A Villainess Should Be Strong

Chapter 36: Development

After composing a plan, Estelle reached a compromise with her parents.

She would be given the chance to travel abroad. In the first place, her parents had seen her overpowered abilities. She was capable enough to protect herself.

Hell, when the time came to it, Estelle would be the one protecting them instead of the other way around.

"Mother, please take this," Estelle handed Sheila a pill covered in golden luster.

Sheila's pregnancy was getting nearer and nearer to the labor day.

Her stomach was already bulging out like a ball, and the sickness that accompanied it was terrible.

The baby was likely to be strong.

"Ara, what is this?" Sheila took it and observed the beautiful shine.

"A pill to ease your discomfort, mother," Estelle was being diligent in taking care of her mother.

Three months had passed since the excursion they did to the Duke Miller's mansion.

Ever since she realized how negligent she had been, she devoted herself to keeping her experiments and tests at home.

One could never be too cautious. Last time was enough, another time would not be pardoned.

Learning barrier and sealing magic from Yulia, erecting a couple of both defensive and offensive fields here and there, everything was done as preparation for future events.

"How are you feeling these days?" Estelle asked, holding Sheila's hand in hers and channeling warm mana to circulate her mother's pressure and relieve any blockages.

"Our little star is such an excellent doctor, to be able to make pills like this," Sheila praised.

Her warm energy was capable of healing one's mentality.

Signs of tiredness showed in every single part of her body. The symptoms had been increasing as of lately, and the labor day would come in around a month, so everyone was erratic.

Every single individual in the mansion paid attention to the madam's condition with much focus, not wanting to miss out on any failures and potentially risking something.

Everyone knew how much Alan prized his wife. Their care was not only based on their loyalty towards the manor, but also the fear of what would happen in case Sheila encountered troubles.

Luckily, the young miss herself offered to be the madam's company.

Estelle, too, dropped her other researches to concoct pills for Sheila. She gained experience in the medical department instead of crafting weaponry, but it didn't feel like a loss. Sheila was more important.

Her mother figure. Sheila was the kindest person she had met.

She didn't want to lose her.

"Mother.." Estelle tugged Sheila's sleeves. She knew that Sheila would not say that she was in pain no matter what happens. The topic would always be diverted. Sheila wanted to avoid the matter.

"Little star, when I had you, wasn't I like this too?" Sheila ran her fingers through Estelle's silver locks.

"Father snitched on you, he said that this time around is much more serious," Estelle complained.

"Ao, did he really say that?" Sheila pouted to express the dissatisfaction she had.

"That's why, Estelle is going to take care of mother," Estelle grinned and gave a light massage to Sheila's shoulders.

If Sheila desired to be positive, the only thing she could do was support her and play along.

"..Estelle," Sheila softly called out. It had been a while ever since she called her by the name. Usually, she would use pet nicknames.

"En?" Noticing the change, Estelle hurriedly answered Sheila.

"I.. If I don't survive, make sure you take care of your baby brother," Sheila looked at her stomach full of longing.

Her mental state had been fluctuating all over the place. Her facade was too strong, and no one was able to detect any anomaly.

Last year, it was the same as this. Her smiles were kept on even when she had to face several different types and levels in terms of labor pain.

Only.. this little baby was a lot more rebellious, and fear began to creep up into her heart.

Her body wasn't weak internally, but it wasn't exceptional either.

She had quite the prowess in magic, as proven by how she was able to stay equal in battle with Alan in their younger days.

Two strong figures naturally created a strong offspring.

One of the quirks you would obtain from having a baby from two powerful parents was that, your pregnancy might not go as well as those who had normal parents.

Both her and Alan were by no means normal.

She could feel that the upcoming labor would be much harder and riskier.

"..You shouldn't say that. The baby will know. Mother is so great, could they bear to hurt you?"

"T..That's right, I shouldn't doubt the baby. Little Sun or Moon, mommy is sorry not trusting you,"

"Sun or Moon?"

"If it's a boy, then the pet name would be Little Sun. If it's a girl, then she would be called Little Moon!" Sheila explained. This was a concept the couple thought up of after the countless brainstorming sessions. They had decided a name for both gender, but it was never revealed.

"This little one is much more naughtier than you, but I will still love them," Sheila expressed her thoughts, the tone of her voice laced with clear sadness.

"Exactly, mother loves the baby so much, Estelle will scold them if they act up," Estelle consoled Sheila. She wished that her mother can live a life without any hardships. The kind and strong woman deserved it.

Time passes quickly.

Just like that, the long awaited labor day soon arrived.

"Sweetened potions... This should make it work," Estelle mixed two different liquids to form the new version of the Mana Potion she fed them.

"Try?" Estelle handed it to Minerva, who jerked back.

She was still hung up over the last potion she drank. On an instinct, her body refused to drink the liquid.

"Trust me, it should work," Estelle assured her. "...In theory, that is," Correcting herself, she pushed Minerva to waste her mana on a large spell, erecting a magic barrier to contain said spell.

"Uuuu," Worry was shown on Minerva's facial features, but she complied nonetheless.

Casting the largest spell she knew, she wasted her mana with the help of Estelle, who dispersed the spell she cast into nothingness.

Her left hand chugged the Mana Potion without restraint right after that.

Her eyes were tightly shut, but the taste she dreaded did not appear. Her mana also replenished back to normal.

