I Won’t Pick Up The T*ash I Threw Away Again - Chapter 247

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

#247

“Count Aster’s labor has begun!”

With those words, the Imperial Palace was thrown into chaos.

Hes, who had been in a meeting with nobles, and Esramel, who had been preparing a victory celebration banquet, both rushed to the palace where Leilah was staying.

When they arrived at the palace, Leilah was already in the birthing chamber.

Only the court physician, priests, midwives, and maids assisting with the birth were allowed in the birthing chamber.

So neither Hes nor Esramel could enter the birthing chamber and had to wait in a separately prepared waiting room.

Hes couldn’t sit still and paced around the room restlessly.

Esramel appeared relatively calm, but that didn’t mean she was fine.

She was anxious too. Leilah’s labor had started a full month earlier than the due date.

While first births often come earlier than expected, a month was too early.

Could something be wrong?

Suddenly worried, Esramel thought she needed to see the court physician immediately and stood up abruptly.

But someone moved before her – it was Hes.

“Is Count Aster alright?”

Before Esramel could fully stand, Hes rushed outside and grabbed a maid who had just come out of the birthing chamber.

Esramel, who followed him out, also pressed the maid for an answer.

One was a prince who would soon become emperor, and the other was an imperial princess and duchess.

“I, I, I, I…”

Unable to even look directly at these two intimidating figures, the maid stammered helplessly.

Just as Esramel was about to scold the frustratingly tongue-tied maid, the court physician came out.

Hes and Esramel’s attention immediately shifted to the court physician.

“How is the Count’s condition?”

This time Esramel asked. Unlike the flustered maid, the court physician answered immediately.

“We were worried because the labor came earlier than expected, but there are no other abnormalities.”

“Aaah!”

Before the court physician could finish speaking, Leilah’s piercing scream came through the tightly closed door.

Leilah had always spoken in a gentle, quiet voice.

It was rare to see her shout or get angry.

So for her to cry out like that meant she was in tremendous pain, and Hes’s face turned pale.

“Are you sure she’s really alright?”

Esramel was also startled and pressed the court physician.

The court physician smiled awkwardly and answered.

“Most women scream like that when giving birth.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s that painful, Your Highness.”

To Hes’s question, his wet nurse, who had experience with childbirth, kindly explained.

“Giving birth is as painful as cutting living flesh with a knife.”

“Cutting living flesh with a knife…”

Just hearing about it was painful, and Hes grimaced.

Esramel had never experienced it herself, but she had heard plenty about how difficult giving birth was.

But this was her first time actually being present at such a scene.

“Ah, aaah!”

So giving birth was this agonizing.

Esramel felt respect for all mothers in the world.

“Then when will the baby come out? It’ll be soon, right?”

He asked, hoping that Leilah would be freed from that pain as quickly as possible, but the court physician mercilessly shook his head.

“The cervix has only opened a little, so it will take a long time for the baby to come out.”

“How long is ‘a long time’?”

“Well, it varies from person to person, so I can’t give you a definite answer, but the longest labor I’ve seen lasted 16 hours.”

So she would have to endure that terrible pain for as long as 16 hours?

“Are you insane?”

It was so absurd and ridiculous that Esramel cursed sincerely.

“Feeling that kind of pain for 16 hours would drive even a sane person crazy!”

Hes also shouted indignantly.

The court physician, who had only shared his experience when asked but was now being cursed at, broke out in a cold sweat and hastily added:

“Th-that case was very special, and it usually doesn’t take that long.”

“Really?”

Only then did Esramel feel slightly relieved and let out a big sigh.

“Well, I need to go to the royal infirmary for a moment, so I’ll…”

The court physician disappeared down the hallway as if fleeing.

The maid also glanced around nervously before quickly entering the birthing chamber.

“Ugh, urgh…”

From inside the still tightly closed birthing chamber came Leilah’s pained moans.

It was heartbreaking that they couldn’t do anything while she was in such pain.

“What should we do, what should we do.”

Hes repeated “what should we do” while stamping his feet, and Esramel also clasped her hands tightly in anxiety, staring at the closed door.

“It would have been nice if His Majesty were here…”

Actually, even if Kalian were there, it wouldn’t have made much difference.

It’s not like he could suffer the pain in her place.

Still, having a loved one by your side provides tremendous emotional support.

If Leilah had given birth on the due date, Kalian could have been there for her.

Esramel sighed deeply, regretting that this wasn’t the case.

Then she suddenly noticed that Hes, who had been continuously noisy, was quiet and looked at him.

