After Story: A New Family (4)
Dealing with Ellen was simple.
It was simply a matter of using the authority Vera possessed as a leash to bind her.
“Swear to me that you will never run away from Elia and that you will not wield your power for self-interest.”
Vera’s forearm glowed.
Ellen nodded her head frantically, her eyes trembling.
A golden divinity swirled between the two of them before dissipating.
She gulped dryly.
Vera looked at her, clicked his tongue, and continued.
“If you faithfully keep your vow, you will be able to grow at a different pace than before. Your stamina will become strong enough to endure sleepless nights, and the strength and speed you wield will be able to reach new heights.”
“Th-That’s…”
“However, if you fail to keep your vow, your heart will be crushed.”
In an instant, Ellen’s bright expression stiffened.
Vera coldly turned away from her and took Renee’s hand again.
“Let’s go. Lady Theresa is waiting.”
“Why? Let’s stay a little longer. I want to talk more with the ‘Pirate King’.”
Flinch—
Vera’s body trembled.
He shot a look of resentment at Renee.
However, Renee wasn’t going to stop just because of that.
Why would she?
It was a rare opportunity to tease him, after all.
Moreover, she was currently pregnant, so she didn’t have to worry about retaliation.
“Don’t you like it, Vera? You’re both ‘Kings’, aren’t you?”
She relentlessly followed up without giving him even a moment to breathe.
At the question asked with a grin, Vera’s face became filled with wrinkles.
It was an unfortunate situation for Ellen.
Vera, unable to go against Renee’s mood right now, had no one else but her to vent his anger on.
‘F-Fuck…!’
How could a person’s face look so menacing?
Just from making eye contact, the chills running down her spine made Ellen lower her head even more.
“Tsk….”
Even the sound of his tongue clicking was sharp.
Vera led Renee away from that spot.
Only then did Aisha and Jenny regain their usual demeanor.
Ellen had tears hanging down from the corners of her eyes.
*
“So, did you meet the new child?”
At Theresa’s kind words, Renee replied with a satisfied face.
“Yes, she was an interesting girl.”
“I heard she was a pirate.”
“Yes, she’s even called the ‘Pirate King’, can you believe it?”
Theresa laughed hollowly.
“Judgment’s taste is quite consistent. Every single one he picks up is such a brute.”
“Ah, I heard His Holiness was also a scoundrel back then.”
“Indeed. Just thinking about that man in his youth gives me a headache. He never listened to a word I said.”
At her hearty laugh, Renee’s smile deepened.
“I do want to see it once. His Holiness during that time.”
“No need to see it. He was nothing short of trouble. Besides, he’s not His Holiness anymore, is he?”
“To me, he is still His Holiness.”
“And the Saint’s husband?”
“Vera is just Vera. Seeing him flinch at a single ‘Pirate King’ and vent his anger for no reason, he’s just a child.”
Waving her hand dismissively, Renee picked up a bundle of fur she had placed on the desk.
“Shall we continue making it then?”
“Oh my, yes, let’s finish that first.”
The two began to move around their hands.
What they were making were socks for the babies in her womb to wear.
Theresa spoke in a tone laced with laughter as she worked.
“They’ll be out in only five months now.”
“Yes, really…”
Renee’s eyelids reddened from the overwhelming emotions and anticipation.
“…I want to meet them soon.”
Her idle hands stroked her belly.
Inside, the little troublemakers who had tormented their father all day were moving around, already showing signs of being rascals.
“Please be born healthy.”
At her words filled with love, the babies kicked with a ‘thump’.
*
Around the time Renee was knitting with Theresa, Vera was having a conversation with Trevor in his study.
Vera’s face was quite serious.
Trevor, who was facing him, also had a similar expression.
“Five months. No significant changes are visible yet..”
The topic of their conversation was Renee and the fetuses.
It was something that normally would have been discussed with laughter, but there was a reason for their grave expressions.
“…That means that the Saint’s divinity continues to intensify.”
It was because Renee’s divinity had grown beyond the normal level after becoming pregnant.
This matter could potentially be problematic because Renee’s body was different from an ordinary person’s.
It was the body of a divine being, woven from the divinity of the Heavenly Realm as its base.
And what about Vera, who was the father?
Even if the soul had completely disappeared, his vessel was still that of Ardain’s.
There could be variables in his body and seed that common sense couldn’t dictate.
Trevor said.
“…Let’s observe the progress for now. We need to determine whether the intensifying divinity belongs to the children or the Saint.”
The boy, who appeared to be around eight years old, scribbled on a piece of parchment.
A series of equations that Vera couldn’t comprehend at a glance were written there.
They were calculations Trevor was writing down while activating his authority.
“If it belongs to the children, it’s definitely a blessing. It means they will have a body imbued with heavenly divinity. In terms of talent alone, heroes rivaling Your Holiness or Vargo may be born.”
“And if it’s not…”
Tap—
Trevor’s hand paused at Vera’s unfinished sentence.
His expression darkened slightly.
“…The Saint, or the yet to be born children, may be in danger. If the children are unable to inherit the divinity, the overflowing divinity in the Saint’s body right now will become a poison that threatens their life.”
Vera’s fists clenched tightly.
His eyes were downcast.
“…I see, please continue your efforts.”
“Of course.”
The atmosphere became heavy.
Vera rose from his seat and left the study.
*
There was still some time before Renee finished her daily routine.
Thus, Vera aimlessly walked through the Grand Temple and arrived at the chapel, where a colorful light filtered through the stained glass and a heavy silence settled.
