Page 366 of DATE
Leonardo stood up again abruptly, his tone much more careful. “Preg—pregnant?”
He tightened his grip on her hand, swallowed, took a deep breath, and repeated the word, “You’re pregnant?”
“Maybe.” She said slowly, “Just this one time, we’ll have to use contraception afterward.”
“You—pregnant?!”
“When did you turn into a parrot… repeating it once is enough.”
“Are we going to be parents?!” Leonardo could hardly control the expression on his face. At this point, he almost wanted to run downstairs and do a few laps: “We’re going to have our own child?!”
Hedy finished the glass of water and handed the cup to him.
Without needing to say a word, he quickly grabbed the cup andran out. When he returned, his hands were full—
A weasel pelt, a fruit basket, a full cup of water, a soft cushion, a toy, and a large bottle of wine.
…He had only been gone for three minutes.
“You need to calm down a bit, Mr. Leonardo,” Hedy propped her chin and looked at her Santa Claus-like husband. “Also, pregnant women can’t drink alcohol, at least not until after the pregnancy ends.”
When she realized her period was delayed, she had secretly stopped all alcohol intake and instructed the cook not to use any alcohol in cooking.
Alcohol could affect the development of the fetus, and right now, the further it was from her, the better.
Leonardo immediately shoved the bottle of wine into a potted plant, then set down the bundle of items on the table and placed a soft cushion for her to sit more comfortably.
“Hedy…” he murmured. “I don’t have much experience. I hope you’re not angry.”
She reached out and gently stroked his face, smiling calmly. “It’s not confirmed yet, no need to rush.”
“But…” she slowed her voice, gently stroking her flat stomach. “If this child is really coming, it’s best that no one knows about this until after the birth.”
Leonardo immediately tucked the weasel pelt back into his sleeve, like an extremely loyal knight. “I’ll do as you say.”
Although he knew the methods of childbirth in this era, he instinctively chose to trust everything she ordered.
“It’s not because of some custom,” Hedy slowly leaned on his shoulder, her voice weary. “It has to do with my status.”
If the fact that she was pregnant were to be known by other countries, it would be like exposing a weakness to all enemies.
The empress’s pregnancy and childbirth would affect the entire empire’s future, and even if she managed to give birthsuccessfully, the safety of the child would be the number one concern.
The Queen of Denmark had unified the three kingdoms of Scandinavia, but her son passed away from illness at a young age, which directly undermined her authority and position.
Women naturally had a disadvantage in this regard.
Men could indulge themselves, producing illegitimate children like rabbits.
But women, as the ones bearing children, had to face death itself in order to have an heir.
“First, about childbirth, I need to find a time to talk to you properly about it,” Hedy stared into his eyes and said. “It’s a bit gruesome, but only if you assist me in delivering the baby will I be at ease.”
He was the only person she could trust with her life.
“Okay,” Leonardo said seriously. “I’ve dissected the uterus and fetus before, I remember the structure very clearly.”
Hedy sighed in relief and continued, “In the coming days, I’ll choose loose clothes, and I won’t be attending any horse-riding activities.”