"..Huh, you actually succeeded," Minerva looked at the liquid in wonder. The color, viscosity, smell, everything was the same, but the taste was different by a large margin.

"Of course I would.. It's only the taste-" Estelle was beginning to feel proud, but her speech was interrupted.

"Young Miss! The Madam- her water broke!" Lylia could be seen running at full speed to her current position. Her face showed anguish, possibly because Sheila's condition worsened.

"..!" Estelle couldn't help but frown. Finally, the day came.

"Minerva," Estelle called.

Getting the hint, Minerva nodded back and gestured for her to go, wishing good things about the upcoming trial.

"Father! How's mother's condition?" Estelle arrived at the room with Lylia. The procedure was about to start.

"Not that good. She contracted a fever, it's going to be harsh on her," Alan was trying his hardest to keep a calm expression on, but his right foot betrayed him as it made rapid up and down movements. Although small, it was visible.

"..Father. Can I go inside?"

Alan looked at Estelle's pleading gaze and sighed. He didn't want to admit it, but there was a high chance Sheila would not survive. Usually, the children aren't allowed to enter the room, but Alan did not want his child to lose her chance in seeing her mother for the last time if anything did happen.

"Go in, but don't go for too long,"

"Okay,"

Entering the room, Estelle saw a flushed Sheila weakly lying on the bed. Her eyes were shut and the breath pattern was not steady.

"Mother," Estelle walked up to her side and gripped the lean hand.

Touching Sheila's forehead, Estelle frowned at how high the temperature had become.

"The healers were called, but every time they tried to lower the temperature, it would shoot back up immediately," Lylia explained.

This abnormal scenario could only be correlated with the child in her womb. The healers theorized that the child's energy was too strong and contrasted with Sheila's weakened body, resulting in an unwanted backlash.

"..I will try," Estelle wanted her mother to have a great condition before delivery, but it seemed like it was impossible.

[If the baby was the problem, then..] Estelle placed her hand on top of the bulging stomach and started making her way in and taking a look at the internal situation.

The two powers were imbalanced. The baby's energy was spreading all over, concentrating in the lower area where the womb was located. It overpowered Sheila's own energy and caused a negative reaction.

Estelle healed her mother with the best spell she knew, but like how the healers said, it shot back up.

[..I have to control the baby.] Estelle isolated the baby's unnatural energy spikes in her own mana, calming it down. The last time she checked, this energy was contained in the womb perfectly, but the tiredness made a small gap for it to rampage and escape.

Like a shield, Estelle's golden mana enclosed the raging energy. Her other hand was healing Sheila at a high speed, hoping for the temperature to cool down.

As Sheila's expression gradually bettered, Estelle removed her hand and sighed heavily.

Thankfully, it was able to be controlled. Making sure that it would not be breached, Estelle made precautions for sudden spikes during the process.

Estelle also made her best efforts to revitalize Sheila, replenishing her energy and strengthening her physique.

"..Mother, please take this," Estelle knew that she wouldn't be able to enter the room when the delivery procedure starts, so she prepared a stone infused with her mana long ago.

The golden mana was tightly secured inside the small spherical item, giving it an eye - catching tint. Estelle wrapped her mother's fingers around it.

"If you ever have troubles during the delivery, please hold this item tightly. It will lessen your sufferings and soothe you," Estelle's mana control was steadily rising day by day, it had reached a level where she could eliminate the contrasting effect and only bring the positive effects when inserted to another person.

Unlike the baby's energy, Estelle's mana would instead bring a healing aura.

"I made all of you worry, and even made trouble for my own daughter. I'm so bad, right?" Sheila forced a weak smile, opening her eyes slightly to take a good look at Estelle.

"No, but I will be mad if you don't try your hardest to survive. Mother, I hope you have a safe delivery. Estelle will go now, alright?" Giving a last

"..You are so mature, the baby will be glad to have you as their older sister,"

"The baby will also be glad that their mother is you," Ending it on a positive note, Estelle jumped down from the chair and left towards the door. Taking one last look at Sheila, she closed the door behind her and met Alan's eyes.

[..Ahh, these kinds of worries are really not good for my heart.]

[Father's condition must be monitored as well.] Not only the mother, but the father would also have risks during a childbirth. Especially if the father is someone this lovestruck with his wife, what would happen if Estelle wasn't there to watch over him?

Silently, she grabbed his hand and did the same mana channeling, calming his fluctuations down.

Not a word was spoken, but Alan would be forever grateful for the blessing that was given to them in the form of Estelle.

Several hours passed. Within that time, screams and cries of pain emerged out of the room, gripping their hearts like a lion's claw.

"Congratulations, Duke, it was a safe delivery," A helper came out of the door and brought out the small life out.

The outcome they had desired.

"..It's a boy, Sheila wanted to name him Noah," Alan's eyes reddened, but there were no tears coming out.

"Noah," Estelle was given a chance to hold the baby in her hands. Assisted by Lylia, she cradled the baby and felt warm inside.

"Noah, Noah, Noah," The name sounded so elegant, it rolled off the tongue like butter. Estelle repeated his name multiple times. It fit so well.

Noah.

"My baby brother Noah," Estelle had a rare smile plastered on her face as she let the baby down slowly, afraid of hurting him in any sort of way.

Noah Clareste, welcome to the world.