SIDE STROY 04……………………………………..
“Ugh…! My back!”
Time had passed, and Enya, now full-term, found it increasingly difficult to move freely due to her unusually large belly.
“This is strange, milady. At this size… could it really not be twins? Are you sure?”
“They said it’s not twins.”
The diagnosis had been clear—there were no twins. Even the mage Cassion had examined her and confirmed the same. Yet Enya’s belly had swollen to an unprecedented size, causing Dale months of guilt—and even now, lingering worry.
“This is odd. From my perspective, Emma, this belly looks like it’s carrying twins. Are the marquis and the palace doctor both quacks?”
Emma frowned seriously, questioning the competence of those who had examined Enya. Enya herself had long been puzzled—her belly felt impossibly heavy and large for just one child.
“They’re growing well, right? Your babies, milady?”
Emma smiled as she held Enya’s hand.
“Please, don’t do any embroidery. It’s not just me—His Majesty dislikes it too. Who would be happy if you got hurt?”
Having cared for Enya since childhood, Emma worried about her like a mother. Ever since Enya entered the palace, Emma rarely left her side. Now, with Enya pregnant, Emma fussed over her even more, trying to protect her at all costs.
“But I’ve gotten really good at embroidery now.”
“Wow…! That’s my milady! Show me!”
Emma knew just how terrible Enya had been at embroidery. She remembered the messy handkerchief given to the Emperor years ago. And yet, despite her now heavy body, Enya had improved so much! Emma felt nothing but pride.
“Let me see…”
But the moment she looked, Emma fell silent.
“How is it?”
Emma understood Enya’s feelings. She knew how hard Enya had worked late into the night, even injuring her hands, just to complete this embroidery. And this was apparently not her first but her fifth piece.
After carefully choosing her words, Emma finally spoke:
“Milady… this is an amazing… monster. Ah, not monster… a kaiju, or… a bear?”
Emma stumbled over her words, and Enya’s expression darkened.
“You think this looks like a monster?”
“Um… not exactly. A beautiful monster? Despite being a monster, it’s elegant, graceful, and somehow noble… Or maybe it’s just my imagination? Eh?!”
Then, among the pile of cloth, a particularly exquisite embroidery caught their eyes.
“As expected… You’re making the child’s clothes, and your skill has improved so much. Why did you hide this from me and show me the… strange one?”
Enya’s expression darkened at Emma’s comment. She clenched her fists and sighed.
“That embroidery was done by His Majesty.”
“Pardon?”
Next to the crude bear embroidery, there was a magnificent bear. It had been made cute, but if intended seriously, the bear could have been beautiful—a masterpiece-level embroidery.
Who had made this?
Emma, inwardly, felt admiration beyond awe. His Majesty Dale truly could do anything.
Even after being persistently rejected, he had followed Enya with such determination and now had managed to create such perfect embroidery.
“…If I honestly say His Majesty’s embroidery is better, would I get scolded?”
But it was obvious. Anyone asked—one hundred people—without knowing Dale’s identity, judging only by the work itself, would agree that the embroidery made by Dale was far superior.
“…Right, Dale. It’s better for our baby to wear clothes made by you.”
“….”
Dale, standing silently nearby while listening to Enya and Emma, broke into a cold sweat. Normally, he would have protested and ripped apart the embroidery, but this had been made for the child.
If he destroyed it for Enya, she would be disappointed and angry. How could he discard something made for their baby?
He chose silence.
“Dale does everything so well…”
Enya’s mood sank. Since becoming pregnant, her emotions had been unusually volatile. Dale worried constantly about her condition.
After a brief moment of thought, Dale sprang to his feet.
“Give it to me. My embroidery is nothing to look at.”
“W-wait, Dale.”
“It’s fine. It can all be burned.”
Dale resolved to remove the source of conflict. If Enya couldn’t see it, the problem would be solved.
“Dale, wait a moment!”
Enya called after him.
But now, as her husband, Dale had learned how to handle her. At times like this, he needed to act decisively to improve her mood.
“I’ll dispose of it immediately.”
“No!!! That’s not it!”
Until a moment ago, Enya had been pouting over the embroidery. Now, she glared at him sharply. Dale felt a surge of lethal intent.
“Enya?”
“Kyaah! Milady!”
And he realized.
Enya’s contorted expression. Her legs nearly collapsing. The carpet soaked in sweat.
He scooped her up and dashed through the palace.
“The child is trying to exit the Empress’s body. Prepare immediately.”
“Pardon?”
The attendant seemed confused despite understanding the words. One might not know whether it meant the Empress was giving birth, or if it implied some stranger was attacking her.
Dale’s eyes, deadly enough to kill several with a glance, fixed on him.
“If the Empress leaves my side, I will immediately take my own life. All preparations for delivery have been made—proceed accordingly. Now.”
“Dale!”
Enya bit her lip, clutching his arm. Her skin was scraped and bleeding; the labor was unusually prolonged and difficult.
Dale felt none of the pain from her torn flesh. Instead, his heart ached watching Enya’s face turn pale, gripped by fear that he might lose her.
There are limits a person cannot overcome. Losing Enya would mean the end. Even giving his life would not bring her back. Dale wished he could vanish from this world first—so that he could be ahead of her in the afterlife, waiting for her arrival.
“Dale! Stop thinking such things! Don’t make that face again! Ugh…! Ah!”
“…Understood.”
Despite her own pain, Enya pulled Dale out of his morbid thoughts.
“This is… strange, so strange.”
At that moment, the palace doctor, who had overseen Enya’s pregnancy and delivery, spoke with deep concern. Dale’s heart plummeted.
“Is there a problem with the Empress?”
“Your Majesty, I had assumed there would only be one prince or princess in her womb… but something is wrong.”
“Wrong?”
Dale, half-losing reason, grabbed the doctor’s shoulder and glared, issuing a low threat.
“Explain clearly. I want Enya to survive. Do you understand?”
