Episode 8: A Couple of Similarities
“Meileen, are you alright?”
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 okay.”
Meileen managed a smile, trying not to worry Yulia despite her pale face.
“Really?”
“Really, really. So, try not to worry too much, okay?”
“Okay… um…”
Yulia seemed hesitant, as if she wanted to ask Meileen something but found it difficult.
It was unusual for her to show such an attitude.
What could she possibly want to ask?
As I observed Yulia’s movements, she finally spoke up.
“…Is morning sickness really that tough?”
When I heard 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-chan? Did seeing your friend looking unwell make you scared of morning sickness?”
“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 was frightened at the thought of experiencing something like this if she were to get pregnant.
Understanding this, I glanced at Ivern, whose face had turned bright red.
They were living together, so they must have been intimate, yet here he was, blushing like a fool.
“Hmm, pardon me for interrupting. I’m Bennett, a midwife. Is it alright if I call you Meileen?”
“Ah, yes. I’m Meileen. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bennett.”
“Great. Now, aside from feeling nauseous, do you have any other symptoms? For instance, any abdominal swelling, pain, or unusual bleeding?”
“Ah, no. Right now, it’s just nausea, and there are no other abnormalities.”
“I see. It seems you have a strong disposition for morning sickness. Have you ever heard anything about it from your mother?”
At Mr. Bennett’s question, Meileen gave a wry smile.
“I’m sorry. I hardly ever spoke with 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 to Mr. Bennett.
“Um… could you keep what I’m about to say a secret?”
“Ah, of course. It’s our duty to protect a patient’s confidentiality.”
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 couldn’t be involved 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 am a former queen.”
“……”
Mr. Bennett swayed slightly, as if he were about to faint from the revelation.
“A-are you okay, Mr. Bennett?”
As I supported him, he grabbed 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 fearful expression, but I was already well aware of that.
“I won’t let that happen. If they try to take it…”
Imagining that moment sent a chill through my heart.
“I’ll wipe them all out.”
As I said this, I noticed Mr. Bennett gasp sharply.
“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 really 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 terrifying!”
I could feel the frozen atmosphere in the room melting away thanks to Yulia’s words.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Bennett. I assure you, I have no intention of doing anything to you.”
“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 grinned.
“This is the most intense request I’ve had since I helped a royal family with their hidden child back in my youth.”
Oh, so Mr. Bennett has been through some serious situations.
That revelation boosted my trust in him, but Ivern seemed to be in a panic.
“A hidden child of royalty!? What’s that!? I’ve never heard of it!!”
“I said it was when I was young, right? That child and their mother were long ago taken in by some noble’s second wife, and now they should be the head of the family.”
“…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 the Weimar Kingdom?”
The moment I asked, the room’s atmosphere froze once more.
“…Huh? You mean to say you didn’t know that until now?”
“Ahahaha! That’s so typical of Kenta!”
Ivern and Mr. Bennett looked at me in disbelief, while Yulia burst into laughter, but was that really so surprising?
“I’m not from this world! I’ve been running around everywhere, so how would I know which country this is?”
As I said this, Ivern made a face of realization but shook his head in disbelief.
“The princesses of Weimar came here one after another! You should have figured it out by then!”
“I just thought it was super annoying.”
As I said this, Ivern sighed, and Yulia laughed even harder.
Mr. Bennett gave a slight chuckle before looking at Meileen.
“Are you sure you want to marry this guy?”
“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 you want to be with such a dangerous man?”
It seemed Mr. Bennett had suddenly become more straightforward.
Perhaps he had figured out the line I wouldn’t cross after hearing my earlier conversation with Ivern.
As long as he didn’t betray me, I wouldn’t do anything to him.
Meileen, who had been 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 caught Mr. Bennett off guard.
“I’ve been saved by Kenta many times. When my life was threatened by my father, when I was banished from the Demon Tribe Nation and overwhelmed by despair, it was Kenta who saved me.”
Meileen said this while smiling at me.
“Kenta was betrayed by the Human Tribe, and I was betrayed by the Demon Tribe. I cannot forgive the Human Tribe that betrayed my beloved Kenta, and Kenta, who loves me, cannot forgive the Demon Tribe that betrayed me. So…”
After a brief pause, Meileen declared with a radiant smile.
“I wholeheartedly love Kenta, who promises to protect me from everything and loves me.”
As Meileen smiled at me, I felt an overwhelming sense of affection for her.
“Meileen…”
I sat on the bed and embraced her.
“Hehe. I love you, Kenta.”
As we held each other, Mr. Bennett remarked.
“Well, what a pair of similar couples you are.”
Yulia burst into laughter at those words once more.