It has been decided that in three weeks, we shall hold Derrick's baptism in the temple.

Now that I remember, second names are given by the priests who held a newborn's baptism. Nobles who have second names are either rich or influential since getting baptized requires a lot of fortune.

However, if you didn't receive any second name, you're poor.

"My nephew is so handsome isn't he?"

It's my sister, the Marchioness of Eldenbourg. Cordelia.

She's carrying my son while I'm carrying my niece who's staring at me intently. Because she inherited my sister's beauty, she have some slight of my appearance aswell.

"How old is my niece sister?" I didn't know when she gave birth, I remembered that I was in the Vatican during that time.

As I watch my niece in my arms, she has lots of hair now compared to the last time I saw her on my birthday.

"Isn't it obvious? She's already 1 year old in summer."

"Oh, is that so, she's quite obedient and quiet."

"You think so too right? I get really worried because she's too quiet! Although she could say ma-ma and da-da, she doesn't say it often!"

"Be patient will you?"

"I am though!" She pouted.

I just sighed at her and shook my head, my niece is now staring at a nearby cake.

"Do you want that?" I asked

"Hm." I smiled and put a decent amount of cake in the spoon before drawing it inside her mouth.

"Hmm~!"

A smile appeared on my face and I chuckled at her expression. She must've like sweets.

"Mom!" I looked at Calix who's running towards us in the gazebo. Behind him, there's Asrid and Rielle.

I also noticed my son's hands intertwined with Asrid's.

"Oh! My cousin!" He exclaimed and walked close to me.

Suddenly, I remembered that he guessed right that my sister's baby is a girl even though my niece is yet to be born that time.

"Wow, she's so beautiful."

The corner of his mouth curved upward, his eyes formed into a gentle crescent moon and there's a faint blush on his cheeks.

Though he's just a child right now, how can he already perfect the Ikemen smile?

Although he could marry my niece since he's not really blood related to her, well I wonder who will he end up with...

"I'm your cousin! Calix! It's nice to meet you!"

He was about to touch my niece when she suddenly turn her head away and buried her face to the crook of my neck.

"She's a shy child my dear!" My sister consoled when she saw Calix's sad face.

"A child who both bear the possibility of a princess and a priestess..."

It was a small whisper but I heard it too well. I turn and looked at Asrid, she's staring intently at the child in my arms, and then she smirked before mouthing something.

"Just like you..."

"Madam?" Jennie called from the outside of my bedroom, I told her to come in, then a sound of a door opening and closing was heard. Soon footsteps was drawing nearer to where I am.

"Madam? Why are you in a daze like that while looking at the young master?" She asked.

I was usually not the one who's bathing Derrick, but earlier, I saw a golden mark on his throat. I can't help it but to be worried...

"Jennie, do you know what is this?" I bend towards my son's crib before carefully lifting him to settle in my arms.

I gently moved away the cloth that hides the unknown insignia.

"What exactly are you saying madam?"

Eh?

"This golden insignia, do you see it?"

Jennie frowned at me before shaking her head.

It seems like she can't see them.

"What do you mean Madam?"

"Oh? Ah, no, it's nothing."

Am I the only one who can see this?

"Wife?"

I was alone at the balcony of our room when I heard Regan called my name from inside. I didn't respond and I just looked at the night sky.

Soon after, I felt a warm blanket draped on my shoulder, and then Regan's arm wrapped around me.

"You could get sick if you do this." He whispered in my ear.

"It's been a long time since the day that I got better you know, thanks to Elise's medicine." Elise is the Duchy's physician.

"Still, I know that you're not fully well."

Elise said that if it wasn't for my healing powers, I wouldn't survive the delivery. However I miraculously survived and Derrick as well...

Derrick...

"Regan, do you see the insignia on our son's throat?"

I felt his body stiffened. He's the one who knows something.

He unwrapped his arms around me, before turning me around to face him. His eyes were trying to tell me something, but I can't understand those emotions at all.

"Please don't get mad at me." I frowned at him before lifting my hand to caress his cheek.

"Did you do something bad?"

He sighed before nodding "I think so? I am not really sure Cressida. Its just at that moment, I don't want to lose our son... If I lose him, I know that I'll lose you too..."

"Tell me..."

"I commanded the physician to save the both of you even if it means that there's a possibility to lose you both as well..."

"You can't just say to my face to save our child can you? I love you both but it feels like a huge boulder of rocks were pressing on my soul."

"If I lose you, I don't know what I'll do. I don't know if I could look at the child the way you wanted to. But if I lose him I'll lose you too, I won't be able to see you, touch you... You wouldn't allow that I'll love you again..."

"I'll lose my mind either way..."

He sighed and took a deep breath, he look up to stop his tears. I can't help it but to feel sorry for him. For putting him in a situation like that...

"Our son was dead when you gave birth to him."

I felt shivers run down my spine when I heard what he just said...

"He was not crying no matter what we do, I was so devastated, angry. I'm in deep sorrow that I just released my divine power in my room with our son. I can't accept it, and I won't."

"I was already at the point of no return, at the point of being a murderer of hundreds of nobility..."

"But then that child who could call and hear the Goddess came. She could save our son, if we offer him to her temple and make him a Paladin."

My eyes widened, I immediately pushed him away from me.

"A-A Paladin? Have you gone mad!? Do you want our son to die young!?"

"That is the only way... I am no God Cressida... I can't revive him..." He sobbed uncontrollably in front of me.

"But you know that Paladins die young!! You know that! Paladins are often not in the Empire! Because they are always sent to the purgatory!"

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... I don't have any choice... I'm sorry for being greedy."

He stopped crying and he looked at me.

"I just want us to be a complete family... Is that too much to ask?"

A/N: Cressida sounds bratty here and unreasonable, but she has her reason as well...

Unedited

August 1, 2022

LizzannaWrites