Breeding Instinct - Side story 02 (3)

“They say it’s due to the Crown Princess’s frail health. That her vitality and stamina should be improved… But that’s not a fundamental solution.”

“Indeed, it’s not.”

As the topic had shifted to one of concern, the mood quickly turned heavy. Just then, the attendant returned with refreshments. After skillfully arranging the tea on the table, he presented a box to Damian.

“His Highness the Crown Prince had prepared this gift in advance, Grand Duke.”

“When did you prepare this?”

Damian asked, and Heinrich, lifting his teacup, replied casually.

“Before your heir was born. I had planned to send it to your estate, but I wanted to see your face at least once, so I waited. It took this long to deliver it.”

“You wanted to see our Sian?”

“What kind of question is that?”

If it hadn’t been for Damian’s circumstances, Heinrich would have pestered him to bring the child immediately. But knowing Damian was beastkin, he was extremely cautious. He’d only seen Damian’s true form once, but the image—so clearly non-human—remained vivid in his mind.

“…Thank you, Your Highness.”

“I hope that someday, I’ll get to meet your heir.”

Damian looked at the ornately wrapped gift placed beside him and hesitated. He was planning to return to his domain for quite some time and wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Heinrich, too, quietly sipped his tea. For a while, neither spoke.

After some time, Damian set his teacup down and spoke.

“There’s something I heard for the first time during the birth of our child.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“The midwife who assisted my wife said something… That now we’ve had our first child, the second won’t take long to follow.”

“…Why would that be?”

“I don’t know if it’s been scientifically proven, but she said that when parents love their child deeply, it naturally creates a desire for another. And that such emotions can even influence the body. Whether it was her words or just how I feel… after Sian was born, I found myself curious. Will the next child resemble my wife? Things like that. I’m curious to see if those thoughts will affect me physically.”

“Oh-ho…”

“That being said, I plan to visit soon with my wife and Sian to formally greet you.”

Heinrich, who had been lounging comfortably, suddenly sat up straight in shock. Leaning forward, he asked suspiciously,

“Really?”

“…Yes. But I do have a request.”

“What is it?”

“Please explain everything about me to the Crown Princess beforehand. I don’t want her to be surprised—and I don’t want my wife or son to be startled either. Also, please ensure only the most trustworthy palace staff are nearby.”

“That’s not difficult. Very well. So… when?”

Overjoyed by the idea of finally seeing the heir of the Reuss family—whom he thought he wouldn’t meet for years—Heinrich couldn’t hide his delight. The thought of seeing the child of a trusted subject and a dear friend made him smile without realizing it.

“Would the day after tomorrow be acceptable?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know if the midwife’s words are true, but… perhaps seeing a baby might give the Crown Princess a new sense of hope.”

“You’re right. Our close aides haven’t had any children recently, so she hasn’t had the chance to see a young child.”

“Then I’ll assume you’ll make the preparations, and I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait—wasn’t there a reason you came today?”

“…I’ll speak of it the day after tomorrow.”

“Is that so?”

Heinrich realized Damian had probably come to talk about something difficult but chose to pretend not to notice. After all, they would see each other again soon.

* * *

Kanna checked her outfit with a nervous expression. Beside her, Mari was putting the final touches on her hair. Watching her get ready, Damian approached with Sian in his arms and placed a light kiss on the crown of Kanna’s head.

“There’s no need to be so nervous.”

“But…”

“It’s not your first time visiting the palace, is it?”

“I’m just so nervous because it’s our first time going out with Sian.”

She couldn’t hide her nerves—of all places, their first outing with the child was to the imperial palace. After finishing her outfit check, Kanna looked over Sian. Dressed up, he was so cute it made her heart flutter, but she still put a robe over him to cover his panther ears and tail.

“The world is changing. I’ll always protect you and Sian, but when I’m not there, you’ll have to protect him. So hold your head high—you are my one and only wife.”

At his words, Kanna lifted her head. Every day was a joy with a husband who always supported her. A future she had never dared to dream had become real, and a warm smile spread across her face. Damian, looking down at her quietly, smiled in return.

“Meeting you must’ve been the one true stroke of luck in my life. I love you, Damian.”

Kanna rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. Naturally, Damian slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Their lips shifted from cheek to lips, the kiss deepening—until something wet pressed against their cheeks.

Sian, wedged between them, had touched their faces with his drool-covered hand.

“Oh, Sian.”

“Ah-woo, A-byu!”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

“Kyahaha.”

Kanna, laughing at his bright giggle, took Sian and boarded the carriage with Damian. Her heart kept fluttering—this was her first time riding a carriage with her child. Even as they left the estate and approached the palace, both she and Sian clung to the window, unable to take their eyes away. Damian watched the two with fond eyes from his seat.

Thanks to the Crown Prince’s arrangements, they entered directly into the Crown Princess’s residence using a route reserved only for royalty. Waiting at the entrance were the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, who greeted the approaching carriage warmly.

When it stopped, Damian was the first to step down. He reached out to help Kanna and Sian descend carefully. As they did, the Crown Prince approached and greeted them warmly.

