Surviving As An Obsessive Servant

Author: Asternkm

They say things usually get harder for pregnant women as the due date approaches, but that wasn’t the case for Lobel.

Edric, who had taken leave the entire time, wouldn’t let her lift even a glass of water by herself.

If her body swelled or she felt tired, Edric used the power of Dif to heal her, and since he looked after her so thoroughly, it was actually more comfortable than usual.

Because of that, Lobel had no time to feel anxious or overwhelmed—she simply enjoyed her daily routine, and the due date came quickly.

Today was the day before the expected delivery date.

Lobel woke from her afternoon nap as usual, and Edric was bustling about, as usual.

‘…What is he doing?’

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she looked at Edric, who was anxiously organizing their things, and ended up smiling.

He was rechecking all the items needed for childbirth, pain-relieving medicine, and even things like holy water that probably only royals could get their hands on—who knew where he found that.

Then he worried: What if it hurts too much? What if Dif’s power doesn’t work well after the delivery?

With his hand to his forehead, groaning in worry, his back looked…

“…You kind of seem more like the expectant mother than I do.”

Even at her muttered remark, Edric responded sincerely.

He turned around, came up to her, and placed his hands on her shoulders, speaking as though reciting a mantra to himself.

“Lobelia, don’t worry. It’ll be okay. Don’t be scared. I’ll do whatever it takes to help you recover quickly.”

“You’re the one who needs calming down more than me. Are you even breathing properly right now?”

“Of course.”

…She wasn’t convinced.

Watching him suspiciously, even Lobel felt more excited than usual.

She’d be meeting the baby tomorrow, after all—and the thought made her happy.

Other people say they have dreams about their baby before birth, but none of that had happened to her, which might have made her more curious.

Still, Lobel somehow felt sure the baby would take after her personality.

You can tell a lot from a little—just look at how the kid refuses to show their face and does whatever they want.

To ease Edric’s nerves, she shared her theory, and he looked absolutely delighted.

Then he said he hoped the baby would look like her, too.

“Then they’ll be beautiful.”

“Mmh. And how beautiful do you think?”

Like any husband who enjoyed his wife’s childish jokes, Edric didn’t hesitate to play along—and he had a habit of answering seriously, no matter how silly the question.

He gave her a wholehearted answer.

“The second most beautiful in the world.”

It was the answer she expected, but it still made Lobel feel lighthearted.

Even if she was looking at him through rose-colored glasses, it was still amazing—and happy—to have someone who loved her this much.

And now, to think they’d have a child who resembled that person—it was a strange, overwhelming feeling.

The fact that one joyful event could be followed by another even greater joy… it was just astonishing.

Lobel was certain of it.

Their tomorrow would be even happier. The day after that, even more. And beyond that, happier still.

…Still, he really looks terrified.

Feeling sorry for how anxious Edric looked, Lobel gently took his large hand and said,

“Things will get busier starting tomorrow, so even if nothing else, make sure to prep the scones in advance, honey.”

****

“My lady, you have to push! That’s the only way the baby will come out!”

Edric paced anxiously in front of the closed door.

He wanted nothing more than to rush in, but Lobel had firmly refused and told him to wait outside.

There was no time to ask her why.

She’d stood on the other side of this very door, sweating coldly but speaking with a face so fierce and determined it was frightening.

[Edric Denkart. Don’t come in until I say you can.]

…It was practically a command.

Startled, Edric had stammered, “Uh, o-okay,” and the door had shut with a thud.

He had wanted to show a more reliable side of himself, but that was all he managed.

Still, the disappointment didn’t last long.

His usual worries kicked in, like a reflex.

…Will Lobel be okay? No, she’ll be fine. If it’s Lobel, she can handle anything.

But his face darkened despite the reassurance.

Crimson, who had been through this before, understood how nerve-racking it was and kept trying to console him.

But Edric’s expression didn’t improve. After all, the one truly suffering right now was Lobel. What good was his own comfort?

Why didn’t Dif have the power to take pain away from someone and transfer it to another? Edric was frustrated just thinking about it.

Every faint breath from beyond the door ached in his heart.

He felt utterly pathetic.

Why couldn’t he be the one in pain instead…?

“Childbirth is always hard—raising a child is even harder. When Tilly had our first, she nearly tore out half my hair—”

“So if Lobel pulls my hair, the baby will come out better?”

On any other day, he would’ve brushed it off as nonsense.

Even Crimson’s past mud mask disaster wouldn’t have mattered today.

“Is that true?”

Edric clung to the idea like a man hanging off a cliff by a thread. Then his face stiffened as he demanded to know why Crimson hadn’t told him earlier.

Watching from behind, Arif struggled to stifle his laughter.

Crimson looked at him for help, but Arif turned away indifferently.

