The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 90

The night Yulania gave birth, Santia once again roamed the hallways. He was allowed inside for brief moments, only to be chased out again. First, he was allowed in as the father, now that the baby was born, but Yulania and the baby needed aftercare and stability. It was the day he, the master of the castle, had the least authority.

After the brief meeting, the room closed again, and only quiet silence enveloped the castle. He quietly guarded the door. Time passed more cautiously and slowly than during the day.

The occasional footsteps of the maids, Joel’s low instructions, and the baby’s small cries felt like the remnants of a passed typhoon. No matter how much he listened, it didn’t feel real.

Yulania had given birth to a baby. His wife, his child. Every time he stroked her bulging belly, every time he felt the small movements, he knew it in his head, but now that the baby was actually here, his mind was blank. He had family for the first time in his life.

As he continued to think blankly, time quickly passed.

The night ended like that, and the slowly arriving morning sunlight quietly illuminated the room. Joel came out again and said carefully.

“You can go in now, Duke. The Duchess has opened her eyes.”

Santia almost ran into the room. The fragrant air flowing through the door filled his heart with warmth. Yulania was lying on the bed, looking much more comfortable than the day before.

Something small and warm was nestled in her arms, her face still slightly swollen.

“Yulania!”

Yulania smiled and raised her head. She still seemed weak, but her eyes held a different kind of peace than before.

“Santia. Good morning.”

“Yes.”

He carefully approached her. But his eyes involuntarily turned to her arms. Yulania chuckled and turned her head, following his gaze.

“Look. It’s our baby.”

The baby was carefully wrapped in a soft cloth. A small, delicate hand was slightly out of the cloth, and underneath it, a glimpse of soft, light blonde hair could be seen. The child, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, was truly the smallest and most delicate creature in the world.

Santia swallowed. The moment he had retreated as if out of his mind the day before came back to him. He had been afraid and scared in front of that small life. But now it was different. He slowly reached out his hand. The moment his trembling fingertips touched the baby’s hair, he quietly closed his lips.

“I can’t believe it.”

“I know. Me too. But it’s definitely here. A child born between us.”

Yulania said quietly. Santia was speechless for a moment. And then, he opened his mouth as if whispering.

“When I first saw it was so small that I was afraid it would break even if I just breathed.”

“You didn’t even try to hold the baby.”

“May I?”

Yulania smiled for a moment and then nodded. Slowly and carefully, she lifted the baby from her arms and moved it into his arms.

It was very light and so warm. Santia was overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion that he had never felt on the battlefield. He quietly held the tiny being in his arms as if it contained all the meaning in the world.

Yulania slowly leaned against him and asked.

“How is it, our baby?”

“Perfect.”

His answer was more resolute than ever.

This small being, who had endured nine months in Yulania’s belly and came out into the world, made Santia’s heart unbelievably full. Even as time passed, he couldn’t put the baby down from his arms. When the small hand gripped his finger, he finally smiled.

“You are the real hero.”

Yulania smiled quietly at his words.

“No. What did I do? I just became a mother.”

“That ‘just’ is everything to me.”

Yulania, who was looking at the baby in Santia’s arms, suddenly felt a familiar energy rising from deep within her heart.

It was subtle but clear. A warm and heavy energy felt from this small life. It was a sensation she could never miss.

She lowered her gaze for a moment and then looked back at the baby’s chest and opened her mouth.

“Santia.”

Santia, who quietly raised his head at her call, met her eyes. It was a low voice as if she was careful not to wake the baby.

“What is it?”

Yulania carefully continued. It was so subtle that she was unsure, but there was definitely an energy that bothered her.

“I feel, my energy from this child. It’s very small, but it’s clear.”

Santia looked down at the baby again and brought his palm close to the baby’s chest. For a while, he silently closed his eyes and carefully read the flow of mana. And after a while, he opened his eyes again and uttered a word.

“It’s there.”

Yulania’s eyes widened. She inhaled and exhaled slowly.

“Really?”

Santia nodded.

“It’s different from mine but it’s an energy that resembles yours. It’s a very small and still young seed-like feeling, but it’s definitely there.”

At those words, Yulania’s lips trembled slightly. There was an emotion that welled up hotly from somewhere inside her body. It was a complex emotion that could not be expressed by joy alone. The string of life flowing between the baby and her, and the resonance of mana within it, filled her with emotion.

“This child has power like me?”

Santia hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

“But, it’s still very young. It will take at least ten years before it can be used.”

Yulania carefully stroked the baby’s hair. The golden hair, still as soft as down, told her that the life that had been in her belly until recently was now a reality she could touch. And the fact that that life was born with a special power like her made her feel choked up again.

Santia stared at her face for a moment, then reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

“It’s a child with both of our powers. Now I really feel that it’s a life we created together.”

Yulania looked at Santia. The moment they confirmed that the same emotion was in each other’s eyes, they smiled silently. The smile contained a deep and warm light mixed with joy, emotion, and love.

A tear flowed silently down her cheek. Santia silently wiped away the tear with his thumb. Yulania shook her head and smiled.

“It’s okay. Right now, all these emotions are so precious.”

And again, the two looked down at the baby. The baby was breathing with small movements and slowly closing its eyes, dreaming a peaceful dream. If you listened carefully, you could even hear the small sound of its breath catching.

Yulania carefully held the baby’s small hand, feeling the warm energy contained within it. The subtle tremor transmitted from her fingertips was more than just a sign of life; it signified the birth of a new being in which her and Santia’s powers were combined.

“Santia, I think I feel it too.”

Yulania said carefully.

Santia placed his hand on the baby’s chest and carefully felt the flow of mana. He sensed a subtle but clear condensation of mana near the baby’s heart. It was still small and immature, but it was definitely a power that existed.

The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with tears. Realizing that their love and power had come to fruition and were born as a new life, they silently held each other’s hands tightly.

The baby was sleeping quietly, and a peaceful smile appeared on its small face. Yulania gently kissed the baby’s forehead and whispered.

“Our little miracle.”

Santia wrapped his arms around Yulania’s shoulders and kissed her hair. They silently felt each other’s presence and welcomed the beginning of a new family together.

That night, Makari Castle was filled with an atmosphere of quiet blessing.

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