The World Dragon's Heir

Chapter 666: Hold The Presses

By the time that Alexis rejoined them at the table, the food was cold. But that didn’t matter, as her appetite hadn’t yet returned, and the knowing looks that the men were giving her were making her want to smack someone, not sit politely at a meal.

“Welcome back and congratulations.” Dominic greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

Alexis growled at him, and Dominic laughed.

“What? It’s better than having people congratulate me. I’m quite certain that my contribution to the situation has already been adequately rewarded.”

The King snorted with laughter, as the tradition was that most would congratulate the Duke on his impending heir.

Only the fact that the Princess was present in the room had changed the celebration from one of succession to a personal event where the mother was the focus and not the Noble House as a whole.

“I suppose that we can’t run off so early. Or are you going to hold on to the news for a few weeks until the pregnancy is stabilized?” Sir Nallon asked curiously.

He was originally planning to head out today and make some money on a guard duty before the next tournament.

Dominic turned to Alexis, who was waiting for him to say something.

“I think that we will wait to make the announcement public. There has already been so much going on for the Duchy that if we add a celebration for my Princess to the mix, it will lose meaning.

But a month from now, or even two months, when she is showing, it will be a much better time to make the announcement public.

It’s enough that everyone here already knows that a new generation of Royal Paladins is on the way.”

Prince Alex coughed into his arm to hide his laughter, while Prince Claudius sighed and the King smiled.

“Well said. This young one is destined for greatness on the battlefield. Born to a mighty Paladin, formed during the greatest Joust that Wistover has seen to date.

What else could they grow up to be but a mighty warrior?” Sir Charles agreed.

“Hear hear!” The King called, and everyone raised their glasses in a toast, with the staff hastily replacing the Princess’ wine with a glass of fresh juice from the pitcher they had brought for Elanor.

A pregnant lady of the house was going to change all the menus, Beth realized.

Many of the sauces had ale or wine in them, and not all of them were the sort where the alcohol was burned off in the cooking process. Especially the ale or mead based sauces.

It was not much, but tradition held that no alcohol was allowed for expectant mothers.

But more importantly, they were going to have to silently switch out the coffee for a decaffeinated, or mostly decaffeinated blend without her noticing.

Coffee was also on the Royal taboo list for the time being, but it was safer for everyone involved if that fact was never mentioned to the ones who were to be denied it.

Fortunately, they had Dave with them, who could find a way to make something that was suitable without the Princess noticing.

Or perhaps they could convince her to switch to herbal teas? If one of the Royal midwives were here, they would certainly be pushing it.

Beth found her mind running in a dozen different directions as the planned for the next few months of Manor life, while everyone else worried about the day to day issues.

The incidental problems, like the fact that very soon her armour would no longer fit, and that she would have to forego monster hunting for some time.

That issue alone was going to be enough to turn the Manor on its head.

The fact that they were not going to make the news public did not mean that Dominic didn’t intend to celebrate the fact early. The problem was that he was a terrible party planner, and not significantly better at giving gifts.

Would it be insensitive to make her a sword to commemorate the moment?

That seemed like it should be something that was given after the birth, when she could use it freely, not at conception.

But what did you get for a beloved wife at this moment?

A baby related keepsake seemed like it would be a good idea. Perhaps Pops had a blueprint for something suitable? A magitech bassinet would be practical and stylish.

Or perhaps something more personal.

He could make her a hand engraved serving tray to bring her meals on. A little daily reminder that he cared.

Even when she was not happy with him for causing this condition.

Pops was at breakfast, as was his tradition. But he was at the other end of the table, and going over there now would make it look like Dominic wasn’t even trying to come up with the idea on his own.

It was better to do it later, in case he came up with something unique on his own.

However, the longer that he waited, the harder this was going to get.

The Princes and the King were already placing orders for something, and it was likely to be in stock at the Palace, given how many Royal children were born in this generation.

If they started to deliver all the good things and easy ideas first, he was really going to have to scramble.

While Dominic panicked about trying to find the perfect gift, Alexis silently laughed at him. He was trying so hard to come up with just the right idea that he had completely forgotten that his brain did not work like that of a normal human.

His ideas were almost guaranteed to be so completely out of the ordinary that few of the others would even think to give them.

If she was right, he was likely thinking of magitech and weapons, not embroidered blankets and commemorative dishware.

It was a sure sign that he knew her personal tastes, but also far out of the ordinary for a maternity gift.