I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 175 - Side Story 14

 

In the Lagras Empire, there was a tradition of announcing pregnancy to family members by showing them baby shoes.

 

Carson took that idea and came up with a plan to tell Leen that she was pregnant.

 

He made baby clothes for each age group and presented them to her.

 

He visited Jane as soon as the day dawned, and had to hurry to get it ready before Leen, the party, noticed.

 

Luckily, Jane had closed her boutique and was spending some time at home.

 

She was due to give birth any day now.

 

Hans runs one of the biggest shops in the empire, and Jane the boutique owner couldn’t live without money.

 

Their home boasts a mansion that could rival any high-ranking aristocrat.

 

Neither Hans nor Jane seemed to remember their debt-ridden past.

 

Jane, who had hurried into the parlor at the word of House Lysianthus’ visit, tilted her head at the sight of Carson alone.

 

“Lord Carson, I don’t believe you’re here with Leen, and what brings you here?”

 

Carson was about to tell her his purpose, but paused when he saw Jane’s full stomach.

 

“You’re quite full.”

 

The comment was so unlike Carson, who didn’t give a grain of dust about anyone but Leen.

 

Jane wondered if he had eaten something wrong, then remembered that Leen had fought Carson with a child and emerged victorious.

 

She smiled sheepishly and replied,  “I’m in full term, isn’t that interesting?”

 

“…You look tired.”

 

“Yeah. It’s hard, but I can’t wait to see the baby’s face.”

 

Jane gently stroked her belly.

 

“So, I assume you didn’t come to see my belly… what brings you here?”

 

“I need you to teach me how to make clothes.”

 

“What?”

 

Jane had heard Carson’s purpose for seeking her out, but it hadn’t cleared her mind.

 

He would…

 

“You have plenty of money, you can just buy it to wear, why do you want to learn?”

 

“Because Leen is pregnant. I’m going to make baby clothes for her.”

 

“What? Really?!”

 

When Jane heard the news of Leen’s pregnancy, she clamped her mouth shut and squeaked.

 

Then she turned serious and determined.

 

“Well, if that’s the case, I’m not going to sit idly by! I’ve been home and bored, so that’s a good thing, and it’s a lesson for today.”

 

Her body was a little unsteady, but her mouth was free.

 

From that day on, Carson began sewing behind Leen’s back, taking lessons from Jane.

 

Although clumsy at first, he quickly learned how to do everything.

 

He started with handkerchiefs, but quickly progressed to making clothes.

 

Baby clothes are so small you’d think no one could wear them.

 

A cute little onesie for a toddler just starting to walk.

 

A gorgeous dress for a four- or five-year-old princess, and so on.

 

By the time she reached the age of 10, I had created a total of five outfits for her age range.

 

Although Carson dreamt of having a son, they say that dreams are meant to be reversed.

 

Carson incorporated his wishes for a girl into the clothes.

 

He placed the finished garment in a lidded box and even bought tiny baby shoes to go with it.

 

Despite his frantic preparations in case Leen found out she was pregnant, he enjoyed the process.

 

“Leen will be happy, won’t she?”

 

I was always the one who was surprised by pranks, so I was very excited to surprise Leen.

 

In fact, I initially planned to invite Leen’s aunt and uncle and the Grand Duke for a family party.

 

That’s where I was going to announce the pregnancy…

 

Now that I think about it, it’s usually the woman who notices and announces the pregnancy first.

 

Carson’s mana sensitivity meant that he would find out sooner than Leen, but he wanted Leen to have the pleasure of telling others.

 

With all the arrangements made, Carson entered the bedroom rather late that night.

 

Leen, who was reading a book on the bed, checked her bookmarks and closed the book.

 

“Hey, you look busy.”

 

Leen was a little worried about Carson, who seemed to have a lot on his plate lately.

 

“Well, at least you got some sleep today. Are you tired?”

 

“Uh, yeah. I’m afraid my father’s been trying to pass the dukedom along.”

 

“The Duke has been working long enough. It’s a title you should have inherited long ago.”

 

“Well, don’t you think it’s okay if he suffers for another year or so?”

 

Leen retorted, remembering the Duke’s vow to quickly retire and spend all day with Sylvia.

 

“Hmph, do you really think the Duke will leave you alone?”

