Chapter 34

About a month later, Aura's pregnancy was confirmed.

Her belly had yet to show any noticeable change, but the unique symptoms of early pregnancy had become evident, and she had not had her period for over three months. Dr. Michelle confidently declared her pregnancy.

The queen's pregnancy sent ripples through the Carpia Palace, as one would expect.

Some immediately came to the queen with a list of gifts to celebrate the pregnancy, subtly suggesting names of potential concubines for Zenjiro. Meanwhile, influential nobles were compiling lists of women from their factions who could serve as wet nurses for the queen's heir, including those who were currently nursing infants or were heavily pregnant and due to give birth soon.

While a literal wet nurse who feeds the baby and a foster mother who takes over after weaning are often different people, the decision at this stage was not absolute. However, it was undeniable that wet nurses and foster siblings would have a significant influence on the next king.

The harem, a closed space, is usually isolated from outside noise, but since the source of this rumor was the harem itself, it could not remain unaffected. As a result, Zenjiro had spent the past month in a state of constant unease and busyness.

"Ah, as expected, there's no good information. I've completely failed."

In a room of the harem, where the sunlight had recently become more gentle, Zenjiro, who had been staring at his computer, stretched and shook his head, then let out a sigh of disappointment. He had reviewed all the data multiple times since Aura told him about the possibility of pregnancy. He knew there would be no new discoveries, but he couldn't help checking whenever he had free time. He regretted his past negligence that much.

"Why did I only think about what would happen after the baby was born?"

He understood intellectually that regret comes too late, but he couldn't stop complaining.

Originally, Zenjiro had come to this world with the duty of making children. He thought he had made some preparations for child-rearing. He had brought baby bottles, Tupperware for freezing breast milk, a box of powdered milk, and a few cute clothes for infants. He had also downloaded websites titled "Father's Childcare Guide" and "What Men Can Do" from the internet.

However, all these supplies and information were only useful after the baby was born safely, and none of them helped his pregnant wife.

"Unconsciously, I must have thought that childbirth was someone else's business."

Zenjiro, who uttered these words of self-reflection, slumped in front of his computer.

To be precise, it wasn't that he saw pregnancy and childbirth as someone else's business, but rather that he had a thin understanding of the dangers involved. This was understandable for a young, unmarried man in modern Japan.

In modern Japan, the risk of miscarriage still exists, but the danger to the mother's life during pregnancy and childbirth has significantly decreased. The maternal mortality rate in modern Japan is around 0.005%, or five in a hundred thousand, which is even lower than the probability of being in a car accident in Tokyo.

However, in developing countries with poor hygiene and facilities, the maternal mortality rate can still be as high as 5%, meaning one in twenty pregnant women dies.

Fortunately, the hygiene awareness and medical technology in the Kingdom of Carpia are not that low, but even so, it is not uncommon for mothers to die during childbirth among the general populace.

Of course, Aura, the queen, is surrounded by the kingdom's best medical team, and she is an extremely healthy and energetic person. Dr. Michelle assured him that nothing serious would happen, but Zenjiro couldn't help but imagine the worst.

"If only we could call someone from the Gilbert Papal Family, it would be a one-shot solution."

In this world, where medical technology is several levels below modern Japan, the exception is the healing magic of the Gilbert Papal Family.

If someone from the Gilbert Papal Family, who can heal wounds, grant strength, and remove mental fatigue with magic, were by his side, there would be nothing to fear. The safety of pregnant women would be even more guaranteed than in modern Japan.

However, even if the Kingdom of Carpia is a powerful nation in the western part of the southern continent, it is almost impossible to hire someone from the Gilbert Papal Family for the entire duration of the pregnancy. The birth is still more than half a year away, and the Gilbert Papal Family, which is vigilant about the safety of the royal family and the outflow of bloodlines, would never agree to such a long-term contract.

At the very least, he would want to call someone from the Papal Family immediately if her condition suddenly worsened. In a world where the fastest means of transportation is a running dragon, this is a dream, but there is an exceptional method to realize this dream in the Kingdom of Carpia.

"If only there were other users of space-time magic besides Aura, most of the problems would be solved."

For members of the Carpia royal family, who can use space-time magic, distance is meaningless. With the magic of instantaneous teleportation, they can travel anywhere on the continent in an instant. However, currently, Aura is the only user of space-time magic.

Since the patient is Aura, it is unlikely that she would be in a state to use such a powerful magic when she needs to be examined by a healer.

"So, this is my role. I need to be able to use space-time magic."

Zenjiro has the potential to use space-time magic, but he has only been studying magic for a few months. On average, it takes nearly three years of training to be able to use magic.

