Even If Flowers Bloom on a Broken Branch - Chapter 106

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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106.
At first, it was bearable.
Her abdomen tightened securely, and a heavy ache repeatedly surged from deep within her waist before receding. And soon enough, what she had deemed bearable crumbled into pieces.
Lee Yeon gritted her teeth, catching her breath as she laid her back against the floor.
“It is almost time, Mama. Match your breathing.”
The Female Physician’s voice felt as though it were echoing from somewhere far beyond her consciousness.
Lee Yeon tried to nod, but her neck had stiffened so rigidly that it would not move properly. The pristine white cloth clutched in her hand grew slick, drenched in sweat.
Then, the pain suddenly plunged far deeper.
“……!”
Her breath caught in her throat.
Lee Yeon’s eyes flew wide open. It felt as if her waist were snapping in two from the inside. The pulling agony, tearing from within, surged straight to the crown of her head in an instant.
“Ugh……!”
As Lee Yeon let out a sharp breath, the Female Physicians held onto her all at once.
“Mama, your breath—you must take long breaths!”
Before the Female Physician could even finish her sentence, the second wave crashed over her.
This time was different from before. Before the thought that she could not endure it could even cross her mind, her body reacted. A scream burst from Lee Yeon’s mouth.
“Aaaagh—!!”
The sound sliced sharply through the air. The shriek traveled along the walls, echoing through Daehee Palace, passing the main wooden hall and spreading across the entire courtyard.
Jinyul, who had been standing outside the delivery room ever since Lee Yeon’s labor began, buried his head in both hands.
“…….”
His lips were completely parched, and no words would come out.
It had already been quite some time since he dismissed the entire Royal Court meeting and stood before the delivery room.
Jinyul took a single step across the main wooden hall and stopped, then turned around to walk a few more paces before stopping once again. He did this dozens, hundreds of times. The wood of the veranda hall was on the verge of being worn away.
“Your Majesty, this is a matter where no one can gauge when they will emerge. Please enter Geonhwijeon.”
The Sangseon carefully advised him, but Jinyul shook his head.
“No.”
He stared at the doors. Beyond the closed doors, another scream burst forth.
“Ah! Aaaagh!!”
This time, it was not short.
The painful groans, continuing as if her breath would cut short, caused Jinyul’s eyes to turn bloodshot. His hands trembled violently.
‘If only I could take her place.’
The thought choked him. His heart tightened.
Even though he had become King, even though he had ascended to a position that made tens of thousands kneel, the fact that he could do absolutely nothing at this very moment tormented him to the point of madness.
He could do nothing else but stand rigidly in this place, listening to the screams of the one he loved.
“Damn it…….”
Jinyul gritted his teeth. He made a firm resolution.
‘Never again, I will never let her suffer this kind of pain again.’
This single time was enough. No, it was more than enough; it was overwhelmingly heart-wrenching.
Just then, Hong Ran’s voice could be heard from inside.
“Mama, it is alright. You are doing wonderfully right now. Open your eyes!”
“You must exhale, exhale. Do not inhale—breathe out!”
Was she not breathing?
Jinyul wanted to kick open that door and burst inside this instant. He was truly barely holding himself back.
“Lee Yeon, please…….”
He bit his lip, looking up at the sky.
And at that moment, Lee Yeon was pulling the cloth with all her might.
Her vision grew blurry. The faces of the Female Physicians overlapped. The ceiling seemed to tilt, and the room felt as though it were spinning around.
‘Even when I drank the Royal Poison…… it was like this.’
The thought suddenly occurred to her.
Back then, too, her insides had burned like this. The sensation of every single organ melting down, even breathing was agony.
‘But it is different now.’
This pain did not head toward death. Rather, it was the pain of bringing forth life.
“Mama! You must stay conscious!”
Lee Yeon barely managed to open her eyes.
“Ran…… ah.”
“Yes, I am right here. His Majesty is also waiting anxiously outside. Please, find your strength.”
Those few words held her fast like an anchor. Lee Yeon gritted her teeth once more.
As if it had been waiting for that exact moment, a violent pang pierced through her body once again.
“……!”
This time, not even a sound could escape. Along with a silent scream, Lee Yeon’s body arched violently.
The Female Physicians shouted in unison.
“It is now. Push!”
“Mama!”
Hong Ran supported Lee Yeon’s shoulders. Beads of sweat formed and rolled down the lady’s forehead.
Lee Yeon poured out everything. Her breath, her voice, her consciousness—all became distant. The only thing she could hear in her ears was the pounding of her own heart.
And then,
“Waaah—!”
A robust and resounding cry ripped through the air.
At that moment, Jinyul, who had been standing anxiously outside, snapped his head up.
“Congratulations. It is the Wonja!”
“……!”
His body reacted first. He took a step toward the doors. His breath felt as if it had stopped.
Just then, a Female Physician shouted from inside once more.
“Not yet! Mama, not yet!”
Jinyul’s heart plunged once again. His hands shook.
And once more,
“Waaah!”
A second cry was heard. It was a slightly more shrill cry.
“It is another Prince!”
Jinyul almost slumped to the floor right there. But before he could even catch his breath in relief, Lee Yeon’s scream burst out from inside the room again. This time, it was almost a sob.
“Ha…… ah!”
At the faint groan that sounded as if her breath would break off, Jinyul was right on the verge of opening the door. He wanted to shout that it was enough now, to tell her to stop.
“Mama! This is the last one! Just a little more!”
Lee Yeon bit her lip hard. She tasted the metallic tang of blood.
‘The last.’
Lee Yeon held onto those words amidst her fading consciousness.
‘Just a little more.’
Tears spilled over. It was impossible to tell whether they were from pain or from joy.
“Ugh……!”
Hardly any voice came out. Lee Yeon squeezed out the last of her strength. She gripped the cloth and tightly shut her eyes.
“It is coming!”
A brief silence descended. It was a momentary void devoid of screams, cries, or shouts.
And then,
“Waaah!”
A third cry burst forth.
It was smaller than the previous two, but it was a high-pitched cry.
Immediately following that, a Female Physician shouted in a voice soaked with joy.
“It is a Princess, Mama. Truly, congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
It happened simultaneously. The doors flew open. At the sight of Jinyul rushing straight inside, the Female Physicians hurriedly rose from their spots.
Entering the room at a near-run, Jinyul knelt beside Lee Yeon without delay.
“Lee Yeon……!”
Lee Yeon’s face was deathly pale. Her hair was soaked in sweat, clinging to her forehead, and her lips were swollen from how hard she had bitten them. It was a haggard face, yet in Jinyul’s eyes, she looked more beautiful than ever before. She was exceedingly lovely.
And belatedly, beside her, he saw three small babies wrapped in white cloth.
“Your Majesty…….”
Hong Ran held one of the children and offered it toward Jinyul. Her eyes were also red and bloodshot.
“It is a beautiful youngest Princess.”
Jinyul could not say anything. Stretching out his trembling hands, he carefully took the child into his arms.
The baby was small and warm. Tears came down. They welled up and dampened his cheeks before he could even try to hold them back.
He lowered his head and kissed Lee Yeon’s forehead.
“Thank you…….”
His throat choked up, preventing his words from coming out properly.
“Thank you…… so truly.”
For giving these children to me, and for not leaving my side.
On that day, Lee Yeon and Jinyul gained three lives. It was the priceless reward of a labor that would happen only once in their lives, never to occur again.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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