The Butler

Prince Yoh found himself in the tea room again after the meal. This time he was alone with the Duchess since the Tamamuras and Sugimotos have left to prepare for their departure to Kasai in two days.

"How did you do it, Jeanne?" the prince asked with great curiosity.

"Well, they were friends with our fathers. It was Marco's idea to invite them over. He said they might finally be convinced if they see an ally closing a deal with your kingdom. Perhaps your previous visits to them got them thinking about it for months." Jean's grin was replaced with a grimace. She immediately placed her hand over her belly.

"Are you alright?"

The Duchess let out a weak smile. "I am now... Perhaps I'm just tired so I'll make this quick." She took out a small box and placed it on the tea table.

Prince Yoh opened it to reveal a diamond ring.

"King Mikihisa gave it to my father when my marriage to your brother was arranged. I wanted to return it when Hao decided to go back to Kasai but your father insisted that I keep the ring as a gift. It's yours now, Yoh."

The prince squeezed the duchess' hand. "I am really grateful for everything... But I think my father is right about you keeping it after all you've done for my brother." He pushed the box towards her.

"Please accept it. A very pregnant woman will be displeased if you don't..."

"Whatever will make you happy then..."

There was a soft knock from the door.

"You may come in..." The Duchess called out.

It was Faust. "Forgive my intrusion but we need to go, Your Highness. The butler is insisting for the Duchess to take a rest due to her condition."

Prince Yoh nodded. He took the lady's hand and kissed it. "Have a safe delivery, Jeanne."

"Until we meet again, Yoh Asakura..."

"So... I've sent the report to your brother about the return of the Tamamuras and Sugimotos to Kasai." Faust told the prince while they were walking away from the mansion.

"Hao would be grinning from ear to ear with this good news. Furthermore, I had been chatting with Lord Sugimoto when we were having our lunch earlier. He said he had exchanged location information with the other clans on the ship from Kasai in case they needed help from someone they know. The others had traveled far up north for fear that the war might spread to nearby lands. He jotted down the names of the cities in my checklist for our reference. We can leave for the closest city tomorrow if you want. Remember this though, we would be traveling to lands much farther away from the kingdom... Or... We could also go back to Kasai for a vacation. It's all up to you."

"I have a different place in mind..."

"Oh? Getting more adventurous are we?" Faust smirked at him.

"Would you know what time will the next ship to Kaminari leave?"

Later that night...

Marco propped up the duchess' head with another pillow and tucked her under the sheets. He had been doing this every night ever since Jeanne was a little girl. He was the longest-serving employee of the household.

He came to the mansion as a lonely teenage orphan who was employed by the Duke when he had grown too old to be adopted. He considered him and his daughter to be his only family. That's why he had devoted his entire life to be of service to them.

"Are you feeling better now?" He asked the young duchess.

Jeanne smiled weakly. "I guess..."

"Don't worry, the doctor said you'll be giving birth anytime soon. Then you can take your medications again."

"That's the least of my worries, Marco. I'm hoping the baby will turn out normal. I was careless the first few months."

"My Lady, don't be so hard on yourself... You did not know that you were pregnant back then. The doctor assured us the medication won't affect the fetus but you chose to stop taking them anyway..."

"I'm just taking extra precaution. My father used to be treated with those but it didn't do him any good. So I don't believe that they would cure me at all."

Marco sat down on the bed and held her hand. "All the more reason for you to tell me who your child's father is..."

Jeanne avoided his gaze.

"My Lady, how I wish that I could take away this disease from you. If something happens to you, your child will be left without any parent to guide him..."

Marco's words drowned out as Jeanne felt contractions in her belly. They had become more frequent today and she was trying her best to act normal while the visitors were around. At that very moment, she couldn't take it any longer.

"Are you alright, My Lady?"

"I think it's time..." Jeanne grimaced in pain.

Three hours later...

Marco unlocked a drawer in his bedroom and took out two folded sheets of paper. The first one was a letter that came a month ago. He had to read it before even though he hated the sender. The second one was a telegram that came early that evening. He had stashed it in his personal drawer first as he was meant to open it before going to bed.

The Duchess had just given birth to a healthy baby boy minutes ago. He had to slip into his room after ensuring that the mother and child were resting well. He was expecting the message actually.

He read through the contents of the telegram before dropping down to his knees. He started packing his things afterwards.