Chapter 217 - Episode 210: A New Life
"Aaa... aa..."
Having returned to the Arqvist territory, Noein received a report that Clara had gone into labor and was preparing for childbirth about one or two weeks earlier than expected. It was now the dead of night.
Told that the baby would likely be born by dawn, Noein waited for that moment. One would expect him to be composed, as befits the head of a high-ranking noble house... but that was not the case; he was pacing restlessly around the living room, letting out pathetic sounds.
The place of birth was fundamentally forbidden to men, and even the lord could not enter the room serving as the delivery room. Nevertheless, driven by anxiety, he repeatedly performed the futile act of walking to the nearby hallway, hearing Clara's pained voice, becoming agitated on his own, and returning to the living room.
"N-Noein-sama! I-It's all right!"
"That's right! ...It is!"
"Ah... yeah... thank you, both of you."
In the midst of the major event that was the birth of the lord's wife, the live-in retainers could not remain calm either. Christy and Damian, who were awake with Noein despite the late hour, tried to encourage him, but their words were clumsy and unreliable.
"It's okay-desu, I've helped with many horse births, and mothers are the creatures with the strongest vitality in this world-desu. Clara-sama has excellent midwives and doctors with her, so there's no need to worry-desu."
"That's true... you're right."
After receiving somewhat more persuasive words of comfort from Henrik, who was also a live-in retainer, Noein finally calmed down a little.
For Clara's delivery, an elderly female resident of the Arqvist territory with the most experience in midwifery had been called to the mansion, and the head of the Women's Association, the retainer Mai, had also come to help. Kimberly, Mary, and the other servants were also providing support.
Additionally, the veteran doctor Selfers and his assistant Liris were on standby in case anything happened. Furthermore, for this day, Noein had prepared an expensive magic potion that would cost a commoner's entire annual income for a single bottle.
Moreover, Noein had lent a room in the mansion to clergy of the Milleon Holy Religion—namely, Priest Hasel and his wife—to offer prayers to God. Even nobles who were not as devout as Noein often relied on God in such critical moments.
With such thorough preparations, the possibility of a tragic outcome was extremely small. Regarding the baby, there was inevitably a part that relied on the individual's own vitality, but the probability of the mother, Clara, dying was less than one in ten thousand.
He had made every preparation possible using his position and money. Therefore, it would be fine. Telling himself this, Noein finally settled himself onto the living room sofa.
"Here we go, the tea is ready~. Drinking it will calm you down~."
At that moment, Rosetta entered the living room carrying a tray with tea for everyone. Although she did not live in the mansion, as a servant, she felt she could not stay asleep at home during such a major event and had come to work.
"...I was pretty nervous during Mai's first birth too. I understand the feeling."
"No matter what, men just end up getting fidgety."
Sitting on the sofa opposite Noein across the table was Yuri. Furthermore, Pence was beside him. While their wives had come to the mansion as part of their work, these two had come out of goodwill as high-ranking retainers to keep Noein company in his agitation.
"I see... so even you two were nervous."
"Of course. You're worried sick about your wife and child, yet there's nothing a man can do."
"The birth of a child is, in a sense, the greatest event of one's life... I was more on edge than during my first battle in a war."
Having the two of them, who were seniors as fathers, serve as conversation partners was encouraging for Noein.
Since both parents had come to the lord's mansion, Yuri and Pence's children had also been brought along.
Yuri's daughter Johanna and Pence's son Nikolai, both around a year old, were sleeping peacefully on the sofa in the corner of the living room, but Yuri's eldest son Yakov, who would turn five this year, still had energy to spare and was awake, looking around the living room with curiosity.
Then, Yakov walked over to Noein with small steps and looked up at him.
"Noein-sama, are you anxious?"
"...Yes, I am very anxious right now."
When Noein answered with a faint, bitter smile, Yakov grasped Noein's hand with his small hands.
"It's okay. When I was born, Father said it was 'difficult,' but I grew up healthy. So, Clara-sama and the baby will surely be okay too."
"...Thank you, Yakov. You are a good boy."
Noein smiled and patted Yakov's head. He had met and spoken with him many times, but he truly thought he was a brilliant child. To be able to consider others at this age.
"Yuri, you've raised a wonderful heir. He's decided as the Captain of the Retainers for my child's generation."
"I'm still in the middle of raising him. Besides, don't decide positions based on personal feelings at a time like this. Yakov will take it seriously."
Yuri answered with a wry smile. Retainer families were basically hereditary, but it wasn't guaranteed that the same family would inherit the position of Captain of the Retainers. It depended on the individual's ability and the timing of the position becoming vacant.
