"I asked Lady Ilenea," he said, covering Emily’s blanket again, "she said it’s a normal sign. The child is just... too strong."
Emily laughed, but couldn’t hide a trace of wetness at the corner of her eyes: "Are you very nervous?"
"Nervous." Louis sat beside her, holding her hand.
......
In the early morning, the snow had not stopped, and the Northern Territory’s chill penetrated through the thick walls.
But the Red Tide birthing room within the Main Castle had already ward up.
This was a delivery room arranged according to the old traditions of the Imperial Nobility, presided over personally by the old midwife Ilenea, who ca with the dowry from Frost Halberd City.
It was she who had personally delivered Emily before and was now once again welcoming the continuation of this lineage.
The curtains inside were tightly closed, the fire constantly burning, and a burner in the corner exuded the calming scent of vine frost leaves—a subtle yet gentle fragrance filled the air.
Emily lay on the bed, dressed in loose maternity garnts, quietly breathing in the dicinal aroma while leaning against thick cushions.
Perhaps it was the warmth brought by the fire, or maybe the steady rhythm of the baby inside her, she didn’t feel as nervous as she imagined.
Seeing her stepmother enter the room, she even smiled softly, reaching out her hand: "Mother, you ca."
Lady Irina was also in the delivery room; she was Emily’s stepmother, yet was as attentive and considerate as a biological mother.
The mont she stepped into the room, she imdiately checked every detail of the delivery room: "Is the alcohol cloth refreshed? Has the knife for cutting the umbilical cord been boiled? The ratio in the incense burner... who mixed it?"
Ilenea gently replied: "Everything is proceeding according to plan."
"Please," Irina said solemnly, then looked at Emily again.
Before she could speak, Emily had already gently grasped her hand.
"I’m fine, truly." Emily smiled at her, "With you and Ilenea here... I’m very relieved."
Irina started, suddenly realizing that Emily was no longer the little girl who needed protection.
......
Louis stood in the corridor outside the door, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on the door as if he could pierce the thick wood layers with his sight.
Behind the door, whispers and movent could faintly be heard; it was the female doctors preparing, Ilenea directing.
According to old Empire customs, n were not allowed to enter the delivery room before a child was born, otherwise, it would bring bad luck, even in a smooth delivery, it would cause future misfortune.
Being a transmigrator, Louis naturally didn’t believe in these superstitions.
But although Emily wasn’t superstitious, she still retained so traditions passed down from generation to generation in the Empire.
Therefore, Louis hadn’t entered the delivery room, not for tradition, just to ease Emily’s mind.
Three days ago, the Daily Intelligence System had predicted that today mother and child would be safe: [1: Three days later, Louis Calvin’s first son will be safely born.]
But he still couldn’t be completely relieved; after all, prophecy-type intelligence could be broken.
So he stood still, even his breathing was kept extrely calm, waiting for that mont to arrive.
"Wow—!"
A clear and piercing cry echoed, like a ray of dawn piercing a long night.
It wasn’t a tearing howl, but a loud and powerful proclamation of life.
Almost simultaneously, a female doctor inside shouted loudly: "Male infant! Mother and child are safe!!"
Standing at the door, Louis had a slow reaction to this.
He slowly exhaled a breath, his brows slightly relaxed, and his shoulders eased accordingly.
He stepped towards the door, tapping lightly on the open door.
Soone imdiately responded from inside, it was the young midwife, her face still filled with irrepressible happiness.
"Lord, you may enter." Louis nodded, stepping into the delivery room.
Near the bed, several dical staff were handing the cleaned wrap to the maid at the bedside.
Emily had been resettled, leaning against the thick cushions, pale but smiling.
On the bed lay a small, tightly wrapped baby.
The baby softly humd, not crying, just occasionally crinkling its nose, as if adapting to this world.
Louis stopped at the bedside, looking down at the child.
It was a warm bundle of life, features not yet ford, skin faintly red, eyes closed, the small nose occasionally jittered.
Louis looked down at the child, unconsciously holding his breath, he had imagined this scene countless tis.
But when this mont truly arrived, he found himself unable to say a word.
The child was light, almost unrealistically small, like a soft warmth pressed against his chest.
He instinctively tightened his palm slightly, holding the child more securely.
Then, a joy never felt before, slowly yet firmly climbed over his heart.
At this mont, Lady Irina’s gentle voice echoed beside him: "Give him a na."
Louis turned to look at her for a mont, then looked at Emily, still weakly leaning against the bed.
She was looking at him, her gaze tired yet filled with a smile.
Louis nodded without hesitation and said, "Let’s call him Orsus."
"Orsus Calvin." He paused, reconfirming, "aning rising dawn, a person bringing hope in the darkness."
Emily smiled gently, her eyes never leaving the infant in her arms.
Irina stood by, looking at this newborn boy, nodding slightly: "It’s a good na."
......
With that clear baby cry, the silent, solemn servants and guards outside the delivery room finally breathed a sigh of relief.
So whispered conversations, so with tears in their eyes, yet all restrained themselves from making noise, afraid of disturbing those inside.
Bradley stood at the end of the corridor, his usually calm deanor, at this mont showing a noticeable hint of joy.
Soon, a maid hurriedly approached, whispering a report in his ear: "Mother and child are safe, it’s a boy."
Bradley nodded slightly, then turned towards the young knight waiting beside the wooden pillar: "Weir."
"Present." Weir stood straight, his expression trying but failing to hide excitent and nervousness.
Bradley’s tone brooked no objection: "First go to the tower to ring the bell three tis, then to the Internal Affairs Hall, inform them to draft the announcent imdiately, tonight the entire Red Tide City must know this news."
Weir swallowed, softly confirming: "Yes... it’s a male infant, right?"
Bradley nodded, his tone uncharacteristically soft for a mont: "Male infant, mother and child are safe. Lord Louis’s eldest son, Orsus."
Weir nodded heavily, turned, and ran away swiftly.
......
Not long after, the bell atop the Main Castle’s tower rang.
Dong! The first sound.
Deep and clear, piercing the wind and snow, reaching into the sky above Red Tide City.
Dong! The second sound.
People in the streets and alleys all stopped their work simultaneously.
Whether testing steam engines in workshops, sorting dicinal herbs under the shed, or student teams hauling wooden boxes in Fierce Tide Square, everyone raised their heads.
Dong! The third bell rang, followed quickly.
Three consecutive rings, the traditional signal of Red Tide: a major event has occurred.
"The young master has been born!"
The first to react were the officials at the Governnt Hall, upon learning of this news, they dashed out of the hall, running through streets and across alleyways, spreading this good news to all divisions.
From Fierce Tide Square to wood workshops to smoked fish workshops, from weaving workshops, city defense barracks, to the new granary under construction on the north side.
An increasing number of people halted their work, asking and confirming with each other, spreading the news from one to ten, ten to a hundred.
Thus, the entire Red Tide City felt as if it had been ignited.
The blacksmiths in the workshops removed their gloves: "Our Lord finally has an heir!"
An old woman living on the street corner opened her window, smiling so widely at the direction where the tower bell echoed from: "Bless... our Lord is finally a father."
This was not "so noble’s child," but the child of their great Lord Louis.
It was that man who rescued them from ruin, who ensured they had food, boots, and dignity to live.
The citizens, so with red eyes, others bursting into laughter.
They rejoiced for the Lord, and also for themselves.
Because from today onwards, this city they built with their own hands has a future.
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