He’s My Real Brother, Duke Chapter 175 - Side Story 10 - What will the Baby look like? COMPLETE

 

💫

 

I’m six months pregnant, and my belly has started to noticeably swell.

 

But it didn’t bother me too much.

 

Aside from my bulging belly, I didn’t have any stretch marks, morning sickness, or other symptoms.

 

It was all thanks to the wizards that Knox brought with him.

 

I was perfectly fine, taking my daily walks and going about my daily routine as usual.

 

Today, my brother, Knox, and I were having tea together.

 

I was beginning to think that I was enjoying the simple things in life, but then a realization dawned on me.

 

‘No, I don’t think you can call it simple.’ 

 

Knox was fidgeting with my stomach, which was now more protruding than before.

 

“Doesn’t it hurt?”

 

“Um, no, not at all, and that’s the hundredth time you’ve asked me that.”

 

On the contrary, I was in the best shape of my life, thanks to the morning and evening health checks and healing magic.

 

However, the real concern was something else.

 

“I’m just worried about how tired Knox has been lately.”

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

The reassurance was not comforting.

 

‘He’s been using pain transfer magic for months.’ 

 

No wonder Knox’s complexion was so pale.

 

The truth was that a magic spell could only lessen the pain of pregnancy and childbirth, not eliminate it.

 

So Knox devised the ‘pain transfer’ spell.

 

In short, he transferred my pain to him. I thought there was no such thing as true love, but my brother, who was beside me, shook his head and muttered.

 

“…Wow, that’s true love.”

 

It was exactly what I thought, so I didn’t say anything, just nodded.

 

“Mmm… yeah.”

 

When I looked apologetic, Knox mumbled something to lighten the mood.

 

“From the parenting books I’ve read, I’m afraid it’s twice as hard.”

 

I chuckled, remembering the many parenting books he was usually devouring.

 

“I can’t wait to see what our child will be like.”

 

My brother smirked and said, “What do you mean, he’ll grow up to be a tough man, just like his uncle.”

 

I started to nod, then stopped.

 

The word ‘man’ caught me off guard.

 

“Hmm, is that so? Human-mixed hybrids are usually born as beastmen, so maybe he’ll be a tough beastmen?”

 

It was a casual remark, but Knox cleared his throat as if afraid of what it meant.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I was wondering if you’re okay with your child not being human,” asked Knox.

 

Does he still care about his origin?

 

‘I’d like to tell him a good story.’

 

I stared at him, still, and then said softly, “It doesn’t matter, it’s our child.”

 

He watches me intently, as if studying my expression, and then nods slowly. He seemed relieved to hear the word ‘our child’.

 

For the rest of the night, we fantasized about the child.

 

…It was just another day in my sixth month of pregnancy.

 

💫

 

Before I knew it, the time had come for us to begin the process of childbirth.

 

I sat in the Vietry mansion, watching Knox doze by my bedside, wondering if it was really okay to leave the Duchy of Anais empty for so long.

 

Whether it’s really okay to leave the Duchy of Anais empty for so long, whether there would be a revolt, and so on.

 

But those thoughts were fleeting.

 

All the healers and doctors clustered around me like an impending labor. I lay on the bed, breathing heavily.

 

“Astel, be careful. Please.”

 

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them, hugging my belly close.

 

“Listen, I know it’s a little far-fetched, but I feel like I need to tell you now.”

 

“Yes, Astel, as soon as you get sick—”

 

“No, I’ve decided on a name for our child. If it’s a boy, I want to call him Lucifer, and if it’s a girl, Aurora.”

 

Knox tilted his head, puzzled by the abruptness of the name.

 

“Okay, but is there a reason they have to be those names?”

 

Responding to his curious question, I said in a whisper, “Because Lucifer means morning star, and Aurora means dawn.”

 

Looking up at him with a weak smile.

 

“And, Nox means night.”

 

He looked at me as if he had guessed something. I said something that turned his guess into a certainty.

 

“Just as dawn comes after night, so the child came to me after Knox.”

 

At my words, his body stiffened like a wooden doll. I cautiously addressed him.

 

“…Knox?”

 

His lips parted, unable to form the next words, and he let out a stifled groan, then muttered quietly.

