Special Story 13

One week later.

“Congratulations. You’re pregnant.”

The physician delivered the news with a smile. The members of the ducal household, who had all been watching the doctor’s lips with bated breath, finally let out a collective sigh of relief.

Ever since the day they had hastily summoned the doctor, the atmosphere in the ducal estate had been tense and precarious. Because the situation had not yet been confirmed, they hadn’t been able to offer real comfort, nor could they speak optimistically and risk giving false hope. And no words of consolation seemed to reach Vivian anyway.

In the end, it had simply been a matter of time. It had only been a week, but Vivian’s lingering sorrow had cast a heavy pall over the entire household.

Vivian, unable to believe it, asked the doctor again.

“Really…? Are you sure?”

She had tried to let go of her hopes, prepared herself for the possibility that she wasn’t pregnant, fearing the greater pain that would come from disappointment.

But letting go wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Whether it was due to sheer longing or some inexplicable bond with the child, since that day, a little girl with the same platinum-blond hair as her husband kept appearing in her dreams.

The girl would run around the room, or come nestle into her arms. But in the end, it had only been a dream. Waking from it each morning had left her feeling unbearably empty.

“Yes, I’m certain. You’re definitely pregnant.”

The physician explained to her the signs—the way she hadn’t been able to eat much and had been sustaining herself mostly on fruit, her sudden craving for sour drinks like lemonade.

“It was a bit early to tell before, but those symptoms were likely due to pregnancy. It seems your sense of taste was temporarily altered.”

“I’m… really going to have a baby?”

Still unable to believe it, Vivian asked again. The physician simply smiled warmly and nodded.

“Yes.”

Only then did the Duke let out a long breath and sink deeper into the sofa. He had been feeling guilty for what he had said to Vivian last time. After being sharply scolded by his wife, he’d been treading carefully ever since.

He looked at Vivian now. Her face was shifting rapidly through a spectrum of emotions—she looked like she wanted to laugh, and cry, all at once.

“I knew this would happen,” he murmured.

The Duke burst into hearty laughter.

“I didn’t say anything at the time, but ever since that day, the child keeps appearing in my dreams.”

Now that things had turned out well, he could finally speak freely without worry. He chuckled as he enjoyed the surprised stares of his family.

“There’s this little rascal toddling all around the estate. A girl, cute as a button. I’m sure it’s a girl. My first grandchild.”

“Oh my.”

The Duchess, who had previously scolded her husband for making careless comments about the baby being a boy or girl, reacted differently this time. Her eyes widened, and she spoke before even realizing it.

“You too?”

“What? Then…”

“I dreamed I was reading with a little one in my study. She was so tiny, kicking her feet as she read on the couch. It was just so adorable. You said it was a girl? The child in my dream was a girl too.”

As she listened to her in-laws speak, Vivian’s heart began to pound.

A girl. Could it be the same one she’d seen in her own dreams?

But the warm, joyful mood didn’t last long. The physician, ever the realist, poured cold water on the conversation.

“I’m sorry to say this, but a baby’s gender cannot be determined before birth. The children in your dreams likely stem from the heightened concern you’ve all had for Lady Vivian since the last visit.”

Long periods of worry often manifest in dreams, nothing more, nothing less. The physician had seen too many people disappointed by dreams they mistook for premonitions.

Then, as everyone fell into thoughtful silence, Armin—who had been quietly observing—finally spoke.

“I did too.”

“I thought you might, Lord Armin,” the physician said quickly, misunderstanding. “But it’s still far too early to say—whether it’s a boy or a girl, we won’t know until—”

“I saw the child in my dream too.”

The physician’s mouth snapped shut.

This was Armin Grey, widely known for his rationality and sharp judgment. Of all people, he hadn’t expected him to bring up dreams.

“But it was a boy.”

“A boy?”

It was the Duke who replied to that, though the comment had been directed at Vivian.

“Yes. And his hair was pink.”

The Duchess furrowed her brow. There was only one person who came to mind when she heard “pink hair.” That silver hair tinged with rose was a royal trait.

“Oh, could it be…”

The physician, clearly thinking the same thing, cautiously spoke. Though he had just warned against dream interpretation, he was now slowly being drawn into their talk.

“Could it mean a connection with the imperial family?”

Vivian let out a small laugh at the doctor’s sudden enthusiasm for dream analysis, but the others all froze, as if they’d just heard something dreadful.

