The Cursed Beast Caught My Leash - Side Story 9

Islay, gently stroking Stella’s belly with his free hand, suddenly paused.

“……”

He subtly furrowed his brow and looked down at the rounded curve.

“What’s wrong?”

It was still early in the pregnancy to feel fetal movement. But Islay, when sharpening his senses, could perceive soundwaves too subtle for the average person. Just a moment ago, he was sure—

“It was faint, but I felt something knocking inside you.”

“Knocking?”

“Like this.”

He tapped Stella’s hand in a steady rhythm with his fingertips. Stella blinked her round eyes and gasped with excitement.

“Could that be… the baby’s heartbeat?”

“Heartbeat?”

“At this stage, the baby’s internal organs are starting to function. You have such extraordinary senses, so it wouldn’t be impossible for you to detect a faint heartbeat.”

Again, listen again. Quickly. Stella, excited, grabbed Islay’s hand and urged him. He quietly brought his ear to her belly and listened in silence.

The wave was so faint, he couldn’t be sure. But if it wasn’t just his imagination… it felt like there were two distinct pulses.

Islay met Stella’s gaze as she clutched his hand tightly. Her pure golden eyes sparkled with anticipation.

***

Islay debated for a long time whether to tell Stella about his uncertain suspicion. He feared that if she hoped for twins and only one was born, the disappointment would be too great.

But as time passed and Stella’s belly grew noticeably larger than that of other pregnant women, the doctor’s opinion began to suggest a multiple pregnancy. That gave him the courage to finally tell her.

As expected. Stella, who had long yearned for a baby, was overjoyed.

“Now we don’t have to argue over whether the baby looks like you or me. If each takes after one of us, that’s perfect.”

“……”

“You’re so greedy, Islay. Do you want both to look like me?”

“I didn’t say anything, Estella.”

“Your face said it all.”

“We’re both facing forward right now.”

“I don’t need to look at you to know.”

On a picturesque autumn day by the frozen lake, Islay had made every preparation to bring her here, all because she’d said the morning breeze felt refreshing.

They laid a thick blanket on the grassy bank before the lake where crimson leaves floated gently, and with Stella nestled between his legs, Islay busily fed her fruit as they enjoyed a peaceful picnic.

“The amazing thing is, the man who read our cards at the tavern in Nortelli wasn’t a fraud.”

“It was just a lucky guess.”

“He got two things right. He said the wife would be more proactive about having children, and that we’d have twins.”

“So much for my plan of only having one.”

“Be happy! Even from inside the womb, they’re taking after Mom and Dad equally and already being good.”

“You’re saying that, but I don’t think they’re listening.”

Stella turned her head to glance at Islay with a beaming smile. The breeze softly rippled her golden hair. Whenever she smiled at him, even if he’d been teasing her just before, he’d lose himself, utterly enchanted.

“Oh, the babies just moved!”

Stella quickly guided Islay’s hand to her belly. Ever since she’d begun to feel movement, she would seize every chance to exploit her husband’s keen senses.

“See what our babies are saying.”

“Estella… Our babies can’t talk yet.”

“Still, you can feel something, can’t you?”

As if he had no choice, his large hands caressed her round, protruding belly.

“It’s just… thumping.”

“And?”

After a brief silence, Islay sighed.

“Hearing your voice makes their heartbeats faster. Like they’re excited. They must really like you…”

“Are they still thumping now?”

“Yeah.”

“Then they must like Daddy too.”

Though he’d long since lost his inner sight, Stella spoke with such certainty, as if she had no doubt at all. Islay unconsciously held his breath.

The woman he loved more than life. And their children. Beings he’d never even dared to dream of. And now, he held them all in one arm. Even now, it felt like a lie.

Everything around him filled his heart with overwhelming joy. As Stella naturally leaned back against him and placed her hand over his, Islay exhaled a soft breath. Even now, tiny beings fluttered beneath his palm.

“…Don’t hurt Mom, and come out healthy.”

With a low, resonant voice, he awkwardly greeted the small lives for the first time. Stella giggled, shoulders shaking, and the movement beneath his hand responded with a strong squirm, as if answering their father.

***

On the first day of the Resting Festival, a time when the people of Calis pray for peace and blessings, Stella went into labor.

Though they had prepared thoroughly in advance, it was inevitable to feel nervous, as twins are often born earlier than average.

Even with the assistance of the doctor who had cared for Stella since the early stages of her pregnancy and a seasoned midwife said to have delivered enough children to fill a city, the tension was no different.

An entire day passed, and only after Islay’s insides had burned with unbearable anxiety did the delivery room finally resound with the loud cries of newborns.

“The babies… Are our babies healthy?”

With a complexion pale enough to faint at any moment, Stella asked for the twins first. In truth, Islay didn’t even register what the babies looked like, nor could he clearly hear their cries.

Was he really destined to have two children? He didn’t want to go through this twice, so in a way, he was glad she had twins.

“Islay?”

Islay, stroking Stella’s cold fingers, swept back her sweat-drenched hair and busily checked her pulse. Only after vividly confirming that she was breathing did he have the presence of mind to look at the babies.

“The one who bravely came into the world first is the prince. The one who followed vigorously after is the princess.”

“Both of them…”

Both twins had inherited his smooth black hair. On closer inspection, some of their features resembled Stella’s, but it was hard to be sure since they had just been born.

First, Islay gave an answer to ease Stella’s concern.

“Don’t worry. They both look perfectly healthy.”

“Ah… What a relief.”

“My! How amazing. The prince looks exactly like his father!”

The midwife, cradling the firstborn son, exclaimed with admiration. When Islay lowered his gaze, his eyes met his son’s vividly gleaming red eyes. Identical hues of eyes briefly watched one another.

“Waaah.”

Apparently displeased by something, the boy began to cry. At that, the elderly doctor checking Stella’s pulse barked out a warning without hesitation.

“My lord! You must treat the newborn with care, how could you glare at him like that?”

“That’s not it, madam. He just has sharp eyes, that’s all…”

While Stella, who had just given birth, hastily defended Islay, the midwife handed the crying firstborn into his arms.

Islay, holding his son wrapped in a pure white swaddle, awkwardly rocked him. He was so tiny and light it barely felt like he was holding anything, especially in Islay’s broad arms.

Once the sobbing boy calmed down, the midwife brought over the slightly smaller daughter.

“Would you like to hold your daughter too?”

She had dazzling golden eyes like morning stars, just like Stella. Her tightly clenched fist gave her a rather stubborn look. Islay cautiously accepted his daughter, a fragile being so small, soft, and impossibly warm.

The couple, each holding one child—son and daughter—faced one another. On Stella’s pale face bloomed a joy that overflowed.

“Hello, little ones. Welcome to the world.”

Mommy and Daddy will love you very much. Stella greeted them softly, her voice filled with the strength to do anything.

Stella had taught him the value he never knew when he was alone, the courage and will to protect someone precious.

And now, with the number of lives more precious than his own tripled, perhaps even this overwhelming, distant feeling would become the will to protect them. That will, as Stella once said, might one day become the joy that would fulfill his life.

“Thank you, Estella. You did so well.”

At last, Islay kissed Stella’s forehead and managed to speak with a true voice.