As Aiden sat down on the sandy beach, catching his breath with both of his pockets stuffed full, Anje approached him in quick steps, holding something in her hand.
“Aiden, do you think this could be a raw gemstone? It’s the prettiest and shiniest stone I’ve picked up today.”
With a completely serious expression, she whispered, as if afraid someone might overhear her. Between her thumb and index finger lay a flat green object.
It was a piece of glass, worn smooth by the waves and faded by the sun, but its beautiful green hue was enough to make Anje mistake it for an emerald.
Not wanting to shatter her innocent dream too quickly, he carefully chose his words.
“Well… I’m not an expert in gemstones either. It could be, perhaps?”
Anje furrowed her brows and pinched his cheek firmly.
“Judging by your expression, it’s not a gemstone, is it?”
Thanks to their long time together, she could now easily see through this level of lie. With a small chuckle, he admitted the truth.
“It’s not a gemstone. It’s a piece of glass that’s been altered by the waves and sunlight. If you don’t need it, could I have it?”
Anje, visibly disappointed at the word “glass,” couldn’t hide her curiosity and asked,
“Why? Do you want it?”
It was a pretty color, but would he really want something as common as a piece of glass?
“It resembles the color of your eyes. I’d like to keep it as a memento.”
“In that case, here you go.”
When Anje dropped the glass into his palm, he carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief and placed it in the inner pocket of his jacket.
“Now, I finally have a keepsake that you picked up for me.”
She sat down beside him, folding her legs neatly and leaning her head against his sturdy shoulder. She liked seeing how he cherished something she had given him.
“It would have been nice if it were a real gemstone. I wanted to give you something special.”
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and smiled.
“Anything you give me is precious and special.”
“Still…”
She had found many fascinating things on the beach, but nothing seemed valuable enough to suit Aiden, which left her feeling a little regretful.
He stretched his neck and looked around, confirming that there was still no one nearby, before whispering,
“If you really want to give me a gift, there’s a special one that only you can give me.”
Noticing his meaningful expression, Anje scooped up a handful of sand and tossed it in his direction.
“You shameless man.”
He replied without missing a beat,
“You like it too.”
“I—I…”
“You’d be disappointed if we didn’t do it, and last night, you were the one who—”
“Aah!”
She let out a strange noise, cutting him off. Of course, she enjoyed their intimate moments together, but it was still embarrassing to openly admit her desires. Her face turned red as she lowered her head.
“Well, putting this good point aside… I just thought it would be nice if we had a child soon, that’s all…”
Seeing her face turn as red as a cooked lobster, Aiden felt the urge to tease her. But he held back and answered gently instead.
“Having a child would be wonderful. It would mean welcoming a new member into our family. But there’s no rush, and we’re not in a situation where we desperately need one. Let’s take our time and not worry too much.”
Lately, Anje had been oddly fixated on whether she was pregnant. She even asked Meg for foods that could help with conception and sought private consultations from Wilfred, a doctor well-versed in modern medicine.
But they were still young, and they weren’t in urgent need of an heir to inherit land or a title. He just wanted her to be at ease regarding the matter.
Moved by his kind words, Anje gazed at the ocean and blinked. As she watched the waves gently roll onto the shore, something she had been holding back slowly rose to the surface of her mind.
“Aiden… what if, just hypothetically…”
She paused, waiting for the wave that had reached their feet to recede before continuing, as if trying to sound casual.
“What if I can’t have children?”
The arrival of spring at Dilton Farm was just as beautiful as the year before. The second wedding, which had put Meg on edge, was finally over, and the ‘Dilton Farm School,’ where Anje served as the headmistress, was running smoothly.
Even amidst a series of these happy events, there was still something that kept weighing on her mind.
‘In any case, women with your constitution tend to have a harder time conceiving.’
Before the wedding, she had asked Wilfred whether she had a chance of getting pregnant, and the response had left her in a state of stunned disbelief.
