Chapter 184

“Molitia.”

There he was, urgently breathing as soon as she had raised her head. Perhaps he tried not to lie about what was to happen soon, but he still took his time to breathe quite a few moments.

“What happened?”

“…I’ll have her led to the Imperial City tomorrow.”

Many things were actually swallowed by his own words. However, Molitia didn’t even question it.

“I see.”

Raven’s face hardened as his expressionless wife—or seemingly afraid—nodded slowly.

“…are you all right?”

“What?”

“That…”

Unlike her nonchalantly spitting words, Raven’s palms were soaked with tension.

She had already heard of Arjan’s outright denials. Even Raven had touched his sword with such throbbing emotions. So, he was worried that the person involved would be in the same boat as well. The pair of embarrassed eyes were rolling around anxiously.

Molitia smiled brightly as she saw him uncharacteristically nervous.

“I’m fine now.”

She didn’t say that she wasn’t ill at all. Her pierced heart wouldn’t have been easily dulled and it would sometimes upset her.

But she was no longer alone. It was different from when she had to swallow back her tears alone in such calming silence. She already had someone to support her right by her side.

She put her hand over his prominent hand. Raven’s eyes grew bigger as her soft skin was wrapping around his callused hands.

There was a person who had been hurt more than herself. There were people who supported her actions. She smiled glowingly, capturing his eyes as she was colored with wonder from that embarrassed expression.

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

Raven’s shoulder stiffened again at her sudden exclamation.

“What’s going on? Do you have a stomachache?”

With a surprised look on her face, Molitia couldn’t say a word. She stiffened and only her eyes were moving slowly.

“Tell me. Do you want me to call for a doctor?”

He was going crazy when she didn’t talk at all. Molitia’s eyes quickly blinked once and as his worries were about to blow even bigger than a mountain, it was as if his own boat was suddenly tumbling again like earlier today.

As she sensed something, her hand quickly led Raven’s.

“What are you doing?”

“Wait a minute.”

Then, she placed his hand on her stomach while still putting her own index finger over her lips. It was the moment when Raven tried parting his mouth since he was frustrated as she wouldn’t even tell him the right reason at all.

A faint sensation passed through under his palm. At first, he thought that it was just a mistake. That passing feeling through his hands had been weak and it was hard to say that he had really sensed something.

Then once more, Raven’s eyes had opened wide as the sensation had passed through his hand again. He felt it clearly now. It was merely a slight movement, but it had been clear to him, who was staying alert.

“It’s…”

“This is my first time.”

Molitia smiled warmly.

The baby? Raven focused all his nerves right into his palms. Sadly, the child didn’t move for a while ever since then. Nevertheless, he still waited patiently and steadily for it.

“……!”

The baby revealed its presence once again under his palms, albeit weakly. As if to eliminate his anxiety, the child eventually made its first move right in front of him.

“This is… I’ve never felt this before.”

“Me, too.”

Maybe this is the feeling to be proud about. It seemed as if the sensation under his palm had permeated to his chest as much as in his own palms. The woman who had been said to be difficult to have any children, was carrying one steadily in her stomach.

Her milky white face like magnolia was spread out ever so elegantly.

“Your place is here.”

His voice added to Arjan’s earlier words, which he had said with an  already bloodstained neck.

“You didn’t take someone else’s. This is your rightful place and the person who should be by my side will be only you—forever. You’re the only one who has the position of Duchess Linerio and as my wife.”

“……yes, I know.”

It’s not even night, but a trail of darkness came into Molitia’s eyes. She closed her eyes in that dark. The corners of her mouth went up as a sweet kiss was bestowed upon her lips.

“I love you, Molitia.”

“I love you, Raven.”

Their hands were holding together as they laid upon the stomach that slowly hardened. She wasn’t lonely anymore.

It would be sweet to meet the end by this person’s side. Her eyes were gradually moistened with happiness.

*  *  *

Molitia’s steps grew wobbly. She tried to walk with her swollen stomach, but her back gave out regardless of her doctor’s warning.

“Madame!”

Surprised at the sight of Molitia moving, Lili ran quickly.

“You can just ask me for something like this!”

“What’s the point of calling for that?”

Molitia smiled with the thread still in her hand. Her plump cheeks made her face even more beautiful.

Her weight eventually returned to normal as her stomach swelled in earnest. Raven was the first to feel happy about her appearance that had been healthier than before she was pregnant.

“But you can’t. I’ll be the one who’ll get scolded by the Master if Madame gets hurt even just a little bit. So, please allow me to do it—at least for me.”

“I’ll tell Raven not to do that.”

“Madame, you do know that’s not what I’m saying.”

As she laughed at Lili, who looked half worried and half nervous, she then took a light breath. Since it started to show, even small movements would easily make her out of breath.