“Thank you for coming, Grand Duchess.”

Kanna, holding Sian, offered a proper bow.

“Your Highness, Your Royal Highness the Crown Princess—have you both been well?”

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that, Grand Duchess?”

“Indeed. Even if it’s been over a year, childbirth is no easy matter.”

To the Crown Princess’s concerned remark, Kanna replied with a gentle smile.

“Having a child brought me so much happiness that I barely felt the physical fatigue.”

At her response, the Crown Princess looked at her with a touch of envy. Then, her gaze fell on the bundle nestled in Kanna’s arms. The child’s face was fully hidden under the robe.

The Crown Princess, who had been briefed on the situation, suppressed her curiosity and spoke lightly instead.

“It’s not right to keep our guests standing after such a journey. Please, come inside.”

“Indeed—we were so glad to see you, we ended up chatting at the palace gate.”

The Crown Prince took the lead, followed by the Crown Princess, Damian, and Kanna. A few palace attendants followed them—trusted aides of the Crown Prince and Princess.

As they walked the corridor, no other palace staff were in sight. Kanna noticed what Damian had mentioned: the Crown Princess had cleared the palace, keeping only a few trusted people. When they exited the hallway, a small garden came into view—an enclosed garden filled with blooming hydrangeas.

“It’s a garden, but as you can see, it’s completely shielded from outside view. A secret spot for my private dates with His Highness,” the Crown Princess said playfully.

Kanna let out a soft smile, her nerves easing. The Crown Princess looked at her quietly, then turned to Damian.

“Now I understand why you wanted to keep her hidden.”

Though the Crown Prince had always been close with Damian, the Crown Princess treated him with more formal respect after his promotion from duke to grand duke. Realizing her intent, Damian gave a small bow and replied,

“Thank you for your kind words.”

“With such beauty, it’s only natural to worry.”

“Please treat me as casually as before, Your Highness.”

“I can’t do that. You know full well how different a duke and a grand duke’s status are.”

“Then should I stop addressing you casually as well?” the Crown Prince asked.

“It would be wise to adjust, at least when other nobles are present.”

“Hm, I suppose so.”

Accepting his wife’s reasoning, the Crown Prince pulled out a chair for her first.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Please, have a seat too.”

Damian pulled out a chair for Kanna and handed Sian over so she could sit comfortably. Sian clung tightly to his neck, perhaps startled by the unfamiliar voices.

“Oh dear, did I scare him?”

The Crown Princess asked with concern.

“Hm, it seems so. He’s never seen anyone but us.”

“But he’s completely covered. Can he still sense us?”

“He can recognize people by voice and scent. He doesn’t need to see a face.”

At Damian’s calm reply, the Crown Prince and Princess fell silent. Though they knew he wasn’t human, they kept slipping into human assumptions. It was inevitable—after all, they had never met a non-human being before.

“Sian, come here.”

From her seat, Kanna reached out, and Sian wriggled his arms and legs. Damian easily handed him over.

“Ah-woo!”

Once back in his mother’s arms, Sian relaxed and let out a cheerful cry. The Crown Princess’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the small bundle hidden by the robe. Kanna knew it was time to take it off—but she hesitated from nerves.

As her heart pounded, Damian sat beside her and gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders. At the same time, he released his pheromones, and her tension eased. Slowly, she lowered the hood of Sian’s robe. Seeing his mother, Sian giggled and bounced in her arms.

The Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and their aides fell silent at the sight of the little panther ears on Sian’s head. To say they weren’t surprised would’ve been a lie.

And yet… there was no sense of rejection. If anything, he was endearingly adorable—so much so they wanted to reach out and touch him.

“…My goodness. He looks exactly like the Grand Duke.”

“He’s the spitting image of you as a child.”

The Crown Prince and Princess marveled at Sian’s face. Except for the eye color, he looked just like Damian had in his youth.

“That’s actually a little disappointing for me.”

Damian said with a soft smile, gazing at Kanna.

“I’d hoped he’d resemble my wife a bit more. But it seems children don’t come out the way parents wish. So for the next one, I’m hoping—very much—that they take after her.”

“If your daughter looks like the Grand Duchess, we might all be in trouble,” said the Crown Prince.

At that, Damian showed a strange expression. In truth, he too hoped their second child would be an adorable desert fox girl who resembled Kanna.

“…Judging by that mischievous grin, I’d say you’ve already decided your second will be a daughter.”

“Your Highness sees right through me, as always…”

“Well, haven’t we known each other for years?”

“Indeed. It’s already been that long.”

“It has.”

“Well then, let’s have some tea.”

As they chatted, refreshments were served on the table. The Crown Princess offered tea, and both the Crown Prince and Damian lifted their cups. But Kanna was holding Sian, so the head lady-in-waiting hadn’t yet poured hers.

“Grand Duchess, why don’t you entrust the child to my head maid for a while and enjoy your tea?”

“Ah… I appreciate the offer, but—oh no, Sian!”

Before Kanna could even finish her sentence, Sian knocked over the teacup in front of him. Fortunately, it fell onto the grass and didn’t break, but Kanna was still flustered.

“Woo-woo!”