Chapter 20 - The Crushing News

"An expedition?" Sitting on the edge of my bed, excited, I nodded. "Yeah! I want to travel around this nation, meet people, make memories!" Despite my best efforts to convince Reo to let me go, he wouldn't have it. "There are bandits who lurk my nation, despite my attempts at eradicating them. I can't have my wife travelling in dangerous parts of my nation!"

I grumbled. Such a killjoy! Honestly, I'm even asking for his permission. Where's the impulsive woman I used to be gone? "Anyway, I won't allow it." I grumbled. "Even with Arte?" He frowned. "Especially with Arte." I sighed. "This seriously sucks, you know! I came here to explore this nation and you can't even let me outside to see the capital by myself."

He crossed his arms, not wavering his decision. I sighed and fell onto a chair, holding my head. "Mimi? Is something the matter?" I snapped "Nothing! I've just got this stupid headache. It's frying my brain, I can even think straight anymore." He frowned and immediately got up from his seat. He rushed to the door and told one of the servants passing by to get Arte.

"What's wrong? Why are you getting Arte?" He then took my hands and gazed into my eyes worryingly. He seemed so genuine... "You might be sick. Don't worry, whatever you have, Arte will have the cure to!" As soon as Arte arrived, he smiled at me and sat me down. "What's exactly the matter here?" Holding my head, Reo started to explain to him that I had a sore head.

"A headache? Have you been drinking? Alcohol or water, that is." I nodded. "I haven't touched alcohol and water, I drink a substantial amount every day to make my brain work at its optimum speed." He then sighed and took a cloth, taking my pulse over it. His eyes then tensed as he stepped back.

"Congratulations, Lord Reo. Lady Mimi is expecting." My whole face cracked at that very moment. Expecting... expecting... that explains why I was sick yesterday and the day before. Why I can't stand the smell of stinky tofu anymore and the headache. Reo, on the other hand, was over the moon.

"Mimi... and I... I'm going to be a father?" Arte slowly nodded, seeming on edge. He didn't seem happy about the result, and neither did I. I can't be a mother. That's the one thing that I'd be crap at in life. Raising a child? I can barely look after myself.

I looked down at my stomach and poked it. "You annoying blob. Putting a hole in my plans." Reo smiled and hugged me tighter than before. "This is great! I'm going to be a father! My wife is giving birth!" Not right now, idiot! Well, this was unexpected. I thought that I'd be fine without using a contraceptive soup but seems like I was wrong. I've been wrong about a lot of things lately. Is it because I can finally relax?

"Mimi... isn't this wonderful?" I looked up at him, with a blank expression on my face. For someone as free as me, something like a baby is the anchor on my boat. It keeps me grounded in one place and I don't want that. Well... I've officially got to start the clock. I've got nine months to accomplish what i want before I'm anchored down with this baby. You just couldn't wait, could you?

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