novelraw Chapter 285: A Risk of Pregnancy (II)
Chapter 285: A Risk of Pregnancy (II)
"What do you mean ’like that’, Grandma? Is it really set in stone that they’ll die alone and in agony?"
...
Her grandmother fell into a long silence, which basically confirmed it; she just didn’t want to hurt Sisi.
Sisi gritted her teeth, feeling wronged over the fate that Kael and Jojo had to bear since they were born.
"Then, what about me, Grandma? Since I’m already pregnant with Kael’s child, what will happen to me?"
Grandma let out a long, painful sigh. "Do you know why your mother died back then?"
Sisi shook her head.
"Because she’s a pure faerie that’s not supposed to get pregnant, but insisted on doing so. Giving birth is extremely painful because your body is not built for that."
"Once your mother finished the labor, her body was too weak to even breathe, and she died soon after," Grandma Tree stared at Sisi sadly. "She was pregnant with a human baby. But you... you’re pregnant with a cursed being’s baby, my dearest. Your fate is set in stone as well if you refuse to abort it."
"But I am half human as well, Grandma. Surely, that’ll help me, right?"
Grandma Tree shook her head again. "Even if you’re full human, beastman, or any other species, giving birth to a cursed being’s child means... a certain death."
That last sentence was like a thunder on a clear sky for Sisi. She was staring at her grandmother in disbelief, hoping that her grandma was just joking.
But she wasn’t. She looked dead serious about it as well.
"And just like your mother, you’ve discarded your divinity and immortality to save someone else. Had you not done that, you could’ve survived by drinking the water from Origin Spring constantly during labor," Grandma lamented. "I shouldn’t have let you use it on the Dawn Star back then, dearest. Now your life is in danger..."
"Don’t feel sad, Grandma. Despite everything that happened, I’m still happy that you allowed me to do it, because Jojo deserves to have a good life growing up," Sisi said resolutely.
"But the only way right now is to abort the baby. I see that it’s just a week old. If... if you want, I can extract the baby from you," Grandma offered. "You might feel extreme pain, but that should be better than death, right?"
Sisi knew that her grandmother was asking her out of goodwill, but she never planned to abort it, because she had been waiting for this baby, and so did Kael. It’s a fruit of their love after all.
"Grandma, is there any other way?" Sisi asked. "I really want to keep this baby. It’s not only about Kael. It’s about me."
"What do you mean, dearest?"
"... All this time, I’ve been taking care of Jojo, raising him with love, protecting him, and also shielding him from the harsh winter of Roc Forest. I found joy in raising him, because he’s such a good boy," Sisi murmured. "But at the same time, I keep wondering how good it would be if I can find a good man to marry and have a child of my own. I will be overjoyed, and so will Jojo. He’d be ecstatic knowing that he’d have a younger sibling."
"Y-you can always get pregnant with another man, dearest. Just not the Dusk Star, because his status as a cursed being..."
"Grandma, he is the man I love, and the man I married. If it’s not him, then I don’t want anything else," Sisi rubbed her flat belly. It was only a week, but she was already excited knowing that the baby would be raised by a responsible father and loving brother.
"On top of that, Kael, he..." Sisi paused for a second, observing the change in Grandma’s face. She noticed that her grandma grew increasingly restless and sad. But at the same time, Sisi was too stubborn to give up.
"Kael told me once that he dreamed of a proper family, with him, me, Jojo, and another child. I don’t want to deprive him of that desire, Grandma."
"Dearest, if he knows about this, he’d even want you to give the baby up," Grandma said. "The only reason why I allowed you to marry him rather than bringing you back forcefully is because I know he loves you wholeheartedly. He’s the very first Dusk Star to show a genuine love to both his son and his mate."
"But even that has a limit. With your pregnancy, your life is at risk—you need to abort it now before it becomes a parasite that takes your life away, dearest..." Grandma tried her best to persuade Sisi, but even she already knew that Sisi would reply with a big no.
"I am keeping it," Sisi said decisively. There was no fear in her eyes, and that scared Grandma Tree even more.
"Sisi, please listen to me, dearest. You’re not fit to carry a baby! You’re not meant to be pregnant, and your husband is not meant to sire a child!" Grandma Tree insisted. Tears began to well in her eyes as she was facing the impending doom of her own granddaughter. "Please listen to Grandma, just this time. Let me abort the baby so I can save you!"
...
"Siselia! I’ve lost your mother because of this, and I don’t want to lose you too!" Grandma became increasingly agitated, and Sisi could only lower her head, unable to stare back at her distressed grandmother.
Deep down, she knew that her grandmother was right. It was better to abort the baby before she died because of it.
But she was truly unwilling. She’d rather give her life if this baby could live somehow.
"Grandma, you told me once that a Darling of the Earth naturally has a strong motherly instinct, as my fate is to take care of all the faeries like they are my babies, and I am more than happy to do that.
Yet, why am I not allowed to take care of my own? Do I deserve to be called the Darling of the Earth if I cannot protect my own baby, the one with my flesh and blood?"