New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World-Chapter 200: THE BABY

"Vasily has birthed a son." Wilson said, putting down the letter that had been sent to their mansion.

Aristia raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Prepare a gift to send to the Hemsworth Estate, Henry." Wilson told Butler Cedmond.

"Prepare a gift, Melanie." Catherine continued, looking at her lady-in-waiting who was standing behind her.

The gift she asked her lady-in-waiting to prepare would be her personal gift to Vasily.

"Yes, my lady." Melanie bowed and left.

"Linny is with my gift for aunt Vasily and the baby." Aristia said. She’d picked out gifts for Suzie and the triplets when she gave birth, and Suzie loved it. Ever since she last visited Vasily before the latter headed to the Hemsworth Fief, she had been making something for them.

"Alright," Catherine nodded.

"Me too. Adeline is with my gift. I want to give it to Aunt Vasily." Alaric said, looking between both of them.

Catherine chuckled. "Of course, Allie. You can give it to her in five days, when we’ll go to see her."

Alaric nodded and leaned back on the couch.

Aristia left the parlour. As soon as the door opened and she stepped out, Adeline and Owen followed behind her— Adeline at her right and Owen at her left.

"Princess, we’ll begin the journey to the Hemsworth Fief the day after tomorrow." Adeline said. The butler had informed her of the arrangements earlier while the family was in the parlour.

Normally, the Grand Duke’s family would have just sent a gift as was the usual for aristocrats, but Catherine was close to her cousin Ross, and her children wanted to hand the gifts to Vasily personally, so the family would make the trip to the Hemsworth Fief.

After thinking about it, Aristia nodded. "Okay." Then she glanced at Adeline from the corner of her eyes. "And I’ll choose my own clothes."

Adeline looked like she wanted to protest, but decided against it. Aristia smiled in satisfaction before turning to Owen.

"You’ve been too quiet..." She said, staring at him suspiciously. Owen really hadn’t been around her much and he had been speaking even lesser, save for when he was talking about formal matters. She turned to Owen, waiting for his answer.

"I have nothing to say," Owen said squarely with the poker face he had learned to put on. He had become a professional at it.

"Why don’t you have anything to say?" Aristia asked with an eyebrow raised in suspicion.

"Eh?" Quotation marks showed above his head. "I just have nothing to say."

"Of course you have nothing to say." Aristia eyed him with a pointed look, then walked forward.

Adeline followed in confusion.

"...?" Owen was left alone, staring at her back with confusion written all over his face.

He could only see her back, so he couldn’t see the way her lips upturned into a smirk.

[It’s really fun messing with you.]

***

Two days later, the family of four, Millie and a few close servants headed to the Hemsworth Fief.

They arrived at the Hemsworth Fief three days later. By the time they entered the Hemsworth Estate, the evening had arrived.

The warmth of the mansion was a contrast to the cold outside.

The servants took their luggages to their rooms while the butler led them to the parlour.

Wilson had to wait in the parlour with Ross, Zender and Carter, while Catherine, Aristia and Alaric went to meet the new mother.

The servant held the door open, bowed when they entered and closed the door behind them.

Vasily lay on the plush bed with the baby nestled comfortably in her bosom. Roxanne and Rulia sat beside her on both sides talking.

They turned at the sound of the door closing.

"Cath, you’re here. Come," Roxanne turned around.

"Grandmother, Auntie." Catherine greeted with a light smile as she approached the bed.

Vasily looked up and a smile crossed her face on seeing them standing there.

"You’ve arrived," she stated.

Catherine nodded, stepping forward to take the baby from Vasily’s arms.

"You’ve become a mother, Vasily." She said gently. She sat on the bed, allowing Aristia and Alaric to be able to see the baby’s face.

The baby was sound asleep, not even noticing that he was no longer in his mother’s arms. His little mouth kept moving slightly as if he was sucking onto something in his sleep.

"Can I hold him?" Aristia asked.

The adults looked a bit conflicted, and Rulia looked like she was about to disagree when Vasily’s voice sounded.

