Tears of a Knight, Labor Pains of the Principal Wife, and the Chain of Blessings
Following the birth of Kina’s healthy baby boy, Akio’s town once again erupted in celebration over the arrival of new life. This time, it was the proud knight of Eldria, Leonora, who was giving birth. Enduring labor with the unyielding strength of a true knight, and under the devoted care of midwife Martha, Ayane, and Celestina, she safely delivered a healthy baby girl with a strong cry. For Akio, this was his second child, and the joy he felt was beyond words.
However, Leonora’s recovery took far longer than anyone expected. Perhaps it was because of her years of rigorous knightly training and constant strain, or simply that pregnancy and childbirth were a challenge her body had never known before. Sylvia brewed a special medicinal bath, while Ayane and Celestina tended to her day and night, but even so, Leonora was tormented by high fever and exhaustion for several days.
“Princess… Akio-dono… forgive me… This Leonora has been so… shamefully weak…”
Even feverish, she tried to apologize to her liege and husband. Akio and Celestina could only hold her hand gently and pray for her recovery.
Before Leonora had even recovered, new tension and excitement filled Akio’s “nest of love.” Sylvia, the principal wife, had gone into labor. As an elf, her pregnancy had lasted a bit longer than a human’s, and her belly hadn’t shown much until past the tenth month—but in the past few weeks, it had grown rapidly, her radiant figure inspiring awe in all who saw her.
“Akio…! I think… it’s started…!”
Sweat beaded on Sylvia’s brow as her beautiful face twisted between pain and anticipation. Akio—his black hair still gleaming with youthful shine—fought to keep calm and ran to call Martha and Ayane.
At the same time, the entire town was swept up in an unprecedented baby boom. Whether it was the sacred power of the Tree of Life, the blessings of the hot springs, or simply the fruit of peaceful, abundant living, reports of pregnancies and births poured in from the refugee couples who had recently joined the village.
“Chief! Looks like my wife’s expecting too!”
“Akio-sama, the child we had last month has already grown this big!”
As a result, Alto, Kenta, and Dolgan’s construction teams were crying tears of joy and exhaustion alike. With requests piling up for home expansions and new houses for growing families, the sawmill was running full throttle, and new tools forged from Akio Steel showed their worth. The sounds of celebration and hammers building the future rang continuously through the town.
Amid this vibrant bustle, Akio’s first family—Miko and Yume—were growing up healthy and strong.
Miko, now thirteen to fourteen, was diligently studying herbal medicine under Sylvia and Ayane. Her delicate sensitivity and kindness led her to care for sick villagers and animals, and her simple herbal baths were becoming known for their surprising effectiveness. Her relationship with Alto was one of quiet affection—neither too close nor distant—and everyone in the village watched over them with gentle smiles.
Yume, now twelve to thirteen, was bright and friendly as ever, volunteering to help care for the newborns. No matter how fussy a baby was, she could soothe them instantly. Kenta watched her with a mixture of embarrassment and pride he couldn’t quite hide.
And then there was Ayane. Now eighteen, she had fully grown into her role as the first wife and leader among the women of the village. Acting as Martha’s assistant during deliveries, using her herbal knowledge learned from Sylvia to care for expectant mothers, and supporting Akio by his side more than anyone else—her days were busy but fulfilling. Her radiant expression had become more beautiful than ever, and her affectionate gaze toward Akio could no longer be concealed. Every time he felt her eyes on him, warmth bloomed in his chest.
Praying for Leonora’s recovery and awaiting Sylvia’s childbirth, Akio watched as the village overflowed with new life and hope for the future. His town had truly entered a season of blessings.
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