 

“He’ll have to?”

 

Leen tilted her head slowly, looking at Carson, who spoke so confidently as if he believed something.

 

“Why?”

 

Carson smirked and pulled a box out of the subspace.

 

“When you see this, even if you don’t like it, you’ll have no choice but to let me.”

 

Curiosity piqued, Leen got out of bed and approached the box he held out.

 

“What is this? Can I open it?”

 

“Yes. It’s not yours, but it’s a gift for you.”

 

“…It’s not mine, but it’s my gift, how is that possible?”

 

Leen shook her head, but put her hand on the box.

 

“Well, since it’s a gift, I’ll accept it gratefully. I know you’ve been busy, but when else would you have gotten me something like this?”

 

Leen opened the box without question, as Carson often brought her gifts even on non-anniversary days…

 

Leen’s eyes snapped wide open.

 

The first thing she saw were baby shoes.

 

Beneath them was a bundle of bulky clothes, presumably belonging to a child, folded neatly.

 

Carson hugged her tightly from behind.

 

“Congratulations on becoming a mother, Leen.”

 

“Uh… What?”

 

Leen didn’t understand what was happening.

 

Carson’s reaction and the gift must mean she was pregnant.

 

How could he know she was pregnant when she didn’t even realize it?

 

‘…am I pregnant?’

 

Leen’s eyelids fluttered, and she turned to face Carson.

 

“Caon, what do you mean, congratulations on becoming a mom?”

 

“It means you’re going to be a mom.”

 

Carson spoke quickly, as if to prove he wasn’t lying.

 

“Leen, I’ve actually been feeling that tiny bit of mana in your belly for a while now, ever since I had that dream.”

 

“Huh…?”

 

“It means there’s a life growing inside you.”

 

Leen stared at him in disbelief, and then her face gradually softened.

 

At the same time, her eyes moisten.

 

“I’m, I’m… going to be a mom?”

 

After planning for a child, she hadn’t expected a new life to arrive so soon, and she was overwhelmed.

 

Leen sobbed and held up the clothes Carson had given her.

 

As she stared at the tiny garment, wondering how to wear it, she realized that the stitching was rather flimsy.

 

There was no way Carson would have entrusted the child’s clothing to an unskilled seamstress.

 

“Caon, you can’t be…”

 

At Leen’s question, Carson scratched his cheek and smiled sheepishly.

 

“Yep. I learned it from Jane and made it myself. Sure, it’s a bit clumsy, isn’t it?”

 

I was actually somewhat worried that Carson might be indifferent to the child, or jealous…

 

This seemed to assure her that she needn’t have worried.

 

Leen smiled and pulled Carson close for an embrace.

 

“You’re going to be such a good father to this child.”

 

After hugging him for a long moment, Leen finally spoke.

 

“Caon.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…But why are all the clothes for girls?”

 

🍼

 

The next day.

 

Leen indirectly announced the news of her pregnancy with an elaborate morning sickness act at dinner.

 

At first, the Duke and Duchess were worried about Leen, thinking that another eggplant dish had been served.

 

However, when they realized that there was no eggplant dish, their expressions changed strangely.

 

The chef, who knew Leen’s extreme aversion to eggplant, hadn’t served it in the first place.

 

They immediately came up with an assumption, but since they had a history of misunderstandings, they didn’t dare to speak up.

 

Just then, Leen squealed and showed them a baby shoe, and the Duke and Duchess were overjoyed and congratulated Leen on her pregnancy.

 

Leen thought about telling her Aunt and the Grand Duke, but since it was early in her pregnancy, she decided to keep quiet for now.

 

After the news of Leen’s pregnancy turned Lysianthus upside down.

 

Leen invited all the members of the Duke’s family to tea once a day.

 

What’s unusual about this tea gathering was that Leen doesn’t focus on conversation, but rather on staring at the Duke, Duchess, and Carson in turn.

 

Leen, in particular, stared very intently at the Duke’s face.

 

The members of the Lysianthus family, who were excited to have tea with Leen, couldn’t help but question her behavior.

 

“Leen, may I ask what you’re doing?”

 

“…Gestating.”

 

It was her way of conceiving a child, hoping that the child’s face would exhibit the genes of the Duke of Lysianthus.