Chapter 251
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
Dell bowed his head as Mikhail appeared and stepped aside.
Emilia tried to get up from the hammock.
“Just stay there. It’s uncomfortable for you to move around.”
He gently laid her back down on the hammock. Emilia settled into a comfortable position and looked at him.
She smiled, noticing he seemed a bit pouty.
“Don’t you think it’s because I’m always by your side? You haven’t let me do anything.”
He didn’t mind being close to her, but it was true she felt frustrated by being unable to do anything.
Not even allowed to hold a glass of water—that was a bit much.
“You haven’t been this close to me much before. Even less so in the capital. I heard your body weakens when pregnant, so you have to be more careful.”
Mikhail sat down and rested his chin on his hand, leaning back lazily in his chair and tilting his head slightly.
“You’re overdoing it.”
“That’s better than doing nothing.”
Emilia sighed.
“The doctor is coming today.”
“We already have a doctor, right?”
“I think we need one more. I heard childbirth is tough.”
He looked serious. Rising from his seat, he furrowed his brows.
“It’ll be fine.”
“After hearing that, I almost wish you hadn’t gotten pregnant.”
“Don’t say that. The baby hears everything. The doctor said it’s healthy and it’ll be okay.”
Mikhail nodded.
“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”
He placed a somewhat anxious hand on Emilia’s belly.
He must have just been told detailed things about childbirth. Emilia smiled and gently stroked his cheek.
She was just as scared, having no idea what giving birth would really feel like.
Though she’d heard many stories, the actual experience would be very different.
As long as the baby was safe, she didn’t care about the pain.
“Hmm. Have you thought about baby names?”
“Deborah.”
He answered immediately.
The name Deborah sounded pleasant—and it meant ‘honeybee,’ which he liked.
“That’s a girl’s name. You don’t even know the gender yet.”
“I just feel it’ll be a girl.”
“But shouldn’t it be a boy to carry on the family name?”
“It doesn’t matter. Whoever it is, if they don’t continue the lineage, so what? It’s our child.”
“What does that mean?”
“I want a daughter who looks like you. I’ll think about boy names later.”
❖ ❖ ❖
Mikhail spent the whole day writing and erasing on paper repeatedly.
“Is something wrong?”
Byne asked cautiously. Mikhail only tapped the desk with his pen in response, saying nothing.
The deep furrow in Mikhail’s brow did not ease.
Tap, tap, tap. He suddenly stopped tapping the desk.
“Byne.”
“Yes, speak.”
“I can’t come up with a boy’s name.”
“…That’s what’s troubling you?”
“I could tell Emilia was hoping. She liked the name Deborah.”
Deborah meant honeybee—a symbol of someone essential. Emilia had caught on and smiled brightly.
Mikhail pressed his temple with his finger.
“How about Eckart?”
“…Eckart?”
“It means strong blade. Since you’re both knights, I thought it’d be fitting for a son’s name.”
“Not bad.”
Mikhail looked satisfied.
“Now, shall we talk business?”
“…Looking at you, you seem worse than Kartho. I thought you only enjoyed picnics with Dahlia, but you’re busy working too.”
He had been distracted with sightseeing Bromley and Dahlia daily but had he even received and organized letters from Kartho?
“Why do you, a knight, handle butler duties too?”
“That’s why you didn’t send someone else.”
“Even though the royal family is dissolved, why does work keep coming without pause?”
Mikhail sighed as he skimmed documents. He was fed up with the piles of paperwork stacking up daily.
He didn’t know if people were clueless or pretending not to notice.
“Have you forgotten? I’m here to rest.”
“The butler told me to watch you closely so you don’t slack off.”
Byne ignored Mikhail’s words lightly.
Not showing empathy when a person speaks—not even a machine would be so uncaring.
“That’s too much. When have I ever put off work?”
“You haven’t, but you cut down on sleep to work more. You could get seriously ill.”
“You can sleep when you’re dead.”
“There’s talk about building a train station in Bromley.”
“Not Bromley.”
“…The council seems to want to develop it as a tourist spot. It’s perfect as a resort.”
“I bought all the good land here. I wonder how they plan to build hotels and such.”
“Miss Boestin was already annoyed that there were no good plots for sale.”
“Of course. I wanted this place to be where Emilia could rest.”
He wanted a home where she could relax without worry. So he bought a townhouse in a place with slow news flow from the capital, filled with things she’d like.
“I don’t want others getting involved.”
“I’ll tell them.”
“Recommend another place. Not here. Maybe a distant village, but not near here.”
“Understood.”
“When do you plan to marry?”
Mikhail’s sudden question made Byne cough awkwardly.
“Dahlia hates dragging things out. When you’re ready, tell her. Don’t regret it.”
He was sincere—if feelings change, they must be conveyed.
“Take this from experience.”
“…Yes.”
“Though selfish, you seem perfect for Dahlia the more I see you.”
Mikhail trusted Byne. He believed Byne could make Dahlia smile.
“Please take care of her.”
He extended his hand; Byne straightened and shook it firmly.
“By the way, no backing out, just so you know.”
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