“Teacher, I’m ready.”
At the nurse’s words, Nightingale took a deep breath.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror.
Surgical gown and mask. A perfect view of the surgeon.
When she stepped out of the preparation room, Acella would be waiting in the bright surgical room.
“Whew.”
She gently closed her eyes.
Like anyone else, childhood memories are hazy.
However, some scenes remained vividly in her mind.
For instance, when she left the nanny’s arms and held her mother’s hand.
The backyard flower garden, where they went for a picnic, was dazzlingly bright yellow.
As if she mistook her hair for glowing gold.
Every chance she got, her mother would show her magic books that she couldn’t even read.
As her responses became less frequent, those moments of communication gradually faded away. When had that started?
Acella Gothberg was always a busy person.
But that didn’t mean she neglected her family.
She was someone who loved her husband deeply and tried her best. She was always doing something for her children.
However, she was also inexperienced, and that led to fewer conversations.
Now, after spending time with the past Acella, Nightingale could understand.
‘It’s not just my memories.’
Memories shared with her mother.
She had to succeed in this surgery for her current self to continue.
Moreover, for her future as well.
So, she wouldn’t make a mistake.
Her hands didn’t tremble.
“I can do this.”
Nightingale entered the surgical room with confidence.
“Anesthesia completed.”
“Vital check.”
“Heart rate stabilized. Circulatory system normal.”
Although it was a makeshift surgical room, like Gothberg Manor, it had the latest equipment. Everything necessary was there. The lighting made of magical tools prevented shadows, allowing for precise visibility of the affected area during surgery.
Thirty surgical instruments neatly arranged by the nurse. From the shape and thickness of the blades, scalpels and scissors were ready for various situations, along with retractors for traction and forceps for suturing.
―What will you give me?
Lars’s voice echoed in her ears.
At the same time, the necessary tools and the affected area glimmered in Nightingale’s sight.
The order of the surgery naturally formed in her mind.
The training time spent with Lars awakened her instincts.
“…Blade number 14.”
Softly and skillfully.
Nightingale’s hands traced the trajectory.
The surgery was finished quickly.
The newborn let out a loud cry the moment it started to breathe.
Without even a chance to see the child’s face, Nightingale quickly sutured the affected area.
No machine could match her speed and accuracy.
Even after finishing the procedure, Nightingale couldn’t believe she had completed the surgery, standing there for a moment in a daze.
It wasn’t until the nurse called her that the surgery was declared complete.
The mother and baby were moved to another room.
Nightingale, fearing that the smell of disinfectant might linger, washed up for a long time before she could go see them.
Acella was softly sleeping.
Approaching carefully to check the face of the baby that the nurse was comforting, she noticed it was still a newborn, barely able to open its eyes.
Newborn baby.
“…Was I this ugly?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
When I held the tiny baby’s hand, which was smaller than my finger, the grip was surprisingly strong.
“…I want to see too.”
A voice, still lost in dreams, flowed out.
It was Acella.
Nightingale carefully brought the baby to show her as she lay in bed.
Acella stared at the baby with deep eyes for a long moment.
“…Hello.”
She smiled, lifting the corners of her mouth and fluttering her long eyelashes.
“You did well.”
Nightingale tidied her hair and stepped out of the room to let her rest comfortably.
When she closed the door and stepped into the corridor, an unexpected face appeared before her.
“Nightingale!”
“Dad!”
What a pleasant surprise.
Nightingale instantly hugged Lars tightly.
“How did you get here so quickly?”
“The kingdom sent a teleport wizard for me. I rushed here from the principality. Is she inside?”
“Yeah. Do you want to see her right away?”
“Before that.”
Lars pulled something out from his pocket.
It was a small box wrapped in a ribbon.
“It’s a birthday gift.”
“Oh, right?”
Today was Nightingale’s birthday.
If I had thought about that, I could have guessed the day of birth too; I should have mentioned it earlier.
“I heard you had a C-section.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“You judged well. You’re definitely my daughter.”
Lars patted Nightingale’s shoulder.
With a soft, warm feeling in her heart, Nightingale shrugged her shoulders.
“Well then, I’ll go in for a bit. I need to choose a name for my daughter.”
“What are you thinking of naming her?”
“I have a nurse I respect. I’m thinking of taking that name. Somehow, it feels like she’ll be an amazing doctor.”
Even at times like this, a joke had to be made.
Dad, really.
“Come back soon.”
Nightingale opened the door. Watching Lars’s back as he headed towards Acella, an emotion she had long forgotten surged back.
The reason she wanted to follow her dad into medicine was to see a scene like this.
She opened the gift.
“…Laurel leaves?”
Is it some sort of talisman? Inside were leaves shining in golden hues.
When pinned to the chest of her coat, it felt nice.
And just as she lifted her head again.
“Nightingale Gothberg.”
Her mother stood there.
“Are you ready?”
With a slightly cold expression.
Nightingale understood the situation.
“…Huff.”
The important thing is to take a deep breath.
Her dad had taught her that.
She turned her gaze back to her chest.
There, the golden laurel leaves still sparkled.
Looking up to meet Acella’s eyes directly, she answered.
“I got this. Dad, I’ll perform the surgery.”
Acella slowly nodded her head.
At that, her white hair fluttered, falling unkempt.
“…I’m counting on you.”
“Heartbeat, coming back!”
“Blood flow confirmed. No additional bleeding!”
