54 – Spring has come
Spring.
A time when everything comes to life.
From Noble mtl dot com
If you go outside, pollen will fly around and it’s a battle against pollen, ah! It’s a romantic time for foolish people who want to enjoy the flowers, even in the hell of pollen.
Actually, when I was in Korea, Hikikomori Kim Cheolsu, who only went between work and home, wasn’t the type to enjoy flower viewing.
But maybe it’s because it’s the first spring I’m experiencing in the Roland Viscount’s domain.
It felt new.
“Is this the first spring in Roland’s viscountess that Kim Chul-soo encounters?”
“Yes, Miss.”
Miss Catherine said, leaning close to me.
Catherine, who now uses my room like her own private room.
In reality, she has the feeling of being the daughter of the company CEO, so I can’t complain.
I just look out the window.
Tulips and roses of various colors are blooming in front of the viscount’s courtyard.
Lady Helen, the Viscountess, works hard to maintain the garden.
It was truly beautiful to see them in full bloom in spring.
“Do you want to go see the flowers?”
I wondered why Catherine didn’t say this.
“That would be nice.”
It’s also a holiday.
Kim Chul-soo, who has become an outdoor-loving person because he has no cell phone or internet!
I brought a picnic mat and a basket, and Catherine and I sat down in the front yard of the mansion, enjoying sandwiches.
Ah~
“The smell of pollen~”
Even just smelling it makes my allergies act up.
As expected, the more flowers there are, the more pollen there is.
*Cough cough!*
Catherine also coughed continuously due to pollen allergies.
“Miss, if your throat is itchy, maybe we should go inside…”
*Cough cough! Kim! *Cough!* Chul-soo, our fragrance! The viscount’s mansion! *Cough!* Isn’t the garden beautiful?”
“Haha… Yes, it’s really beautiful.”
*Cough!* Let’s have a good time! *Cough cough!*
Catherine almost sneezed like a rapper.
I always carry a spare mask for her, so she finally stopped sneezing.
*Sigh* My throat and nose itch. Why do I keep sneezing like this?
“It’s because of the pollen, Miss.”
“…? But pollen is beautiful. Does it have anything to do with sneezing?”
“Yes, it triggers allergies. Pollen is not good for the body.”
I explained to Catherine that pollen causes sneezing and itching!
Catherine looked shocked, her eyes widening.
Catherine had the idea that “flowers are good,” so she was quite shocked!
“Well then… how should we enjoy the flowers?”
“Haha, let’s wait for a while and then go. But remember to wash your hands and face afterward.”
“Ah, I see. Got it!”
Secretly, Catherine seemed to want to make some memories with me in the spring.
I heard that there is also a spring flower festival here.
I should go with Catherine.
I’m curious how the Winter Festival will be different.
* * * *
After finishing the flower viewing with Miss Catherine, I went to Cotton House.
Miss Catherine and I have been visiting Cotton House lately for postpartum care.
To check on Linda and to bless the newborn with sacred power.
Normally, newborns at this time in Korea receive vaccinations for various diseases.
But of course, Baron Roland does not have vaccines.
So, to protect the newborn from diseases, we bless them with sacred power.
Linda, who greeted us with a bright smile, is now completely healthy!
She hasn’t started menstruating yet.
There are no major health issues.
She is diligently breastfeeding the baby.
“Welcome, Mr. Cheolsu. Miss Catherine.”
“Hehe, nothing much going on?”
“Haha… except for the baby crying often.”
Newborns sleep about 18 hours out of the 24-hour day.
They only sleep for 3-4 hours at a time.
In other words, they sleep for 3 hours, wake up, sleep for 3 hours, and repeat!
Unintentionally, dark circles were visible under Linda and Cotton’s eyes!
Cotton sighed and lowered her head.
“The baby just won’t sleep at night, so we can’t sleep either.”
“Well, newborns are like that. You might have to endure it until about 6 months after birth.”
“Half a year? Ugh.”
“But you still love your daughter, right?”
“Well, of course.”
Blushing, Cotton nodded her head!
No matter what, she is their beloved first daughter!
Even though it feels awkward to bond with her.
How much did the two of them suffer to bring their daughter into the world?
“Well, I don’t think of her as just our child. You helped too, Cheolsu. You have a stake in this too, right? Isn’t that right, Linda?”
“Yes, dear.”
Cotton and Linda acknowledge my contribution!
I felt unnecessarily burdened!
“Oh, I just helped with the delivery a bit. Bianca and Miss Catherine also went through a lot.”
“You have our gratitude too. But when the delivery was delayed, it was Cheolsu who performed the surgery. He played the biggest role. That’s why, Cheolsu, I want to incorporate your name into the baby’s name. Would you allow it?”
