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The room immediately became a chaotic flurry, everyone rushing about trying to gather what was needed.
The only one who remained relatively calm was Leonardo—though he wasn’t doing much better himself, as he had trouble distinguishing south from north when he stepped outside.
Clarice, having experienced the loss of twins, had been waiting here for a month in advance and quickly arrived with the midwives.
"Oh my..." Hedy counted the intervals of her contractions, holding her forehead with a resigned sigh. "Can’t they calm down just a little?"
"Dear," Clarice gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking down and smiling. "Sometimes, men can be quite foolish."
——
"Push—" Leonardo held her shoulder, sweat covering his forehead and neck.
"Hedy, push! The head of the baby is already out!" Clarice called loudly. "Just a little more!"
Luris couldn't be of much help, pacing back and forth in the next room.
"Calm down," Botticelli took a sip of wine. "The queen didn’t scream, and you've already screamed three times."
"Are your legs shaking, too?" Luris shot him a glare, while outside the window, rockets soared into the sky like falcons, emitting a high-pitched buzzing sound.
"At least I don't look so pale that I need a servant to pass me smelling salts."
"Say that again, and I’ll chop your head off!"
Raphael hurried back holding an empty basket, followed by Michelangelo. "Has the baby been born?!"
Before Botticelli could answer, a loud cry from Hedy suddenly rang out in the room.
Everyone froze for a few seconds, and the baby’s piercing cry immediately followed, loud enough to hear clearly even through a door.
"It’s a boy!" Dechio, covered in dirt, shouted. "Very healthy!"
Raphael cheered, immediately starting to sing praises, thanking God for His protection.
A few more cries followed, along with Leonardo’s anxious inquiry: "Hedy? Are you okay? Do you want to rest for a moment?"
"What does that mean?" Botticelli was confused. "Hasn’t she given birth already?"
"There are two!" Niccolo said energetically. "We have two heirs!"
"Don’t stop—" Clarice urged. "Take advantage of this moment, Hedy, one more push!"
"Two? Can she handle it?" Luris rushed halfway into the room, but when he saw the bloody scene, he clutched his chest and backed out. "I never want to have children in my life—never."
Another baby’s cry echoed, and soon people in the room began to cheer.
"It’s a girl!"
Niccolo immediately grabbed Michelangelo and began spinning around, nearly knocking over a nearby vase.
"Be careful!" Luris shouted. "You’re acting as if you two had the baby!"
The queen had given birth to a boy and a girl, both healthy and safe.
She was in a somewhat weak state, but no one could threaten her or her empire at this moment.
Leonardo had already arranged the political and business affairs, and the ministers had been thoroughly instructed to be obedient.