The three-year figure can vary depending on individual differences, the environment, and the amount of time spent on training each day, as Mrs. Octavia, his teacher, has said. However, it is not possible to shorten the three years to one or less.

At best, it would take two years and ten months, or two and a half years. There is no way Zenjiro could learn to use space-time magic before Aura's due date.

"However, that doesn't mean I can be lazy about learning magic. After all, this might not be the only time Aura gives birth."

Zenjiro, who had been clicking the mouse, turned off his computer, slapped his cheeks lightly with both hands to change his mood, and stood up from his chair with determination.

"I want to increase my magic training time, but if I spend more time with Mrs. Octavia while Aura is pregnant, I'll definitely be suspected. Maybe I should ask for a more trustworthy old lady as a teacher, or at worst, leave the harem and train with a male teacher."

Zenjiro, who had been enjoying a reclusive life under the pretext of protecting Aura's power, was willing to cause some trouble and leave the harem to protect Aura and her child.

Come to think of it, he was supposed to leave the harem for a short time to meet the knight to whom he had lent the "Dragon Bow," but this had been postponed due to the commotion over Aura's pregnancy.

By leaving the harem, Zenjiro might be able to see what kind of problems would arise.

"Perhaps, until Aura enters the stable period of her pregnancy, it would be better for me to attend public events that don't require difficult judgment as her representative."

If Zenjiro were to represent Aura, it could undermine the queen's authority in the male-dominated Kingdom of Carpia. However, if this were to put undue stress on Aura, thereby endangering the lives of mother and child, it would be counterproductive.

In short, Zenjiro just needed to be careful and behave like a well-mannered doll.

With various resolutions in mind, Zenjiro organized his thoughts on what he could and should do in the time before Mrs. Octavia's next lecture.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

"...This is a bit too much."

At the same time, in the palace, Aura, who had been interrupted by a sudden bout of nausea, was uncharacteristically letting out a weak complaint.

This was "morning sickness," a symptom of early pregnancy. According to Dr. Michelle, the worst of the morning sickness should be over soon, but she was eagerly looking forward to that day.

"I thought I was used to suppressing nausea on the battlefield..."

"Acute vomiting due to illness and continuous vomiting due to morning sickness are not the same thing."

"Indeed, I have come to realize this deeply... though it's not a very useful piece of information."

Aura, still sitting in her chair, raised her head from the wooden bucket and glared up at Secretary Fabio, who was standing beside her. Normally, she would be annoyed by the secretary's plain language, but now, with her condition worsening, she was more inclined to snap at him. It was a burden to hide her increased aggressiveness from those around her.

In this sense, Secretary Fabio's presence was a blessing. He had the tolerance and loyalty to swallow even a few dirty words, and since he was always blunt, there was plenty to complain about.

After a successful delivery, she should show her gratitude and apologize in some form, but for now, she could indulge in his loyalty a little.

"...Phew."

Rinsing her mouth with the glass of water Zenjiro had given her and spitting it into the bucket, Aura sat back in her chair, looking a bit calmer.

"So, what's the next agenda item?"

Without asking if she was feeling better, the secretary resumed the conversation.

"Yes. It's about the letter brought by the envoy from the Shalowa-Gilbert Dual Kingdom."

"Oh, that."

At the secretary's words, Aura closed her eyes tightly and shook her head a few times to clear her mind.

The official envoy from the Dual Kingdom. Normally, it would not be out of place for Aura to receive them in the audience chamber herself, but due to her pregnancy-related health issues, she was currently reducing her public appearances as much as possible.

"Probably about the magic ring I asked Isabella to make, but I'll let it go for now."

"Yes, here it is."

The secretary, in perfect sync, placed the letter in Aura's outstretched hand.

"Hmm? Is this the emblem of the Shalowa royal family?"

The seal on the wax was the emblem of the Shalowa royal family, not the Gilbert Papal Family, which Isabella belonged to. This made Aura tilt her head slightly, but since the request was made to Isabella of the Gilbert Papal Family, and the actual magic ring would be made by someone from the Shalowa royal family, it was not unusual for the letter to come directly from the Shalowa royal family.

Satisfied with this reasoning, Aura took a intricately designed bronze dagger from her desk drawer and used its blade to break the seal on the letter.

"Hmm..."

At first, the contents were as expected, and Aura read them calmly, but when she reached a certain point, her eyes suddenly widened.

"!?"

"Your Majesty?"

As Aura started to stand up from her chair, the usually composed secretary quickly tried to stop her.

"I'm fine, it's nothing."

Despite her words to Secretary Fabio, Aura's face had turned pale and blue.

"Hmm."

It was clear that she was not fine, but the secretary, perhaps deciding to gauge his lord's reaction, stepped back obediently.

