Chapter 57

First to let out a cry of joy was Alicia.

She expressed her joy not just in her expression but with her whole body, spreading her arms wide to hug Mary...

"No, no...!"

She restrained herself.

She must have judged that hugging a pregnant woman was dangerous. A simple hug might have been fine, but considering Alicia's current state of joy, it would not have been just a hug.

That's why she grabbed her own arms to hold back, suppressing the overflowing emotions. The slight tremor indicated that her heart was brimming with joy.

After holding her arms for a while, she suddenly looked up.

"Nursemaid..."

Her face was as if she had just come up with a brilliant idea.

"I won't let you raise it."

Mary immediately rejected her.

In what world would a princess volunteer to be a nursemaid? Even if there were such a person, she wouldn't hand over the child.

Even as she glared and refused, Alicia, in her elated state, wouldn't have noticed. With a relaxed expression, she said in a melting voice, "How exciting..."

"Ma, Ma, Mary-sama...!"

The voice that reached them was Parfait's.

She was trembling with emotion and joy, her arms spread wide as she took step after step toward Mary. Her eyes were moist, and the tears at the corners of her eyes were trembling.

When she finally reached Mary, she gasped and held her breath. She must have realized that she shouldn't hug her.

From Mary's perspective, while she might have been able to handle the overzealous Alicia, she wouldn't mind being hugged by Parfait. If she couldn't handle this, she would have to live wrapped in a blanket and buried in cushions.

Trying to reassure her, she was about to say it was okay, but before she could, a voice cut in, "Parfait-san!"

Alicia had her arms spread wide. Seeing her as if inviting her over, Parfait wobbled over...

"Alicia-sama!"

"Parfait-san!"

The two women embraced each other passionately.

"Alicia-sama, can I also become a proper nursemaid...?"

"Of course, Parfait-san. Let's both strive to be the best nursemaids!"

"Yes!"

The two women, still embracing, reaffirmed their resolve.

The surrounding people watched them with amusement, but Mary alone...

"I won't let you raise it."

She reiterated her refusal, emphasizing it.

Her gaze shifted to Patrick and Gaius, a silent plea for them to take these two away. Gaius, noticing this, gently patted Parfait's shoulder and guided her to hug him instead of Alicia.

"Mary-sama, Adi-sama, congratulations on this occasion."

"Thank you. I said it in the heat of the moment, but we'll make an official announcement at the right time, so please keep it to yourselves until then."

"Understood. We'll celebrate properly then."

"I'm looking forward to it. ...But if Parfait-san is about to say something, feel free to cover her mouth. I won't interfere this time, so don't worry."

She said this with a playful laugh, and Gaius's eyes widened slightly... "Understood," he replied with a slightly strained voice, his cheeks turning red. Scratching his head awkwardly, he seemed uncomfortable.

Parfait's cheeks also turned red, and she protested in a thin voice, "Mary-sama, you..." She was remembering how they had been interrupted when she was about to kiss Mary last night.

Mary laughed happily. But then her smile faded, and she turned to Patrick.

He was still in a daze.

"Hey, Patrick, no congratulations for your childhood friend's good news?"

"Huh, oh, right... So, Mary and Adi are having a baby..."

Finally, the reality seemed to sink in, and Patrick's expression gradually softened.

His expression was as if he was feeling the joy as if it were his own. His blue eyes narrowed as he looked at Mary.

"Wow, I can't believe it. I really want to hug you. I never thought Mary would become a mother."

"I'm surprised too. But mistaking pregnancy for indigestion, Patrick, you're quite the airhead."

"Haha, that's true. By the way, Mary, look at this hand mirror. What do you see?"

"A beautiful woman."

"That's the Mary I know. I'm relieved you haven't changed at all."

Patrick shrugged. Still, his voice was gentle as he said, "Congratulations," and Mary smiled in return.

