Chapter 138 - Epilogue 3.1: Small yet big changes (2/2)
Beatrice quickly started to laugh. Liliana smiled at first but soon started to cry. Bina became shocked at Liliana’s tears. She put the rattle down and handed the baby to the nanny, who took her to the next room.
Bina sat down with Liliana at the tea table and asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“…”
Liliana shook her head quietly, but she couldn’t stop crying. Bina felt awkward and all she could do was to hold Liliana’s hand and wait for her to explain.
It was the right decision. After crying silently for a long time, Liliana finally stopped and calmed down.
Bina asked again thoughtfully, “I’m not sure what is wrong, but… If you want, won’t you tell me? There is a saying in my homeland: if you share sadness, it shrinks, while when you share happiness, it doubles.”
“…”
After a long hesitation, Liliana finally answered, “Two days ago… I called for a doctor because I wasn’t feeling well. And… I was told that I am with child.” Her voice was trembling nervously.
Bina was surprised. “How wonderful…! Congratulations.”
Liliana shook her head sadly. She wasn’t crying anymore, but she still looked very distressed.
“… No. I realize it is a good thing, but… I felt fearful rather than happy.”
“Pardon?”
Bina couldn’t understand. She knew women could get emotional during pregnancy. In fact, she was as well, but Liliana’s reaction was unusual.
“I… am scared. I know with the birth of the princess, my sisters and I automatically lost our positions in line for the throne. So… I know there won’t be any more tragedies, but… I hope bad things don’t happen again, but…”
“Princess Liliana… I mean Marchioness.”
Bina finally understood what Liliana feared. She tried her best to make Liliana feel better. Liliana looked just like the way she was when Katleyanira was still alive. Liliana used to be always anxious and timid, but after her mother’s death and the marriage to her love, she seemed to have recovered from her traumatic childhood. However, now… She was back to her nervous self before the rebellion.
“Liliana…”
“…”
Bina felt sad at how Liliana couldn’t even feel happy for her baby out of fear. She held Liliana’s hand.
“Liliana.”
“… Yes.”
“You aren’t Katleyanira, right?”
“…”
“Look at Princess Roselia. She is growing up to be a happy, innocent, young woman, and it is all thanks to you.”
“Do you… think so?”
“Yes. You will never become a mother like Katleyanira, so please don’t be so worried.”
Liliana patted her still-flat belly and murmured, “I’m still… afraid. This baby has my mother’s blood. It doesn’t matter what the baby’s legal name is on a piece of paper… You can’t erase blood.” Liliana’s red hair shined sadly. “That is why… I’m afraid. If this baby resembles my mother even a little bit…”
Even Bina flinched at the thought.
The kingdom was enjoying a long-awaited stability and with Princess Beatrice’s birth, the royal family now had a legitimate heir.
However, unfortunately, she gave birth to a princess and not a prince. Because there had never been a female ruler, things were still very uncertain.
On top of that, the mortality rate of newborns was very high in this world. Normally, any empress would have tried to have as many children as possible, but Lucretius was firm on not having any more children after seeing Bina’s difficulty in giving birth to their princess.
Bina felt uncertain, and she understood why Liliana felt anxious. However, despite it all, Bina wasn’t overly worried. Bina smiled gently but confidently as she said to Liliana.
“There is no need to worry.”
“… Your highness.”
“I am not worried at all. Think about it. A baby raised by you can never be anything like Katleyanira. You, a kind and gentle woman, will never let that happen.” Bina wiped Liliana’s tears and continued, “So don’t worry about a thing and get ready to have your beautiful baby. Whenever you feel anxious, just go and nag your husband.”
“… alright.”
Liliana finally smiled. She looked so lovely and sad that Bina started to get angry at Clodys.
What was he doing, making his wife feel this upset?
“Did you tell your husband yet?”
Liliana shook her head. “… As soon as I heard the news, I became so anxious that I didn’t have the courage to tell Clodys.”
Bina said to her firmly, “When you return, that is the first thing you need to do. Also, tell him how anxious you feel. Talking about it make you feel better, right?” Liliana nodded as Bina continued, “When you tell your husband, you will feel even better, so don’t suffer alone. Now, look at you. Your makeup is ruined.”
“… T, thank you, your highness for listening to me.”