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That night, the two had finally parted ways to clean, change, and wished each other ‘goodnight’s before finally heading into their respective bedrooms.
It wasn’t until Pure Vanilla finally laid down, when the weight of all the traveling and adventuring finally caught up to him, and crushed him completely. The sensation of sheer exhaustion—it swayed him around as if he were on a voyage. He fell asleep within seconds.
Dark Cacao, on another hand, remained awake in bed for a while longer.
Given the polar setting in the Cacao Kingdom, nights would always feel longer, and days shorter. It was a mixture of this fact, and the previously mentioned exhaustion, that led to Vanilla sleeping for far longer than he’d usually do. The vanillin monarch napped on and on… and dreaming vanillin dreams.
Up until a bang outside his room gently prompted him to awaken. Vanilla lazily dragged himself up from the bed. Pep, pep, pep! He papped his cheeks to wake himself up faster. Gotta get that energy up.
Curious as to what made that noise, Vanilla pulled the bedroom door open and squinted at the initially overwhelming brightness.
Ugh, mornings are the worst for his eyesight. Briefly returning, he felt around the wall beside his bed to retrieve his orchid staff. Upon knocking the floor with its tip, the massive eye woke up and opened.
The vanilla orchid was more than a decoration, and also more than a staff to help channel larger amounts of magical energy. It was a sentient being, tamed to also serve as a magical third eyeball. When Vanilla held it in his grasp, and steered it to scan his surrounding area, he saw the sharpened image of the castle hallway he resided in. Even the intricate engravings on lanterns became visible to him. As did the hands of a clock, pointing towards ‘half past nine’, and finally—Dark Cacao in some kind of awkward crutch-and-crouch, reaching for a heavy-looking tome on the floor.
“Ah!” Vanilla immediately approached him, tucking the staff under his armpit, “Friend, let me get that for you.”
Cacao simply accepted the offer of help, silent until Vanilla placed the tome in his free hand. “…Thank you.”
“Good morning. Are you alright?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
The delivery was a bit too fast, by Vanilla’s incredibly intuitive judge of character. But he decided to not ask about it at the moment. Moving the conversation, he glanced towards that clock on the wall,
“My, my, I’ve really slept for so long! Almost twelve hours. That’s no good. Your beds are just too warm and comfortable.” his chin lifted to look up at the much taller colleague, “Have you slept well, too?”
Cacao’s response was a hum, with a lilt implying ‘yes’.
Ah, this ‘man of few words but a man of great virtue’.
“Have you eaten breakfast already, Cacao?”
“No.”
“Awright~ let us go downstairs then! It’s about time, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes.”
That book that Cacao was carrying remained with him as they slowly made their way to the halls downstairs. One of his hands always seemed to hold his stomach.
Although silence wasn’t unpleasant, when it was paired with a slightly discomforted expression on Cacao’s face, Vanilla began to suspect that there was something bothering him after all…
When they arrived on the ground floor, they were immediately approached by a maid, offering them a platter. Atop it were two plates. ‘Slices’ of bread that were over an inch thick, graced with just a bit of cream cheese. The one designated for Vanilla, was also topped off with a little bit of raspberry jam.
They were also offered a kettle of tea. Thanking kindly, Vanilla took the platter into his own hands.
“Should we—” He began, but got cut off by Cacao,
“Let’s sit down in the closed room next to the library.” Cacao already began heading that way, “It’ll be warmer and more comfortable there.”
Pursing his lip, Vanilla followed after him. He heard the other mutter; “…Compared to the dining room… or anywhere… else.”
Platter down, door locked.
It was a room that would technically be the coldest place in the castle, but it would usually be the warmest one instead, due to a sizely fireplace in the center, in a wall. Vanilla wouldn’t wait for permission, he went ahead and lit it. Chanting a quick incantation, which would flicker up a small flame between his thumb and pointer finger, he used it to light the wood. He blew the flame off his thumb.
“I’ve decided to avoid work today.”
A sudden confession came from behind him.
“Huh? So that’s why you’re locking us in this cozy room.”
“Yes.”
The fireplace quickly began to glow up and radiate warmth. Suddenly becoming aware of how cold he’s been, Vanilla neared his palms towards the place to warm them up.
In the corner of his eye, he watched Cacao make the slow stroll from the door, to the long sofa near the fireplace.
Vanilla hadn’t even had the chance to admire the other’s outfit choice of the day. In fact, he wasn’t really sure if that was Cacao’s pajamas or current everyday clothes. But one thing he knew for sure; the king looked nice in long tunics and dresses. Surprisingly nice? Hmm, maybe not surprisingly.
