Riccia exited the room with Kohaku, who returned to work. Before she left, Riccia excitedly stated that she was going to make some baby clothes for the newborn. They were apparently staying at the castle until Ruri delivered her child.
Ruri was very grateful to have her parents by her side, since it was reassuring. It was her first child and had come out of nowhere, so her feelings hadn’t caught up to her yet. She was acting cheerful, but she was extremely nervous.
As if swapping in for her parents, Celestine and Padparadscha came to offer their congratulations.
“Padparadscha-san. How are you feeling?” Ruri asked.
Padparadscha smiled awkwardly. “That should be my line. I can’t believe that you were pregnant as well, Lady Beloved! When I think of how I entrusted the Nation of the Beast King’s matters to you in your condition, I cannot help but feel absolutely terrible,” she replied, looking sad.
Celestine nodded. “You can certainly say that again. What would you have done if something had happened to Jade’s child?!” Celestine was clearly upset, not because Ruri’s child was in danger, but because Jade’s child was in danger, which was very much like her. “So? How are you doing, Lady Ruri?” she asked.
“They put me on complete bed rest, but I’m doing just fine.” She was doing so well, in fact, that it was hard to believe she really was expecting a child.
“That’s good to hear, but I still can’t believe you’re going to be giving birth before Padparadscha, Lady Ruri.” Padparadscha nodded quietly in agreement.
“That’s so true. I’m the most surprised.”
“You can’t be ignorant of dragonkin biology if you’re married to one! You should have studied it much earlier!” Celestine complained like a sister-in-law.
“I mean,” Ruri started with a wry smile, “I thought it was the same as human beings. No one told me either. I never thought it’d be this different...”
“Well, it’s true the dragonkin are a tad special among demi-humans, like giving dragonhearts when they get married and whatnot.”
“A tad?” Ruri repeated, wanting to quip about it being far from a tad special.
“Anyway, since you’re due any time now, it’d be best if you drilled some of those facts into your head.”
Ruri glanced at the books by her bed for a second, meekly replying to the warning. “Yes, ma’am.”
Since Padparadscha could give birth at any moment as well, the two did not stay long. The resident doctor came to check on Ruri frequently. Jade was tasked with finishing his work quickly and was forbidden by Euclase to even go check on Ruri until it was done. By Rutile’s account, he was almost ready to cry as he processed the paperwork.
Two days passed in that manner until Ruri felt a sudden pain, which made her clutch her stomach. The court ladies noticed this change right away and went to bring the doctors. Those on standby in the next room came in right away, throwing the chamber into chaos.
Ruri’s stomach felt heat more than pain. As the people around her moved in a flurry of activity and she fought against a heat stronger than pain, she gave birth to a tiny, tiny dragon. It was so small that it was worrying, but it was apparently a normal size for dragonkin children. Ruri, now seeing why a baby of this size wouldn’t make her stomach swell, placed it softly into the palm of her hands as though handling something fragile.
“Hmmm. That’s a world of magic for you... I guess I’m glad I didn’t lay an egg.”
She hadn’t expected the baby to be born in a dragon’s body, but seeing as it probably wasn’t weird in the fantasy world she inhabited, she accepted the fact surprisingly easily. She often saw cat-eared or beast-tailed children playing gleefully in the capital, so that helped her to accept this all the quicker.
Most importantly, the baby was absolutely adorable. It was correct to say that she didn’t care whether it was in dragon or human form. She wanted to touch her child more, but she was so limp, as if she had been robbed of all her mana and stamina, that it was difficult for her to get up. Not wanting to drop her newborn, she hurriedly handed it over to Jade himself, who had tossed aside his work and rushed over once he’d heard Ruri was giving birth.
He looked worried but was relieved to know that his wife and baby were safe. With that relief taking him over, he felt overwhelmed by the sight of the child nestled in his hands.
“It’s so small,” he commented.
“It really is,” Ruri replied.
“I never thought that I’d suddenly become a father.”
“Same here. Why didn’t anyone ever tell me?”
If Ruri had known about the biology of the dragonkin, she wouldn’t have been in such a rush, and both she and Jade could’ve had more time to be aware of being future parents, so knowing a little bit further in advance would have been ideal. Nevertheless, from the moment they saw their newborn child, a never-ending stream of parental love and affection poured out of them both.
“It seems Euclase thought that either I would notice or that Rutile explained it to you. Since pregnancy can cause mana instability, if the woman is not a dragonkin, the in-tune husband would usually notice. However, Lord Kotaro and Lady Rin said that there likely wasn’t a major change in your mana since you have a contract with both of them on top of being a Beloved.”
“Ah, is that so?” If that was the case, then Ruri couldn’t blame Jade for not noticing.
“Even so, it’s my fault for not catching on,” he admitted dejectedly. He had apparently been scolded by Euclase quite a bit for that blunder.
“Let’s just drop it. The baby came out as it should, and that’s all that matters. And it came out absolutely adorable.”
“You’re right.” Jade gazed at his palm-sized child with a very gentle smile.
Ruri’s lips naturally curl into a smile as well. “I’m sure Agate-san and the others are jumping for joy.”
Agate and the elders wanted a child more than anyone else, so there was no way they weren’t positively ecstatic.
“Yes, they’re making a huge commotion. Apparently, they’re throwing an impromptu party to celebrate the birth.”
The idea of them throwing a party when Ruri, the one who had done the most work, was confined to bed and couldn’t even participate made her raise an eyebrow.
“By the way, what is the little one’s sex?” Ruri asked, unable to tell just by looking.
“I was told it’s a boy.”
“Oh, a boy, huh? I’m sure he’ll grow up to be a stud.”
Though she couldn’t tell from the child’s dragon body, he was bound to be handsome, considering Jade was his father. Ruri couldn’t wait for him to grow up.
“Ruri, I’ve been thinking about a name for him. But only if it’s okay with you.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
“Citrine. What do you think?”
“Citrine...” Ruri repeated, ruminating on the name. It felt familiar and comfortable, as if it had been the only choice from the very start. “I think it’s lovely.”
“You do?!” Jade exclaimed, his face lighting up.
Seeing the joy on his face, Ruri giggled.
“Ruri...” Jade spoke his wife’s name and brought his face closer to hers. “Things have been so hectic that I forgot to say this to you: Thank you for becoming my family. I love you.” He kissed Ruri on the forehead.
“I love you too.”
Although the days leading up to the birth had been tumultuous, the sight of Jade, now looking more like a father, and her newborn child, firmly cemented the fact that they were a family. Filled with an indescribable sense of dreamlike bliss, Ruri flashed him a very tender and peaceful smile.