I had turned three a few months ago, and now it was May. Today was the day Mylene announced to everyone that she was pregnant. A banquet was arranged by Rubens, and the entire household celebrated the news.
Rubens wasn't exactly popular—his rigid, no-nonsense attitude didn't win him many fans. But Mylene? She was adored by everyone. Honestly, who wouldn't love her?
As always, I was sitting on her lap—my favorite place, the most comfortable spot in the entire world—while guests and servants came over to offer their congratulations.
"Are you excited to have a little sister or brother, Alexio?" Mylene asked.
Little sister, obviously.
"Yes! Very! Congratulations, Mommy!" I exclaimed with enthusiasm.
Mylene's face lit up with joy. "Thank you very much!" she replied, hugging me close.
I know, I know—I'm adorable. Who wouldn't melt when I call her 'Mommy'? She absolutely loves it when I call her that.
But even as I nestled in her embrace, enjoying the warmth and affection, my mind was elsewhere—already planning my next move.
I'm sorry, Mom... but I can't just sit back and celebrate like everyone else. Because I know exactly what's coming if I do nothing.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
When I was three years old, I could already read books that most literate adults in this world wouldn't even understand. In this medieval-like world, a person is considered literate if they can write their own name—can you believe that? And most people can't even manage that. We desperately need public education.
Among the few literate people, only a smaller group can read romance or storybooks, and an even smaller group can handle technical books—like the ones I've been reading on medicine. Surprisingly, medicine in this world is more advanced than I initially expected. They don't have the same surgical techniques as my previous world, but they do recognize high-risk pregnancies.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem is that C-sections don't exist here. All births are natural. This could become a serious issue...
At the moment, I was sitting in my mother's room, where she and Rita were gleefully dressing me up in girls' clothes. They were melting over my appearance, as usual. I still don't quite understand their enthusiasm for this, but as long as it makes Mylene happy, I'll go along with it.
"Young Master! You look wonderful!" Rita exclaimed.
"Yes! You look beautiful as always, Alexio! It should be a crime to be this cute!" Mylene added.
"Thanks?" I replied, tilting my head.
A crime, huh? If that were the case, you'd be behind bars, Mom.
"Ahhh! He's even cuter when he looks confused! I'll need to buy more dresses next time I go to the city!"
"Definitely!" Rita chimed in enthusiastically.
The city... I've never been there. I should visit one day, but for now, there are more important matters to focus on.
"Wouldn't it be cool if we all matched?" I asked casually.
Both women looked at me, blinking in confusion.
"If we all wore similar clothes and looked in the mirror together, wouldn't that be fun?"
"If we looked similar?" Mylene asked, tilting her head slightly.
Now it was time to use my most powerful weapon—something I reserved for moments like these. You see, I'm a child who asks for very little. I never complain about food, I spend as much time with Mylene as possible, and I quietly read books from the library. That's why, when I do ask for something, and I do it innocently, it works like a charm.
I put my hands together, looked down with a slight pout, and spoke softly.
"I just think it would be fun if the three of us wore matching clothes..."
Maybe the fact that I was already in a dress helped, but their reactions were immediate.
"Of course it's a great idea! We'll put on matching clothes right away, won't we, Rita?" Mylene exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
"Of course we will!" Rita agreed enthusiastically.
They were so overcome with affection that they immediately began undressing. I sat quietly on a chair, watching carefully.
Okay, I know what this looks like... but it's not what you think. I'm a three-year-old child, after all. I don't even have the hormones to feel anything inappropriate. And besides, this isn't an eroge! Well... technically, the original game had some adult CGs for all the heroines, but still…
For me, Mylene is just Mom. Nothing more. Sure, I might develop feelings for Rita in the future—she is cute—but never for Mylene. She's my mother, period.
The real reason I orchestrated this situation was entirely different: I needed to observe their bone structures.
Once both of them were down to their underwear, I studied them carefully. Mylene usually wears elegant, voluminous dresses that exaggerate her figure. But now that I could see her real body, my worst fear was confirmed.
She was too thin. Her frame was delicate—closer to that of a teenager than a grown woman.
It was a good idea to involve Rita in this experiment for comparison. Despite being only 15 years old, Rita's body was far more developed than Mylene's.
In this world, where C-sections don't exist, most deaths during childbirth occur in women with narrow pelvic structures, since they struggle to achieve the necessary dilation for a safe birth.
Mylene is far too thin...
At around 150 cm tall, she's also very short. From what I remember, Clarisse—the heroine she'll give birth to—was the shortest of all the heroines in the game. That means Clarisse will likely be a small baby, which improves the odds a little... but it's still dangerous.
