A New Life

While Vela's great nobles gathered in Golden Tree City, the capital of the Raine Kingdom, to debate which fields they should cooperate in with the kingdom's great nobles, a new life was quietly arriving far away in North Vira Province. A baby's clear, lusty cries suddenly rang out from the Lord's Mansion in Wood Fort Town, Two Rivers Territory.

Veronica had just endured the agony of childbirth. She lay exhausted on the bed, her mind still hazy.

A female physician in a white coat hurried over, her face alight with excitement. In her arms, she carefully held a red-faced little bundle who was wailing at the top of his lungs.

Reaching the bedside, the physician could barely contain her joy. "Congratulations, my lady! It's a boy, and he's in excellent health! Just listen to how strong his cries are!"

Veronica summoned her strength and slowly turned her gaze toward the baby held before her.

The baby was red all over, his skin creased and wrinkled, looking for all the world like a tiny old man. But to Veronica, a mother for the first time, every bit of him was perfect.

She gazed at the little life with delight, a happy, contented smile spreading across her lips. "How wonderful! My son is so adorable!

I hope his father comes home soon and gets to meet him!"

Another physician came over and reassured Veronica. "Don't worry, my lady. The marquis should be back any moment. He'll be overjoyed when he sees you and the young master!

Would you like to name the young master, my lady?"

Veronica answered without hesitation. "Charlie. Victor and I decided on it long ago!"

Charlie was a common name, shared by countless people. The physician had not expected her ladyship to choose it and hesitated for a