Liz had wanted to go to the bathroom for a while now. It was that feeling when your lower abdomen felt heavy! However, leaving the seat during the coronation ceremony, with numerous courtiers watching, especially leaving the seat because of a menstrual phenomenon, felt inappropriate for the Empress.

‘Endure it. Hold on.’

Wrapping her increasingly heavy belly discreetly, Liz crossed her legs under the full dress. And she hoped the coronation ceremony would end quickly.

But the audacious banter between Hersis and Isshar didn’t seem to come to an end.

“If you have difficulties, please let me know anytime. I know better than anyone how difficult the early years of reign can be.”

“Well, I rather think you wouldn’t know that well.”

Hersis’s eyes became fierce at Isshar’s response. He lowered his voice.

“You cheeky guy. Now that you’re a king?”

“Think about it. I’ve been like this long before becoming a king.”

Surprised by the sudden condescension, Hersis, while widening his eyes, found it amusing.

Now he felt like they were truly uncomplicated friends.

“Okay. Try doing it well alone. Don’t cry and ask for help later.”

“You’re the one who needs help. I hope you don’t send me away.”

Because the two spoke in such hushed voices, others couldn’t imagine the exchange of such disrespectful words between them.

Meanwhile, cold sweat broke out on Liz’s forehead, who was glancing at the clock.

‘Just endure for ten more minutes. If it doesn’t end by then, I’ll sweep away my dignity or whatever.’

Liz promised herself. Actually, enduring for five minutes was challenging, but she couldn’t allow herself to go straight to the bathroom. And there was a thought that perhaps it wouldn’t end soon.

Thinking it was the last moment, she endured while holding her breath.

The heavy feeling that seemed to subside for a moment subtly returned. The sensation of pressing on her lower abdomen was stronger than before…

Splash!

Along with the feeling of something bursting, warm liquid started to flow down her legs!

Liz’s first thought was, ‘What should I do?’

Because she thought she had been impolite. However, it didn’t take long for her to properly grasp the situation.

It wasn’t rudeness; it was the water breaking!

‘The baby decided it was time for me to come out.’

The time Sanpa mentioned was now.

“Um, Your Majesty…”

Liz quietly called Hersis, but he didn’t hear her, being engrossed in enjoying Isshar and Sadam.

During that time, the feeling of splash came again, and this time, there was quite a lot of amniotic fluid. The floor was soaked.

“Hers!”

As Liz urgently shouted, Hersis turned around. And Isshar, along with others, also looked at the empress.
In the midst of everyone’s attention, Liz, with a perplexed expression, chewed her lips and said, “I think it’s time.” As if not understanding her sudden realization, Hersis looked momentarily puzzled. Then…

“Wrap your arm around my neck. Quickly.”

Approaching in a stride, Hersis lifted Liz. Isshar stepped aside, and the courtiers split to the sides, expressing both worry and anticipation.

Liz, nestled in Hersis’s arms, looked back.

The floor where she had been standing was dyed dark in the shape of the continent on the map. It was a quite extensive area.

‘That’s the amniotic fluid!’

Suddenly, a real sense of reality struck her. With the thought of experiencing the pain of childbirth that she had only heard of, fear overwhelmed her.

Her body involuntarily trembled. Sensing this, Hersis said, “Don’t worry; I’ll be right here.”

It was such a sweet comfort that Liz’s trembling subsided a bit.

However…

The words “I’ll be here” did not mean being in the waiting room next to the delivery room but being right next to the birthing bed! Liz had no idea!

She now knew.

Looking at him, who clearly had no intention of leaving.

“Are you crazy? Get out quickly!”

Liz shouted. Hersis tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“Since I said I’d be with my wife during childbirth, why does that sound crazy?”

“Childbirth is something I can go through alone, so Your Majesty only needs to see the baby’s face… Ugh!”

The contractions, coming every five minutes, surpassed imagination.

The labor pains, felt occasionally, were nothing compared to this.

“Huaa…”

After the pain swept over for a moment, when they entered a small, restful interval, Liz said to Hersis, “Certainly, I say it clearly; there won’t be a second. This child is the end!”

Then Hersis chuckled and said, “Of course. You’re going through such a hard time, how can you think of having a second one?”

“Promise…”

“Yeah, I promise…”

“Uwaaaak!”

Before Hersis could finish his promise, an enormous contraction struck again.

Liz’s first thought was, ‘What should I do?’

Because she thought she had been impolite. However, it didn’t take long for her to properly grasp the situation.

It wasn’t rudeness; it was the water breaking!

‘The baby decided it was time for me to come out.’

The time Sanpa mentioned was now.

“Um, Your Majesty…”