Read Novel Full Chapter 747: Welcome to the Family
Chapter 747: Welcome to the Family
‘A name, huh…?’
The thought lingered in the back of Nikolai’s mind as the Midwife carefully approached him, her nervous expression slowly easing after his words.
“Of course, Lord Volkov.”
The older woman moved beside him, gently adjusting the blanket around his daughter’s body.
“Newborns normally feed from their mother immediately, but Madam Kumiko needs rest after everything her body endured.” She glanced towards the sleeping fox woman before lowering her voice. “We prepared formula and stored milk for situations like this.”
“Formula…”
Nikolai stared at the tiny creature in his arms.
His daughter stared back through half-closed eyes.
Neither carried even the faintest concern over the fact that her mother almost died bringing her into this world.
Instead, her little mouth opened.
“Ah…”
Her tongue peeked out. It was the most adorable sight Nikolai had ever seen, and he found it quite charming as she began moving her head against his chest. Nikolai froze almost instantly at the strange action.
“Why is she biting me?”
The Midwife covered her lips, holding a chuckle behind them, the wrinkles around her forehead and eyes stretching with her laughter.
“Oh dear, she isn’t biting you, my lord.”
“Then what is she doing?”
“Searching.”
“For?”
“Milk.”
“…”
Nikolai glanced down at his chest, and then towards the Midwife.
“You realise I’m a man?”
Miranda snorted behind them. The sound caused several nurses to immediately lower their heads, hiding their smiles.
Nikolai couldn’t help but narrow his eyes, a slight heat growing in his face as he felt embarrassed at the situation.
“Can one of you help, although I would prefer to let my wife feed the baby… I’m exhausted and just want this little thing to get what she needs.”
Miranda removed the surgical cap from her head and loosened the bun that had started falling apart during the operation. Thick black curls draped across her shoulders while she rubbed the bridge of her nose.
She looked terrible, a mixture of mental and physical exhaustion.
Nikolai would have to be blind not to notice Miranda remained a beautiful woman even after several hours covered in sweat and blood.
However, with her shoulders sagging and bloodshot eyes, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie with her state.
‘She really thought Kumi would die.’
His expression softened slightly.
“Sit down.”
“My lord?”
“You can barely stand.”
“I… I am alright.”
“Don’t mess around; that’s exactly what my wives say when they’re pushing themselves too far. Just take a seat. You’ve done everything possible. Rest!”
Miranda glanced towards the sleeping woman.
“…Point taken.”
Without another word, she turned around and tossed her gloves into the special bin and threw herself on the expensive couch installed for the Volkov clan VIP’s who visited.
Normally, this might be seen as an insult, but the moment he saw her shoulders sink into the cushioned chair just outside the door, her head rocked to the side, and she fell asleep.
‘See…’
Meanwhile, the Midwife returned with a small bottle.
Nikolai accepted it awkwardly.
“What now?”
“Support her neck.”
“I am supporting her neck.”
“A little higher.”
Nikolai raised his hand and followed a little awkwardly. Though because his hands were so big, the child would almost fit in his palm. Yet the Midwife remained serious and focused, ready to catch or adjust him as needed.
“Like this?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“Place the teat near her lips.”
He followed the woman’s instructions carefully, his movements as if holding the most priceless treasure in the world. The moment the bottle brushed his daughter’s mouth, she reacted immediately.
“Mmh!”
Her tiny hands reached upwards, grabbing absolutely nothing as she latched onto the teat.
Nikolai’s eyebrows rose as he gasped.
“Oh.”
There was a strange feeling that started blooming in his chest. It was a ticklish warmth as the faint suction from the little fox made the bottle bounce up and down in his hand. Slowly, the milk with a faint gleam of silver vanished from sight.
‘She’s so cute!’
Unaware of her father’s worries, the little fox began drinking greedily, her little ears twitching with every little gulp.
“She’s hungry.”
“Ohohoho, very hungry… this is quite unusual.”
“Really?”
The midwife glanced into Nikolai’s eyes before she shook her head, smiling. “Master, considering what happened, this is a good sign. No! An excellent one!”
Nikolai lowered his gaze, unable to remove his gaze from his daughter. Her tiny golden tail escaped the blanket and slapped gently against his wrist.
Pat.
Pat.
He couldn’t help but smile, knowing that the machine beeping in the background meant that Kumiko was recovering slowly and his daughter seemed healthy.
“What a greedy… lovable little thing she is.”
The child ignored him and continued to enjoy her milk, while slapping his wrist.
“Just like her father,” Miranda muttered.
Nikolai slowly turned his head and found it amusing how the doctor stared straight ahead and whistled as if she didn’t speak.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Miranda.”
“My lord.”
The corner of his lips twitched before he sighed and decided to forget it.
‘Everyone becomes cheeky once they stop fearing me.’
Yet he preferred this to the heavy atmosphere inside the room, which finally started to fade.
Eventually, his gaze returned to the black markings visible along Kumiko’s right hand.
“Miranda.”
“Y-Yes?!”
“I want you to become the dedicated doctor of my wives, especially Kumiko and any of them who show such a marking or symptoms in the future.”