Cacao attempted to slowly sit down on the sofa. He halted at once, choking out a grunt through gritted teeth.
“Ah, what’s wrong? Are you in pain? Where?” Vanilla rushed over, encouraging words rolled off his tongue instantly, “It’s alright to take it slow…!”
Suddenly Vanilla’s fingers were atop Cacao’s hands. He exhaled tensely, avoiding the other’s face.
“I’m fine, I’m fine now.” he removed his hands from Vanilla’s grasp, to instead put both of them on the sides of his stomach. “It’s just a slight pain that comes and goes. It’s normal.”
“Ahh, on the sides? It’s probably round ligament pains…”
“Yes, that. I’ve been standing for too long.” Cacao explained in a soft-spoken tone, he slowly began to sit down, “I have been on my feet since morning. Going downstairs, upstairs, downstairs, searching in the library for that book— I usually have the highest stamina in the world, so I forgot that I may be… overdoing it.”
With a grasp on the bump, and gentle positioning, Cacao finally got to sit down and breathe a sigh of relief. “…The royal cleric has also advised me to take it easy from this week on, and leave most of the kingly duties to my advisors, but…”
Vanilla was all ears, sitting down beside him.
“Knowing that I can’t be trusted to sit in a chair … and have to leave it up for an assistant, that— that somehow makes me even more stressed. And that only gives me a bigger headache. Then abdominal pains.” Composure began to crumble around the edges of his speech as Cacao went on, “—Then I begin to worry if it’s… if it’s normal, or if there’s something wrong with the child. But I’ve asked the healer for more evaluations and reassurance than is… reasonable and couth. I feel foolish. Is it true, am I overthinking it. Do I worry too much, too pointlessly…”
He felt Vanilla’s warm hand come to his shoulder.
“Hey there, it is quite normal and natural to worry about all kinds of pains that happen during pregnancy. It’s also understandable that you feel uneasy, leaving your work for someone else to do… You have a very important occupation, after all.”
“I always try to have some kind of firm grasp on the things around me, and I’ve really lost it.” Massaging his temples, “I began losing it a few months ago, and now it all becomes more prominent once again.”
Cacao really was full of so many thoughts and feelings at all times. There were times where Vanilla wondered how it isn’t physically painful for the other to stay so calm and quiet most of his life. He’s seen the other spiral into these anxiety-like rushes dozens of times— and it made his heart ache from empathy every single time. He frowned, tracing patterns in Cacao’s robe.
“I think all kings tend to be control freaks sometimes. But you are really talking down on yourself, Cacao. It’s not shameful to be nervous.”
“Yes it is, though. I am supposed to be above all these things. Put up examples—” he glared at the patterned carpet, “As you told me yesterday… I’m an image of strength, self-control, and pride. But I’m none of these things half of the time…! I’m an oaf, getting crippled by some baby brewing up inside me.”
Vanilla’s gaze was once again drawn to the stomach, which Cacao guarded protectively with one hand. It was uneasy to ask the question, but he felt it was inevitable… He bit his lip, hushed whisper…
“Cacao, has this pregnancy been… involuntary?”
It caused a coldness to weigh down the air around them.. The king, who was previously mildly frantic, had fallen quiet, and his breathing inaudible. It took a while for the answer to finally slip through his barely open lips. “…No, it is not that.”
Cacao knitted his brows, still muttering towards the furniture. He moped around, “It’s a… a complicated matter, Pure Vanilla. I know you’re curious, but… I’ll tell you how this happened one day in the future. It’ll happen. I’ll have to tell it to all of you, eventually.”
A part of him expected Vanilla to either just nod and accept it, or perhaps, advise that he won’t be able to calm his nerves unless he admits and talks about how this ‘cause for stress’ came to be. But, what actually ended up happening was a gentle hug. Vanilla’s arms wrapped carefully just under Cacao’s chest.
Hugs weren’t always preferred for Cacao, but this time, he accepted it with one arm.
They remained locked in that warm and fluffy embrace for a long minute.
Vanilla’s soft voice returned eventually, to say, “…From the way you described it, I have gotten an impression that you are a bit… alienating towards it. Not hateful, but somewhat… almost like…”
“Scared of it.” Cacao finished the sentence rather coldly.
“…Are you?”
“…See,” he began, “Since the beginning, I feel like I’ve been bestowed with a slowly advancing illness. The only difference is that at the end of it, if everything goes right, I’ll be not only left with my life, but also a little child.”
“…I see. I don’t think that you’re alone in that, either.”