‘Those who occasionally experience what’s commonly known as the “red days” are, statistically speaking, less likely than those with regular cycles… Ah, but there’s no need to look so worried. You’re still young, and your cycle is gradually aligning to a monthly rhythm.’
She had thought it was convenient that, unlike most women who experienced their monthly cycles regularly, hers only came once every few months.
During the time she had been stressed about losing weight, her cycle had stopped for over half a year, but she had never considered it to be a serious issue.
Now, she regretted her ignorance, feeling foolish for her past indifference. She also resented the fact that no one had ever told her how important this was. She wished she had started trying for a child earlier.
But no matter how many tears she shed over the past, it wouldn’t change the present.
“…Wilfred told me that, due to my constitution, I might have difficulty conceiving.”
Anje tried to keep her voice as calm as possible, keeping her gaze fixed on the blue water as she relayed her conversation with Wilfred. She was afraid to see the expression on Aiden’s face as he listened.
‘Should I have told him this before we came here?’
But everything had been so perfect. She had feared that even a small crack might appear in their happiness.
She had seen too many people who believed that a wife’s greatest duty was to bear an heir.
Men who mercilessly handed their wives divorce papers when they couldn’t conceive. People who gossiped about childless couples. Even her own father had been one of them.
Aiden wasn’t that kind of person. But still, just in case…
“Anje.”
He pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head. Her moist green eyes met his unwavering warm red ones, trembling like seaweed in the water.
“It would be nice to have a child who resembles us, but even as things are now, I am incredibly happy. You feel the same, don’t you?”
Anje swallowed the lump rising in her throat and gave him a faint smile.
“Of course. Every single day with you is full of happiness.”
“That’s enough for me. For both of us.”
Aiden was also surprised by her words.
Since they had spent nights together, he had naturally assumed that, someday, they would have a child. It was a misconception he could afford to have, given his lack of knowledge about the female body or the process of conception.
But whether they had a child or not, as long as she was by his side, he would be just as happy. And he hoped she would be too.
“I’m truly grateful just to have you by my side. So don’t think that having a child is something you must do. Instead, let’s focus on keeping you healthy.”
She nodded silently. The fears and worries she had buried deep inside her seemed to be washed away by the wave that was Aiden.
To convey his sincerity through action, he leaned in toward her. Her coral-colored lips carried the faintest hint of salt.
“And besides, Pa-Pi-Pu are practically our children.”
At her husband’s unexpected remark, whispered between kisses, Anje couldn’t help but laugh.
Pa Fitzroy and Pu Fitzroy were fine, but wasn’t Pi Fitzroy a bit strange? Had he really been worrying about something like that?
What a lovable fool.
* * *
They were completely captivated by the charm of the sea, spending their days leisurely wandering around their lodging.
They indulged in unique dishes that could only be found in this place, strolled aimlessly along the beach, and occasionally dipped their feet into the cold water.
Time flew by as they gently touched each other’s hands and hair, whispering words of love.
After spending a few days like that, today, they planned to rent a carriage and explore other places. Their destination was the town’s most famous art street—the very place where Aiden’s mother, Nancy Dilton, had once studied art.
“Wow.”
Getting off the carriage, Anje couldn’t contain her amazement as she looked around.
Painters were busy setting up easels and drawing portraits, while porters carried large paintings and sculptures on their backs. The galleries and workshops, at a glance, exuded an extraordinary sense of scale.
Anje whispered while gesturing toward a young artist sitting on the ground, sketching passersby in a quick croquis style.
“Do you think your mother also used to draw people like that on the streets?”
“Probably.”
Ladies strolling leisurely with parasols, children playing with balls, elderly people walking their dogs, and a young man dashing by with a baguette tucked under his arm.
Both Anje and Aiden fell silent, imagining a young Nancy Dilton sitting somewhere, busily sketching with her pencil to capture these very scenes.
The thought that she had once existed in this very place, walking these same streets, felt strangely surreal.
* * * *
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