Chapter 6 - You’re my child

That night was very long. Evelyn was confused, again and again, wandering between consciousness and unconsciousness. When all the dreams were over, the baby’s cry was heard almost at the same time as dawn broke in the distance.

“……a child, my child.”

Evelyn had been crying for a long time, holding the baby that Miriam had given her. The boy who was too small seemed to break only by holding it, but his heart was clearly pounding and breathing. Evelyn’s child was born alive.

“I’ll be sure to protect you.”

This time, she’d never lost this little life. Evelyn vowed not to lose her child again. She couldn’t lose this child at all costs.

“You’re my child.”

Hot tears rolled down on Evelyn’s cheeks. The child’s hair was black, resembling Fabian. Soon the child opened his eyes and looked at Evelyn. The color of his eyes was dark blue, not Evelyn’s transparent blue eyes.

The baby looked too much like his father, Fabian. Evelyn ‘s heart was sore that Fabian’s beautiful side faces came from his tiny nose to her mind.

“But you are my own child …..of this kingdom.”

Evelyn tried to erase Fabian’s name. From now on, she had to live for this little life. It was the last day she was going to shed her tears.

“I love you.”

Evelyn was able to forget her loss in one moment.

“I love you, my child.”

Evelyn kissed the crying child’s forehead. The bitter and painful wounds had already disappeared without a trace, and only love for the child had grown endlessly.

Although she couldn’t love Fabian so much, Evelyn felt absolute love more than that, and all her life was rewarded.

“Good work, Evelyn. You’ve had a hard time.”

Miriam smiled as she looked at the child at the bedside.

“He’s a pretty child. He looks a lot like you. His eyes are sparkling like when you were born.”

Miriam’s eyes were bright as well. In her eyes, it was only important that her daughter had grown up and had a child. The child’s resemblance to the Emperor was not even visible.

“It’s a boy…”

Evelyn smiled at Miriam’s words. The line from the forehead to the nose looked a lot like Fabian, and it was the result that she already expected.

“I’m afraid His Majesty will spend the night making a name for him. Well, he has too many thoughts.”

Miriam laughed and spoke with a smile, and Evelyn finally leaned back in relief.

“Well done. My daughter.”

Miriam patted Evelyn on the head. Even after becoming a mother, her mother’s hands were still warm.

“Now get a good night’s sleep, okay?”

“Yes, ·····.”

Evelyn fell asleep, faintly. She closed her eyes together in her mother’s arms like how the little baby did to her. Miriam looked at the beautiful sight and wiped her tears away. She was very grateful and proud of her daughter, who came back after making a difficult decision. The same was true with Miriam, who had almost lost her beloved child.

“Yes, good night. My pretty children, ·······.”

Miriam quietly blessed and prayed for the child’s future.

“Thank you very much for coming to us.”

Evelyn and the child fell into a soundly sweet sleep, whether or not they heard their mother’s heart.

★★★

Fortunately, both the child and the mother were healthy.

Even though the child was born a lot smaller than usual, he soon sucked well and was so calm that he spent most of the day sleeping.

Evelyn, Miriam, and even The King, all fell in love with this young baby, and everyone would spend time with him in the cradle.

“Princess, I was worried that your baby was small, but thank God.”

Nora nodded at Lily, who was looking at the scene with delight.

“I couldn’t have dreamed of such a scene in the imperial family. I’m glad that you came back and gave birth here.”

“Was it that bad?”

When Nora asked carefully, Lily’s expression darkened.

Lily was a maid who grew with Evelyn, who entered the imperial palace with her and always stood by her side. She was a witness who shared and watched Evelyn’s solitude.

“You can’t raise your own baby in the imperial family. You can’t imagine your baby’s breastfeeding.”

As soon as the child of the imperial family was born, a pre-selected nanny would take him and raise him. Breastfeeding wasn’t something a noble wife should do, sometimes they could only see their child when the nanny was ready.

Even, she was against the law if she expressed her affection so intimately. When the child was old enough to walk, it was common to leave him to a nobleman to raise him. The reason was that, if the real parents raised the child themselves, the judgment would be blurred.

“It doesn’t matter how much she wants she can only meet her child at the appointed time. All the children of the imperial family are like that.”

“It’s more scary than I’ve heard.”

Nora was Evelyn’s nanny, but Miriam wanted to do most of her own care and enjoyed the growth of her pretty daughter. No matter how high the noble rank, that wasn’t a ‘flaw’ in the kingdom.

Maybe Evelyn, who grew up like that, couldn’t adapt to the imperial family.

“Yes, in the Imperial Family, as soon as the princess was crowned as the Empress, she had already selected a lady to nurse her baby in the future.”

It was the imperial family that had to prepare to let go of a child they hadn’t embraced yet. It was the law, and even Fabian, the Emperor, was born and raised like that, so he had no choice.

But thanks to Evelyn’s twisting fate, the baby was able to enjoy the blessings of her family and was breastfed by his mother. That was why Evelyn had no regrets, no matter how splendid and noble the empress’ seat was.

“Well, shouldn’t we let the King know that the Duke of Akchire is here?”

“I told him already, but he doesn’t budge. They’re all fascinated by the baby.”

The King couldn’t take his eyes off the cradle, complaining that it was a headache. His grandson, whom he saw in his old age, was so beautiful that he felt his grandson was cuter and more lovely than when Evelyn was born.

Even though the King stayed up all night deciding the baby’s name, his face became brighter and younger, as if he was rejuvenated.

“By the way, when will your baby be named?”

“From the look of His Majesty, I think It’s still a long way.”

Lily also nodded at Nora’s words. The King was worried and cautious, but since he saw his grandson, who didn’t get sick even when he hugged him, he would need time to make a big decision to chose a name.

“I wish the child will be healthy the way he is.”

“I’m sure he will.”

“Yes.”

Lily just nodded, trying to swallow the fact that the baby looked so much like the Emperor she had seen from afar. She decided not to think about the fact that the baby was Fabian’s son and became the heir of the royal family.

Evelyn’s will was strong, and this place was full of baby lovers, so it would be fine.

“I want you to be happy now…..” Lily prayed sincerely.