Returning to the bedroom, Yustia fidgeted in her seat with no composure. The thumbnail bitten in the fray was on the verge of bleeding.

Nevertheless, Yustia seemed not to feel any pain. Her face was just filled with anxiety.

“…Caliph.”

Yustia quietly muttered the name she had heard from Rellia a little while ago. Her memory wasn’t particularly good, but even so, it was an extremely unfamiliar name. It was unmistakably the first time she had heard it.

Yet, what prevented her from letting go of her anxiety was Rellia’s explanation that followed the unfamiliar name.

[Her Highness, the Princess, mentioned the Crown Prince while looking at His Highness, the Crown Prince. She called him ‘Cal,’ saying it was an affectionate nickname. It’s not related to His Highness’s name at all, and even if I mistakenly heard it, when Her Highness, the Princess, mentioned the nickname ‘Cal,’ her expression was so vivid and affectionate. I’m sure I didn’t mishear it.]

Rellia’s expression as she conveyed the not-so-brief story was impeccably innocent. It seemed to be nothing but a vivid recounting of what happened last night.

“But if that’s true, it’s not a problem that can be easily overlooked…”

Yustia, who had stopped her fidgeting steps, closed her eyes. Suddenly, a severe headache struck. Pressing her temples did nothing; there was no relief.

Instead, events from more than a decade ago became even more vivid.

[“Soon, you will be able to meet the child that Her Majesty is carrying.”]

Before the onset of excruciating pain, Dwayne, who had visited the Empress’s palace, spoke as he gazed at the ship he had summoned. Both his expression and tone were remarkably calm, but strangely, Yustia felt a threat from Dwayne.

[“You must have an heir who can follow behind the Emperor, Your Majesty.”]

Once again, Dwayne’s insistent and lustful demand flowed out. Just that alone made Yustia feel a suffocating sensation.

She hoped for the baby in her belly to be a son as well, but it wasn’t that she disliked having a daughter.

Whether it was a daughter or a son, it was a precious child to Yustia. However, when Dwayne’s words continued, Yustia felt a sense of crisis that if she didn’t give birth to a son, something significant would go wrong.

The tension that had come once didn’t easily subside. Using her condition as an excuse, she ended her session with Dwayne. Even after Dwayne left, her settled condition didn’t easily return.

A headache set in, and chills came over her. Apparently not feeling well, she lay down on the bed to rest. Shortly after that, labor pains began.

The indescribable pain continued, and from that point on, she couldn’t recall how much time had passed, who the busy people around her were, or even a single person’s face.

It was such a dreadful pain, and at the end, Yustia could hear the loud crying of a baby boy.
Even in the midst of a hazy and bewildering situation that seemed to make her lose consciousness at any moment, the baby’s crying was clear, and Yustia couldn’t help but think that she had finally succeeded. Along with it came a sense of relief that she wouldn’t feel threatened by Dwayne.

However, it was short-lived. The pain, which she thought had ended, began again. The maids who were guarding the surroundings were equally bewildered by Yustia’s condition.

Everyone watched the Empress’s labor unexpectedly continue amidst unprecedented chaos, and they did their best to help her.

And then, the second cry followed shortly.

Yustia was on the verge of fainting twice due to the consecutive pains, but she vividly remembered the cries of the two babies. And she precisely understood what it meant.

So, she couldn’t think of anything, couldn’t say anything.

In that moment, the door opened rudely, and Dwayne revealed himself.

[“What… what in the world…!”]

Dwayne couldn’t continue his words due to shock. Looking at him like that, Yustia felt an inexpressible fear.

Finally thinking that she had accomplished something that could provoke Dwayne, this situation was worse than giving birth to a daughter. However, they had no time to ponder and find the best solution.

Dwayne, who briefly surveyed the surroundings with a confused face, approached Yustia, who was lying beside him like a lifeless body. Then, with a face devoid of any vitality, he spoke to Yustia.

[“Make a choice.”] [“A, a choice…”] [“Choose who to save between the two.”] [“Father! H-how could you say such a thing…!!”] [“Twin babies are a disaster. It’s certain that both babies won’t escape death, and you, too, won’t receive the same treatment as before as the Empress. Nevertheless, if you don’t mind, do as you wish.”]

Yustia couldn’t even breathe. Dwayne, who obediently agreed to her wishes, had never been seen before. The first time he spoke like a father, Dwayne was nothing more than a Duke driven by ambition.

Realizing that fact, Yustia felt her breath being cut off as if she would die. However, even in such a moment, the cries of the two babies were extending outside the Empress’s palace, and she had no time.