“But I don’t hold anything against it, and will not.” Cacao went ahead and finally placed his other hand on Vanilla as well. He allowed his chin to rest in the fabric of their gown. “I am here for a reason. It is here for a reason. I’ll do everything in my power to nurture it. The only problem is that it is… ruining my life in some ways, right this moment. That, is why I‘m downtrodden.”
Vanilla opened his eyes, gazing towards the fireplace as he pondered about the situation he’s in. By his judgment of the present, it sounded like Cacao was cold, awkward, and a bit distressed by his pregnancy, because changes from the norm drove him nuts (no pun intended.)
If he were to take it easy, and personalize it… or rather, him, her, them, in his thoughts… He would be more accepting towards it.
…It was all so awfully, awfully grim. Because this could’ve been so much easier if Cacao hadn’t tried to do everything by himself—completely by himself—for eight months.
“Dark Cacao, say…” Vanilla’s voice was muffled by Cacao’s robe, “Have you made some plans for their arrival?”
“Of course.” Cacao answered easily, “I used the time, and the expertise of Cookies working for me, for assistance. The name will be decided depending on it’s flavor, of course. Among other things, I’ve also studied up on… psychology… of children. I must know how to approach them. Like with any skill, it’ll require firsthand experience, just as much as literary studies. But I’m geared up for that, I believe.”
“Cacaooo…”
“Yes?”
“You are so passionate.” Vanilla smiled, “It’s wonderful.”
“…Is it really? I think that’s the bare minimum.”
“Many people think that they know themselves and their child the best, and would find ‘studying’ on child psychology to be fatal to their pride.”
“It’ll only be fatal to my pride if despite my efforts, I’ll fail completely.”
“Shhh. You’ve got great values, and you’re a good, kind person. I want to say that I think you’ll make a wonderful father.”
Cacao felt a shiver up his spine. Whatever demon just wriggled about under his skin, must’ve been enough for Vanilla to feel. His clutch on the other tightened, snuggling Cacao again.
“…That’s relieving to hear.” Cacao breathed in. “You have, after all, some… first-hand experience with the topic already. Therefore, your feedback, I value a lot.”
“Fufufu.” Vanilla smiled, “Yes. I’ll be here to help you. Single-fathering isn’t easy. I’m sure Hollyberry will eagerly support you as well!”
Though he knew those things before, it hit another nail on the head for Cacao. He cut off his contact with his two closest friends, who have also had to raise children by themselves. The more this goes on, the more he realizes how shitty his plan was. In other words, he wasted several months of time, which could’ve been used more efficiently. Another thing to dwell on, when he’ll be fading off into sleep.
“What gender do you think they’ll be?” Asked Vanilla out of nowhere.
“They’ll decide when they’re old enough.” Answered Cacao.
“W-n-Yes, but, you know what I mean.”
“…Hmm.” Cacao continued to hum that one note for a moment, before saying, “All legal work regarding the monarchy and legacy has been designed genderlessly. I’ll raise them the same way no matter what they’ll be assigned as, or change later.”
“Do you have a room ready for them? And tiny little clothes?”
“Of course I do. Do you think lowly of me?”
“No, I’m simply fantasizing about it already~” Vanilla loosened away from the hug slightly. “I do not believe I’ll be able to remain in the kingdom until your labor, but I’ll have to make sure to visit as soon as possible when they’re born. Ahh, it’s really exciting. It’s just dawning on me how magical this is! You’ll have a child, Cacao! Is it not stellar?”
“…Yes, I suppose it is.”
“You’ll have to invite the rest of the Ancients. Everyone was there to see Royal Berry when he came into the world, too.”
“Yes… I will have to do that. No matter what, the arrival of an heir to the throne will inspire everyone in the kingdom. I don’t want any reckless celebrations however. Really, it’ll just be fine if you four come by one day.”
“What will you tell them, Cacao? …They’ll wonder why you’ve been refusing visits for eight months, and where the baby came from.”
“…They’ll have to take my assertive ‘I’ll explain it eventually, don’t worry about it now’ as an answer.”
“Hmmph.” Vanilla pouted, “You certainly will make a stubborn dad as well.”
Something invisible distracted Cacao there and then. He turned his focus to the bump, placing a palm atop it. He shifted his position to lounge more comfortably among the cushions.
“It kicked.” he muttered. That made Vanilla light up a little. “—It’s been doing that a lot recently.”
Vanilla fidgeted with golden rings on his fingers, “May I feel it?”
“…” Cacao nodded, “Yes.”
Since the king was already vaguely offput— and extremely careful with his movements, when it came to handling his own body—it was even more worrying to have another person touch him. But he grounded his needless worries.
