Side Story, Episode 5

It was a portrait of Dante as a child.

Jet-black hair and cheeks rosy like apples.
His youthful features were already strikingly defined, making him an undeniably adorable child, almost angelic.

And yet, something felt off.

‘…His eyes.’

The crimson eyes were unusually somber, far too heavy for a child. They stood out starkly, their gaze filled with a weight that seemed unnatural for his age.

At that moment, Elze realized the true purpose of this room.

It was a place to store items too painful to dispose of but also too agonizing to keep in plain sight.

Elze stared at the portrait for a long time before stepping back.

Click.

The door closed softly behind her.

The room fell into darkness once more.

* * *

That night, close to midnight, Dante returned home late.

Although his face was heavy with fatigue, it softened the moment he spotted Elze asleep on the sofa.

‘She must’ve fallen asleep waiting for me,’ he thought, a smile tugging at his lips.

She looked so endearing that he couldn’t help but whisper, “Elze.”

At the sound of his voice, she slowly opened her eyes. Her amber gaze, hazy with drowsiness, landed on him, and she offered a faint smile.

“Oh, you’re back?”

“Why are you sleeping here? It must’ve been uncomfortable.”

“I was waiting for you.”

She replied casually, reaching her hand out toward him.

Dante scooped her up effortlessly, holding her close.

When she buried her face into his chest, the sharp scent of his cologne tickled her nose. Normally, she found the scent pleasant, but suddenly—

“Ugh.”

A wave of nausea rolled through her stomach.

“What’s wrong?”

Dante asked, alarmed, looking down at her.

“It’s nothing. My stomach’s just a little queasy. I’ll be fine,” she reassured him.

“We’re calling a doctor. Right now.”

Dante declared, his face pale.

Elze shook her head in protest.

“At this hour? It’s fine. I’ll feel better after some rest.”

“No, you should see a doctor to be sure,” he insisted.

After much back and forth, she finally persuaded him with a compromise.

“I’ll see a doctor first thing in the morning. All right?”

Reluctantly, Dante relented, though his expression was still filled with concern.

* * *

The Next Morning

At the crack of dawn, the summoned doctor delivered an unexpected revelation.

“You’re pregnant.”

“What?!”

Both Elze and Dante exclaimed in unison.

“Congratulations. It’s still very early in the pregnancy, so you’ll need to be cautious until you’re out of the first trimester,” the doctor advised before taking his leave.

“I can’t believe it… pregnant.”

Elze murmured, still in shock.

Thinking back, she realized she hadn’t had her period in a while. During their earlier days as lovers, she had been meticulous about contraception due to her escape plans. But after their marriage, she had admittedly grown lax.

Her periods had always been irregular, so she hadn’t paid it much attention.

“Pregnant… with our child,” Dante muttered, though his face was riddled with anxiety.

Sitting close to Elze, he seemed restless as he murmured under his breath.

“What if it affects your health?”

“Dante.”

“I’ve heard that pregnancy can take a toll on a woman’s body. Even my mother…”

He trailed off, biting his lip hard.

‘Mother.’

A shadow of old nightmares flickered through his mind.

Truthfully, Dante had wanted a child. It would be a symbol of their love, and he had thought that having a child might anchor Elze further to him.

But now that it was actually happening…

‘I’m terrified.’

His mouth felt dry.

He had never been loved by the woman who gave birth to him.

‘Can I love this child?’

He questioned himself and felt a gnawing uncertainty.

Then, Elze, who had been watching him, broke the silence with an unexpected question.

“Dante, are you upset that I’m pregnant?”

“What?! Of course not!”

Dante snapped, startled by her words.

“It’s just… I’m worried about your health.”

“But you’re going to be the father of this child,” she said, her steady gaze full of trust.

“Are you going to keep letting your fears control you?”

Her gentle yet firm words brought a pang of guilt to Dante’s chest.

‘I’m supposed to be her rock.’

He should be the one supporting her, helping her feel safe and secure as they welcomed this new life.

Instead, it was Elze who was reassuring him.

“No, I won’t,” Dante said, forcing himself to sound composed.

Elze smiled warmly at his response.

“You know, I’m already looking forward to meeting our baby,” she said, her voice tinged with excitement.

Dante found himself at a loss for words.

‘Our baby.’

The phrase felt tender and unfamiliar, almost as if he didn’t deserve it.

Elze continued, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Dante, who do you think the baby will take after?”

She was already curious about the appearance of the child growing inside her.

Dante couldn’t help but smile.

“Obviously you.”

“Really? I hope our baby takes after you,” Elze replied with a twinkle in her eye.

“Of course, I’ll love our child no matter what they look like. But if I had to choose, I’d want them to resemble the person I love most.”

Her voice was as bright and carefree as ever, devoid of any shadow of doubt or fear.

For the first time, Dante felt his anxiety begin to ebb.

At least Elze cherished this child wholeheartedly.

And if she loved the baby…

Perhaps, he thought, I can, too.