"Is everything okay, Alexio? You look pale," Mylene asked, noticing my troubled expression.
"Oh, yes! Everything is great!" I replied, snapping back to reality.
I need to study more.
I'd already cut my sleep down to once every two days, but it wasn't enough. I had to push further, explore every possible option to increase the chances of a safe delivery.
Mylene picked me up, and together with Rita, we stood in front of the large mirror in the room.
"We all look alike, don't we?" Mylene said with a soft smile.
"Yes!" Rita agreed enthusiastically.
This was the same mirror where I first remembered my past life and realized who I was. If only I had recognized it sooner, I might have had more time to find a solution...
Dammit!
"Alexio?" Mylene called gently.
"Hmm? Yes! We are all beautiful and alike!" I answered, masking my frustration with a smile.
Mylene gave me a warm smile in return.
I promise... I promise I'll save you, Mom.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The next day, after realizing that Mylene's delicate body structure could complicate childbirth, I went to the mansion's kitchen to pick up a dish I had specifically requested from our chef. One of the perks of being an adorable kid who melts hearts left and right is that you can ask for anything and people will rush to fulfill your every whim. But the real secret isn't just being cute—it's knowing when to use it. If you ask for things all the time, you're just a spoiled brat. But if you're the quiet, sweet kid who only asks for something once in a blue moon? Now that's powerful.
This, I would say, is currently my greatest weapon. Especially when I call the chef "Grandpa."
"Thank you, Grandpa Chef!"
"Hahaha! Don't mention it! If you ever need anything else, just ask!"
I carefully took the plate and made my way to Mylene's room. It was almost lunchtime, so I decided to take her meal myself—part of my next plan. After knocking on the door and getting permission to enter, I found Mylene sitting on the bed, reading a book. Her belly had already started to show a little, which made sense since this was her second month of pregnancy. So far, everything seemed normal.
"Alexio?" Mylene looked up, surprised. "You brought lunch?"
"Lunch," I said, placing the plate on the table and sitting across from her.
She smiled warmly, setting aside her book, and removed the lid from the plate, revealing a piece of meat with purple sauce and some vegetables.
"Hmm… what is this?" she asked curiously.
"Beef liver, beetroot sauce, and vegetables," I said.
"Liver..." Mylene scrunched her nose slightly, looking down at the dish with a mix of doubt and mild disgust. I couldn't blame her. Liver wasn't exactly a five-star meal back in my previous life either, and I doubted it was any better in this one.
"Wasn't there anything else on the menu?" she asked, eyeing the meat suspiciously.
"I specifically asked the chef to make this."
"You asked for liver? Why?"
Now comes the first step in my contingency plan: "A healthy and strong body is more likely to survive childbirth."
I pulled out an old book I had brought along, flipping it to a marked page, and showed her the contents.
"Here. It talks about a condition called 'anemia.'"
"Anemia?" Mylene repeated, frowning as she looked at the page.
"Yes. It's a condition that affects certain people. The symptoms include insomnia, weakness, malaise, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, and pale skin."
Mylene stared at me, stunned that a three-year-old was rattling off medical terms so easily. Yeah, I know. This must sound insane... but I don't have time to worry about how strange it seems right now.
"Hmm... I've had some of those symptoms before..."
"Yes," I nodded. "And you've always had a sweet tooth, which isn't very healthy—especially now that you're pregnant."
"Are you scolding me, Alexio?" Mylene puffed her cheeks in a mock pout, pretending to be offended. "When did you become such a bad boy?"
The sight of her puffed-up face almost made me abandon my mission on the spot. She's way too adorable when she's pretending to be mad... But I couldn't stop now. This step was too important.
"It's not about being good or bad," I said seriously. "It's about making sure you and the baby are healthy."
"Hmmm..." Mylene glanced at the plate again, clearly still reluctant. "Well, it's hard to argue with you when you put it that way."
I leaned forward, ready to launch into the speech I had prepared to convince her to eat the liver. "I know liver isn't the most appetizing thing, but it—"
"Okay, I'll eat it," Mylene interrupted.
"Hmm? Really?" I blinked, caught off guard.
"Yes. You asked for this with our health in mind, didn't you?" she said with a warm smile.
"Yes," I confirmed.
"Alright then, but..." Mylene's smile turned mischievous. "I have one condition."
"Condition?" I knew it couldn't be this easy...
"You need to feed me!" she declared with a playful grin. "That will be your punishment for being mean to your mother."
"Hmm?!" I blurted. Punishment?! Are you crazy, woman? How is this a punishment?
