The Stand-In Empress’S Wedding Night [EN]: Chapter 223

223. A Baby Is Born

2023.02.22.

“What did you just… say?”

The Mage Tower Master’s words didn’t register at all.

“It seems you are with child.”

The Mage Tower Master, who had examined my energy, also wore a bewildered expression.

“Goodness! Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

Only Sharon jumped up and down, rejoicing.

Seeing Sharon, who was tearing up with joy, I slowly began to realize it.

I lowered my head and looked at my stomach.

The warmth I had felt in my belly since morning was still there, but I didn’t feel pregnant at all….

“When did this happen…?”

The Mage Tower Master replied to my mumbling.

“It seems quite recent.”

Ah, I had my period just a month ago.

So, the baby was likely conceived after I met Linelle again in the Lapheon Empire.

“Judging by the energy I couldn’t detect even yesterday, it must be very recent. Congratulations, for now.”

‘For now’?

Besides, the Mage Tower Master’s voice sounded somewhat drained as he congratulated me.

My gratitude and joy were fleeting as a worry suddenly popped into my head.

“The Incarnation Sword was imprinted after the baby was conceived. Could that have any effect on the child?”

I had no idea if the effect would be positive or negative.

Looking at the Mage Tower Master’s eyes, I suspected that he was also concerned about that issue.

Sharon’s face, which had been happily smiling next to me, also began to darken rapidly.

The Mage Tower Master paused, lost in thought, before cautiously speaking.

“I am also a little concerned about that. I think I should return to the Mage Tower and look for ancient texts related to this.”

The Mage Tower Master forced a smile and added.

“Judging by how quickly Zelda’s body is recovering and how good her condition is, I don’t think there will be any negative effects. I hope so, anyway.”

“Yes, everything will be fine. I can feel it.”

Actually, I wasn’t sure.

After the Incarnation Sword pierced my heart, the heat that had gathered there began to circulate throughout my body.

The last place the heat settled was in my belly.

There was no way it wouldn’t affect the baby….

Before I could fully rejoice in the fact that I was pregnant, a large lump of worry settled in my heart.

“For now, please rest. If I find out anything related to this…”

“Please let me know immediately. Even if it’s 새벽 [saebyeok – dawn/early morning].”

“Yes, I will.”

“Thank you so much. Thank you for your efforts in many ways.”

I said to the Mage Tower Master sincerely, and he shook his head and smiled.

“I will go to the Mage Tower right away to investigate. Please return to your chambers and rest. Everything will be fine.”

Yes, everything will be fine!

Even though I knew he was trying to comfort me, I relied on the Mage Tower Master’s words.

***

“Oh, who is this…?”

Emperor Adrian approached Joseph and spoke.

He had received reports from his servant and Empress Elan about everything that had happened in the Lapheon Empire, but he had not heard anything about Duke Joseph.

Emperor Adrian looked at Elan next to him.

She also seemed to be seeing Emperor Linelle’s young brother for the first time.

At first, he never imagined that the young child sitting alone by the lake eating a sandwich was Joseph.

He simply felt the energy of a wyvern where the child was, and as he approached, he saw Joseph’s face trapped in cursed ice.

How did he get out of the cursed ice?

And what was the strong wyvern energy felt around Joseph?

He could clearly hear the chattering language of wyverns nearby, but he couldn’t pinpoint where it was.

Emperor Adrian continued to speak in the language of the wyverns, but there was no response.

“Duke Joseph, haven’t you learned what to do when you see the emperor of another country?”

Emperor Adrian scolded Joseph, who had a terrified expression.

Empress Elan, who was watching from the side, glared at Emperor Adrian.

Empress Elan recalled the conversation she had with Zelda in advance when Emperor Adrian was bedridden.

She had agreed to stay by his side, pretending to report Zelda’s every move to Emperor Adrian.

She had just received news last night from Commander Macrome and the Mage Tower Master that the Incarnation Sword had been imprinted on Zelda.

Zelda told Empress Elan to tell Emperor Adrian that Prince Tesler had attacked her if he woke up.