Elze experienced severe morning sickness.

Watching her grow pale and fatigued day by day, Dante struggled to avoid recalling the traumatic memories of the safe house. Yet, seeing Elze determined to maintain her health brought him a small sense of relief. To help her, he brought her an endless supply of food, hoping something might ease her discomfort.

Currently, Elze was reclining on a long chair, reading a letter from Brigitte. Beside her, Dante skillfully peeled an apple, cutting it into small, bite-sized pieces. Picking up one, he gently held it out to her.

“Here, open up.”

Without hesitation, Elze took the offered fruit, her eyes never leaving the letter. Dante, feeling a little neglected, couldn’t resist throwing out a question.

“What’s in that letter that’s making you smile so much?”

“Brigitte congratulated me on the pregnancy,” Elze replied brightly. “She says she’ll come visit after my morning sickness eases, once I’m in the safe period. Oh, and Joseph will come with her.”

“Ah, I see.”

“She even told me to send Joseph her regards. Isn’t that adorable?”

“Sure, adorable,” Dante muttered, though his tone was less than enthusiastic. Secretly, he found himself resenting the baby a little. Couldn’t the child simply stay calm instead of causing so much discomfort for its mother?

“This child…”

Elze’s voice softened as she placed a gentle hand on her belly.

“I hope they grow up as happy and carefree as Joseph.”

Her eyes glimmered with determination.

“I want to raise this baby with love.”

Not as a pawn for political marriage. Not as a vessel for their mother’s frustrations. Elze was resolute that their child would grow up surrounded by affection—just an ordinary, happy child.

* * *

As time passed, Elze approached her due date.

Her morning sickness had been severe, and her labor turned out to be just as grueling. The contractions dragged on endlessly, leaving Dante beside himself with worry.

By now, Dante’s resentment toward the baby had reached its peak. If possible, he would have scolded the little one directly. He desperately craved a cigarette to calm his nerves—despite having quit for Elze’s sake.

“Please, my lord, just sit down.”

Liam finally snapped after watching Dante pace the drawing room restlessly.

“If you collapse from exhaustion, how will that help Lady Elze?”

“What did you say?”

Dante’s eyes blazed with fury.

“Do you think this is the time to lecture me? Elze is in labor right now!”

His fists clenched, as though ready to grab Liam by the collar.

‘Unbelievable,’ Liam thought, exasperated.

Just then, a maid burst into the room, her face alight with joy.

“The baby is born! A beautiful son!”

Dante didn’t even stop to consider decorum. He bolted toward the birthing room, bursting inside without hesitation.

“Elze, are you okay? How are you feeling?”

“Dante.”

Despite her exhaustion, Elze greeted him with a warm smile. Cradled in her arms was a tiny baby.

“Look.”

She said softly.

“He looks just like you.”

Dante stared at the baby, utterly stunned. The newborn, wrinkled and red-faced, had barely opened his eyes. Only the fine black fuzz of hair on his head bore any resemblance to Dante.

He couldn’t say for certain whether the child looked like him at all. Yet Elze gazed at the baby with such love and adoration, as though beholding the most precious thing in the world.

“Isn’t he beautiful?”

“Well… I think he looks more like you,” Dante muttered.

“What? That’s impossible. Look at his black hair and features—they’re just like yours!”

Elze rarely protested so earnestly, but now her expression was firm.

And then, at that moment—

The baby’s tiny lips curled into a soft, innocent smile. It was the kind of smile that knew nothing of the world’s hardships.

‘Oh.’

Without warning, tears spilled from Dante’s eyes.

“Why are you crying?” Elze asked, startled.

How could he describe this feeling? It was as though he had wandered through an endless winter night, only to finally bask in the warmth of spring sunlight.

“I just…”

Dante struggled to find the words before breaking into a radiant smile, his tears still flowing.

“I feel like the happiest person in the world.”

His gaze shifted from Elze to the baby—the culmination of their love, nestled safely in her arms.

At that moment, Dante knew.

He would love this child with all his heart, as fiercely as he loved Elze.

TL/N: And we are Done!! As the final words of this story come to a close, I find my heart full of gratitude. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for walking alongside these characters, for crying with them, laughing with them, and witnessing their growth and love. Translating this story was not just a journey for me, but a bridge that connected us, if only for a fleeting moment.

This story is our fateful meeting. Through these pages, we found each other, and I can only hope that it brought a little light to your days, a smile to your lips, and maybe even a warm tear to your eye. I poured my heart into this tale, but it is you, dear readers, who gave it life, who made it meaningful.

As you close this book and move forward, I wish you all the happiness in the world. I hope your days are filled with love as sweet and steadfast as the one our characters found. May you always chase dreams as bold as theirs and embrace each moment with the same courage and tenderness.

This might be the end of our shared journey, but the bond we created will stay with me. Thank you for being a part of this. You are, and always will be, cherished.

With love and endless gratitude,
Bree.