This felt more like a divine reward! Maybe this was God's way of apologizing for all the misfortune in my previous life?
Without hesitation, I picked up the knife and fork, cut the liver into small pieces, and started feeding her.
At first, Mylene grimaced at the taste but obediently ate each bite I gave her.
"Ugh... Happy now?" she asked after finishing the meal, clearly not a fan of liver.
"Yes," I nodded, satisfied. "I'll bring you lunch at the same time every day, okay?"
"Every day?" Mylene blinked in surprise.
"Yes. There's no point in eating healthy for just one day."
"And... will it be liver every time?"
"Not every day," I reassured her. "But most of the meals will be rich in iron and nutrients. I've already talked to the chef—he'll prepare nutritious dishes for dinner too."
"Hmmm..." Mylene sighed but didn't argue. "It's amazing how you found a book like that, figured out my condition, and managed to read it all..."
"Thanks..." I mumbled, feeling a slight twinge of guilt.
After feeding her the last piece, I stood up and left the room, carrying the empty plate with me. As I walked down the hall toward the kitchen, I couldn't help but apologize silently in my head.
Sorry, Mom... I lied about how I found that book.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
My first contingency plan was progressing smoothly. Just a month in, Mylene was eating everything I brought her, and the chef's dinners and breakfasts were now carefully adjusted to be as nutritious as possible. At the very least, this would ensure she went into labor with the healthiest body she could.
With that plan under control, it was time to implement my second contingency plan.
In my room, I finished writing a book on physical exercises for pregnant women. Just as I put the final touches on it, I noticed Sebas entering the room. Without missing a beat, I quickly hid the book and swapped it with another—a medical text on how to stop bleeding. At this point, I had given up pretending I could only read children's books. There was no time to waste on appearances.
Sebas approached, glancing at the book I was holding. "I see that Young Master is reading yet another complex book today."
"It's always good to have knowledge in different areas, right?" I said with a practiced smile.
"That's true," Sebas agreed, setting a plate of snacks on my desk. "But Young Master seems particularly focused on medicine."
"Thank you, Sebas," I said, ignoring his remark.
Sebas gave me a long look. "How many days has it been since you last slept, Young Master?"
"Hmm?" I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "What are you talking about? I sleep perfectly well every night."
Sebas's expression didn't budge. "You were at the beginning of this book last night, and I've noticed you always hide certain 'projects' whenever I enter the room."
Damn it... I've been caught. Fooling this old man was never going to be easy. I sighed and pulled out the book I had been working on, placing it on the desk.
"'Exercise for a Safer Labor?'" Sebas read aloud, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"I always thought pregnant women were supposed to rest as much as possible," Sebas said, his tone cautious.
"Yes, rest is important. But short bursts of exercise can help strengthen the pelvic region," I explained.
Sebas gave me a confused look. I pointed at my hip. "This area. During labor, the pelvic region expands to allow the baby to come out. Exercises can strengthen the muscles here, making the dilation process easier and the birth safer. It's especially helpful for women with narrower hips."
Sebas listened carefully, processing my explanation. In this world, it was already known that women with thinner hips faced more difficulties in childbirth—that's why Mylene had regular medical check-ups. Some studies and books in this world mentioned exercises for pregnant women, but none as detailed as what I had written. I was simply combining my knowledge from my past life with the studies available here.
"I see... If this can make the process safer, then it's a good idea," Sebas said with a nod.
"Hmm? You're not going to criticize me?" I asked, surprised by his calm reaction.
"And why would I?" Sebas gave me a small smile. "The book about anemia you found was a great help. Miss Mylene is much healthier and more energetic these days."
He's more reasonable than I thought.
"I understand," I replied with a small nod.
Sebas glanced down at the book I had written, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "But... this handwriting..."
Damn it!
Sebas's expression shifted slightly, but instead of pressing the issue, he straightened up. "I'll leave you to your work, Young Master. Call me if you need anything."
"Right! Thank you, Sebas!" I said quickly, watching him bow and leave the room.
That was close. Did he figure it out? The anemia book I gave Mylene was completely fabricated. I felt bad about lying to her, but it was necessary. This world's understanding of nutrition was primitive. They didn't know which foods were the most nutritious, nor did they recognize conditions like anemia. I had pieced together the fake book using other medical texts as references.
Maybe Sebas noticed my handwriting, but if he decided to let it slide... even better.
Over the following months, I managed to convince Mylene to do short, supported squat exercises each day. She didn't seem to mind, as long as we kept the sessions brief.
With two contingency plans in place, everything was progressing well—for now.