 

“Astel, I didn’t know you were thinking of that…”

 

With a small chuckle, I patted my belly.

 

I had a faint sensation that hadn’t been there before, and it made me realize that the birth was indeed imminent.

 

Soon, I was organizing the tools for the birth around the room.

 

I turned to Knox and said, “I think we’re about to have a baby.” 

 

And then Knox said softly., “In that case, I’d like the middle name to be something related to Astel. Hazel, like…”

 

He trailed off, and I blinked at him.

 

“…Yeah, okay.”

 

Just then, the healer I’d been waiting for stepped between us and whispered.

 

“…We need to start preparing for the birth, really soon.”

 

With those words, Knox’s grip on my hand tightened.

 

The dull pain quickly faded as his grip tightened.

 

At that moment, my mind quickly became confused.

 

Contrary to what I had feared, the birth didn’t hurt at all. All I had to do was stay enchanted, close my eyes, and dream a little dream.

 

In my dream, I was sitting alone on a small lawn in pitch blackness.

 

I was counting the very bright stars, and as the curtain of night slowly lifted, a meteor shower fell rapidly.

 

As I marveled at the scene, I opened my eyes.

 

Knox was in my field of vision.

 

“She’s a pretty daughter.”

 

Knox, whose complexion was even paler than mine, smiled brightly.

 

“You’ve done well, Astel.”

 

💫

 

Taking Knox’s hand, I headed into the room where the baby was sleeping alone.

 

I wondered if it was because I’d met her without knowing anything about her other than that she was a girl.

 

Excitement, anticipation, and a faint sense of fear filled me.

 

As I slowly made my way to the tiny crib in the room, I bit my lip.

 

In the tiny crib, an even tinier child slept soundly with his eyes closed.

 

With a trembling hand, I lifted mine and Knox’s, Aurora’s, cheeks and gently stroked them.

 

It was my first greeting her as a mother.

 

“Hello, Aurora.”

 

We had often talked about Knox and our child, speculating about whether she would be a beast or a normal human, and what her personality would be like.

 

But the moment I saw Aurora, none of that mattered.

 

I just…

 

“Thank you for making Mom happy just by being born.”

 

…Thanks to this child’s existence, I was happy as if I had the whole world.

 

Then, from behind my back, a deeply shaken Knox hugged me and whispered.

 

“I’m happy as well.”

 

Despite the difficulties, despite the adversity, Knox and I loved every minute of it.

 

And we will be happy for a long time with this little life that will be with us.

 

That was the moment we dreamed of the future.

 

“Huh? 

 

“Did you see that?”

 

“Yes!”

 

I stared wide-eyed at Aurora’s feet.

 

Her human feet had turned into a fluffy cotton paw beast.

 

I giggled softly and patted Aurora’s beast-like feet.

 

“What do you think it is? As a healer who specializes in beast people, I’d say it’s probably pure white…”

 

“Pure white?”

 

I tried to get a closer look, but the rounded front paws disappeared again, as if the newborn was having a hard time being humanized.

 

But I could tell.

 

“I think it’s a puppy, very white, small, and cute.”

 

With that, I stroked the little one’s head.

 

The fluffy cloud of hair swayed gently. I pressed my hand to the child’s forehead.

 

To my amazement, the child, who still couldn’t open her eyes, lifted her mouth and smiled giddily.

 

“Huh?”

 

I was twice as surprised as I had been when I saw the cotton feet.

 

It seemed to surprise Knox as well, for his fingertips languidly brushed against the corner of Aurora’s mouth.

 

“You just, I think you said something.”

 

“Well, surely she didn’t say mom?”

 

If so, it wasn’t a normal growth spurt.

 

Unable to open his mouth to speak, Knox muttered, as if growing at an incredibly fast rate for a beastmen. 

 

“Then, when will she say, Daddy?”

 

Seeing the look of anticipation on his face, I smirked.

 

“My child must be a genius, so I’m sure she’ll be able to do it soon, right?”

 

No sooner had I said that than Aurora whispered again, this time faintly, “…Myaa!” 

 

Watching my little girl lick her lips, I grew happier by the second.

 

It was the beginning of a miraculous day, a day that I look forward to more today than yesterday, and more tomorrow than today.

 

《That Guy is my Brother, Duke! — COMPLETE》