Chapter 2

"Ow———!!"

I screamed.

From the intense pain.

"What, what!? It hurts, it hurts! What!?"

All I could see was white.

People in white clothes surrounded me.

"Madam, stay strong! You mustn't fall asleep!"

"Try to breathe, open your eyes!"

What, what? Madam?

My lower abdomen hurt. My pelvis felt like it was splitting. That place was tearing.

I know this. The most painful thing in the world.

"Ha, aaaa———!!"

I could only scream. If I didn't, I would definitely lose consciousness.

In an instant, the pain subsided.

I tried to calm my ragged breathing and looked around.

A luxurious canopy bed. I was lying on it, surrounded by 1, 2, 3... 5 women in white.

"Water!"

My throat hurt, so I reached out. Water was immediately handed to me, and I drank it all at once.

"Madam, hold this. You mustn't struggle. It's almost over."

"Almost over, what!?"

I knew, but I couldn't help asking.

"You'll be meeting your child soon!"

Of course! This pain, it's contractions, right?

Yeah, I thought I'd never experience this again. It even feels nostalgic.

"How many more minutes?"

"Uh..."

"Contractions! How many minutes apart, and how many more until the next one?"

"Oh, every three minutes, and another 50 seconds."

Someone who seemed to be in charge of the clock looked at their vintage watch and answered.

Not much longer!

"Can I push?"

"—Uh, well..."

Just answer quickly, I don't have time!

"Can I deliver now?"

I've given birth three times, so I know. The pain in my pelvis feels like it's splitting, and the sensation of something enormous being stuck.

It must be coming out.

"It's coming, it's coming, it hurts——!!"

I was supposed to be the quiet one who gives birth calmly. I can't believe I'm screaming like this.

But it's sudden, please forgive me!

"Madam, you're doing great! Keep pushing!!"

"Ughhh——!!"

I pushed with all my might, as if my blood vessels would burst. I'll definitely deliver this time!

I can't bear to experience this pain again, absolutely not,

"Ah——!!"

And then.

Slurp.

Ah, the head is out.

"Madam, the head is out! Relax, breathe out!"

I clenched my hands and desperately tried to relax my lower body.

"It hurts, it hurts! Be gentler!"

I was starting to feel more at ease.

"—It's out! It's born!"

I heard the midwife... or is it a midwife? scream.

"Kya, kya, kya..."

The cry of a baby, like an animal.

I did it. It's born. It's crying.

"Madam, congratulations! It's a fine baby boy."

"Ah, yeah... ah, it hurts."

I'm still in pain. I'm barely breathing.

The sudden emptiness in my abdomen, the pain, the sweat drenching my body, and the feeling of my muscles straining.

I gave birth...

What...?

Before I could think.

I was overwhelmed by the sensation of the world going dark again.

"Madam...! Madam!! Stay with us, Madam!"

"There's bleeding...!"

"Get a healer! Stop the bleeding!"

Voices echoed from a distance.

Am I going to die again...?

After that, I couldn't get up for days.

I knew I was hovering between life and death.

My body was weak, in pain, and I was in a daze.

I couldn't tell the difference between reality and dreams, and I called out my family's names in my delirium.

But no one responded, and I thought I must be dead, and I cried again.

Sometimes I regained consciousness, but the overwhelming fatigue made it impossible to get up, and I just lay in bed.

While in this daze, another memory began to surface, fragment by fragment.

Was I reborn?

If so, why is my body so immobile again?

Many people came and went.

I don't know how many days I spent like this, recovering.

Finally, when I could stay awake for a whole day, the memories mixed and became familiar.

Cynthia Pencilia.

That's my name now...

Cynthia Pencilia.

In my past life, it was the name of the antagonist in a fantasy novel I borrowed from my daughter for something to read while I was hospitalized.

Cynthia was the mother of the protagonist.

A first princess of the kingdom with white hair and golden eyes, possessing the power of light. She was married to the Duke of Pencilia at 17, valued for her lineage and abilities.

At 18, she gave birth to a son out of duty.

Here, now.

The relationship with her husband was strained, and he rarely visited the estate, secretly abusing their son.

Her son, Aidan Pencilia, awakened a power of light that surpassed his mother's at 15.

He soon succeeded the dukedom and became a leading figure in the campaign against the demon king...

The first half of the story was about Aidan's difficult days. In the end, I think Cynthia was killed by her son.

Today, I feel much better.

I was able to sit up and drink some soup.

In this world, there is magic, and healing is done with magic. Nutrients are also supplemented with magic.

But eating a meal by mouth is special.

My hands were trembling so much I could barely hold the spoon, but it was the first time I could sit up and eat.

"Princess, that's wonderful. You've recovered quite a bit..."

Saying this, my personal maid, Meia, helped me and teared up.

She is a middle-aged woman with black hair streaked with blue. She has served me since I was a child.

"I'm sorry for worrying you."

I managed to thank her with a weak voice.

"No, your health is the most important thing."

"I feel much better today."

"Yes, you'll get better and better. The healer said so too."

I suffered for about three days during childbirth, and then I had a severe hemorrhage, nearly losing my life.

Surprisingly, I've been bedridden for half a year.

"Hey, Meia. Where is my husband?"

"Lord... is at the palace."

Of course. I haven't seen him at all.

Even if I was delirious, I could still recognize faces.

In my memory of being bedridden, there was no sign of my husband, Rias Pencilia.

Unbelievable.

To leave a wife who risked her life to give birth for half a year, is that even possible?

Trying to recall my memories, my head ached a little.

It still felt a bit strange to remember Cynthia's memories.

"Where's the baby?"

"He's doing well. The wet nurse is taking care of him."

"Good. ——Anyway, I want to see the baby."

"Uh..."

Meia's voice betrayed her surprise.

"You don't have to push yourself."

"I couldn't even sit up until yesterday, but I feel good today."

Even though it's my own child, I haven't seen his face. Is it okay to not have seen him for half a year?

There's a wet nurse, and he's the heir, so he's probably being well taken care of.

"What's his name? Has it been decided?"

"Ah, no..."

What do you mean, no?

"——What about my husband?"

"He said to follow your wishes."

Huh?

That's ridiculous.

Even if it's anything, not even a name after half a year?

In my memory, I... yeah, I guess. If I named him without permission, I might get scolded later.

Still.

"Bring him to me."

"Princess——"

"Right now."

Saying this firmly, Meia looked around, but she bowed and left.

If I was in the hospital, shouldn't I at least give him a name? Shouldn't he show affection in place of his sick wife?