Chapter 447

Athena nodded obediently and followed the nanny’s instructions. When the pain became unbearable, she bit down on the cloth. After the pain subsided, she hurriedly ate, either drinking some ginseng soup or eating some porridge, ensuring she maintained her strength.

Inside the house, Xander was pacing anxiously. Several times he wanted to rush in, but the maid stopped him. “Your Highness, you can’t go in. The bloodiness of the delivery room will affect you.”

“My wife is inside, and her life is at risk. How can I wait outside just because it’s bloody?” He couldn’t wait any longer and wanted to go in.

Alexandra looked at his appearance and persuaded him, “You will only make trouble if you go in. If Athena sees you, she will be distracted. Now the doctor and midwife have said that Athena is in good condition, so why are you so anxious?”

Despite her persuasion, Alexandra had not eaten all day. Athena was suffering inside, and she couldn’t eat.

Xander’s brow was so furrowed that he could kill a fly. In his life, he had never been so panicked.

“Mother, this is too strange. Aren’t women supposed to scream in pain during childbirth? Why is there no sound inside?”

Hearing what he said, Alexandra was also stunned. Yes, she was in so much pain when she gave birth to Xander that she felt like she was dying. She was giving birth and cursing at the same time, but Athena wasn’t making a sound. Alexandra thought of all the dirty tricks in the palace and became anxious. “Let’s go in and take a look.” She only had this precious daughter-in-law; she must not be harmed.

Alexandra and Xander walked in together. The maids and servants in the house were so scared that they all knelt on the ground when they saw them come in.

The two looked towards the bed and saw Athena holding a bowl of sweet soup, eating it in small sips. Seeing them come in, Athena looked surprised. “Mother, honey, why are you here?”

The pain wasn’t constant. It came in waves. When it hurt, it was like being in hell. When it didn’t hurt, it was like nothing happened. Athena listened to the nanny and ate when she wasn’t in pain to build up strength for childbirth.

“Are you alright?” Xander looked at her in surprise, wanting to see a different expression on Athena’s face. But Athena’s little face was white and tender, with a ruddy complexion. That appearance made her look full of energy.

Alexandra also looked at her in surprise, and the nanny said for Athena, “Alexandra, Your Highness, Princess Consort is doing well now, and I believe that the young heir and Duchess will be born soon.”

Athena ate while nodding frantically. She gestured to Alexandra with her eyes to quickly pull Xander out. ‘Don’t disturb me while I’m giving birth.’

Alexandra received the message and hurriedly tugged at Xander, saying, “Let’s go. We’d better wait outside.”

“I’d rather stay here with Athena, or I won’t feel at ease.” Xander felt that nowhere was better than being right there to keep an eye on her.

Alexandra glared at him, annoyed by his pathetic appearance. She had never seen a man stay with his wife while she was giving birth. “What are you doing here? You are a man. Can you help her, or can you share her pain?” Alexandra dragged Xander away, not allowing him to explain.

As soon as the two of them left, Athena put down her bowl. The pain struck, nearly killing her. This time, it was more ferocious than ever. It wouldn’t stop at all. Seeing this, the midwife understood that Athena was about to give birth.

“Princess Consort, lie down quickly; you are about to give birth.”

Outside the room, Xander heard the midwife’s voice and paced back and forth anxiously. Athena had been inside for two hours. He didn’t know how long it would take for the child to be born. He never believed in ghosts and gods, but at this moment, Xander bowed to the sky as if possessed. “Please bless the Bodhisattva, please bless the Bodhisattva.”

Alexandra also put her hands together and prayed repeatedly.

Wah, waah…

The baby’s loud cry came from the room. Xander and Alexandra looked at each other, delighted. She’d given birth! Athena had given birth!

After a while, the midwife brought out a well-wrapped baby. “Congratulations, Your Highness. It’s a handsome young master.”

The baby was white and chubby, wrapped in a small quilt. After crying twice, he fell asleep quietly. Xander didn’t know why, but his nose felt sore and he almost cried. This was the son that Athena had given him after risking her life.

“What are you still doing? You’re a father. Hold the child,” Alexandra urged.

Xander held back his tears and took the child. Such a small, soft child to hold. As light as a cloud, Xander asked the midwife, “How is Athena?”

“Princess Consort is fine. In all my years as a midwife, I’ve never seen a woman have such an easy delivery. It was as easy as drinking water,” the midwife said excitedly.

Just then, another baby’s cry came out. The voice was just like the child in Xander’s arms, very loud.

Alexandra murmured, “Thank you, God, for sending a little Duchess to the Xander Manor.” She wanted to have a fair and tender daughter, but God gave her a son. This became Alexandra’s concern.

Now that Athena had given birth to a son and a daughter, it could be regarded as fulfilling her dream of having a daughter. Alexandra was even more excited than Xander and stretched out her arms early. “Quick, let me hold the little Duchess.”

The midwife was even more excited than before. “Congratulations, Alexandra, congratulations, Your Highness. It’s another young master.”

Alexandra’s outstretched hand froze for a moment. ‘What, another boy?’

Xander also looked incredulous. “Impossible! The imperial physician said Athena was carrying twins; it should be a little girl.” He had been waiting for a daughter. Before the child was even born, he was already thinking about how they’d swing. He had also prepared many little dresses for the baby. He even had a name ready. They’d call her Ella. But now they were telling him that both children were boys, and he couldn’t accept it for a moment.

The midwife was a little unsure when she saw Xander and Alexandra’s expressions. Everybody wanted a son, except for Xander. “It’s absolutely true; there’s no mistake; it is indeed a young master.” The midwife opened the small blanket, revealing the child’s legs, pointing to the baby, she said to the two. “Your Grace, Your Highness, please take a look.”

Xander and Alexandra frowned and stepped forward, seeing the small teapot; their brows furrowed even deeper.

However, Xander was the first to react. “They’re all good, all good; they are all my children; I love them all.”

Holding the two sons in his arms, Xander felt an indescribable feeling in his heart. There was joy, and there was loss. It was a pity that he didn’t get a daughter.

Alexandra comforted him. “It’s okay, you and Athena are still young; if this child is not a daughter, the next one will surely be.”

Inside the room, Athena was shocked to hear Alexandra’s voice.

She had seen people urging for sons, but this was the first time she had seen someone urging for daughters.