And nothing wrong happened. Warm healing fingers examined the stomach lightly, through fabric. Vanilla blinked, when he felt the child kick against his touch too.
“Ahh, it’s true. They’re saying hi!”
“No they’re not. They’re just stretching.”
“Hurr durr.” Vanilla dared to press in a little, “Oh, wow, they’re really awake right now.”
“I’ve been thinking about it, actually. On this topic.” Cacao spoke up with a bit more energy, “I wonder just how comparable they’ll be to my strength. Seeing how strong they’re kicking now, I feel like they’ll be able to compete in the arena two weeks after birth.”
“You really have developed a sense of humor. How cute.”
“Sure. Another thing is that… You know how small newborn babies are, yes? I look huge.” (Vanilla giggled) “If I am already a demigod, and one of the largest Cookies on Earthbread, should I not be slimmer?” Cacao went on like there’s no tomorrow; “I was wondering if I may be carrying twins, or something of the sort. But no, believe it or not. I had them double check, and it is just one.” Cacao talked with a note of fascination, “I’ll give birth to a supersized, and super strong demigod. I am not afraid of the pain, though, I am merely curious about it. The extent of it.”
“It’ll be an adventure for you, hmm?”
“Yes. The Red Velvet Dragon tore into me so severely back then, that for a moment, it was proposed that they amputate my arm. Remember that?”
“Oh god, I wish I didn’t.”
“That was quite painful. I so wonder if childbirth will compare to it.”
“Probably… definitely.”
Dark Cacao promptly repositioned cushions around himself to make an even more comfortable nest. He could not understand why, but feeling Vanilla’s presence and company had a truly calming effect on him. His friend had always given him that reassuring feeling, but especially now. With it, the kicks stopped feeling like a parasite trying to get his attention. It felt more like a baby playing around, and perhaps, urging Cacao to finally eat breakfast.
“The breakfast, my, I completely forgot.”
It was on the table all the way over there. Before Cacao could even begin to drag his sorry back off the couch, and want to reach for the bread— Vanilla quickly offered it, into his hand.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Vanilla then took his own bread and curled up right beside Cacao. They ate in peaceful silence.
Firewood crackled beside them. The dancing flames grew lighter and then dimmer, casting shadows all around them. Thoughtlessly his eyes wandered across the room, Vanilla paid attention to several tall book shelves, and completely dead potted plants among them. Finally his eyes landed upon that tome, which Cacao brought with him all the way over here, to this table.
Squinting to read the words written on the cover. He tilted his head, too. Vanilla didn’t want to lean over and gawk at it. Nonetheless, Cacao’s observant eye noticed them and their staring. Again.
“Are you wondering what the book is about?”
“Y-Yes. I wanted to read the title.”
“It is about… things to expect in the first year since birth. Medically speaking.”
He finished chewing before adding, “I have reasons to think that I won’t be in exactly prime condition for a good while.”
“…How so?”
“…Well.” Cacao gave Vanilla a look, “I am not exactly a ray of sunshine, am I?
In fact… I feel blue… quite often. quite deeply.”
Once more, the air became cold and heavy around them. Vanilla certainly couldn’t deny… that his friend had a depressive personality.
“…Take care of yourself, Dark Cacao.”
He was quiet for a moment.
“…I am. I do what I think is best.”
With a raspy addition, “…I’m sorry for having neglected you for so long. For pushing you away, Pure Vanilla.”
“It’s alright, I moved on from it already.”
“You don’t sound… content.”
“Oh, it’s not that, you just got me a bit concerned after what you said…” Vanilla frowned, “You’re correct, mothers who already tend to be sad, might feel very sad after parting ways with their baby.”
There was a serious look in Vanilla’s face as he took Cacao’s wrist, prompting Cacao to form eye contact with him. “You trust and count on us when it comes to battles and kingdom matters, but you’re very shy when it comes to personal problems.”
Cacao blinked— Vanilla continued; “ ‘We are together, in peace and in battle, that is our strength.’ That is your quote, isn’t it? I wish that you apply it, when you are feeling blue as well.
I can not speak for the other three, but… Reach out to me more often. I’ve got a feeling that you’ve forgotten that I am a doctor. I tend not just physical wounds, but mental ones as well.”
“…Yes. I… did forget that you can be a friend, and a healer as well. Somehow, I… I grew to love you as a friend, and so I felt as if… I can’t count on you as a ‘coworker’ anymore.”
“…Goodness.” Vanilla shook his head, “How silly you are.”
“I apologize.”
“It’s all good.”
He stood on his knees to reach Cacao’s face, and pressed a kiss on his cheek.