New World, New Life: I Became A Bigshot In The Ancient World-Chapter 186: NO, I’M NAKED

"Sister in-law, you’re here." Vasily tried to stand up from her place on the sofa of the parlour of the Hemsworth Mansion.

She couldn’t go to meet Catherine in the entrance. Her condition did not allow her to move about freely and easily so she could only sit in the parlour and wait.

"There’s no need for that." Catherine stopped her, shaking her head in disapproval.

She, instead, took a sit in front of Vasily.

"How are you doing, Vasily?" Catherine asked with a small smile.

Vasily stopped trying to stand and made herself comfortable again. A maid quickly served tea before bowing and going to stand at the side.

"I am fine. The baby is just really energetic." Vasily smiled. Since she became pregnant, she had begun to add weight and her body had begun to change visibly.

The morning sunlight streamed in from the window and illuminated the room, making the room slightly warm and comfortable.

Vasily turned to the people beside Catherine. "Prin—Tia, Allie, you’re here too. How are you?" She changed her mode of address.

"We’re fine, Aunt Vasily." They replied simultaneously.

[Vasily’s baby bump is very visible now.] Aristia thought.

Vasily smiled, then her face scrunched up. "Oh..."

"Are you alright?" Catherine asked with concern.

"Ah, yes. It’s the baby. I think it wants to say greetings to you." Vasily smiled. The baby had kicked her.

"Is that so?" Catherine asked with a chuckle.

"Can I see the baby?" Alaric asked with curiosity, his eyes on Vasily’s large stomach.

As the youngest in his nuclear family, and second youngest in his extended, he had never seen a pregnant woman. Lilith had been born a few months aftrr him, so he was still a newborn baby then.

"Why, yes. Of course." Vasily smiled at him as Alaric went forward and placed his hand on her bulging stomach.

"The baby moved. I felt it." Alaric said seriously, his cute little mouth sticking forward in thought. "There’s really a human in there." His wife eyes showed he found it hard to believe.

The adults in the room couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his serious face.

After a few seconds of no movement, they turned to Aristia.

"What about you, Tia? Do you want to see the baby?" Vasily asked.

Catherine also looked at her curiously.

"I..." Aristia wanted to shake her head and refuse but on second thought, she nodded.

She put down her teacup, stood up and approached Vasily, hesitating a bit as she stretched out her hand towards Vasily’s stomach.

Her hand made contact with Vasily’s belly and stayed there awkwardly.

At first there was no movement, but soon, she felt the baby kick three times.

"Woah...!" She almost threw her hand back in surprise, feeling a bit startled.

Her eyes moved up to Vasily. Didn’t that hurt her? She could even feel the impact by placing her hand on the latter’s stomach, then wouldn’t it hurt Vasily who had to bear the direct impact?

As if she understood what Aristia was thinking, Vasily opened her mouth.

"Not all the baby’s kicks hurt." She explained, her eyes slightly curved upward.

Aristia slowly nodded.

"And it seems like the baby likes you." Vasily’s smile increased as she said that.

Aristia only smiled, keeping her thoughts to herself.

[Of course the baby will like me. It’s me we’re talking about!]

Vasily turned to Catherine, "My husband and I will head to the Hemsworth Fief tomorrow. That is where we will be until the baby is born."

"To get used to the cold?" Catherine asked in amusement.

"No..." Vasily had a slight blush on her face at how quickly Catherine guessed. "Actually, yes. That is one of the reasons."

Catherine glanced at the young girl and laughed. "I know my cousin very well. He wants your baby to get used to the northern atmosphere like the children of the North. It’s the same with uncle Carter. He always told mother and father to bring us to the north often."

Ross was Catherine’s older cousin, but younger than Maxim.

The two women laughed.

"Have you thought about what to name the baby?" Catherine asked curiously.

"Ross and I have quite a lot of names. We still haven’t chosen any."

[I think it was mentioned in the book what gender Vasily’s baby was and the name... Or was it? Was the baby a boy or a girl?] Aristia couldn’t remember. She hadn’t paid much attention to those areas of the story.

Catherine and Vasily engaged in conversation that Aristia didn’t care to listen to.

It was all ’baby this’, ’baby that’.

She and Alaric ate the snacks served by the maid, Alaric’s eyes fixed on Vasily’s stomach with an expression of wonder. He probably couldn’t fathom how there was a living human inside another living human.

