Printing Money with an OB/GYN (4)
Printing Money with an OB/GYN (4)
Baroness Bittenwald arrived at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic I ran.
Though she was heavily pregnant, her labor pains hadn't begun yet. She greeted me politely.
"Our butler strongly insisted to my husband that this facility was extremely clean and excellent, so I came here... It's far cleaner and better than I expected."
"This is a place that serves noble ladies, so of course I had to pay attention. And the most important thing for quickly curing illness is maintaining cleanliness around the patient and their body. If not, it's easy to catch serious diseases from the dirty air."
In pre-modern times, the most fatal disease for mothers was puerperal fever.
After childbirth, when the body weakens and immunity drops, secondary infections from various bacteria cause high fever, leading to both the child and mother dying.
This disease's occurrence rate can be drastically reduced just by keeping the surrounding environment clean.
"Then, for your lady, I, Mikhail Kreuz, will give a brief explanation of this facility."
At my words, the Baroness covered her mouth with her hand.
"The Baron himself, not a servant or attendant?"
"Since Baron Bittenwald has entrusted his wife's life to me, it's only proper that I make an effort to repay that trust."
What I was doing now was a trivial task that could have been left to a mere servant.
Even the Baroness would not have considered it rude if I had sent my subordinate servant, or even that fallen noblewoman Flora, dressed appropriately, to give the explanation here.
But to leave a good first impression of this facility, and furthermore to plant goodwill toward our family, it was better for me, the Baron, to step forward personally.
"First, the room you will use in this facility is, of course, a private room. After childbirth, we will provide any dish you desire 24 hours a day."
"Is that true? Our family's doctor said to minimize meals right after pregnancy..."
"That's a procedure to reduce the body swollen from pregnancy after childbirth... But after giving birth, eating an appropriate amount of food is good for the body. Also, if physical recovery isn't prioritized, you could suffer from postpartum complications."
If you reduce meals while your immunity is weakened after childbirth, your body's recovery slows down, making you susceptible to all kinds of infectious diseases.
If a precious guest who came all this way dies from an infection after childbirth, my reputation would fall to the ground.
"Furthermore, during childbirth, our obstetrics and gynecology clinic does not allow any outsiders, including the Baron, to enter. This applies even if His Majesty the Emperor comes."
At those words, a smile spread across the Baroness's face.
But the words coming out of her mouth were completely different from her heart.
"But still, having my husband by my side..."
"Although childbirth is a very sacred event, having others enter the process could transmit disease to the mother and child. That's why the scriptures also state that no one should approach the woman who has given birth for 33 days."
"If it's for me and the child, I suppose it can't be helped."
"Immediately after giving birth, if you wish, you can meet your family members. However, if your face is severely swollen after delivery and you don't wish to receive visitors until the swelling subsides... for health reasons, we can delay visitation by about a day."
After giving birth, the face and body swell.
Since it's a change that occurs after having a child, it can be called a badge of honor, and there's nothing wrong with it, but...
The creature called woman has an instinct to want to look beautiful anytime, anywhere.
Especially in front of the man she loves.
Out of consideration for that, I allow them to refuse visits for health reasons until the postpartum swelling subsides a bit.
Additionally, after giving birth, stamina is rapidly depleted and mental strength is exhausted... They just want to rest, and having someone come around to comfort them can also be quite tiring.
I've heard that right after childbirth, it's not uncommon for women to not even think their baby is cute, but rather feel a sense of unfamiliarity, wondering, "Is that really the child I gave birth to?"
There's a long line of testimonies that they can't feel 'maternal love' because their body and mind are too exhausted.
Of course, unless they're a sociopath, after resting well and waking up to see the child, they say there's nothing more adorable.
"The Baron is quite meticulous."
"If there is anything else you need, please tell me anything."
And not long after, the Baroness succeeded in giving birth smoothly.
She gave birth to a son as plump as a rice cake dumpling.
**
Upon hearing the news of the Baroness's safe delivery, Baron Bittenwald and Count Hanover came rushing to the obstetrics and gynecology clinic.
Both had smiles on their faces.
As soon as he saw me, Baron Bittenwald grabbed my hand tightly.
