felt at ease as soon as I felt his hand, feeling quite domesticated by him.

 

“We’ll have to keep taking good care of it from now on.”

 

“Are you sure we can spend just a week here?”

 

“Do you dislike it, Valery?”

 

Valery chuckled as if the idea was absurd.

 

“I don’t mind even being in a cave as long as we’re together.”

 

“…Me too.”

 

“Hmm?” I murmured softly, and Valery moved closer to hear me better.

 

“Forget it.”

 

“It sounded like you said something.” He moved closer, urging me to speak up.

 

“Cough. Me too,” I finally told him, pushing him away as he burst into laughter.

 

“The weather is nice. Shall we go for a walk?”

 

“Yes, I’d like that.”

 

The place we visited was not far from the imperial palace, a villa filled with memories of Valery and the late empress, and it held many memories for us, good and bad. It was a white, tall-fenced villa where we could relax completely for a week. Although Valery was always worried and had to prepare thoroughly, the vacation was delightfully free and passed in a flash.

 

After a thoroughly enjoyable vacation, just as promised, we returned when the leaves began to change color.

 

* * *

As the final month approached, my belly was so swollen that I waddled when I walked.

 

Only about fifteen days remained until the due date. Until now, except for one alarming day, the baby had grown safely, and I had been eagerly waiting for the day we would meet. The one problematic day was when we went to see the autumn leaves again at the villa.

 

I got out of the carriage with our packed luggage, and suddenly, I felt a sharp pain. Cold sweat poured out, and I felt dizzy. As soon as we got out of the carriage, we had to hurriedly get back in and return to the imperial palace, but strangely, as soon as we crossed the imperial palace threshold, the pain disappeared as if it had never been.

 

There was no problem with the baby or with me. The doctor couldn’t find any cause for the strange phenomenon. Nevertheless, other than that, there were no other issues until the final month.

 

Late at night, even though I was lying still, my feet were swollen, and I was receiving a foot massage from Valery. However, despite my tired body, sleep did not come easily. As I felt Valery patting my back while he slept, I closed my eyes, but my mind only became clearer.

 

After tossing and turning for a while, I finally relaxed my body to try and sleep when suddenly, as if closing my eyes was a signal, a pain started in my belly. I involuntarily curled up and tried not to groan. The pain worsened progressively.

 

I had heard that there were no problems and that the baby would likely be born on the scheduled due date.

 

Suddenly, the pain intensified, and sweat soaked into the pillow. Breathing became difficult, and I gasped for air.

 

“Uh…”

 

The dinner had been fine, and the walk had been okay. Somehow, it felt similar to that day when I had been severely ill.

 

“…Va-Valery.”

 

Thinking something was wrong, I shook Valery awake from his sleep.