If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Side Story 11

“Young Master Theo!”

Georgiana, who had been picking flowers in the garden for an arrangement, smiled when she heard the nanny’s voice.

Judging by how frantically he was being called, it was clear that Theo had hidden himself again.

Neither his mother nor father had been particularly mischievous as children, yet Theo was unusually adventurous and capable of getting into trouble in the blink of an eye.

What’s more, he had inherited Locke’s stamina, and even at just four years old, he ran with exceptional energy.

Georgiana took off her gardening gloves for a moment and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the handkerchief she had taken from her bosom.

Though it was June, the sun was blazing.

It seemed the summer heat had arrived earlier than usual this year.

One possible reason for the heat, she thought, might be the changes in her own body. Georgiana looked down at her rounded belly.

She was in the final stages of pregnancy, and the baby would be born soon. But unlike when she had carried Theo, her belly wasn’t as big.

Because of that, Locke was convinced the baby must be a girl and was full of anticipation. Theo, too, after hearing his father’s wish, had clasped his small hands together and prayed for a cute little sister.

With the two men making such a fuss, Georgiana had begun to worry that the second child might turn out to be a boy after all.

“But where did that boy go?”

Georgiana straightened her back and looked around.

She knew Theo never went far when he hid—he always stayed close to his nanny or to her.

After one time when he had hidden in Locke’s study and fallen asleep, causing the entire estate to be thrown into chaos, Theo had stopped hiding in places that were hard to find.

He liked to play pranks, but he was a clever child.

Sure enough.

Georgiana barely suppressed a laugh as she saw a slight rustling in the nearby bushes.

After checking once more that nothing dangerous was nearby, she cautiously approached the child.

She gestured to the nanny, who was looking around at the garden entrance, and pointed to where the child was hiding.

Relieved, the nanny stood on tiptoe and followed her in.

Before long, they found Theo hiding near the stalks of a digitalis plant, which was just about to bloom. The stalks were nearly a meter tall, making it easy to conceal the child’s small body.

“Theo!”

Georgiana deliberately raised her voice sternly as she pulled the child to his feet.

His face was flushed pink from the midday sun.

Just how much had he run around the garden? His dark blue hair—so much like Locke’s—was covered in dust.

When his eyes, bluer than the lake, sparkled up at her, Georgiana felt her chest fill with overwhelming affection.

Theo gave her a shy smile.

He already seemed to know what his strongest weapon was.

The way he smiled with his eyes half-closed already melted her heart, but thinking of how the nanny had to struggle every time, Georgiana resolved to properly scold him this time.

“I told you that hiding without saying anything isn’t a good thing.”

“But if I say something before I hide, it’s not fun anymore.”

Theo pouted his lips in a sulky expression.

For a four-year-old, Theo spoke surprisingly well and had no trouble expressing himself.

This was likely due to Angus, who visited the estate every day to see his great-grandchild.

Angus, having decided to lavish all the love he hadn’t been able to give Georgiana in her childhood, hadn’t missed a single day since Theo’s birth.

Locke, overwhelmed by the added chaos, had reached the peak of his complaints, but he couldn’t stop Angus, whose greatest happiness was seeing his great-grandchild.

Thanks to Angus visiting daily since he was a baby, and even starting to teach him royal and political studies early on, Theo’s eloquence grew more fluent by the day.

Though they had left the Empire, the title of Duke still remained, and Angus hoped to pass it on to Theo.

Locke’s title of Count was still valid as well, so including the titles from Georgiana’s family, Theo was already set to inherit several noble ranks in the future.

It felt incredibly innocent and sweet that such a child’s favorite game was hide-and-seek.

“More important than fun is not making Mom worry. Especially for the sake of the pretty baby sister in her belly.”

At some point, Locke had approached and kissed Georgiana on the cheek, then lifted Theo into one arm.

The way he brushed off the dirt from Theo’s hair and knees was so practiced, it was clearly familiar.

“Okay, I understand.”

Hearing that it was for the sake of his little sister, Theo nodded with a serious expression.

For a moment, he looked just like Locke, and Georgiana couldn’t continue scolding him and burst into laughter.

Even his puzzled expression in response to her laugh was identical to Locke’s.

Georgiana was deeply happy that she could laugh at such small things now.

***

A few days later, at dawn.

Georgiana awoke feeling a faint contraction.

Since she had carried the baby to full term, the midwife was already residing with them in preparation for labor at any time.

Thinking she should have a maid notify the midwife, she slowly sat up.

Though Locke had been fast asleep, the small movement beside him caused him to open his eyes wide.

He reached out and rubbed her belly as he asked, “Are the contractions starting?”

Georgiana gave a small nod and softly replied, “It’s still mild, I think.”

Locke immediately sat up in bed. “I’ll go get the midwife. The doctor said the second will come much quicker than Theo did.”

With Theo, she had labored for nearly half a day. This time, they hoped the birth would be easier.

He rushed out of the room, and shortly after, the midwife entered.

After gently examining Georgiana’s condition, the midwife spoke in a warm voice, “It’s still the early stage, but we should be ready. As I mentioned before, second children often come very shortly after the real contractions begin.”

Locke, who had returned to the room by then, paced nervously at the midwife’s words.

His face was full of tension.

Seeing him like that, Georgiana burst into laughter. “It’s not your first time—why are you so nervous?”

Looking sheepish, he answered, “Because your life and the baby’s are at stake.”

Georgiana grasped his tightly clenched hand and said confidently, “It’s alright. Locke, you’re here. I’ll do just fine.”

***

“Freya, are you done eating?”

Georgiana looked down at the baby and fastened her unbuttoned blouse.

With her small head of golden hair, Freya didn’t eat much, so feedings didn’t take long.

Georgiana gently held the baby and gave her a light pat on the back. Before long, a soft burp escaped.

Freya, who always grew sleepy right after eating, yawned the moment she released Georgiana’s breast this time too.

Georgiana handed the baby to the waiting nanny.

Even when Freya was sleeping, she had to visit Theo to make sure he didn’t feel neglected.

Once the nanny left with the baby for the nursery, Georgiana, on her way to Theo’s room, suddenly noticed the front of her blouse was soaked.

Because Freya didn’t eat much, she always had leftover milk. Sure enough, when she unbuttoned it again, her chest was drenched. Even as she watched, milk dripped down.

Georgiana walked to the dresser, took out the handkerchief she had folded there, and wiped her chest.

Seeing how swollen it was, she felt like she’d come down with mastitis soon.

Would she have to rely on Locke’s help again?

Recalling the mortifying situation from last time, Georgiana blushed.

Knock knock.

“It’s me.”

As if he’d read her thoughts, Locke came looking for her.

Not having had time to change, Georgiana quickly covered the wet spot with her hand and opened the door.

“You’re home already?”

At her question, Locke nodded.

The sun was still high outside the window.

Recently, Locke had been so busy he barely had time to rest after being reappointed Vice President alongside her grandfather at everyone’s recommendation.

It was unusual for him to come this early, so Georgiana tilted her head in curiosity.

“I wanted to see you and our Freya who looks so much like you, so I rushed to finish work. And… it seems I made the right choice.”

His eyes gleamed as they landed on the wet front of her blouse.