“Absolutely not. Don’t even joke about that.”

“Exactly. Who would benefit from that? We’re not forging any ties with the imperial family.”

They vividly remembered how much trouble the Empress and Crown Prince Zeta had caused, persistently pursuing Vivian. The last thing any of them wanted was to be bound to them by blood.

The physician had served the Grey household for generations, so they didn’t bother to hold back. Still, their outright disdain for the imperial family was shocking even to him.

“I don’t think the child was from the royal family,” Armin added, sensing his parents’ concern. “The child’s clothes were neat, but nothing overly fancy.”

Internally, though, Armin was troubled. Why had his dream shown someone different? He’d wanted to see the platinum-haired girl his parents spoke of.

The pink-haired child in his dream was likable, yes—but not especially endearing. More admirable than adorable.

Is this what it feels like to have a son? he wondered. If so, I think I’d still prefer a daughter who takes after Vivian.

But he kept that thought to himself. He didn’t want to upset her with unnecessary speculation.

***

After the physician left, the Grey family promptly gathered for a family meeting—to decide on a name for the baby who was still months away from being born.

“Ahem! I’ve come up with a few names,” the Duke began proudly.

“A few? You mean one,” the Duchess said with a teasing smile. The Duke quickly corrected himself.

“Alright, fine. I have one name in mind.”

“We’ve been thinking about it for quite a while, but so far, the only name that truly speaks to us is for a girl.”

Though no one had said it aloud, none of them could easily let go of the dream of “a life with a child” that had taken root the moment they suspected Vivian might be pregnant.

Ever since Vivian had joined the household, the once-cold Duke’s estate had warmed significantly. And now, just imagining a little one running through its halls was enough to make them all smile without even realizing it.

“Of course, it’s your decision,” the Duchess said gently. “Just like how we chose the name ‘Armin’ together. What we suggest is merely for you to consider.”

“What is it? I’m sure it’s a beautiful name,” Vivian asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling now that she had fully regained her strength. A name for their child—it made everything feel so real. Though she and Armin had already talked about the name “Maria,” she was certain anything her in-laws came up with would be lovely too.

“Maria,” the Duchess said.

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s strange, I know the physician said dreams are just dreams, but somehow the name ‘Maria’ just seemed to fit the child we saw.”

She seemed to be a lively little thing, so a calmer name might balance her out. The Duke and Duchess had spent that morning, ever since they woke from their dreams, discussing what name might best suit the little girl they’d seen. In the end, this was the one they’d agreed on.

Vivian and Armin looked at each other in shock. The Duke raised a brow at their reaction.

“What? You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s not that, Father,” Armin said quickly. “Actually, the name Vivian and I had been thinking of…”

“Was the same. Maria Grey,” Vivian finished.

The coincidence was uncanny. Vivian’s eyes grew wide with wonder. The Duchess smiled warmly at her, full of fondness and affection.

“We weren’t going to say this, but… I truly hope we get to use this name this time. Of course, a boy would be just as wonderful…”

***

Upon hearing the news of Vivian’s pregnancy, Michelle rushed straight to the Duke’s estate. Through their exchanged letters, she had known how much Vivian had been worrying about the baby. She also felt a bit responsible, recalling how she hadn’t been able to stop their excitement during their time in Feifrea.

Now, to hear that Vivian was expecting as well, just like Florin—it was an immense relief. Florin, who was a few months further along, was expected to give birth later that year. Their children would be cousins, just a year apart—close enough to grow up more like friends than relatives.

“Ah… I hadn’t really given much thought to children before now,” Michelle admitted.

But ever since Andre had returned from meeting Alessandro and Armin, he’d been going on about wanting a child of their own. Michelle, who hadn’t yet seriously considered motherhood, now found her heart swaying. Vivian and Florin simply looked so happy.

“Thank you for the congratulations, Michelle.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. It’s something worth celebrating. When your beautiful baby is born, I’ll make her first handkerchief myself.”

“You don’t have to go that far.”

“I may not be a maid anymore, but this is your child we’re talking about. Just accept it as a gift—my way of celebrating.”

They weren’t related by blood, but Vivian’s child was precious to her all the same. Vivian nodded gratefully, touched by Michelle’s words.

Ten months later, Vivian gave birth to her baby.

Just as everyone had hoped, she was a precious, adorable little girl with platinum blond hair like her father and violet eyes, and delicate features that perfectly mirrored her mother’s.