Empress Elan followed Zelda’s instructions, adding that it was uncertain whether the sword pierced into her heart was the real Incarnation Sword or not, but Emperor Adrian was convinced that Zelda had the Incarnation Sword.

Emperor Adrian was also one of those who wanted to get his hands on the Incarnation Sword.

So, rather than Roxana, who was heavily guarded and difficult to approach, having the Incarnation Sword, it felt easier for Emperor Adrian to have it with Zelda.

The Incarnation Sword could be obtained by using Prince Tesler or Roxana, but the problem was the brat who knew his identity, Duke Joseph.

Emperor Adrian whispered softly into Joseph’s ear.

“Even if you tell Emperor Linelle who I am, no one will believe you because my appearance has changed so much. And the moment you tell someone about my identity, you will be trapped in the cursed ice again. I have already taken care of it in advance.”

Joseph, overwhelmed by Emperor Adrian’s energy, rolled his eyes and almost stopped breathing at the threat of being trapped in the cursed ice again.

He never wanted to go into the cursed ice again.

“I, I won’t tell anyone!”

‘Heh heh heh, that’s why it’s easy to handle innocent children.’

Emperor Adrian stroked Joseph’s head, who firmly believed his lies.

What should I do with you in the future….

Emperor Adrian smiled slyly as he looked at Joseph.

Joseph trembled with fear.

He felt the bone-chilling cold of the ice curse vividly.

“By the way, how did you get out of the cursed ice?”

Emperor Adrian narrowed his eyes and pressed.

“Th, the ice just broke….”

Joseph vowed never to say that the ice had started to crack after Zelda had visited.

If he said that, Zelda would be in danger.

“Then how are the wyverns with you?”

“…I, I don’t know either. I’ve never even talked to wyverns.”

Joseph was startled when the wyvern story came up.

Emperor Adrian immediately noticed Joseph’s lie when the child’s surprised expression was revealed in response to the probing question.

A child’s lie could not deceive the eyes of a sly person.

Then there was no choice but to threaten him again.

Emperor Adrian moved closer to Joseph.

“Come to think of it, your body temperature has also risen quite a bit? I should make it the temperature it was when you were in the cursed ice. That’s how you’ll be honest.”

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to go that far….”

Empress Elan tried to stop him from the side, but Emperor Adrian didn’t hear her.

Joseph shook his head and took a step back.

As Emperor Adrian tried to raise his left hand, pigeon droppings fell on the back of his hand.

“…What is this!”

Emperor Adrian frowned and looked up at the sky.

Moya, who had transformed into a pigeon, hovered over Silver рыбы’s [ryby – fish in Russian] head before flying towards the main palace.

This time, Moni, in the form of a sparrow, accurately dropped droppings on the center of Silver рыбы’s forehead, which flowed down his nose.

“Damn it, what is this!”

Emperor Adrian cursed at the continuous bird droppings and tilted his head back completely as he felt a strong wyvern energy.

He stared intently at the pigeons and sparrows circling above his head.

“Could those be… wyverns?”

Empress Elan, who was standing next to him, quickly spoke.

“Th, there’s no way, right?”

“No. Those two must be wyverns. Ha, two wyverns in the Lapheon Empire? Does Empress Zelda own both of them?”

If so, it was a big problem.

Soon, the wyverns in the Aclato Duchy would be moving their habitat to the Valley of Death. Numerous wyverns would be settling in a location close to the Lapheon Empire.

If Zelda, who possessed the power of fire, could handle wyverns, the continent was likely to be at the mercy of the Lapheon Empire.

‘If I can’t get the Incarnation Sword and can’t handle the wyverns, I have to get rid of that bitch Zelda. That’s how I can continue to hide my identity and live as the Emperor of the Tebello Empire.’

“What is your relationship with the wyverns, Duke?”

Emperor Adrian bent down and asked Joseph.

Joseph trembled and barely managed to speak.

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just eating a sandwich.”

“Oh, you can’t lie like that already.”

Emperor Adrian grabbed Joseph’s shoulders and scolded him quietly.

Eventually, Joseph burst into tears.

“Did my brother do something wrong?”