.....
After that, while receiving advice as a father from Yuri and the others and getting refills of tea from Rosetta, Noein waited for his child to be born.
Incidentally, Matilda was not present. In Noein's stead, she was accompanying Clara and encouraging her. For Noein, it was very lonely not to have both of the women he loved by his side during the most nerve-wracking moment of his life, but naturally, Clara took priority now.
Noein strove to remain as calm as possible, but he still couldn't help but occasionally go near the delivery room, and because of that, he would become agitated again and repeat the process of trying to calm down in the living room.
The retainers put up with Noein's behavior. Though Yuri eventually put Yakov to sleep halfway through.
Suddenly, wondering how much time had passed, Noein looked at the magic tool clock hanging on the wall; the time was already 2:00 AM.
Normally, this would be the time Noein was asleep, and today was the day he had just returned from outside the territory. He naturally felt fatigue. Just as he was thinking that it might be better to let the retainers rest since they had work tomorrow—
'...Ya... oyaaa'
Because the living room happened to be quiet at that timing, he heard it. It certainly echoed from the back of the mansion, from the direction of the delivery room.
A newborn's cry.
"!!"
Noein stood up abruptly. Yuri and the others also seemed to have heard the cry, their expressions turning sharp.
"T-They're born...!"
"Looks like it. Come on, go quickly."
"Yeah!"
Urged by Yuri, Noein ran toward the delivery room where Clara was.
He left the living room and dashed down the hallway. Then, he bumped into Matilda, who was running from the direction of the delivery room. She had likely come to call for Noein.
"Matilda! Just now, the baby's voice...!"
When Noein spoke with an expression on the verge of tears, a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, Matilda answered with a smile.
"They were born safely. It's a boy. Both the child and Clara-sama are healthy... Congratulations, Noein-sama."
"~~!!"
Hearing that, Noein was overcome with emotion, stepped in place meaninglessly, and took Matilda's hand with moist eyes.
"I did it, I did it! Thank you, thank you, Matilda! ...So, can I see the baby and Clara now?"
"Yes, things should have settled down by now... let's go."
Led by the hand by Matilda, Noein walked down the hallway leading to the delivery room. He could feel his heart pounding violently.
.....
"Please come in, Master."
"...Yeah."
As Kimberly opened the door, Noein stepped into the delivery room.
While Mai, the female resident acting as midwife, and the servants moved busily to clean up after the birth, Noein looked at the center of the room.
There was Clara, sitting up in bed, and a tiny baby wrapped in a clean cloth, held in her arms.
"Clara...!"
He rushed to their side and knelt on the floor to meet Clara's gaze.
"Dear... look, our... our child."
Clara, drenched in sweat and looking exhausted, nevertheless had a smile on her face as she shifted her gaze to the baby she held.
"Yeah, yeah... thank you, Clara. You worked hard, thank you."
Noein also looked at his child with tears welling in his eyes.
So this is a new life.
How delicate, how mysterious a newborn baby is.
This is a miracle of life. He was witnessing a miracle right now.
Furthermore, the crystal of the miracle before him inherited his own blood. To think there was something in this world that could make him this happy, this exhilarated.
Filled with such thoughts, Noein gazed at his child and gently stroked their cheek, barely letting his fingertip touch.
In response to that, the baby moved its face.
"...Clara."
"...Yes, dear."
When Noein spoke, looking up, Clara gazed back at him.
"You gave birth to my child. I'm so happy I can't put it into words. I'm truly grateful... I will absolutely protect you and this child for the rest of my life. I promise."
"...Yes. Thank you, dear."
Hearing Noein's words, Clara shed tears with a smile full of affection.
.....
Limiting his interaction with the exhausted Clara and the baby to a few minutes, Noein left the room.
Noein also had to work as the lord tomorrow. He thanked the retainers gathered in the living room for staying with him until late at night and dismissed them, then entered the bedroom with Matilda.
Once alone with Matilda in a quiet environment, the realization that he had become a father surged within him once more. He had become someone who protected not only his wife, subordinates, and residents, but also the life, the future, and the happiness of a child who shared his own blood.
It was a joy irreplaceable by anything, and at the same time, a staggering responsibility.
"...Matilda. You'll continue to stay by my side and support me, right?"
Lying on the bed, Noein turned and asked Matilda, who was about to turn off the magic tool light.
"Of course, Noein-sama. My love and loyalty will never waver. No matter what happens, I will be by your side."
Seeing the smile Matilda directed at him as she answered without hesitation, Noein closed his eyes, feeling a great sense of security.