Next, Patrick patted Adi's shoulder to offer his congratulations. He patted harder than usual, a sign of his genuine joy.

Watching this scene, Mary next checked on Lang and Lucian.

They had been unusually quiet, which was surprising for the usually noisy pair. They stood still, not moving even when Mary looked at them.

"Could they have fainted from joy?"

"Or maybe they'll explode with excitement when they come to. Ah, brother will wake them up..."

Adi's words trailed off. They were drowned out by a low thud.

What was that sound? It was the sound of Robert striking the necks of Lang and Lucian with the edge of his hand. Without hesitation, both Lang and Lucian let out low groans simultaneously.

"Robert, you attacked us, your masters! ...No, that's not the point, Mary is having a baby!?"

"Robert, striking us with a hand strike is disrespectful and could be grounds for a lawsuit... No, that's not the point... Mary is having a baby...?"

True to their nature as twins, they both tried to reprimand Robert at the same time, and then, at the same moment, they came to their senses and understood the situation.

They let Robert's actions slide, which was very much like them. Of course, Robert, who calmly fanned the flames by saying, "Yes, now let's focus on Mary-sama's baby," could also be included in this 'very much like them.'

Mary and Adi exchanged glances. "You brothers are rude, but at least Adi doesn't resort to violence," Mary said with a touch of sarcasm, but Adi deflected it with, "Now is not the time for that."

"Mary, is it true about the baby?"

"Yes, I'm pregnant with Adi's baby. It's our baby, not just mine, and Adi isn't giving birth."

"...A baby... Mary and Adi's baby..."

"Yes, I'm not splitting into two, and neither is Adi."

She emphasized this to prevent any misunderstandings. If she didn't, who knows what her overexcited brothers might say.

Despite her efforts, she couldn't completely contain their excitement. As soon as they understood the situation, they looked at each other and exclaimed,

"A party! Let's celebrate the arrival of the angel with a three-day, three-night party! Ring the bells and celebrate grandly!"

"...We must announce the birth of the angel to the world. Let's start with a parade through the city... Make it grand, the grandest parade in our country, and let the sound of the bells signal the start..."

They immediately started to get excited.

Mary and Adi grimaced. They had expected this... and their brothers were even talking about the "sound of the bells."

Mary sighed and turned to Robert. Without saying a word, she commanded him to handle it, and Robert nodded in understanding.

He stood behind the excited Lang and Lucian, raised his hand slowly...

The next moment, a dull thud echoed.

Alicia let out a surprised "Oh my," and Patrick sighed, "As usual." Parfait, trembling, covered Anna's eyes with her hand, and Gaius covered Parfait's eyes.

Ignoring the reactions around him, Robert dragged the groaning Lang and Lucian toward the carriage. He forced them in and, turning back to them, bowed deeply.

"We will take our leave first. Since we still have time, we'll head back to the Albert family estate and have a drink or two."

"Getting drunk before causing a commotion, huh?"

"If necessary, I'll erase their memory of this incident."

"Scary to say so casually... Anyway, calm them down by the time we return. Try to keep their memories intact as much as possible."

"Understood. Farewell."

With a calm smile, Robert got into the carriage, which slowly started moving.

Everyone watched it go, thinking, "As usual," and Mary sighed.

"Let's leave the brothers to Robert. Even if their memories are erased, it was a necessary measure."

"...And that backlash will come to me, right?"

"That's also a necessary sacrifice."

Mary concluded, and Adi sighed deeply.

It was an unreasonable situation, but also a familiar one. If he could handle it as well as his brother, Adi sighed and muttered, and Mary soothingly patted his arm.

But the next moment, she was surprised to see Adi, who usually just sighed, looking determined.

"Adi?"

"I won't just be the one to take out my frustrations. I'm becoming a father!"

He didn't want to show a pitiful face in front of the child, his cheeks slightly flushed as he resolved. Mary, stroking her belly, said, "You'll be a handsome father."