Linelle’s voice was heard from behind Emperor Adrian.

As the pigeon continued to circle over Emperor Linelle’s head, Emperor Adrian looked back and forth between him and the pigeon and tilted his head.

In the meantime, Joseph ran towards his brother without realizing it.

“Your Majesty!”

Linelle quietly asked, matching his eye level with Joseph.

“Did you do something wrong to the Emperor of the Tebello Empire?”

“Ah, I was a little rude….”

Joseph cautiously replied, looking at Emperor Adrian.

“If my brother has been disrespectful in any way, please forgive him generously. He is a child who has been severely ill until recently.”

Linelle looked back and forth between Joseph and Emperor Adrian before offering his apologies to him.

“Hahaha, don’t misunderstand, Your Majesty. We were just having a conversation. Isn’t that right, Duke?”

As Emperor Adrian winked at Joseph,

“Y-yes, that’s right….”

Joseph replied awkwardly and hid behind Linelle.

***

After returning to my chambers from the main palace, I couldn’t relax for a moment.

I felt elated at the fact that I was pregnant, but whenever my heart throbbed, anxiety would creep back in.

‘The imprinting with the Incarnation Sword shouldn’t have a negative impact on the baby….’

I clasped my hands together and prayed earnestly whenever I had the chance.

“Zelda, why are you pacing around so restlessly?”

I didn’t even realize Linelle had entered the bedroom, and when I saw his face, the anxiety disappeared.

I felt like everything would be alright if he said it was.

“Linelle, I have something to tell you.”

I took his hands and sat down with him on the bed.

“I probably have something to hear too, right? Let’s hear that first. What did the Mage Tower Master say?”

“He said not tonight.”

“Why? He said I still shouldn’t overdo it?”

He immediately showed a sign of disappointment.

“It’s not that, it’s because of the baby.”

“…Huh?”

“We’re having a baby.”

I took his hand and placed it on my stomach.

“I’m pregnant.”

“…Zelda! Is, is that true? There’s a baby here? Really?!”

Linelle hugged me and sat me on the bed, then knelt next to me and put his ear to my stomach, excited.

Then he kissed my belly and hugged me tightly.

“Ah, is it because it’s early and I have to be careful?”

He stroked my face and asked.

His eyes were already moist.

I slowly shook my head and opened my mouth.

“Yesterday, I imprinted with the Incarnation Sword… I’m worried that it might have a bad effect on the baby.”

I told him about the heat in my belly and the conversation I had with the Mage Tower Master in the afternoon.

“Hmm….”

His brightly smiling expression slowly turned heavy.

“The Mage Tower Master said your body isn’t in bad condition, so it’ll be alright.”

He hugged me and tried to reassure me, but I could feel his heart beating fast with anxiety.

“Zelda, you’re strong. So the baby will be strong too.”

“Yes, but I’m a little scared….”

I felt much more anxious and afraid than before imprinting with the Incarnation Sword.

“Let’s not think about anything today and just rest.”

He laid me down on the bed and stroked my belly with his hand.

“Ah, if I touch your belly, it’ll be too cold and the baby won’t like it, right?”

He immediately took his hand away with an apologetic look.

“No, it’s actually comfortable and nice.”

I took his hand and put it back on my belly.

Mysteriously, my belly felt more comfortable when he touched it.

Knock knock knock-.

At that moment, the bedroom door opened with a knock.

“The Mage Tower Master requests an audience.”

Tension soared at Sharon’s words.

“Bring him in.”

Linelle and I simultaneously took a deep breath and welcomed the Mage Tower Master.

“Ah, Your Majesty is here too.”

The Mage Tower Master, who entered the bedroom, greeted him.

“Did you find out what happens when the Incarnation Sword is imprinted in a pregnant state?”

I asked the Mage Tower Master in a trembling voice.

“Yes, whether the baby in the womb will be safe or not… depends entirely on Your Majesty.”

Not me, but him?

At the Mage Tower Master’s unexpected words, I turned to Linelle.

He asked the Mage Tower Master with a determined expression.

“Tell me… what I need to do.”