The mother and children stayed with Vasily until the sun was high in the sky before returning home to the Grand Duke’s Mansion.

"Thank you for coming and staying so long with me, Princess Catherine. I really appreciate it." Vasily said.

"I’ve told you, call me sister." Catherine said, holding Vasily’s hand in hers. Ross was her close cousin and was very well like her brother. His wife was also like a younger sister to her now.

Vasily nodded. "Yes, sister."

"We’re leaving. Make sure to have a good rest." Catherine said.

"Have a safe return. Goodbye," freeweɓnøvel~com

"Goodbye, aunt Vasily." Aristia and Alaric waved.

Vasily would soon leave the capital for the Hemsworth Fief.

As they left the parlour, an old servant came to meet them.

"Your Highness,"

Catherine looked at the old woman and a small smile graced her face. "Mrs Jacobs."

This was the old head maid of the Hemsworth Mansion when Catherine was still a little girl. She was still the head maid even now.

"Princess Aristia, Prince Alaric. You’ve both grown bigger." The head maid said, her face forming wrinkles as she smiled.

"Mrs. Jacobs. "The children greeted.

The head maid smiled so much that her eyes crinkled. She turned to Catherine. "You are done with seeing the madam, Your Highness."

"Yes. We’re returning now."

"Yes. Then have a safe return, your highness." The head maid bowed.

"Then take care of yourself. You do not need to see us out," Catherine said kindly.

[This is my first time of coming to the Hemsworth Mansion.] Aristia thought, looking out of the carriage at the disappearing mansion.

The Hemsworth Mansion was equally remarkable. Even though they were a Viscount household, they weren’t powerless.

They belonged to the pure nobility. That alone showed their status in Amberale’s nobility. Pure nobility held a lot of weight. That was why even the lowest in the hierarchy, a baron belonging to Pure nobility, was higher in status than a Count from minor nobility.

"Mama, I want to head to the Kendall sisters’ home to see how the building is coming up." Aristia told Catherine in the carriage.

Catherine nodded. "I see. You also want to give Leilani the gift you made for her?" She asked.

"...yes." Aristia nodded.

Alaric looked up at his mother and sister.

"Tia is going out? Can I come with you?"

Catherine shook her head. "No, Allie. You’re still too young."

Alaric puffed his cheeks and turned out of the window.

Aristia couldn’t resist pinching his chubby cheeks. "Don’t worry, Al. We can go together to the Vanilla Courtyard when I’m back this evening."

"...okay." Alaric replied reluctantly.

"You don’t have classes tomorrow. Your father and I are planning to pay a visit to the Royal Palace with the both of you." Catherine suggested.

"Yes!" Alaric nodded eagerly.

Paying a visit to the Royal Palace meant that he would see his cousins, especially Ivan and his daemon. That reminded him that his sister also had a daemon.

"Millie’s still on top of the carriage!" He said excitedly.

Millie had followed after them in bird form and had perched on the carriage when they got ready to leave.

"Your Highness, we have arrived." The Coachman said as the carriage stopped in front of the mansion.

The mother and children alighted the carriage and headed into the mansion.

"Princess Tia, you’re back. I have bought what you asked for." Adeline said as soon as she entered Aristia’s room. She approached Aristia where she sat on the bed.

"Thank you," Aristia thanked Adeline.

She accepted the box Adeline was holding out to her and opened it.

"Give me the doll," Aristia pointed at the doll on the table.

Adeline followed her pointing fingers and her eyes landed on the doll on the table. She picked it up and handed it to Aristia.

Aristia began her actions of wrapping the doll in silk. Then, she put the doll into the box and closed it.

At the foot of the bed was a large paper that had been painted pink. Aristia used it to wrap around the box with some plant essence she found was used like glue.

Then she tied the box with a ribbon and even specially tied a cute bow on top.

"Done," she clapped her hand once.

Adeline smiled widely. "You’re so creative, princess." She also clapped her hands. "When will you be going to the Kendall sisters’ home?"

"Hmm..." Aristia thought about when she was free. "After reviewing the business reports."

Adeline nodded, going to Aristia, and she collected the wrapped box from her, going to drop it on the same table the doll was usually placed.

"Princess, can I come in?" Owen’s voice came through the door.

"No, I’m naked."

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