“Pardon?”
Cotton wants to include my name in their daughter’s name.
It seems like Linda already agrees with the idea by nodding her head!
“Well, it’s fine with me, but are you both okay with this?”
Including my name in the baby’s name!
Glory it may be.
But burdensome!
Moreover, my name consists of three syllables in Korean, Kim Cheol-su!
Doesn’t seem to go well with Western naming conventions…?
With a mischievous grin, Linda said, “It’s not just about Cheol-su’s name. As alternatives, I’m considering Kim Katrina or Kim Catrina for you.”
…I felt utterly lost for a moment.
The immediate thought that came to mind was how Koreans, when living in the U.S., often keep their last names and only change their first names.
Richard Kim, Susan Kim kind of vibe.
Can’t really say much about the two names they deliberated on.
But upon hearing my last name Kim and the two consonants in Cotton’s name.
They said it was derived from Linda’s Lin.
“Is it really okay, both of you?”
I barely gathered my thoughts and gave them a chance to reconsider once more!
Naming a child requires careful consideration.
“I’ve thought a lot about it, Cheol-su.”
“Yes, please go ahead and add the name.”
“….”
I had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
In the end, Linda and Cotton’s child was named Kim Katrina.
…No matter how much I think about it, it seems like dropping Kim would be better.
Will the child be teased for having a unique name when they grow up..?
But if the two are content, I had nothing more to say!
And duty-bound, Catherine and I bestowed blessings upon the newborn Kim Katrina.
As we monitored Kim Katrina’s heartbeat and breath, Catherine was taken aback.
“Uh, Kim Cheol-su. The baby’s heart rate is 130 beats per minute, and breathing is 40 breaths per minute. Is, is that not dangerous?”
The normal heart rate for adults is 60-100 beats per minute.
And the normal breathing rate for adults is 12-20 breaths per minute.
Catherine, who had always monitored adult vitals, was understandably surprised by Kim Katrina’s numbers.
Because they significantly deviated from the adult range.
However, for newborns, the normal heart rate is 120-150 beats per minute, and the breathing rate is 40-60 breaths per minute.
The normal ranges for adults and newborns differ.
Therefore, Kim Katrina’s vital signs were within normal limits.
“Newborns are different from adults, Miss. Their internal organs are less developed, so their breathing and heart rates are faster. A newborn’s normal breathing rate is 40-60 breaths per minute, and the normal heart rate is 120-150 beats per minute.”
“Oh… the normal ranges vary depending on age.”
“That’s right.”
Catherine widened her eyes, absorbing knowledge about newborn care.
Chuckling, she made notes on her clipboard.
“Medicine is truly vast, isn’t it?”
“There’s so much to worry about.”
“I understand that feeling, Kim Cheolsoo!”
Oh, thinking about studying at the nursing school brings tears to my eyes.
I had to keep memorizing and re-memorizing, to the point of exhaustion.
Medicine is truly like a giant mountain of memorization!
Miss Catherine stumbled over her words as she memorized the normal range for newborns that I had taught her.
She was in the midst of learning newborn care from me, Catherine.
It was quite admirable to see her study without a single complaint.
* * * *
The changing of the season wasn’t just for Roland Viscount.
The orphanage where I occasionally volunteered, the Merhen Orphanage, was also experiencing the same thing.
The supplies were running low, and the food was scarce, so Director Alfonso would often go help with the farming in other territories.
He’d get his face and wool pants covered in dirt, receiving only a few grains of wheat as payment for his farming efforts.
Director Alfonso seemed proud as he shook the grains in his hand, but it seemed insufficient to feed the 30 orphanage children.
“Hmm, it seems the orphanage’s food reserves are running low.”
“Haha… that’s true, but by helping with the farming and earning some money, it provides at least a little food for the children.”
Director Alfonso maintained a positive outlook despite the financial shortages.
…Honestly, even if we cooked that wheat into porridge, a spoonful for each child would make it disappear in no time.
It’s really inadequate.
This can’t continue like this, can it?
I felt the need for a more fundamental solution.
A solution to alleviate the poverty of the Merhen Orphanage!
“Director, shall we try to earn some money?”
“Money?”
“Yes.”
I’ve never run a business since I fell into the Middle Ages, but I’ve always had plans to start one if money became scarce.
Money is an essential element for human survival! Without it, I feel terribly despondent.
I may not become filthy rich, but it would be good if I could at least somewhat meet the financial needs of the Merhen Orphanage.
“Let’s make cosmetics.”
I brought up something I had long considered!
After all, beauty products are a profitable commodity.
What I want to do is start a cosmetics business!