Chapter 123
After that, Kirine checked the sender’s name on every letter she received, just in case. As expected, no letters came from Vincent.
Though there was some regret, she felt it was for the best and cut off all interest in news about Vincent. She thought that was the end of it.
As the hot summer passed into autumn, the more time she spent with Ares, the better their relationship became. They still hadn’t made their relationship public. This was because they needed to inform Ares’s family first. Ares had told his family that he wouldn’t go through with the arranged engagement because he was seeing someone. When Ares, the sole heir, announced he wouldn’t participate in the generations-old tradition of arranged marriage, everyone was shocked and tried to persuade him otherwise.
But Ares wouldn’t budge. Far from being swayed by persuasion, coaxing, or threats, he instead tried even harder to show his trust in Kirine. Through this, Kirine realized once again that Ares was serious and sincere about her.
The family members, realizing that Ares wouldn’t back down, reluctantly gave their approval.
It was then that other news reached Kirine.
“Ugh!”
After feeling nauseous for several days, she was now even dry heaving. At first, she didn’t think much of it, wondering if she had eaten something bad. But after two or three days of this, she couldn’t concentrate on work and finally went to see a physician.
And then.
“You’re pregnant?”
“What?”
Completely caught off guard by this unexpected result, Kirine blinked blankly.
‘Me?’
She quietly sat there, touching her stomach. Even though she had heard it directly, she couldn’t believe it and stared at the physician in a daze, who then said, as if they had been waiting to do so:
“Congratulations.”
“Ah, um…”
She was too shocked to respond properly. While it was certainly happy news, she had never imagined she would become pregnant.
Still unable to collect her thoughts, Kirine was leaving the examination room when she paused, remembering something.
‘Could it be from then?’
Suddenly, that night flashed through her mind.
For some reason, they had drunk more than usual that day, quite unlike them, and somehow ended up lying side by side on the bed. It was the moment when Ares, looking down slightly while touching his cheek and smiling, had suddenly seemed so beautiful to her. Perhaps because he was too beautiful, or maybe because of the alcohol exceeding her tolerance, she had felt strangely angry that day.
[“Do you not like me much?”]
[“Huh?”]
Ares, who had been playfully stroking her cheek, pulling it, and poking it, looked down at her quizzically. At that moment, unable to hold back, Kirine was the first to press her lips against his.
But that wasn’t all.
Until then, Ares had rarely been the first to show affection. Though she knew he was holding back to be careful with her and treasure her, sometimes it felt frustrating and disappointing.
‘So, that’s why I first…’
As soon as she recalled pressing down on Ares’s shoulders and climbing on top of him, Kirine covered her head with both hands.
“Ahh…”
That was definitely the night.
“I must have been crazy.”
Why did she suddenly lose her mind and pounce on him like that? At first, Ares was surprised, but then he responded as if he had been waiting for it. That was fortunate.
‘No, what do you mean fortunate?’
Faced with this unexpected result, Kirine crouched down halfway and let out a deep sigh.
Though she had thought that when she married Ares, they would eventually have children, and she wanted at least one, this was too soon.
Moreover…
‘I’m not sure if Ares even likes children.’
The only fortunate thing was that they had received some form of acknowledgment from his family members. Even if it was reluctant.
‘I need to tell Ares.’
She couldn’t quite figure out how to tell him. Would he be happy, or would he be shocked?
Hoping that at least he wouldn’t dislike it, she slowly stood up. Meeting with Ares should be the priority now.
‘His training should be finished by now.’
It seemed best to check his private training grounds first. Fortunately, as expected, Ares had finished training early and was already there.
“How are you feeling?”
Since she hadn’t been looking well for the past few days, Ares asked as soon as he saw Kirine. Seeing his continually worried expression, Kirine sat down beside him, brushing it off as nothing.
“I think I was just tired.”
“Did you get a proper examination?”
“Of course.”
Ares, who had been looking at her suspiciously, rolled his shoulders and gestured with his chin toward two swords.
“Want to have a match? It’s been a while.”
“Not really feeling it today.”
“…?”
Ares tilted his head when Kirine, who never refused an offer to duel, showed such an unenthusiastic response.
“This is unusual. You’re actually refusing.”
“Everyone has those days. I told you I haven’t been feeling well lately.”
“Are you still feeling bad now?”
As his eyes scanned her up and down, checking for any signs of illness, Kirine opened her mouth but quickly closed it again.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
Even though she tried to brush it off, Ares continued to look at her with slightly furrowed brows.
“What is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Just tell me comfortably.”
His eyes had already determined that she was hiding something. After spending so much time together, Ares had become quite familiar with Kirine’s tendencies. This was clearly the expression she made when she needed to say something but was hesitating whether she should.
As Ares urged her to speak, saying it was okay, Kirine’s lips quivered before she lowered her eyes.
“Do you like children?”
“What?”
“I’m asking if you like children.”
At this sudden question, Ares blinked in confusion before quietly answering.
“Well… I’m not particularly fond of them.”
Just as I thought.
Just as Kirine was about to speak—
“But I’d like one if it was like you. Other than that, not really.”
“…”
Ares, who had spoken as if it were obvious, gazed steadily at Kirine.
“Why are you suddenly asking that? Ah…”
After looking at her questioningly for a moment, Ares belatedly realized and widened his blue eyes.
“You’re thinking what’s right. I’m pregnant.”
Knowing there was no point in hiding it longer, Kirine continued speaking matter-of-factly.
“I think it happened that time.”
Just as she was about to ask what they should do now, Ares suddenly jumped to his feet.
“This won’t do.”
“Huh?”
Looking up in confusion, wondering what was wrong, she found Ares grabbing her waist and pulling her up.
“We need to get married right away.”
“What?”
They had already planned to get married next year. But Ares was acting as if he wanted to do it right this instant.
“Let’s go.”
“Where?”
Due to his urgent pulling of her hand, Kirine was helplessly dragged along by Ares.
“No, really, where are we going?”
Just as she was about to scold him to at least explain before dragging her off, the path they were taking started to feel familiar.
‘Surely not…’
Though she glanced at Ares thinking he must be crazy, he was walking straight ahead with more seriousness and determination than ever before.
It was straight to the Emperor’s audience chamber.
Nous_Defions
The idiots, hahahaha… 😻😻😻