I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 147

Lucas struggled to lift his heavy eyelids. Leon was pacing the room, clearly anxious. Outside, the sound of fireworks echoed, followed by the loud cheers of the knights.

“It sounds like the festival has started.”

“Do you really think the festival is what matters right now?”

“The problem is that you’re not attending the festival. That makes me feel even worse. Fulfill your role as Emperor.”

“That cursed sense of duty of yours.”

Leon frowned deeply, clearly unwilling to back down. A knights’ festival without the Emperor was unthinkable. Of course, when the Emperor had more pressing matters, the commander of the Order usually led the event. Still, Lucas couldn’t help but feel troubled knowing that Leon was neglecting his duties because of him.

“Exer is there. You need to start trusting the people around you.”

“Is that really true?”

“I’ve given in to everything you’ve wanted until now. You know how sensitive I am about pregnancy and childbirth. Just this once, can’t you be the one to give in?”

Lucas gave a weak nod. He understood how Leon felt, but the pain was becoming too intense to argue any further.

Leon kept speaking beside him, but soon Lucas’s hearing faded, and his eyes slowly closed. Realizing something was wrong, Leon immediately ordered that the birth preparations be made without delay.

Thankfully, the physician who checked on Lucas said his condition was better than last time. But the worry still refused to leave Leon’s heart. The physician, watching quietly from the side, spoke gently.

“Your Majesty, I believe it would be best for you to wait outside. Her Majesty the Empress is still conscious, and your presence may make it difficult for him to focus.”

“How dare you say that?”

Leon trembled with anger but quickly turned to Lucas, gently wiping the sweat from his forehead with a towel. He held Lucas’s hand tightly, silently praying for a safe delivery. Just then, Asili entered the room.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Exer is handling the festival…”

“Do you think that’s what I’m upset about? Your Majesty, you are already a father of three children. What you should be doing now is not standing here helplessly, but comforting the children who might be frightened after seeing Her Majesty in pain.”

Leon could not respond. It felt like a heavy hammer had struck him. Ever since Lucas went into labor, he had completely forgotten about the children. If he felt this anxious, how terrified must the children be?

He gently kissed Lucas on the forehead and whispered softly.

“Lucas, don’t worry about the children. Just be safe.”

He thought he saw the faintest trace of a smile on Lucas’s lips.

When he stepped outside, he found Andrea and Dea holding each other, trembling. Usually, these two alpha boys, proud and brave, refused to even sit close to each other. But now they were clinging tightly together. Seeing them like that, Leon felt a sharp sting of shame at his earlier behavior.

“Father…”

“Father!”

The moment they spotted him, the children ran into his arms. Leon crouched down to embrace them and gently stroked their hair. He had only meant to calm their fears, but somehow, his own restless heart began to feel a little steadier.

Dea spoke with teary eyes, his voice trembling.

“Is Papa Lucas going to be, okay?”

Andrea quickly added, speaking in a rush.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen today, but it started early, and they said it might be dangerous… I wanted to scold the servant who said that.”

He was so upset that his voice caught in his throat, and he began to hiccup from holding back his tears. Leon looked at them, feeling his own chest tighten.

If you two cry, I’ll want to cry too.

But instead of showing it, he gently comforted the children.

“A child is a gift from the gods. Only the gods know when that gift will come. It was the same when you were born. So, let’s try not to worry too much, alright?”

“Really?”

“Truly?”

The two children looked up at Leon with wide, searching eyes. As twins, they didn’t just look alike. It seemed their thoughts were the same too.

Lucas had once told Leon something he still remembered clearly. He said that whenever he saw Leon and the children together, it felt like he had four tigers guarding him. It made him feel safe. And sometimes, it felt so unreal that he had to keep looking at them, just to make sure it was true.

Leon smiled at the children with genuine warmth. Then, speaking almost as if to himself, he said firmly and gently,

“There’s no way things won’t be alright. We’re here with him. We’re protecting him. Do you doubt that?”

“No,” Dea said quickly.

“We’ll protect him,” Andrea added with determination.

The three of them stood quietly in front of the door. From inside, the sound of Lucas groaning came and went, again and again. Eventually, the tension wore them out, and they sank to the floor, exhausted.

Leon sat beside them and began gently rubbing their legs. Then he spoke softly.