The doctor’s expression immediately changed as she looked up at him with a slight jitter, averting her eyes back to Kumiko to avoid staring.
“Understood, Lord Patriarch.”
Nikolai nodded slowly before lowering his gaze towards the little fox in his arms.
The bottle was almost empty.
Her tiny cheeks puffed with every little suck, while her ears twitched whenever the teat slipped slightly from her mouth.
‘How can something this small eat so much?’
Nikolai tilted the bottle a little higher.
Gulp.
Gulp.
“Mmm…”
The silver liquid slowly vanished until there was nothing left.
However, rather than looking satisfied, his daughter immediately released the teat and began searching against his chest again.
“Oi…”
Her little nose bumped against him.
“Don’t tell me you’re still hungry?”
Pat.
Her tail struck his wrist, prompting the midwife to chuckle.
“I believe she is answering you, my lord.”
“She’s barely been alive for an hour, and she’s already demanding things.”
“Ohohoho, supernatural children learn quickly.”
Nikolai couldn’t help but stare at the small fox.
‘What kind of monster did we create…?’
However, there wasn’t an ounce of fear in his thoughts.
Only amusement.
And pride.
He slowly brought her closer to his chest, letting the little fox settle against the warmth of his body while the Midwife went to prepare another bottle.
Her tiny fingers opened and closed against his shirt.
Nikolai lowered his head.
“You nearly killed your mother, little troublemaker.”
The little fox yawned.
“Don’t ignore me.”
Her golden ear twitched once.
Then she buried her face against him.
Nikolai froze.
‘This child…’
His lips slowly curved upwards.
“Fine. Papa forgives you.”
Beside him, Kumiko released a faint snort despite keeping her eyes closed, but the soft, fluffy tails which soon wrapped his body gave it away.
“You’re too soft.”
“I thought you were sleeping, Kumi… don’t force yourself.”
“Hmph~ how could I let you steal our cute daughter’s most important moments?”
Though she spoke with a slight hint of vinegar, Nikolai knew she was just being playful, save for the soft tails stroking along his stomach.
“Well, if you insist… just don’t push yourself.”
“Mhm….”
Nikolai shook his head, watching his lovely wife acting almost identically to their daughter. He couldn’t help but gaze at the dark markings that covered half of her body before closing his eyes.
The dark markings along her arm were still visible beneath the hospital light, but they no longer seemed sinister.
‘I should probably not tell her—I find them sexy…’
He would save that for when mommy and daddy got some alone time together.
‘I’ll figure out what happened.’
His fingers tightened slightly around his daughter.
‘Nobody is touching either of you again.’
“Kumi?”
Though she woke up faintly, he thought she might return to sleep, but Kumiko would never let him down; instead, her eyes opened with a delicate flutter.
“Honey…?”
“I’m here.”
Kumiko slowly opened her eyes, the exhaustion still visible within them. Her right eye looked stranger now that Nikolai could see it properly.
The golden iris remained beautiful.
Yet around the pupil, darkness spread like a thin ring, while tiny specks of silver glimmered within it.
Almost identical to their daughter.
Nikolai couldn’t help but stare at her for several moments, because of just how alluring her new look was.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Kumiko narrowed her eyes weakly, gently pressing herself against his stomach, while scrutinising his face. Nikolai turned away, yet his gaze lingered on hers… his cheeks dyed a faint red until he cleared his throat.
“You just looked too beautiful that I lost myself in your eyes…”
After speaking, he leaned closer and kissed her forehead.
“I thought I might lose you.”
“Hmmmm~ I see, I see…” Her gaze shifted towards the child resting against his chest. “Our daughter, she’s pretty, right?”
“Mhm, a greedy but pretty little princess.”
“Greedy.”
“Huh?”
“She drank an entire bottle and immediately demanded another.”
Kumiko giggled weakly.
“She takes after you.”
“I would say she’s like her mother…”
“Nikolai.”
Suddenly the room felt cold, as Kumiko’s eyes glared at him, half-closed, and her tails slowly tightened around his stomach.
Nikolai clicked his tongue.
Then he carefully lowered the little fox closer towards her mother.
The moment Kumiko’s scent reached her nose, the child’s tail began moving faster.
Pat.
Pat.
Pat.
“Oh my…”
Kumiko slowly raised one hand and brushed her daughter’s cheek.
“She really is beautiful.”
“Mhm.”
The little fox shifted between them, completely unaware that both parents were staring at her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
Then Kumiko suddenly blinked.
“Honey.”
“Hm?”
“We still haven’t named her.”
Nikolai paused, and his mind immediately returned to lying in bed with Kumiko while she spoke about the names she’d like if it were a boy or a girl… how excited his lovely wife became as she spoke and made little stories.
‘A name…’
“Kumi, you choose her name.”
So he decided to let his wife choose her name.
“How about Hikari?”
Kumiko repeated the name quietly.
“Hikari…”
Kumiko’s eyes curved gently as she stroked her daughter’s head. Nikolai reached forward and placed one finger into her tiny palm before the little fox immediately grabbed it.
A tightness gripped his chest the moment he did, and yet the following words slipped from his lips without effort or resistance.
“Welcome to the family, Hikari.”