Reincarnated User Manual

Chapter 299: Pregnancy

Chapter 299: Pregnancy

The Glass Garden of the Imperial Palace.

“Wow...”

Lucia looked around in awe, her eyes wide with wonder.

‘I wondered why the Emperor himself would come all the way here, but it turns out it was to show off this place.’

Outside, the snow was piled high, but here, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and the greenery flourished as if it were spring. One might simply think they used magic to manipulate various growing conditions, but if that were all, Lucia wouldn’t have been this impressed.

The walls, ceiling, and columns were all made of transparent glass. It could easily have felt tacky or overdone, but the elegant balance of the glass garden was nothing short of refined.

And that wasn’t all. Each time she turned her head, she caught a different floral scent.

Even in Eldrina’s gardens, different flowers were planted in each section to create a harmonious aroma, but here, the scent changed with every breath, without even needing to move.

No matter how beautiful a garden was, one could get tired of it after a while, but Lucia thought this place would never make her feel that way.

“How is it? My garden, which I put all my heart into.”

Victor spoke, offering a cup of tea. Siriel had declined her invitation, and Seira had teleported Siriel away, leaving only the two of them.

“Yeah, it’s a beautiful garden.”

Lucia nodded lightly, meeting Victor’s expectations.

“Honestly, I wondered what was up with this sudden tea party, but I suppose it’s worth showing off.”

“...I wasn’t exactly trying to show off.”

“Oh, really? Well, I do genuinely think it’s pretty.”

“Hehe, thanks for the compliment.”

Victor covered her mouth as she laughed. Then she squirmed a bit, rubbing her slightly swollen belly.

...What’s up with her?

Lucia, who had been savoring the scent of the tea, paused.

‘Could she have a stomachache?’

“Victor?”

“Hmm?”

“If you need to use the restroom, you can go.”

“What? Why would I need the restroom?”

Victor tilted her head, puzzled by what Lucia was saying.

“No, it’s just that you kept rubbing your belly, so I thought maybe you were feeling unwell.”

“Oh, it’s nothing like that, don’t worry.”

“Then why do you keep touching your belly? I thought you were just here to show off the garden, but are you trying to show off your belly fat too?”

“Well, no. Ahem. Now that I’m trying to say it, it feels really awkward.”

Victor scratched the back of her head shyly, but then, as if she had made up her mind, she looked straight at Lucia.

“I’m pregnant.”

“...What?”

Lucia’s eyes widened in disbelief at the incomprehensible statement, and then she let out a heavy sigh.

“So you’ve finally lost it. A guy claiming he’s pregnant, that’s just nonsense.”

“Huh? What? You still didn’t know?”

“...What?”

“I’m a woman.”

Victor smiled brightly as she spoke. Lucia’s head was filled with question marks, unable to process the sudden statement.

“What nonsense. You’re a woman...?”

But despite how Lucia felt about Victor, their conversation continued without interruption. They talked about how there were now two cardinals staying in the Rien Diocese and how the fog at Arwen Highlands hadn’t cleared even after the suppression mission.

‘So many incidents when people should be resting. It’s almost pitiable.’

By the time she returned to the mansion, dusk had already fallen.

“What are you doing?”

Lucia stared at Siriel, who was standing on her hands.

“The conversation took longer than I expected. Guess I was right to come straight home.”

“No, what are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m standing on my hands... to make it easier for my oppa’s baby to conceive!”

Siriel’s breathing was heavier than usual as she maintained her handstand. Normally, she could move boulders the size of houses without even breaking a sweat.

Moreover, earlier in the day, she had been on edge and snappy, but now, Siriel’s face was glowing with a wide smile.

‘Looks like she had plenty of fun while I was gone.’

Lucia could easily imagine what had happened in her absence.

“But where’s Shiron?”

Something was odd. Siriel had returned with a full, round belly, but when Lucia extended her senses throughout the estate, she couldn’t detect Shiron’s presence anywhere.

“Oppa had some things to wrap up, so he left quite a while ago.”

“Where did he go?”

“To Dawn Castle.”

Still in her handstand, Siriel pointed north.

A mountain where the snow never melted, Makal. Somewhere amidst its peaks stood a castle that exuded not just grandeur but an almost oppressive aura.

The Devil’s Castle. From childhood, it had only been something she’d heard of in stories. Now, from its ancient spires, countless magical spells stretched out into the sky.

“Sir Shiron.”

Louise, adjusting her winter coat, called out to Shiron.

“Is that really the place? No matter how powerful the Silleya are, living there...”

Louise’s voice trembled, which was understandable. Ordinary people couldn’t even stand under the oppressive energy those beings emitted. In fact, the fact she managed to remain upright was worthy of praise.

“It’s fine. They won’t be living there; they’ll be settled in the northern part of the Empire.”

Shiron spoke calmly, trying to reassure the frightened Louise. Currently, outside the border, there were demons everywhere, but within hundreds of kilometers around Dawn Castle, it was a safe zone.

The mere existence of Dawn Castle would keep the lesser threats at bay. There was no better place to build a new city, secured for the next twenty years.

“Then why did we come here? If they’re not going to live here, there’s no reason to bring them here, right?”

“We’re going to see them often from now on. It’s only polite to make introductions.”

“Introductions?”

“They also need to get used to the demonic energy.”

Saying this, Shiron turned his gaze to the distance. A flickering presence at the far end of the castle walls.

“Master? Who are these people?”

The voice came out of nowhere. Shiron expected Yuma, but it was a maid with blonde hair braided on both sides who showed up instead.

“Encia. Could you bring Yuma here? I have something to discuss.”

“Well, that might be a bit difficult. It looks like you’ll have to go to her yourself.”

“...Why? Is there a problem?”

“Nothing serious.”

Encia leaned in close to Shiron’s ear and whispered.

“Yuma is pregnant.”