“When Papa Lucas gave birth to the two of you, it was just as hard. Waiting like this is painful, I know. But this too is part of welcoming someone new into our family. That’s what love is. Love always involves waiting, and sometimes it comes with pain.”

Andrea and Dea each took in those words in their own way, understanding them as best as their young hearts could. Slowly, both of them nodded.

By the time the sun had set, the newborn had arrived. Unlike her older siblings, she was a delicate and beautiful omega girl. She was so small compared to the others that it caused some worry, but she was perfectly healthy. Her face resembled Lucas more than Leon, with soft and gentle features.

Even though Lucas was still dazed, he smiled when he saw the baby. Ever since Leon had entered the room after hearing the news of the birth, his eyes had been fixed only on Lucas. He carefully checked Lucas’s body several times to make sure there was no sign of injury or distress, then pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Lucas, you’ve been asleep for quite a while.”

“How are the children?”

“The moment you open your eyes, you ask about them?”

“They’re all so sweet… they must have been worried about me…”

Lucas thought he could speak properly, but the words came out weak and faint. Leon gently placed his large hand over Lucas’s lips.

“I know what you want to say. Don’t talk. The children were so stressed that they fell asleep from exhaustion. They’ve already seen their new sibling, and I told them you were safe.”

Lucas slowly lifted a hand and touched Leon’s hair, though it took effort. Leon took his wrist gently and lowered it back down.

“I know you’re proud of me. But I’m their father now too.”

Lucas smiled and nodded in agreement. Leon handed the baby carefully to the waiting nanny, then sat beside Lucas again. He kept rubbing Lucas’s arms, whispering words of love and gratitude in a voice so soft it felt like a lullaby.

Lucas, drifting back toward sleep, murmured like a dream.

“I love you.”

“I love you more,” Leon replied, drawing closer. Lucas snuggled his face into Leon’s chest, and the warmth that spread from his cheek seemed to wrap his whole body.

“This is amazing.”

“How can someone be this tiny? Elisha is a girl too, but still…”

Andrea’s kind heart seemed to stop him from finishing the sentence. Lucas couldn’t help but smile, and seeing him smile made Salote smile too as she looked up at her big brothers.

“She smiled!”

“She’s so pretty. Like a doll.”

Though they kept saying how cute she was, neither of the boys dared to touch Salote. Leon had told them not to, explaining that they didn’t yet know how to control their strength and had to be very careful with the baby.

“Salote will be happy. She has two strong big brothers. You have to love her a lot.”

“Yes. But… can we kiss her?”

“I want to kiss her too.”

When Lucas nodded, Dea puckered his lips and slowly leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on Salote’s forehead. He was so careful that not even a sound could be heard. Then Andrea kissed her cheek, and finally, Leon approached and kissed Salote softly on the lips.

Although three people had kissed her one after the other, Salote didn’t mind at all. Instead, she made baby gestures and wriggled cutely, putting on a little show.

Just as the room was filled with warmth and laughter, the door suddenly burst open without warning.

“Saloteeeee!”

The loud voice echoed through the room, startling Salote, who had just been smiling. She began to tear up in surprise.

The voice belonged to Elisha, who had run over the moment she heard about her new baby sibling. As she rushed forward, ready to pounce on the baby, Dea and Andrea quickly stepped in front of her.

“Elisha, no!”

“The baby is fragile. She’s not like us.”

“…What do you mean?”

“She’s an omega. That means she could get hurt more easily.”

Elisha finally understood. She raised herself on her toes and carefully walked toward the baby. It had been a while since she last saw her little sister. In that time, she had grown taller, her hair had gotten longer, and her arms and legs had become stronger. She looked even bigger than her brothers now.

She always said physical training was her favorite, and it clearly showed. Leon seemed to notice too. He lifted Elisha up by the waist and held her in his arms.

“Young lady, just how much training have you been doing? You’re heavier than your brothers.”

“That’s because they’re weak. I’m not strong, they’re just too soft. Aunt Michelle said so. She told me a strong body gives you a strong mind. I have to keep training.”

What exactly have you been teaching her, Michelle?

Leon had expected this would happen once Elisha started spending time with her aunt, but it still went beyond what he imagined. Even so, he figured it was better than her being sick or sad. He held out his arms with a gentle smile.

“Come on. Let Papa hold you too.”

“Okay.”

Elisha answered politely and stepped into Lucas’s arms, resting against him quietly.

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