He’s My Real Brother, Duke – Chapter 174 – Side Story 9 – What will the Baby look like?

Author: Nikss

In the midst of the tussle, Knox, who had been sitting and stunned, spoke softly, as if regaining his senses.

“Is this…”

“Yes.”

“Is it real?”

Knox made a few futile attempts to touch me.

But his hands were trembling so violently, that almost broke the teacup twice. It would have broken if my brother hadn’t caught it.

I firmly grasped his trembling hand and said, “Yes.

His face contorted into a tearful expression.

“…I will, I will do better from now on.”

My brother, who had gotten his bearings faster than Knox, frowned uncomfortably.

“Not the surrogate pregnancy.”

“Yes, other than that… I’ll try to make sure Astel never gets sick or suffers.”

“Ugh…”

“Because this is the fruit of our love.”

Gazing into Knox’s stormy and quivering eyes, I realized that his whisper was more than a whisper.

His whisper was more sincere than anything else. I nodded.

“Yes, be very good to me, please!”

He nodded vigorously, then lowered his hand urgently, his gaze fixed on my bulging belly.

Even as he sat beside me, he fidgeted, unable to control his hands.

‘Knox, it’s a little strange, you’re not just happy, but why do your eyes keep wandering?’

Questions between lovers should be answered immediately. I asked with a puzzled look on my face.

“Then why are you so anxious?”

“Because…”

He whispered softly, “…I’m so happy, I wonder if it’s okay to be this happy.”

After hearing that, I understood the anxiety in Knox’s eyes. I’ve been there myself sometimes.

I wanted to ease his anxiety even more, so I smiled brightly and replied.

“Sure, the three of us can be happy!”

At that moment, my brother, who had been observing the situation like an invisible man for a while, leaned back stiffly and said.

“Astel, you should be the happiest girl in the world, whose sister you are.”

Then Knox looked at him like lightning and said, “I’ll keep that in mind, brother.”

“Well, who is your brother, anyway?”

“Ah, Count Cassian Vietry is my brother.”

My brother looked at Knox in disbelief as he spoke reverently.

“No, no, this man does not have a proper family. Really.”

“I’ll try harder.”

My brother whispered sullenly, “Just stay and don’t go.”

After that, Knox’s struggle began. A prenatal project for me, a baby project for the perfect marriage.

💫

From that day on, Knox practically took up residence at Count Vietry. He took care of my health on a daily basis.

“A moderate walk is good for you, and I think you should take one with me every day.”

“Oh, really?”

“That’s what the 1000 parenting books I’ve read say.”

As a new dad, Knox was constantly asking for new information.

I giggled at how silly he seemed despite his efforts, so I did what he asked.

Knox had called in every wizard in the Empire to take care of the pain, so it seemed like I could go ten months without knowing what the world called the pain of pregnancy.

“I don’t think that I am a normal pregnant woman.”

All I did was eat, sleep, and go for walks. In fact, being pregnant didn’t really change anything.

“It’s just me, I think I’m fat from eating too many sweets.”

“You’re cute because you look like a hamster with food stored in your cheeks.”

…Everything was as usual, except that Knox’s displays of affection seemed a little more excessive.

Still, it was a nice compliment, and I looked up at him with a smile.

“By the way, didn’t you tell me you had something important to tell my brother today?”

“Oh, yes. That’s right. A very important piece of legislation has been passed.”

Just then, a chilling voice came from behind us.

“Stop the motion. What legislation has been passed?”

From behind us, my brother shot Knox a very stern look, one that should have alarmed him, but Knox remained calm.

“Don’t worry, my brother. I’ve proposed a legislation called the Noble Family Trial System, which means that I can also become one.”

My brother’s eyes widened in genuine disbelief.

“What, they actually did that?”

“Yes. We’re going to change the upbringing laws so that Astel’s child will be raised by the House of Vietry.”

The Empire was a patriarchal society, and it was customary for children to be raised in their father’s castle.

But he was bending the conventions of aristocratic society for the convenience of my brother and I.

The magnitude of this was so staggering that neither my brother nor I were able to open our mouths to speak, but Knox spoke without hesitation.

“If you wish, we can move the ducal castle to the immediate vicinity of the Count’s residence. So that my brother can see Astel at any time.”

It was a ridiculous idea, but it seemed as if he could do it if he wanted to.

My brother shook his head, holding his temples as if his head hurt.

“Never mind about moving the castle, that piece of legislation, the bill for the noble… I like that.”

“Yes, brother.”

The decorum of Imperial aristocratic society was crumbling, but neither man seemed to care.

That’s how I found myself listening to their silly conversation.

There was a small rumbling in my stomach. The vibration was like a slight palpitation, so I didn’t feel it at first. But the next time I felt a big wave in my belly, I realized.

I realized my baby was moving.

“Uh-oh…”

I let out a small gasp, and my brother and Knox’s eyes locked on mine in an instant.

“Is something wrong?”

“What’s wrong, Astel, are you sick?”

“No, not that…”

I grabbed each of their hands with both of mine and brought them to my stomach.

So that they too could feel the throbbing sensation.

“Can you feel it?”

Thump, thump—

The movement of the child was transmitted vividly through their hands.

“Yes.”

My brother looked thrilled…

“What about Knox?”

“…”

“…Knox?”

Knox didn’t answer.

When I turned to look at him, he was standing still. He looked as if he had passed out.

💫

Knox, my brother, and I all agreed that we needed to get married before my stomach was full.

So the wedding happened quickly.

When I say ‘quickly,’ I don’t mean haphazardly.

Our wedding was widely considered to be the most extravagant in the world.

For a week before the wedding, the entire empire celebrated with great festivities.

There were parades of exotic animals brought from the Eastern Continent, and entertaining performances for all the people, regardless of status, for over seven days.

The Duke of Anais and Count of Vietry even donated money to the poor in the streets in honor of their marriage.

Afterward, the actual wedding ceremony was even more extravagant.

The snow-white wedding aisle I walked down was set in a garden in the picturesque Balkan region.

The guests at the ceremony were not spared either. Precious peridot jewelry in the shape of my eyes was given to every guest at the wedding, free of charge.

It was truly a perfect wedding.

‘Except for one thing, something that bothered me.’

Inside the ceremony, when I said my vows and took Knox’s hand…

I thought he looked a little lonely.

…My heart ached for him to be left alone, but my thoughts were soon shattered.

Although I became a Lady of the House of Anais, by agreement between the families, I was to stay at the estate of Count Vietry until I reached childbirth.

The same, of course, was true for Knox, who became my husband.

Knox, who was to become my husband, did the same.

“With the passage of the bill, I can stay at Count Vietry for the time being.”

“No.”

“I’m afraid, I’m not at peace with the approaching birth of my child.”

I corrected him carefully, “Well, it’s only the third month.”

That meant roughly seven more months until the child was born. Knox avoided eye contact.

“…Give me your hand. You must be tired.”

He took my hand and squeezed it. My mind, which had been foggy from sleeping late, slowly cleared.

In contrast, Knox’s brow furrowed slightly.

I raised an eyebrow at the sight.

‘I’m using pain transfer magic.’