Tears were streaming from his eyes.
"Baron Kreuz, thank you so much. Thanks to you, Maria was able to give birth to a son safely. Our Bittenwald Barony will surely repay this favor. Thank you..."
Since most marriages between nobles are political, over 90% of relationships between husband and legal wife are loveless, so even if the wife has a child, they rejoice because the 'heir of the family' was born safely...
The wife's safety is not usually considered that important.
But it seems the Baron and Baroness are a couple who fell in love so deeply that they even had an 'accident' from their affections, so the husband is happier about his wife's safety than the birth of an heir.
"It was possible because the Baroness trusted me."
"I heard from Maria that the Baron personally explained this facility in detail and took such meticulous care that she could feel reassured even before childbirth. Your efforts in not sparing any trouble are great..."
As Baron Bittenwald sobbed, Count Hanover behind him laughed heartily and patted his son-in-law's back.
"I fully understand your affection for my daughter, but please restrain yourself. You must maintain dignity as a noble."
"No, but still, Maria..."
"You're about to go see Maria soon, shouldn't you show a dignified appearance? How ridiculous would it be for a husband to be crying next to his wife who just went through childbirth?"
"Father-in-law..."
Count Hanover asked me with a look if it was okay to send that guy to his daughter now.
"The Baroness still needs rest. So how about going to see your son first? Our midwife has just finished bathing him."
At my words, Baron Bittenwald sobbed and then suddenly started laughing.
It's not strange at all for such emotional ups and downs to occur when his beloved wife gave him a son.
Even when I was in politics and my aides got married and had children, when I went with them to the obstetrics clinic...
Their emotional changes were just like that.
They cried from joy, then laughed, then cried seeing their wife's haggard appearance, then laughed again seeing their wife holding the child.
Baron Bittenwald, guided by the midwife, hurried off to see the child.
Count Hanover watched that, let out a wry chuckle as if there was no helping it, and sighed.
"Our son-in-law seems to have been a bit overwhelmed with emotion."
"Anyone would be the same upon hearing that the Baroness gave birth to the young master safely."
"Thank you for understanding. By the way, when do you plan to start full operations?"
"I plan to start the day after tomorrow."
"Hmm, I see. Then can I make a request right away?"
I hadn't expected a customer so soon.
I thought Baron Bittenwald would have to spread the word before people came, but Count Hanover is entrusting me directly...?
"As you know, in our Empire, having multiple wives is not a flaw. It's a very faithful act to the scripture's teaching of prospering one's descendants."
"Yes, I am well aware."
For a nobleman's first marriage, a political marriage, it's the mainstream to consider political and economic factors, resulting in loveless marriages.
However, for the second and third marriages afterward, it's common sense in noble circles for a man to set all that aside and marry a woman with pleasing looks, a woman who stabilizes his heart.
I've heard that in Joseon, it was a similar feeling when choosing a concubine.
Among all the kings, there were few who had good relationships with their queens. Most favored the concubines they chose from among the court ladies they saw in the palace and had relations with.
King Taejong Lee Bang-won, who maintained a somewhat close relationship with Queen Wongyeong, and King Sejong, who greatly cherished Queen Soheon, are actually quite unusual cases.
"I'm getting old and my sides are cold, so I ended up embracing a maid I fancied... That maid happened to get pregnant around the same time Maria [the Baroness] became pregnant. So it's a child I couldn't formally take as a concubine, and now she's full-term..."
"I will prepare a carriage from our side and come to fetch you tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, and will this be enough for the hospital fee?"
Count Hanover immediately wrote out a check for 2,000 gold coins and another for 1,000 gold coins on the spot.
Then he stamped it with his signet ring.
Now, I can take this to the Hanover Count family and exchange it for cash.
"That is sufficient."
"I'll spread the rumors well, so don't worry too much. And I'm thinking of holding a ball around next month, so please be sure to attend. You won't regret it."
With those words, Count Hanover also went to see his grandson.
**
Having tasted the benefits of the obstetrics and gynecology clinic, Count Hanover brought up the topic among other high-ranking nobles gathered together.
"Ah, now that I think of it, a really excellent place has opened up in the capital recently..."