"You may."

"Careful with my grandson," Rulia said, half teasingly, half seriously.

[I knew she was worried I’ll let her grandson fall. How clueless she is, I’m a pro in handling babies. When you’ve dealt with three babies at the same time, what could one do?] Aristia thought.

She sat on the bed and Catherine put the baby in her arms. Immediately and without needing to be told, Aristia placed one of her hands under his head and the other over him.

He stirred a bit because of the movement, but yawned and continued sleeping.

"Where did you learn to carry a child that way?" Rulia asked with surprise. How was Aristia able to carry a baby so carefully?

"... I saw Mama just now." Aristia quickly came up with an answer. How could she tell them she had actually carried three children back in her world from the day they were born? They would probably take her to the temple for exorcism.

"You are such a fast learner." Rulia nodded, thinking it made a lot of sense. Aristia was royalty by blood. She would of course be able to learn things after watching it once.

"What’s his name?" Aristia shifted the topic.

"His name is Valen, Valen Hemsworth."

Aristia looked down at the baby. He had his father’s Ivory hair and his mother’s azure blue eyes.

His face was round and his cheeks were chubby with a healthy rosy colour.

Aristia’s thoughts strayed, eyes fixed on the baby. Could Suzie have already given birth since she’d been here for a year? Was the baby as chubby and healthy as this baby in her arms? She didn’t get to be the first to carry the baby after Suzie.

The last time, she had carried the triplets before her brother when they were born. She had told him that if he wasn’t quick enough, she would do the same to the unborn baby when he was born. How would he get the chance when she was faster? But would she even get the chance to now?

A smile formed on her face at the memory and tears glistened in her eyes. She blinked the tears away before they could fall and make the adults worried and confused.

[I’m not usually so emotional. Must be the period mood swings. Oh wait, I’m in the body of a child. I don’t and can’t have periods.]

"I also want to hold him, can I?" Alaric brought her from her thoughts.

[Huh?]

She looked down at Alaric beside her, then at their mother and Vasily.

This time, Vasily hesitated a little. But in the end, she nodded under Alaric’s hopeful gaze.

Catherine took him from Aristia and put him into Alaric’s hand. Aristia stood from the bed in front of him and supported the baby so that he wouldn’t fall while Alaric carried him.

Her mature action both amused and stunned the adults. But it made them feel a bit at ease since the chances of the child falling were now reduced.

"Did you find a wet nurse for him?" Catherine asked.

"No, I want to breastfeed him myself." Vasily said with a shy blush. It was her first time as a mother. She was also still getting used to discussing such matters.

The women began talking and Aristia even overheard them talking to Vasily about herbs to take for herself.

"His hands are very small."

Aristia glanced at Alaric, then at Valen’s arms. "They are, aren’t they?"

He nodded. "Mm. His feet, his face, his mouth. He’s just so small." He chuckled in amazement.

"Hehe. That’s how little you were when you were a baby." Aristia teased.

Alaric widened his eyes. He hadn’t seen many babies after all, and all his cousins were older or the same age.

The baby stirred again. His mouth opened first before his eyes and a soft cry erupted.

"Looks like someone’s hungry again." Rulia teased. "Quick, let his mother feed him."

Vasily blushed at the teasing. "Oh, give him to me."

Rulia took the boy from Alaric and put her into Vasily’s arms.

Vasily held him and as if he knew who his mother was, his crying reduced and his sucking motion increased.

While Vasily began to breastfeed her baby, Catherine gestured for the maidservant behind her to step forward.

The maidservant obeyed with a deep bow. "Yes, your Highness."

"These are gifts from her highness, the Imperial Princess." She presented the gifts.

"You may open it."

The maidservant began to present the gifts one by one. There were fine fabrics and linens for the mother and child, soft comfortable blankets for the baby made of high quality material, clothing, jewelry and even perfumes. Catherine did not hold back.

"This is my gift." Aristia pointed to a box.

The maid opened the box and took out a wooden object.

"What is that?" The women were curious.