She saw Hes staring blankly at something.

“What are you looking at so intently, He…!”

Following his gaze, Esramel turned her head and froze in surprise at the sight of a man standing backlit.

* * *

I could hear people talking loudly, but I was in too much pain to understand what they were saying.

I once had severe stomach pain after taking a digestive medicine made from paico, but this was several times, no, dozens of times worse than that.

Indescribable pain was felt intensely around my waist and pelvis. It was hard to even breathe.

The pain subsided intermittently, but only for a very brief moment, so there was no time to think of other things or relax.

My head was filled with thoughts of Kalian, and I didn’t have the energy for anything else.

‘I miss you, Your Majesty.’

Intense longing and sorrow came rushing in like a tide, making all my previous yearning for him seem like child’s play.

I was very resentful of him for not being by my side when I was in such pain and difficulty.

Of course, I knew I shouldn’t resent Kalian.

He hadn’t gone by choice, but because he had no other option.

For me and the child.

Furthermore, for the future of the Empire, he had made a sacrifice.

Moreover, he had done his best to keep his promise to me.

If I had given birth as scheduled, he would have stayed by my side during the delivery.

So I thought I shouldn’t resent him, but with the pain and overwhelming sorrow, that thought gradually faded.

“Sob, Kalian, Kalian…”

I dared to call the Emperor’s name while tears poured down my face.

At any other time, they would have gasped at how I could just call the Emperor’s name like that, but instead everyone comforted me, saying it was okay.

As time passed, the pain didn’t lessen but rather became more severe. My consciousness was becoming hazy.

“You mustn’t lose consciousness, Countess!”

“Just a little, just a little more strength!”

I wanted to find strength too, but I couldn’t muster any.

My mind kept alternating between going completely white and completely black.

My eyelids felt as heavy as if massive stones had been placed on them.

I tried my best to keep my eyes open, but regardless of my will, my eyelids kept drooping down.

“Kalian….”

Just as I was about to close my eyes while calling the name of the person I most wanted to see at this moment, someone grasped my hand.

Judging by how relatively large and firm the hand was, it seemed to belong to a man.

A court physician perhaps? Or a priest?

But it was strange how it was covered with calluses for that to be the case.

It was more like a hand that had gripped swords extensively.

And this familiar scent was…. Could it be?

That couldn’t be possible. He was currently conquering the Kingdom of Stella and returning to the Empire.

No matter how fast he came, he couldn’t possibly break through that vast distance in just a week…. Actually, he could.

If it was Kalian, if it was him with the ability to travel through water, it would be possible.

As that thought occurred to me, I squeezed out every ounce of strength I had to force open my reluctant eyes.

A handsome face filled my blurry vision.

After blinking several times, my focus sharpened and I could see the beautiful face more clearly.

It really was Kalian.

“How….”

“I promised, didn’t I?”

Kalian brushed back my sweat-soaked hair and smiled faintly.

“That I would return before the child was born.”

He had said that, but I never thought he would actually come.

I was surprised, happy, and also worried.

His face looked terribly gaunt.

He wasn’t going to fall into a coma again, was he?

“Ugh….”

My worry was brief as I gritted my teeth against another wave of pain.

“Your lips are getting hurt.”

Kalian slipped his long index finger between my lips.

“Bite my hand.”

Bite his hand? That was even more unthinkable.

I wanted to refuse, but I had no strength to speak and could only let out ragged breaths.

“It’s okay.”

Understanding my feelings, Kalian gripped my hand tightly with his other hand and said.

“Compared to your pain, this is nothing.”

“….”

“It’s really okay, so don’t look at me with those eyes.”

“You should leave now, Your Majesty.”

The court physician spoke respectfully to Kalian.

Kalian frowned deeply and looked at the court physician.

“I will stay here.”

“However, that goes against custom….”

“I want to be present for my child’s birth, so why are you bringing up customs?”

Even while Kalian argued with the court physician, the pain continued to ebb and flow like the tide.

Earlier I had been in pure agony and worried whether I could actually give birth, but now it was different.

I felt courage that I could do well.

And I wanted to give birth to a beautiful child as quickly as possible to show him.

Our child, who was the fruit of him and me.

“When the child is born….”

Kalian, who had been arguing with the court physician, looked at me.

“Please hold them…. first.”

Kalian’s expression momentarily clouded.

“Your child and mine…. Please hold our child first.”

With an expression that looked like he might cry at any moment, he pressed his lips to my forehead covered in cold sweat.

“Of course. I promise.”

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