Chapter 369: Talk About Kids

They entered the sophisticated, neat, European-style bedroom. He placed her on the bed, and soon after, the doctors arrived to check on her—the same doctor who had been treating her from the beginning.

After they were done, the doctor said, "For any reaction to today’s ordeal, we will have to wait until tomorrow. If she turned out fine, then that’s a good news for us. All she needs to do is take her usual medications. Make sure not to expose her to crowded surroundings for a few days."

James hummed in acknowledgment of the doctor’s instructions.

The two nurses who had been taking care of her all this time—the same ones who brought her—helped Caryn with everything. Once she was ready to sleep, James entered the bedroom.

"What? Are you planning to sleep in my room now? Didn’t you hear the doctor?" she spat out, already jumping to conclusions about his intentions.

"I was just here to say good night," James replied calmly.

Caryn suppressed her anger, realizing she had misjudged him and was about to say something, but—

"But don’t worry. We will share the bed soon, as your immunity is improving really well."

"Get lost," she shouted and turned in bed, facing her back to him.

James smiled slightly, then turned off the lights in the room, leaving only a dim night lamp before walking out. As he closed the door, he said, "Good night, Caryn."

She didn’t respond, and he had already left.

Caryn let out a sigh of relief and turned around to stare at the closed door where he had just left, her thoughts unknown.

-----

The next day, Justin and Natalie had breakfast with the Queen.

As they talked over breakfast, the Queen said, "Natalie, I know you have said no, but I still wish for you to reconsider. Your mother might not be crowned as princess now, and I am too old to handle everything. I need an heir to my throne. If you decline, then what am I going to do? You are the last one of the Belvorn Royal Family bloodline."

Natalie didn’t deny her request right away but said, "I am not the last one, Grandma."

"Are you referring to Charlotte?" The Queen shook her head as she sighed. "She is not fit for the role. I am not saying this because I now have you and Carmen, but I have raised Charlotte myself—her mother died after giving birth to her—and I know her better than anyone. Even if you had not appeared, I would have never declared her a princess as long as I was alive."

"Does it still have to be a princess and not a prince?" Justin commented, and the two women turned to him as he continued, "Maybe it’s time to change the old trend and set a new one."

The Queen thought about it and said, "Howard and I, we don’t have a grandson either. And my half-brother and his sons don’t carry Everthorn blood. They carry my father’s blood, but not my mother’s, a royal bloodline, so the people of Belvorn would never accept them as royals."

"There can always be variables," Justin commented.

The Queen and Natalie gave him a puzzled look, as if asking what he meant.

Justin said, "Your Majesty, you are not in a hurry yet, right? So let’s leave these things for the time being. Who knows, maybe Natalie might give you a granddaughter who will be the next princess."

Natalie almost choked on her food at what Justin said.

Meanwhile, the Queen’s attention was diverted as she smiled and offered Natalie a hopeful gaze. "I love the idea."

"G-Grandma, he is just kidding," she said, smiling awkwardly.

"I am not," Justin said, offering her a serious look. "You never know..."

"D-Don’t we have to catch the flight?" she said quickly, putting down her spoon. "I’m done with breakfast."

Justin looked at her half-finished meal and said, "Finish it all first. We are going by private jet, so you don’t have to worry about the flight timing."

Unwillingly, she resumed her breakfast, hoping he wouldn’t say anything more to embarrass her. ’From where this kids talk popped up?’

----

Justin and Natalie headed to the airport in the car.

Natalie asked, "When you said to the Queen that it was time to change the old trend and set a new one, what exactly did you mean? What are you holding up your sleeve?"

"I remember you saying Isac, the son of the Queen’s younger brother Lenard, looked more similar to Garwin rather than his own father."

"Hmm, I did say that, and to have such a similarity, it felt so unreal," Natalie added.

"Your smart observation just made me think about something," Justin replied.

"What?"

"You’ll know when I’m done with some digging."

"Will it be of any help to me?" she asked, clearly expecting something shocking out of it.

He offered her a playful smirk. "Whatever I do is always for you, my little wife."

She smiled happily. "Having a resourceful husband is indeed so helpful."

Justin hummed and said, "I said something else to the Queen as well."

She turned to face him, her expression serious. "Do you want kids?"

"I don’t mind, but I was wondering if by this time you are already bearing one," Justin said.

Natalie felt puzzled and looked at her lower belly. It was as usual—flat—and there was nothing unusual for him to say that.

"Are you a doctor?" she asked, a little annoyed.

"No, but I am good with numbers," he answered coolly.

"What do you mean? What’s the relation between a baby and numbers?"

"First, we never used contraceptives, and second, you have missed your period by quite a few days."

Natalie felt like a bomb had dropped on her head. Her expression froze. She was so busy with so many things that she didn’t even pay attention to it.

She was not ready for this at all. She had so many things to do and...

Justin pulled her closer gently and caressed her head to ease her anxiousness at this moment.

"Are you scared?" he asked.

"I... I’m not sure... I didn’t think about any of this..."

"Once we reach home, I’ll call for the doctor. If what I said is the truth, the next decision is yours. I will follow whatever you decide," he said softly, his words coaxing her. "Your opinion matters the most."

She hummed and rested her head against his chest, wondering what would happen.

What if she is really pregnant?