180 Good news and bad prophecy

13th June 1574

For the first time since we departed from the mining town to accompany Nataniel on his way to inspect our investments, we could finally find enough time to return there. As the calm waves of the Vistula rivers were smashed into smithereens by the constant pushes of the two rotating paddlewheels on the sides of the boat, we were blasting forward like no other ship on this river ever did.

"Mike… This time, I'm almost sure. I missed my time of the month…"

If not for the fact that after the unpleasant experience when the sheds on top of the steam paddler had walls way to thin for the two of us to enjoy each other company to the fullest, we would be incapable of talking about this kind of topics.

Yet I wasn't someone who let the teachings of the past simply go by. Despite how dire the situation resource-wise was with all the construction projects going on all at once, I still managed to poach some of the wood just for the sake of turning what used to be a simple shed into proper travelling housing. After all, if all the efforts I put in turning my dying household into the leading industrialization power of the world couldn't shoulder the loss of such a small amount of building materials and manpower, then everything that I did would prove to be simply useless!

"Woah… those are some big news!"

Focusing my attention back on my dear wife, I made sure to grab the cup she was reaching for and swing it outside of her reach. 

"If you are really in the blessed state, then you… we will have to put a stop to our usual drinking routine. Can you trust me on this bit?"

While I still had some lingering thoughts about sending some convoy to travel through the entire continent in order to find some tobacco, the moment I heard Elia claiming that she is most likely pregnant, all those thoughts simply turned into nothing more than a mist in my mind.

If I was willing to stop drinking alcohol, the one nice thing that I could treat as a luxury in this world, then wasting my money on getting another addictive drug that had way worse effects on the people around me would be insane!

"Ugh… What are we supposed to drink then? Plain water? Boiled water?"

Contrary to my expectations, rather than arguing with me on the point on pushing the alcohol out of our diet, Elia simply accepted my request and moved on just like that!

"As soon as we will get to the mining town, I will send someone to bring all sorts of fruits that are available. I will make sure you won't lack anything to drink! Hopefully, I could get my hands on some mint as well…"

Pulling Elia in my arms, I hugged her tightly while slightly swinging my body to the sides, as if I wanted to lull her to sleep with those moves. In reality though, I was trying my very best to figure the current situation out in my head.

Yet there was a lot of preparing that I had to do first!

From establishing the basic merit papers, through creating a hydraulic press capable of creating iron bonds that would be used later as the TRUST and RENT offers to the nobles, all the way to inviting representatives of the powerful families to the mining town so that I could present them the capability of the steam horse and make them bind their power to my stability through investment…

Even in such dire times that would come soon, I was ready to do everything it would take to keep developing both my lands and my country! After all, before I could expand beyond commonwealth borders, I still had to make sure that I would wring everything that this place has to offer first!

"Do you think I will make a good mother?"

Suddenly breaking my line of thoughts, Elia poked my side seeing that just words weren't enough to completely remove my mind from the clouds it was travelling through. 

"What makes you doubt that? Rather than being one of those sheltered ladies of the influential families, you went through all sorts of troubles in your lives, giving you way more real-life experience than other ladies have. I think you will make the best mother in the entire world!"

Reaching up with my hand, I pulled Elia's chin towards me and graced her lips with a light kiss, only aimed at reinforcing my words. In the end, just having her accompany me on all my projects, having her by my side when we defeated Peter… Just the things that she experienced when she was by my side were more than enough to turn most of the fragile damsels into hardened and realistic noblewomen, not to speak about all the stuff that she had to go through before we first met. 

"Thanks… Honestly, back when the first thoughts of having a kid appeared in my head… I could only think about having one with you, having our love come to fruition. I couldn't think about anything else but how happy I was to tie my fate with someone I truly respect and like… But now, when this dream of mine might turn into reality, I just can't shake off this feeling that something will go terribly wrong!"

With her eyes suddenly turning wet, it didn't take a long time before she hid her face in my chest and started sobbing. Unable to do anything but patting her head as I allowed her tears to sink in my clothes, I could only hope that her words wouldn't end up turning into a fateful prophecy!