Vanessa woke up from the noise in the kitchen. She has been staying up in the mornings lately. It didn’t help that she felt a little sluggish and queasy sometimes.

Kyle only needed to work four days a week at the butcher. The pay was about a quarter of the old wage. But, Kyle thought it was sufficient. His shifts would start in about two weeks, when the decorations are completed and permits arranged.

Her beloved must have heard her stir in bed as Kyle’s footsteps could be heard coming upstairs. He carried a tray with soup and soft bread on them, accompanied by a glass of water.

“Good morning, my love. How are you feeling today?” Kyle placed the tray on the bedside table, and helped Vanessa sit up. The power of a quasi-Demigod was useless against wonders of nature. Kyle’s thoughts wondered as he assisted Vanessa with her meal.

Vanessa weakly replied and allowed herself to be fed by her husband.

Kyle had noticed as far as three months back that the unborn child was greedily taking in all the nutrients from the mother. There was only two months to go until childbirth and he didn’t want Vanessa to lose her life during the process.

Therefore, today, he tried mixing in some magic herbs with well known recuperation effects into the soup.

‘I’ll have to keep a closer eye on her. It might pay to take another trip to the forest to collect more herbs if it works.’

After the meal, Kyle helped Vanessa change into comfortable clothing and cleaned up in the kitchen.

Today, they would go to a merchant company and sell off the ore and some of the useless magic herbs.

***

The duo sat in a private room, across three people. They had come to the merchant that they had originally bought their house from.

The Goldberg company was larger and was likely to offer a larger sum for the items, but Kyle didn’t want to introduce unwanted attention to themselves. It was far too bothersome to clean up after all.

The manager of the firm had a wide smile as he watched the two appraisers carefully examine the magic herbs. The large chunk of blue iron ore sat in the opened wooden box, on one side of the table.

“Mr. Kyle, thank you very much for choosing our firm! I can already see customers rushing to our company once word is out about these items!”

The manager was almost drooling, imagining the commission he’d receive.

“Haha, don’t mind it. I was very happy with the service last time so it naturally became our first choice.” Kyle’s perfunctory reply made the manager’s grin even wider. After a while, the pudgy man asked the question that’s been on his mind for some time.

“Mr and Mrs Kyle. If I may ask, why didn’t you go to the Goldberg company? They’d likely be able to provide a larger value for such fine products.”

“Haha, the fact that you asked such a question is a reason for me to come back if I ever have such luck again in the future.”

“And also, just between us. The last time I went there to sell a smaller chunk of ore, they sent someone to tail us. I don’t really want to deal with an unscrupulous merchant if you get my meaning.”

Kyle’s answer and threat mixed in brought some much-needed cold water on the manager’s excitement. The fact that Kyle was alive and well proved that he was not someone to be trifled with. Someone sent by the Goldberg company to do the dirty work can’t be all that weak, right?

“Ha-haha, of course! Honesty and fairness is the way our Blue rose firm operates!”

After some cramped laughter, the manager placed his attention back towards the numerous herbs on the table.

‘I wonder if he went and raided a magical beast’s garden. There’s so many of them!’

After about half hour of waiting, the appraisers raised their heads and handed over their parchments with the prices written to the pudgy man.

After signing a receipt for the agreed sum, Kyle spoke up.

“We’d like to look at purchasing a house. Can we take a look at what’s available?”

The manager was slightly surprised but resumed his professional attitude.

“Of course, may I ask what kind of property you are looking for?”

***

Kyle and Vanessa stood in a large garden, in front of a small two-story mansion. A servants’ quarter was attached next to the main building. The plot was surrounded by two meter high fences.

Vanessa looked around with a satisfied expression. “Dear, let’s get this one!”

Kyle immediately agreed. He did not care too much for aesthetics, it would be fine as long as the house had enough space.

The new house was located in the wealthy merchants’ area, next to the suburb where the old house was located. The atmosphere was good with occasional group of guards patrolling the area. Trees lined the clean and wide streets.

After they paid for the house back at the firm, they also ordered a new set of furniture for the house.

“Wife, let’s go back home. You must be tired from running around all day.”

“Ok dear, but let’s have lunch first. I’m sure you don’t feel like cooking either.”

“Actually, let’s get a carriage. It’s not good to be walking all day after all.” Kyle spontaneously decided after having a late lunch at a restaurant.

That very afternoon.

They went back to the Blue rose firm to see if there were any carriages for sale.

The manager welcomed them with a flattering smile. The couple had brought him two weeks’ worth of business in a single day. He was indeed very happy.

After hearing Kyle’s request, the manager took a coach from the firm and drove them to the company’s warehouse.

“Mr and Mrs Kyle, these are the carriages that we have in stock. Please take a look. If you see one you like, we can attach a horse and take it out for a ride.”

The couple spent the afternoon trying out different carriages. Finally, a dark green coach with enough space to seat six people was chosen. Kyle had also selected two good horses to go with the carriage.

As the new home would be ready in about ten days, Kyle left the carriage and horses at the firm. The current house was too small and did not have the facilities to keep the horses. The manager happily agreed to look after the horses free of charge.

The weeks rolled by. Kyle and Vanessa moved into their new house. Kyle started his new job. Vanessa would come along sometimes. Kyle went and posted some help wanted posters to hire maids and gardeners for the new place.

Time slowly passed by in this peaceful fashion. Alex would visit from time to time. The kid was very impressed that Kyle was able to afford a new house.

The time was the middle of the year when Vanessa started getting strong contractions.