“Going in for suturing. Please increase the pace!”
After the surgery that felt like a war…
Lars Gothberg had saved his life.
Only after he entered the recovery room did everyone at the Marquis’s estate breathe a sigh of relief.
Nightingale Gothberg received countless thanks.
The explosion was revealed to be an accident. The old annex of the mansion was built using ancient construction methods, and a leak caused a certain component in the walls to react and explode.
As a result, the annex was demolished and reconstruction was initiated. Many were saddened by the loss of the historical building.
“Hey, Mom.”
After the incident settled down, Nightingale sought out Acella.
She had been caring for Lars in his hospital room every day.
“What is it, Nightingale? If it’s about the payment for the surgery, I’ll be sure to calculate it generously, so let’s talk after Dad is discharged.”
“Oh, it’s not that. I don’t need anything like that.”
“Oh my, is that so?”
She looked exactly the same, but her warm demeanor remained unchanged. Nightingale felt a bit disappointed.
It had been 25 years, after all. Mom must have gone through many things, and my estrangement must have been partly my fault too…
Still, bit by bit, I wanted to share more stories.
“Hey, why did you send me away? That magic was really difficult, right? It required a lot of materials…”
“Who said that?”
“Old Mom.”
“Did I say such a thing? I’ve been quite the chatterbox for a sorceress.”
Acella chuckled and turned her gaze to meet Nightingale’s.
Click, click. She approached, gently brushing her fingers under Nightingale’s chin to lift it.
Nightingale swallowed nervously.
Even looking from the same gender perspective… Mom was stunning to the point of being breathtaking.
“I see. The reason I sent you instead of other doctors was because I believed in you.”
“You… you believe in me, Mom?”
“Of course. I’ve said that before, haven’t I?”
“…I see.”
“Because you’re the daughter I birthed.”
With a gentle swipe, Acella dusted off Nightingale’s hair.
“Still, phew, I knew you were here to learn medicine, but I didn’t expect it would be to save Lars when he was dying. I thought I was the one injured.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I figured no great magic would be used for anything less serious. I’m glad I sealed my clairvoyance early. If I had known about this incident beforehand, I would have twisted the timeline to somehow avoid it. It could have ended worse than before.”
Trusting Lars really is the best option. Acella chuckled softly.
Nightingale didn’t completely understand her words, but she took it as a positive sign that the outcome was good.
“Um… that’s a good thing, right?”
“It is good. I didn’t have to destroy the world.”
“Ex. Destroy the world…?”
“Of course. I have plans to unleash it anytime. Curious?”
“No… but, why?”
Acella answered Nightingale as if it was obvious.
“Because a world without Lars has no value.”
Ah, then I saved the world along with Dad?
Why didn’t you just say it? I didn’t even know that was at stake.
As Nightingale fumbled with her words, Acella mischievously smiled and pecked her cheek.
She kissed him on the cheek.
“Just kidding. With you guys around, there’s no way I’d do that.”
Acella slowly embraced Nightingale and whispered in her ear.
“You’re tired, huh? Dad says you shouldn’t disturb him while he’s sleeping. So, can you carry me back home so I can rest?”
“Mom, you really are something.”
“It’s that charm that caught Dad, after all.”
“So that’s the kind of charm it is…”
“Want me to tell you more?”
“…I’m curious.”
Nightingale returned to the mansion with Acella on her back.
*
“Why not say goodbye? You’re so cold.”
Spring had returned.
Feeling the warm breeze, Acella grumbled. Since her hat was almost blown away, I gently pressed down on the top of her head.
“From what I see, it was you who took Nightingale away, right?”
“That might be true, but… it wouldn’t hurt to have a cup of tea together.”
After I visited Acella to see how she was doing after childbirth with a gift, Nightingale had simply vanished like smoke.
Later, when I asked Acella, she said the magic observation period had expired. I don’t really know what that means, but well, I guess it’s a bit disappointing.
“Still, it’s not like we’re separated forever.”
“Yeah.”
Acella carefully lifted the blanket from the stroller.
A tiny newborn was just starting to sprout a bit of her platinum hair.
She came a little earlier than expected, but she was a chubby, healthy baby.
Nightingale Gothberg.
Our beloved first daughter.
“We’ll be able to meet her again in 25 years, right?”
“It won’t take that long.”
“In that case.”
Acella rested her head on my chest.
Her familiar aroma tickled my nose.
“Being together, no matter how much time we have, it never feels enough.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist in agreement.
Time we want to hold onto tends to pass by especially quickly.
The time to stroll through the flower garden with darling Acella and baby Nightingale is now or never.
So let’s cherish it as much as possible, for as long as we can.
I want to focus on this moment.
Thus ended Acella’s rather unique first childbirth experience.
Considering she spent the whole day hugging Nightingale and couldn’t take her eyes off her, it seems Acella is more fit for parenting than I thought.
She suddenly said while smiling at Nightingale.
“Lars, I have a wish.”
“Yeah? What is it?”
“A second child.”
“…Once a mother has a Cesarean section, she must have another Cesarean. Repeated surgeries can entail risks like shock, depending on the patient’s health.”
“But I’m healthy. Nightingale proved that.”
“Well, that’s true, but there could be unforeseen issues, so let’s first recover your strength…”
“Come here.”
Acella leaned closer to my ear.
“Meow.”
She purred adorably.
– The End –
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