Chapter 139 - Epilogue 3.2 (2/2)

“Your highness, you have dropped your bread.”

Usually, Lucretius would correct her daughter to call him dad, but he was so surprised at the unexpected news that he forgot.

“You… are pregnant?”

The respected empress Sa Bina of Cransia nodded elegantly. “Yes. I wasn’t feeling well, so I called for Regia. She assessed me and told me the news.”

Regia was Lowson’s only female student who became the empress’ and the princess’ physician. With excellent skills, she was now a respected royal doctor.

Lucretius looked confused as he gazed at his wife’s belly, which was still very flat.

“How many months?”

“She said about three months.”

Lucretius continued to stare at his wife with both happiness and fear. His beloved wife would have his baby again, so of course, he was ecstatic. However, he couldn’t help but remember the difficult time they had with the first pregnancy five years ago.

While Lucretius shuddered at the thought of her first labor, Bina helped her daughter with her dish and explained, “Next year, you will have a younger sibling.”

Beatrice thought for a second before asking her mother. “Is it like Aunt Liliana’s Cullen getting a younger sister Rose?”

Looking at her intelligent daughter proudly, Bina nodded. “Yes, you got it correctly. Would you like a younger sister or brother?”

The answer the little girl gave was a shock to both Bina and Lucretius.

“I would like it to be a younger sister because if it’s a brother, he will become the emperor.”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell in the room. Bina looked at her daughter in surprise while Lucretius asked as if he found it funny, “Why do you think that?”

Beatrice looked up at her father with the same green eyes and answered, “If it’s a younger brother, I wouldn’t even get a chance, but if it’s a sister. I might.”

This was not an answer Bina expected from a five-year-old, but Lucretius laughed loudly. “Yes. You are right.”

“You… I mean, your highness!”

Lucretius smiled at Bina’s frustrated exclaim.

“…”

They were surrounded by maids and servants, and their daughter was also present, so Bina decided to keep quiet for now.

Later when they were finally alone, Bina asked sharply, “Don’t you think that was unnecessary?”

“What are you talking about?”

Bina got frustrated at Lucretius who feigned ignorance. She knew Lucretius was very well aware of what she was talking about. He was trying to avoid the conversation, but this was important. When she heard Beatrice’s answer, her heart fell.

Bina understood this was normal in any royal families. Competing to become the heir was part of everyday life. What Beatrice said was also true, and that was why it made Bina feel fearful. The new baby would be Beatrice’s biggest competitor, especially if it was a boy. The male child would have the best chance at the crown.

Bina knew what kind of responsibilities and dangers came with the crown. She chose Lucretius despite knowing this because she was ready and willing to accept it all. However, to have her own children fight for it was not something she considered.

It wasn’t that the thought didn’t cross her mind, but she thought things would be different in her case. This was why Bina took such care while raising Beatrice. She breastfed her and made sure she and Lucretius were hands-on parents. She wanted to create a happy family she always dreamed of and Lucretius was only happy to make her wish come true.

Her children fighting over the crown was the worst possible outcome for her family, yet Lucretius seemed unconcerned.

Bina finally exploded.

“Luc!”