He hadn’t forgotten the time Crimson picked a fight with him under some ridiculous excuse due to his grudge against knights.

Crimson visibly shuddered at the memory.

“Tra—traitor.”

At that moment, the door opened and Tilly stepped out.

Edric instinctively stepped back, and his face instantly went pale.

Because he saw blood on her white apron.

Lobel’s blood…

Though he had seen blood countless times—on the battlefield, in his childhood, from coughing—today, it terrified him.

Thinking of Lobel bleeding and in pain made his heart twist.

“Oh, come on! What are you all doing out here like children? My lady and even the youngest in the room are handling it more gracefully than you lot.”

Tilly, finally relaxing after worrying herself sick, looked at Edric—who looked more exhausted than the laboring woman herself—and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Duke, the madam says you may come in now. Please, go inside!”

“I—I’m going.”

Even walking through the forest hadn’t felt this hard.

The few steps from the door to the room felt endlessly far to Edric.

But the fact that Lobel was waiting for him gave him strength. He strode forward, crossing the spacious and cozy room large enough to host dozens, almost at a run.

Warm spring sunlight poured softly over the bed near the window.

Bathed in that golden light, Lobel smiled even more brightly. She looked tired, but joy radiated from her face.

Lobelia.

Edric, lips trembling uncontrollably, rushed to her.

He immediately checked her swollen cheeks and the burst capillaries around her eyes, healing them with his power.

Then he began fixing her tousled hair, about to wrap her in his arms—

If only Lobel hadn’t scolded him just then, he would’ve done exactly that.

“The baby!”

Startled, Edric froze mid-motion, still half-reaching out for a hug.

As he stared at her in confusion, Lobel gave him an incredulous smile. Then, tilting her head toward the bundle in her arms, she gestured.

She had been holding the baby in a cloth sling even before Edric entered—she hadn’t expected him to be so oblivious.

So he really only saw her, huh? Lobel already knew that, but the reminder hit her again.

It felt wonderful, but also made her resolve to help him be more aware now that they had a child to raise.

Meanwhile, Edric stared at the baby.

“……”

With soft, rosy cheeks and golden hair, the child was simply beautiful—lovely enough to admire forever.

They said his eye color was unusual too. A strange, enchanting hue tinged with violet.

Lobel had proudly said it must be because of Dif’s power.

“Our Ethan. Isn’t he beautiful?”

That’s how Edric learned the baby’s gender.

Before the birth, they’d agreed that if it was a boy, they’d name him Ethan.

It was a precious name, chosen after Edric’s father-in-law visited 29 naming houses across the empire.

But Edric couldn’t respond.

He was too shocked by how tiny the fingers resting on Lobel’s arm were.

How can a person’s hands be that small…?

No—what really struck him was how much the baby looked like him.

People usually felt a little disappointed when a child resembled only one parent, and Edric worried about that—but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

It was Crimson who ended up speaking, trailing in awkwardly behind.

He too had felt a bit let down when his kids looked only like their mother—though everyone around him had sighed with relief and congratulated him profusely—so he offered a bit of sympathy.

“That’s a bit of a shame, madam. If only the hair color had taken after you too, he’d have been even more handsome—hm hm.”

“I don’t think it’s a shame at all.”

“…??”

“I actually prefer blond hair.”

Crimson stared at her, dumbfounded by her serious tone, and Tilly smacked him on the back.

The commotion gradually faded.

Even with Dif’s blood in her veins, childbirth had been painful and exhausting for Lobel.

So everyone except Edric left the room to let her rest.

As she prepared to nap, Lobel gently handed the baby over to Edric.

“Here. Try holding him.”

“Okay.”

Edric looked terrified, but carefully cradled the baby.

Then, clearly still nervous, he asked,

“Am I doing it right? I’m not holding him wrong, am I?”

Lobel rubbed her tired eyes and chuckled.

It was like seeing two identical copies—father and son—with the same golden hair and features, as if they’d come from the same mold. It felt like a dream. And it was funny.

“Yeah, you’re doing fine.”

In truth, Edric’s stiff neck and shoulders looked more uncomfortable than the baby did, but Lobel didn’t point it out.

Sleep came first. She let everything else go and closed her eyes.

As her soft, sleeping breath filled the room, Edric grew even more nervous.

He looked at the baby and whispered in his mind, Please, please don’t cry.

And the baby, as if he understood, gave the faintest smile even with his eyes still closed—or so it seemed.

A baby who doesn’t even cry…

Edric thought again how lucky he was that the baby had taken after Lobel.

No—this wasn’t just about appearances.

This child would undoubtedly grow up to be one of the sharpest, most brilliant minds in the empire. So what kind of early education would he need?

Even while thinking about all that, Edric quickly stepped away from the window.

The midday sunlight was growing stronger, but his broad back blocked it out, casting a large shadow over Lobel’s sleeping face.