Chapter 183 - <Short stories 9.3>

After the Toruka family left, Bina couldn't stop thinking about the conversation between Lucretius and Clodys.

'Another… child…'

She remembered Beatrice happily running around with her cousins.

She also remembered her big sister's face and what Clodys said.

Bina was undecided about having another baby. It wasn't that she was against it. She just didn't really think about it seriously until now.

However, Bina knew Lucretius had strong feelings about it.

He was genuinely fearful of it. When Beatrice was born, he was the happiest man in the world, of course, but at the same time, he was incredibly relieved. Bina had a difficult pregnancy and labor; Lucretius realized that this was a dangerous deed. With the possibility of losing Bina, Lucretius decided that there would be no second baby for them.

It wasn't a coincidence that Bina didn't get pregnant for the past five years after Beatrice was born. Lucretius had been meticulous with birth control.

Bina didn't think too much of it. She felt thankful because it just meant that Lucretius deeply cared about her.

However, now…

Bina became annoyed.

She wanted one now.

'I want to have another baby!'

Sa Bina was a woman who always got what she wanted.

***

First things first.

Bina decided to determine how Lucretius really felt about having another baby. This had to be a family decision, not just her own.

They were riding a horse together when the chance came. Both of them were on top of Lucretius' favorite horse, Canon, together. Lucretius steered while Bina sat in his embrace. It was a nice lazy day, and they were having a private time.

Bina started the conversation vaguely.

"Don't you think… Beatrice looks lonely nowadays?"

One of the most common reasons for having another child was so that the existing child won't get lonely.

"Really? Then…" Bina waited for him to continue. "Then I will find a friend for her. I will have to see if any of the noble families have children of Beatrice's age."

"…"

Bina was shocked. This was unexpected.

This didn't make sense. They were such a good team. They could read each other's thoughts without saying a word, yet here they were! They were having a completely separate conversation!

Bina stared at her husband, who looked at her in confusion. His expression looked too innocent.

"What's wrong, Bina?"

"...."

Bina continued to stare at his handsome face.

'Does he really not know what I'm talking about, or is he just pretending?!'

She didn't have to think for long.

They had been with each other for many years now, and there was no way he didn't understand her intention.

Bina was certain of it.

'Bastard…!'

Bina called his name decisively.

"Luc."

"Hmm? What is it, Bina?"

He looked at her with an innocent smile as if he wasn't hiding anything. However, Bina knew better.

"Answer the question."

However, Lucretius tried to avoid the conversation.

"I don't understand. What are you talking about?"

"You really don't know why I'm glaring at you like this?"

"Hmm. Isn't it because you want to enjoy my beautiful face? You love my face, right?"

When he smiled brightly, Bina couldn't take it anymore.

She pinched his waist a few times.

Hard.

"…!"

A silent scream came from Lucretius. He flailed around so he could avoid her pinching, but it was useless.

Finally, Lucretius surrendered and answered, "Don't worry about what Clodys said."

"But…!"

"I see that Clodys has made you worry."

"No, it's not that. I…"

Before Bina could say anymore, Lucretius kissed her.

"…!"

He then whispered sweetly, "Don't worry about a thing. Clodys and Liliana aren't strong or ambitious enough to come after us. Even if they are, I already have things in place so they can never succeed. They can never win against us and Beatrice."

Bina knew this very well, and she wasn't worried at all. This wasn't why she wanted another baby, but Lucretius continued without listening to her.

"You shouldn't worry about me or Beatrice. What is most important to us is your health and safety."

Bina couldn't say anything when her husband was so sweet to her. He cared only for her, and to such a dedicated man, she couldn't just say the truth. The truth that she didn't care about all the things he mentioned, and that she just wanted a baby. If she did, she would sound like a child having an unreasonable tantrum.

Especially to a man who gave her logical reasons why they shouldn't have another child.

Lucretius continued, "We are so blessed that we have such a smart and strong daughter."

This was getting very frustrating for Bina.

***

Bina regretted what she said to him when she was pregnant with Beatrice.

'I shouldn't have said that to him…!'

When she was with child, Bina was anxious. She was in a strange world without her family, and she was about to have her first baby. She was hormonal, and her nausea was so horrible that she was very emotional. This was why she told him that if she didn't survive the labor, he should tell their child about her.

She was serious at the time. She was very afraid and like any women, there was always a chance that something might go wrong.

However, Bina felt differently now. She had gone through it once, so she felt like she could do it better(?) the second time. It seemed that her husband was not cooperating though.

'This won't do.'

Bina decided.

'Let's just do it!'

***

Samantha's eyes widened as she looked at a drawing her empress gave to her. It seemed like her highness drew it herself and it looked… embarrassing.

It was something Samantha had never seen. The material and the shape of it was… strangely e.r.o.t.i.c.

"P, pardon? S, so… This… you want this… made for you?"

As a proper noble lady, Samantha was mortified. She looked very uncomfortable. Samantha had two children, so she wasn't new to marital relationship, but what Bina asked to have made was unexpected and unfamiliar.

Things like this didn't exist in this world, or at least, Bina had never seen it before. She wasn't interested in it even when she was on earth… Bina felt embarrassed, but she decided to ignore it. She needed to be blunt and shameless.

"Yes. This is… something a wife wears in my homeland so the wife and the husband could become closer. They said that when it works, it can make the marriage last a hundred years."

Bina was so good at using her homeland as an excuse now. Making up false stories to suit her need was now part of her routine. No one could question her about it.

Bina continued to make it more believable, "It is said that there were some kings and queens in history that used this and had great marriages."

"I, is that so?"

Samantha blushed but seemed very interested in Bina's story. Besides, this was indeed a very important deal. Good relationship between the emperor and the empress was of national interest, and it was Samantha's duty to help the empress in any way possible. His and her highnesses were already very much in love, but any relationship could be improved. It was also very concerning to everyone that the couple only had one child.

Samantha, a very loyal maid, quickly asked for a seamstress for a private measuring. In about a week, she secretly delivered the finished product. When Bina opened the box, she nodded in satisfaction.

"Perfect. It is exactly as I wanted."

Now, Bina was ready. Her timing was perfect as well.

Tonight! It would be tonight!