Vera, despite being the Holy Emperor, rarely visited the chapel, so he went and sat in a corner that still felt unfamiliar to him.
Then he gazed at the cross in the front.
‘…What do you want?’
He asked inwardly to anyone who may be listening.
It was to seek an answer for the meaning behind this omen, but Vera already knew.
There would be no answer.
They did not give the answers; they gave questions.
They were the ones who simply threw difficult problems and demanded solutions.
Vera’s expression clouded.
‘I am…’
The title of a father was still heavy.
Despite trying his best in various ways, he was struck by fear.
And now, with these Gods adding another concern to the situation, his chest felt suffocated.
After staring blankly at the cross for a long time, Vera closed his eyes and bowed his head.
With his hands collapsed in front of his chest, he offered a prayer to the Gods for the first time in a very long time.
The chapel became quiet.
Even Vera’s small rustling faded away, leaving only faint breathing.
The long-lasting prayer came to an end when Vera sensed a familiar presence approaching.
“What’s the matter? It’s unlike you to even be offering a prayer.”
It was Renee’s voice.
Vera looked up and saw her smiling at him, then gently smiled back.
“…I thought I haven’t been praying enough even after becoming the Holy Emperor.”
“Really?”
Renee sat beside him.
As she did that, her eyes were looking directly at him.
“It’s so obviously a lie. Vera wouldn’t pray even if the world were to end tomorrow.”
She said that as if telling him to be honest.
Vera let out a hollow laugh.
“I am also a man of faith myself.”
“Hmm…”
A mischievous smile appeared on Renee’s face.
It was a smile that appeared because she knew the only possible reason for Vera’s behavior.
“…It’s because of me and the babies, isn’t it?”
Vera’s smile stiffened.
Renee laughed at his reaction and spoke.
“So I’m right.”
She reached out her hand.
Placing it over Vera’s fidgeting hands, she tightened her grip.
Then, she spoke.
“It’s my divinity that’s the problem, isn’t it?”
“…You knew?”
“It’s my body, so of course I know best.”
Renee’s gaze was directed at their clasped hands.
His hands that were much larger and thicker than her own were covered in small scars and calluses.
After looking at them for a moment, Renee raised her head, met Vera’s eyes, and said.
“It will be okay.”
“But supposing the worst…”
“It will definitely be okay.”
Vera’s expression turned strange.
Renee could read the anxiety and doubtfulness in his expression like a book.
It was probably anxiety about the worst-case scenario, and doubt about her confidence.
Renee opened her mouth again, wanting to turn his emotions into reassurance.
“You know… Does Vera remember?”
“What are you referring to?”
“To what I said before. That I want to have a son and a daughter and live happily ever after.”
In that instant, something came to Vera’s mind.
It was what she had blurted out while sitting on the ground crying after downing alcohol, the girl who knew nothing of the ways of the world.
-A son… a daughter… you’re going to have children, aren’t you..! Waaah!!!
Unintentionally, a ‘pfft’ sound came out.
Renee’s eyes narrowed.
“Is it funny?”
“N-No… Pfft…!”
It was hard to stop laughing once you started.
As Vera tried to control himself while choking, Renee sighed and spoke with a resigned smile.
“Yes, anyways, it’s a son and daughter.”
Flinch—
Vera’s laughter stopped.
A surprised expression was forming on his face.
Renee continued while looking at his wide-eyed face.
“A son and a daughter. The children in my womb.”
She said it again, full of certainty.
Vera felt an utter sense of bewilderment.
“How…”
“What do you mean how? They told me, so I knew.”
“Who…?”
Renee’s hand reached out and pointed to the cross.
“Them.”
Although she didn’t specify exactly, her statement still clearly indicated who she meant.
She continued speaking to the dumbfounded Vera.
“They appeared in my dream. The faces of the children. The sensations were too vivid for it to be a mere dream, though. My body was also overflowing with divinity.”
“Ah…!”
“This is the children’s divinity.”
Her words finished with a bright smile.
The corners of Vera’s eyes trembled.
Then, Renee laughed at him, who finally showed signs of relief and said.
“Stop worrying for nothing.”
Her attention turned to the cross.
“I was going to keep it a secret until the end because I wanted to surprise you…”
She said with a pout.
However, her expression wasn’t bad.
“Dummy Vera.”
A teasing comment slipped out.
However, Vera had no room to pay attention to that.
Why wouldn’t he?
Weren’t her words just too shocking?
A son and a daughter.
Children born with the divinity of the Heavenly Realm.
As he envisioned his children, who suddenly began to take concrete forms, Vera felt an indescribable emotion.
“I am…”
Vera’s fingertips twitched.
Renee laughed and said to him.
“The children are lucky. Their dad is the strongest in the world.”
Her sky-blue eyes captured Vera with a warm light, and her neatly lowered white eyelashes beautifully curved alongside her smile.
“There will be a lot to teach them, right? Swordsmanship, divine arts, and many more.”
Vera’s lips pressed tightly together.
It was all because of the overwhelming emotions that were suddenly welling up.
Unable to compose himself, he frowned in various ways and finally showed a weak smile before replying.
“…Yes, and character education will also be necessary.”
“Wow, I guess that’ll be up to me.”
“Are you teasing me?”
“Why would I? It’s not something the King of the Slums should do, right?”
“How long…”
“Until the Pirate King comes to her senses?”
Giggles echoed throughout the chapel.
Now that his mind was finally at ease, Renee embraced him and laughed.
Everything would be okay.
The two spent a long time in the chapel, comforting each other.
And so, after spending five months without incident, the day of delivery finally arrived.