After a while, Aura, who had finished reading the letter, took three deep breaths. Her face was still pale, but she seemed to have regained some composure. Secretary Fabio, who had been waiting for the right moment, cautiously addressed the queen.

"Your Majesty, may I ask what the contents are?"

Unlike the domestic "small flying dragon mail," this letter was a diplomatic document sent from one royal family to another. As a mere secretary, Fabio had no right to read it.

In response to the secretary's words, Aura, suppressing some intense emotion, began to speak.

"The main content is as expected. It's a thank you for magically transporting Princess Isabella and a report that the magic ring I asked for has been approved."

The loyal secretary listened silently and prompted her to continue. The content that had so shaken the queen was enough to make even the stoic Secretary Fabio break out in a cold sweat.

"The problem is the 'rumor' that was slipped in like casual conversation. The protagonist of the rumor is a princess of the Shalowa royal family."

"A princess of the Shalowa royal family? There are quite a few collateral lines, but the direct line includes the eldest, Princess Carolina, who is fifteen years old."

"No, it's not a current story. It's about a princess from the Shalowa royal family who was erased from official records about 150 years ago."

"150 years ago..."

At Aura's words, the secretary's stoic face twitched. 150 years ago, a royal family member whose existence had been erased, and a woman at that. Secretary Fabio, who had almost accurately understood what the story was about and who it connected to, moistened his dry lips and waited for Aura to continue.

"According to the rumor, which is only a rumor since it has been completely erased from official records, about 150 years ago, a princess of the Shalowa royal family fell in love with a man she should not have. The man is said to have been a commoner or a royal from a country that was an enemy at the time. The love that blossomed between them, who should never have been together, eventually led them to a love escape. They then traveled to a new land where they could not be pursued."

Aura finished speaking quickly, as if spitting out the words in frustration.

The secretary, like Aura earlier, took several deep breaths. Indeed, this was a major piece of bad news that could not be ignored. However, since he was not directly involved, Secretary Fabio remained much calmer than Aura and asked for confirmation without trembling.

"The rumor suggests that the prince erased from the records in our kingdom was in love with a princess of the Shalowa royal family. In other words, Zenjiro is not only a descendant of the Carpia royal family but also of the Shalowa royal family, is that correct?"

"Who knows? The truth is unknown to anyone. But it seems the sender of this letter believes that."

Aura, looking uncomfortable, wrinkled her nose and threw the letter on the table roughly. Although it was an unpleasant story, she was fully aware of its gravity.

In this world, the royal family is synonymous with those who possess special magical power in their bloodline. Therefore, it is almost impossible for a royal from one country to marry into another, as it was in medieval Europe. For example, in the Carpia royal family, it is clearly stated that a person who has a relative within two degrees of kinship who can use space-time magic is not allowed to marry someone from another country.

Royal family members who can use bloodline magic are the country's assets and, in some cases, its military power. If their bloodline were to be absorbed by another royal family, it would be understandable to be alarmed.

"However, is the content of this letter really true? Is it possible that they are trying to shake us by piggybacking on our rumors?"

In response to the cautious words of the secretary, Aura shook her head with a displeased expression.

"I can't say it's impossible, but it's too late for the envoy to come now. It's been a month. The letter was probably delivered by the envoy himself, not by a small flying dragon. If the purpose was to shake us with rumors, it would have been more natural to use a small flying dragon."

The small flying dragon messenger system sends multiple copies of the same letter, so it is sufficient if one reaches the destination. This makes it easier for information to leak. Indeed, if the purpose was to shake us with rumors, there would be no reason not to use a small flying dragon.

"I see. Then, what about the option of denying everything?"

At the secretary's somewhat bold suggestion, Aura averted her gaze and replied.

"That won't work. During the visit, the groom already confessed to Princess Isabella that he is a descendant of the Carpia royal family who fled to another world in a love escape 150 years ago."

"That was rather rash."

"I couldn't help it. At that time, no one could have predicted that this information would become such a big issue. Besides, the groom was still bedridden at the time."

"I understand the circumstances, but it was indeed rash."

The secretary, cutting Zenjiro some slack, was coldly rebuked by the secretary. After a moment's thought, he expressed the current awkward situation in words.

"In that case, the credibility of the 'rumor' is unfortunately high. Your Majesty, Zenjiro is undoubtedly a descendant of the Carpia royal family, is he not?"

Confirming this once again, the secretary, Aura leaned back in her chair and nodded.

"Yes, that's certain. I set the conditions for the summoning spell that way. Moreover, the groom's magical power is not particularly high for a royal. He certainly cannot manipulate both space-time magic and bestowal magic simultaneously."

There are no known examples of a royal with two bloodlines, but the