What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 251

“I’m doing fine. Aside from my body feeling a bit heavy.”

“That’s a relief. When did you say the second one’s due?”

“I think they’ll be born in about two months.”

Inside the peaceful cottage. As Ysaris spoke, gazing down at her round belly, Lena scratched her head.

“It’s already that far along? No wonder your stomach’s so much bigger.”

“Yes, Lena. Quite different from the last time you saw me, right?”

“Extremely. I thought I’d arrived right before you gave birth—scared me half to death.”

“It’s not that close yet.”

Ysaris smiled faintly at Lena’s exaggeration. The green drink the cottage’s owner had handed her—claiming it was good for expectant mothers—radiated warmth in her palms.

It’s summer, though. Couldn’t they have added ice?

Ysaris indulged in the frivolous thought before taking a sip. A harsh, bitter taste spread instantly, as if proving its medicinal worth, making her brows furrow reflexively. The herbal aroma, likely a mix of countless roots, was just as unpleasant.

But she couldn’t possibly leave a gift half-finished.

As Ysaris discreetly glared into the cup while forcing down small swallows, Lena spoke up.

“Anyway, it’s starting to feel real now. That you’re pregnant, I mean. Last time I heard, it was so sudden I didn’t know how to react.”

“I was flustered too. I didn’t realize I was pregnant until over a month after leaving Uzephia.”

And it had taken another month after that to tell Lena during her visit. That was a full four months ago—no wonder her body had changed so drastically since.

Thankfully, Lena had arranged caretakers for her and Mikael, so there’d been no major troubles. Even now, thanks to the woman who’d taken Mikael to a side room to let the two talk, Ysaris didn’t have to drag her heavy body around to tend to her son.

Lena had jokingly threatened to charge interest for all this help later, but Ysaris was simply grateful. Even the terms for staying in the village had been negotiated exactly as she’d asked, lifting a weight off her shoulders.

“So, are you going to tell him? You said you’d think it over.”

“Ah.”

Ysaris’ reminiscence ended with Lena’s question. She was asking whether she’d inform Kazhan of the life growing inside her.

Counting back, she’d gotten pregnant shortly before receiving the letter from Pyrein. Right before things soured with Kazhan. It must’ve been during their last night together, amid the bustle of New Year’s preparations—an unplanned pregnancy.

Like Mikael, this child hadn’t been planned. But back then, even knowing she carried the seed of a man she’d once hated, Ysaris had loved Mikael unconditionally the moment he existed. Of course she’d love this one just as much. But telling Kazhan was another matter entirely.

They’d already parted for good.

“I’m not sure… At the very least, I don’t want to tell him now. Who knows what he might do using the child as leverage?”

“So you want to keep things as they are? Though this can’t compare to life in the imperial palace—you must really like it here.”

“It’s been over two years now. Of course I’ve grown used to it. And the palace was just a gilded cage. There wasn’t even anyone to talk to properly.”

In Uzephia, conversations kept ending with apologies because Kazhan controlled the flow of information. Even Duchess Blake, one of her few conversation partners, often acted that way.

Ysaris cherished the small joys of peace and happiness in Lena’s village. Holding Mikael’s hand as they wandered the streets buying treats, or chatting idly with friendly shopkeepers—it all made her feel free.