Chapter 119: Zachary

"It's a trap!"

"Wha-"

The elf could not even finish his words before he was forcefully kicked inside the room by someone behind him. The doors then immediately closed before either of the two could reach halfway to the door.

"Damn it!", Emi could not help but curse as she kicked the empty crib in frustration.

"What are we going to do now…"

The elf said as he tried to open the door, but alas, it seems to have been locked once again by a magic rune. Emi quickly tried to check the curtains, but their dismay, the windows were also covered in runes.

"Open this door! I want to see my son! You hear me!?", once again, Emi shouted in frustration, where could her son be!? Where else could they be keeping him?

"Miss Emi…", the elf could not help but look to the side in pity.

"Give me my son!", Emi's howls continued as she dragged the crib towards the door. And with her pace becoming faster and her howls growing louder, she smashed the empty crib on the door with all her might.

"GAAAAAA

…AAAAAAH!"

"That's it, Lady Emi! Push! Just a little bit more!"

4 and a half months ago, back in Lord Karl's manor, Emi was trying to pace her breathing in a rhythmic pattern.

"Again, Lady Emi, push!"

"GAAAAH!"

The veins on Emi's neck started to show as her screeching cries almost deafened the whole room. Her whole body, and even her bed, were already drowning in sweat. But it would seem the torrent of sweat had no plans of stopping as it continued to drip from every inch of her skin.

She had already swallowed some of her hair that was sticking in her mouth, but her body did not even seem to notice as her cries continued. The veins on her face also started to show as her complexion turned redder than the sun.

"You can do this, my wife!", Lord Karl was currently beside her, his hand almost crushed by Emi's trembling grip. For some odd reason, there were also veins popping out on the Lord's neck as he too, was breathing rapidly. "Just a little bit more…"

"Y-you have been telling me that for more than two hours no- GAAAAH!", Emi then let go of Karl's hand and grabbed him by the collars, dragging his face near hers, "I…I think I need to take a crap, Karl! I can feel it!"

Hearing this, the pitiful Lord Karl could only look at the midwife for answers.

"It is perfectly normal, Lady Emi", said the midwife calmly, "I have never seen a lady give birth without defecating, sometimes even three. You have nothing to worry about… now push!"

"GAAAAAAH!", once again the veins on Emi's neck popped out, even larger than before as she almost threw Lord Karl to the ground.

"Then get them out of here first!", Emi howled as she pointed at one part of the room. Standing there, was Antoinette… with Viel beside her, "What are the two of you even doing here!?"

In truth, it was Lord Karl that called them. He did not really know what to do if he were alone with only the midwife. So, he requested for Antoinette to come as it might make Emi more comfortable with the delivery. What he did not know, though, was that Viel was tagging along with her.

They were currently watching on the side with their eyes fully open as they hear Emi's struggle to push the baby out.

"Get. Them. Ou- AAAAGGH!"

Finally, the baby's head showed itself.

"Aahoo", Emi's breath trembled as her whole body shook, "Karl!? Can you see? Can you see our baby? Can you- GAAAAAH!", Emi repeated her words as she shouted for Karl to hold her again.

"This is it, Lady Emi!", the midwife gently and very carefully helped the baby be pushed out, "Just a little bit more!"

Antoinette, who saw the top of the baby's head, could not help but sit down on the floor as her legs gave out on her. She saw all the blood and shit that were coming out of Emi, and she wondered what will happen when it was her time to give birth. If it comes, that is.

Viel, however, had both of his hands on his cheeks, pressing it as he grit his chattering teeth. His eyes were so wide that it could pop out at any moment. Numerous thoughts were running in his mind, but the one that keeps on repeating itself was… he came out like this?

Did her mother, whoever and wherever she is, also went through to this much pain just to bring him to this world? Seeing Emi's grotesque appearance, her almost volcanic face, the veins that were popping out all over her face, all the blood that she was losing, the loss of breath.

Someone also endured all of this just so he could be here? For him?

A mother. So, this is what a mother is. Viel's eyes slightly watered as he imagined himself spending time with his mother, what she looked like, her scent, the feeling of her hand on his cheeks… but alas, a fantasy.

Viel then sniffed as he wiped the tears that wanted to come out of his eyes. He once again stared at the struggling Emi, "You can do it, Miss Emi", he curled his fists as he let out a silent cheer.

"GAAAAH!"

"I can see our baby, Emi! There… There… I can…", Karl's tears started to fall as the baby's whole body was finally out, "Beautiful… Emi… He is… so beautiful"

"He?", Emi tried to catch his breath, "Our baby is a…"

And then, the baby's cries filled the room… and suddenly, nothing else mattered.

The excruciating endless torments of pain that Emi felt?

Gone.

Just like that.

It was not even a matter of being worth the pain, because the pain was nothing at all.

"H…hello there", Emi gently tapped her baby numerous times as the midwife placed him on her bosom. It was almost as if Emi was afraid to touch him, but after a few seconds, she softly brushed her hand on her baby's head. Her closed lips started to quiver, and her tears once again left a trail on her face, a trail of nothing but happiness.

She then looked at her husband, whose whole face was swollen, with his snot running all over his chin, "W-what should we name him?", he whispered.

"I…", Emi let out a huge breath, "I can't think of anything", a slight chuckle was released from her mouth.

"Me too", Karl also let out a chuckle as he placed his face near to Emi's.

"What about you, Antoinette?", breathed Emi as she looked at Antoinette's direction, unfortunately, she was not there.

Well, she was. But she was currently… not available to answer as her consciousness had already left her body as soon as the baby was fully puked out and separated from Emi. Right now, the only answer you would get from Antoinette was how many stars she was currently seeing circling around her.

After a minute of silence, Emi then looked at Viel, who was staring at her baby with much curiosity. Without Viel, she and Karl might not have had the chance to even get back together. One could even say that Viel was the reason why she is able to feel the warmth of her son today. And, with a slightly hesitant sigh, Emi asked…

"What about you, Viel? Can you think up a name?"

"A name?", Viel was surprised with the sudden question, "Me?"

Emi nodded with a slight smile on her face. She was starting to get sleep as she waited for Viel's answer.

"Then…", Viel mouthed as he stared at the baby,

"How about…"

***

"Zachary! Give me back my baby Zachary!"

"…Miss Emi, stop"

Th elf could not help but grab Emi on her shoulder as the skin on her hand was already starting to fold, almost mangled. She had been slamming that door at full force without stopping for more than a minute now even as blood dripped from her hand.

The red marks on the door were testament to how desperate she really is.

"Miss Emi, please stop!", leaving him with no choice, the elf pulled Emi away from the door.

"What are you doing!? My baby is out there!", Emi howled as she pushed the elf.

"And we are stuck here!", the elf reasoned, "Panicking will not do us any good. Please, calm down"

"Y…", Emi was about to rebuke, but she knew that the Elf was right. She needed to get her mind together if they were to find a way to escape from here. But how? The magic on the door really was something that they have never seen before, it was most likely a magic the Viel's world.

"Oh no", suddenly, Emi let out an exasperated gasp as she remembered something.

If they were trapped here, then that would mean…

"...The Princess is in trouble!"