Chapter 8: A Couple of Similarities
“Meileen, are you okay?”
As we arrived in the bedroom, Yulia was holding Meileen’s hand, speaking to her with a worried expression while Meileen sat up in bed.
“Yeah. I feel a bit nauseous from morning sickness, but I’m fine.”
Despite her pale face, Meileen smiled to reassure Yulia.
“Really?”
“Really, really. So, try not to worry too much, okay?”
“Okay… um…”
Yulia seemed to want to ask Meileen something, but hesitated, which was unusual for her.
What could she be wanting to ask?
As I observed Yulia’s fidgeting, she finally spoke up.
“Is… morning sickness really that tough?”
Upon hearing her question, both I and Ivern raised our eyebrows in confusion, but Mr. Bennett seemed to understand and burst into laughter.
“What’s this, Yulia? Did you see your friend looking unwell and think morning sickness is scary?”
“Oh, is that it?”
“W-well… I mean! Meileen always looks so healthy, but now she’s so pale and seems unwell…”
Ah, I see.
Yulia must have gotten scared thinking that if she were to get pregnant, she might end up like Meileen.
Understanding this, I glanced at Ivern, whose face had turned bright red.
They’re living together, so they must be doing what couples do, yet here he is, all flustered.
“Hmm, excuse me for a moment. I’m Mr. Bennett, a midwife. Is it alright if I call you Meileen?”
“Ah, yes. I’m Meileen. Nice to meet you, Mr. Bennett.”
“Great. Now, aside from feeling nauseous, do you have any other symptoms? For example, any abdominal swelling, pain, or unusual bleeding?”
“Uh, no. Right now, it’s just nausea; everything else seems normal.”
“I see. It seems you have a strong disposition for morning sickness. Have you heard anything about this from your mother?”
At Mr. Bennett’s question, Meileen gave a wry smile.
“I’m sorry. I hardly ever talked to my mother.”
“…I see.”
Mr. Bennett probably misunderstood, thinking Meileen’s mother had passed away.
But that’s not the case…
After a moment of hesitation, Meileen spoke up to Mr. Bennett.
“Um… could you keep what I’m about to say a secret?”
“Oh, of course. It’s our duty to protect our patients’ secrets.”
With that assurance from Mr. Bennett, Meileen began to share her story.
“Well, my mother is the queen of the Demon Tribe Nation, so she had little involvement in my upbringing. I was raised by a wet nurse, a lady-in-waiting, and tutors.”
Upon hearing that confession, Mr. Bennett’s eyes widened, and he looked at Meileen’s belly.
“…So, that means the child in your belly is the offspring of a former queen of the Demon Tribe and a Summoner?”
“Ah, I was once crowned queen, so I’m a former queen.”
“…”
Mr. Bennett swayed slightly in his seat from the shock of Meileen’s revelation.
“Are you… okay, Mr. Bennett?”
As I supported Mr. Bennett, he gripped my hand tightly.
“You… this child is quite the bombshell! Whether the Human Tribe or the Demon Tribe finds out, they’ll come to take it!”
Mr. Bennett shouted with a serious expression, but I was already well aware of that.
“I won’t let that happen. If they come to take it…”
Imagining that moment sent a chill through my heart.
“I’ll kill them all.”
I could see Mr. Bennett gasp in surprise at my words.
“So, please keep this matter confidential.”
I tried to say it with a smile, hoping to ease the tension, but Mr. Bennett nodded vigorously, still looking pale.
Was I that scary? I thought I was smiling as best as I could…
“Kenta, you’re scaring Mr. Bennett.”
“Huh? I was just being friendly.”
“That smile is what’s scary!”
I could feel the frozen atmosphere in the room begin to thaw thanks to Yulia’s words.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Bennett. I won’t do anything to you, so please don’t worry.”
“Ah, as long as you keep your promise… right?”
Mr. Bennett, surprisingly understanding, I nodded with a smile.
“Ugh… I’ve taken on quite the outrageous request.”
With a sigh, Mr. Bennett looked at me and smirked.
“This is the most intense request I’ve had since I dealt with a royal illegitimate child back in my youth.”
Whoa, Mr. Bennett has been through some serious situations.
That revelation boosted my trust in him, but Ivern seemed to be hearing this for the first time and was in a panic.
“An illegitimate child of royalty!? What’s that!? I’ve never heard of it!!”
“I told you it was back when I was young, right? That child and their mother have long since been married off to some noble, and they should be the head of their family by now.”
“…So, that means there’s a sibling of the current king somewhere out there…”
Hearing Ivern’s words, a question popped into my mind.
“Hey, can I ask something now that we’re on the topic?”
“What is it?”
“Is this place I’m in the Weimar Kingdom?”
The moment I asked, the room’s atmosphere froze once more.
“…Huh? You didn’t even know that until now?”
“Ahahaha! That’s so like Kenta!”
Ivern and Mr. Bennett looked at me in disbelief, while Yulia burst into laughter, but wasn’t that a bit unfair?
“I’m not from this world! I’ve been running around everywhere; I have no idea what country I’m in!”
As I said that, Ivern made a face of realization but shook his head in disbelief.
“The princesses of Weimar have come here one after another! You should have figured it out by then!”
“I just thought it was super annoying.”
As I said that, Ivern sighed, and Yulia laughed even harder.
Mr. Bennett chuckled lightly before turning to Meileen.
“Are you sure you want to be with a guy like this?”
“Mr. Bennett, what do you mean by that?”
“I mean exactly what I said. He shows no respect for royalty, has no interest in this world, and talks about killing enemies. Are you sure this dangerous man is the one for you?”
It seemed Mr. Bennett had suddenly become more straightforward.
Maybe he found the line I wouldn’t cross after hearing my conversation with Ivern.
As long as he doesn’t betray me, I wouldn’t do anything to him.
Meileen, who was asked by Mr. Bennett, looked surprised for a moment but quickly smiled and replied.
“Yes. I can’t imagine being with any man other than Kenta.”
Her smile made Mr. Bennett look taken aback.
“I’ve been saved by Kenta many times. When my life was threatened by my father, when I was exiled from the Demon Tribe Nation and plunged into despair, it was Kenta who saved me.”
Meileen said that and smiled at me.
“Kenta was betrayed by the Human Tribe, and I was betrayed by the Demon Tribe. I can’t forgive the Human Tribe that betrayed my beloved Kenta, and Kenta, who loves me, can’t forgive the Demon Tribe that betrayed me. So…”
After a brief pause, Meileen declared with a radiant smile.
“I love Kenta from the bottom of my heart, who promises to protect me and sweep everything away.”
As Meileen smiled at me, she became incredibly dear to me.
“Meileen…”
I sat on the bed and embraced her.
“Hehe. I love you, Kenta.”
As we held each other, Mr. Bennett remarked.
“Well, this is quite the pair of similar spouses.”
At that, Yulia burst into laughter once more.