Asha gently pushed Jackal’s chest, guiding him to lie down on the bed.
As he obediently followed her lead and looked up at her with wide eyes, Asha positioned herself on top of him and spoke softly.
“I didn’t succeed last time, but today I’ll take the lead. Don’t resist.”
Asha lowered her head and ran her fingers through the hair of the gentle wild horse.
Jackal swallowed nervously.
While Asha was picturing herself soaring through the sky on a horse, Jackal suddenly flipped their positions.
In an instant, Asha found herself taken aback by the unexpected change.
Jackal stared at her intensely, as if asserting that he too had a voice in this moment.
Without hesitation, Asha joined him, riding together like two horses through the vast sky…..
* * * * *
Asha and Jackal spent every day together, enjoying a happy and passionate life as newlyweds.
At breakfast, Asha said, blushing slightly in embarrassment.
“Since being with you, I feel like I’m gradually turning into a horse.”
Jackal responded with a chuckle and a smile.
“And I feel like I’m transforming into a butterfly. Every day with you feels like soaring through the sky.”
They exchanged shy glances and shared a heartfelt laugh.
Suddenly, Asha’s face paled, and she instinctively covered her mouth.
Jackal’s eyes widened.
He asked worriedly.
“Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?”
“I’m fine. I just felt a bit queasy… Urgh.”
Asha experienced another wave of nausea, and suddenly she had a premonition and her eyes went wide.
At that very moment, Jackal felt the same thing and quickly stood up, immediately calling the village doctor.
The doctor arrived promptly and cautiously examined Asha’s pulse.
Jackal was standing behind him anxiously, visibly restless.
Finally, the doctor turned around with a bright smile and delivered the news.
“Congratulations! You’re pregnant!”
Hearing those words, both Jackal and Asha, as well as Sonya, who was standing by the door, widened their eyes at the same time.
“I’m… pregnant…”
As Asha touched her stomach with joy, a very excited Jackal hugged her.
“Asha…..”
His happiness was so overwhelming that his entire body trembled with excitement.
As Asha noticed tears welling up in his eyes, her own eyes glistened with moisture. She wrapped her arms around his masculine frame and gently patted his back.
She did a rough calculation of the date, and it seemed like she became pregnant on the day she took the lead.
It truly seemed as if she had poured all the power of a butterfly into him…
Sonya was shedding tears behind them as well.
She ran out of the house to announce the happy news.
Sosa, upon finding out about the pregnancy, felt as happy as if it were his own matter. And just like Sonya, tears ran down his cheeks as he sobbed with happiness.
This child would be the first to carry on the lineage of the esteemed Kelpie Clan, a precious treasure that must be safeguarded at all costs.
Asha leaned against the window, observing the two spirited horses, unable to contain their excitement, as they galloped through the village.
Seeing their joyous expressions, she couldn’t help but yearn for the baby’s arrival as soon as possible.
However, at that moment, Sonya dropped her basket in surprise upon catching sight of Sosa, who had transformed into a horse.
Sosa too, with his eyes wide open, didn’t know what to do, so he desperately searched for a place to hide.
And then it happened.
“…I always knew you would be beautiful.”
‘What?’
Sosa’s eyes widened, resembling those of a startled bull, as he gazed at the excited Sonya.
“……?”
He didn’t know how much she wanted to see him transformed into a horse.
Even Jackal, unaware of the situation, closed his eyes and graciously stepped aside, giving them space.
Sosa quickly regained his composure and quickly transformed back into his human form behind a tree, hastily dressing.
He came out scratching his head like he was embarrassed.
“Um… Were you frightened? I… couldn’t control my excitement and…”
“No, it’s fine. I understand. You were simply overjoyed upon hearing that Lady Vanessa and the chief are expecting a baby.”
“Yes… that’s right.”
Sosa continued to scratch his head, still feeling a touch embarrassed, while Sonya’s eyes gleamed as she spoke.
“By the way, I couldn’t help but notice earlier that your fur is incredibly soft, like cotton. Would it be okay if I collect your fur and made clothes?”
“What? Th-that’s…”
Sosa became flustered and stumbled over his words in embarrassment, his face turning completely red.
Sosa’s surname was ‘Cotton’, a truly fitting name.
After clearing his throat, he asked.
“Don’t you find it repulsive that I can transform into a horse…?”
“Not at all!”
Sonya’s response made Sosa’s eyes widen and then soften.
With the chief finding his love and now there was another woman who didn’t shy away from the Kelpies.
Even that, the chance of him falling in love with a woman, was really a very small chance.
It was destiny, Sosa thought.
Overwhelmed, Sosa unexpectedly burst into tears, catching Sonya off guard.
“Why, why are you crying? Did I say something disrespectful just now? Did I touch upon a painful memory, Sosa…?”
“Sonya.”
“Yes?”
“Marry me.”
Despite the boldness of his words, Sosa’s face turned as red as a persimmon.
Sonya stood frozen, her eyes wide with surprise.
Just like a true member of the Kelpie Clan, a direct confession was something only Jackal or someone like him would do…
Sonya blushed and shyly nodded.
“…… Yes.”
Unbeknownst to Sosa, Sonya had always been the type to fall in love easily.
Filled with excitement, Sosa transformed into a horse and proudly carried Sonya on his back.
Sonya felt a mix of fear and exhilaration, trying her best to maintain her balance while her face was flushed with emotion.
From a distance, Jackal watched the scene unfold, shaking his head with a smile before making his way back home.
Since then, Asha had been lying in bed due to severe morning sickness.
With a concerned gaze, Jackal diligently attended to her every need, but Asha’s condition showed no signs of improvement.
As her complexion grew paler and she struggled to eat, Jackal made a significant decision.
He entrusted Asha’s care to Sonya and set off into the mountains late at night to search for medicinal herbs known for their effectiveness against morning sickness.
Using his keen senses of sight, hearing, and smell, he diligently sniffed and sniffed, finally finding the herbs in the middle of the mountain.
With the medicinal herbs clutched gently in his mouth, Jackal began his journey back home.
Meanwhile, Asha got worried when he didn’t come home until late. She was waiting for him outside the house.
But then, in the distance, Asha spotted a blue-gray horse galloping towards her.
Asha’s eyes widened, and she hurriedly approached him.
“Jackal, where have you been? I was so worried…”
With a proud expression on his face, Jackal let out a snort before transforming back into his human form.
“The wind is chilly. Why are you outside? Come inside quickly. I’ll make you some porridge.”
Asha stared at him as he strode into the house with herbs in one hand.
She thought it was lucky that Sonya went back home, avoiding any potential awkward encounters. But that sight… How could she describe it? It was so captivating, almost fatal.
Asha discreetly followed behind to take a look.
However, when she saw him in the kitchen, her eyes widened in surprise.
For some reason, Jackal was in such a rush to cook the porridge that he only had an apron wrapped around his body.
His front was modestly covered, but his back was fully exposed…
Asha turned to the wall in surprise.
Her heart raced at the sight of his muscular buttocks and thighs, but she decided to calmly return to her room to wait.
She didn’t know if she was waiting for the porridge or if she was waiting for him…
After a while, Jackal returned to the room with the porridge, still naked.
Asha blushed as she stole a glance at him.
Truly, he was the epitome of the best service a husband could provide to his wife.
Asha’s unusual reaction made Jackal suddenly aware of his own appearance, and his eyes widened in realization.
He hadn’t even realized he was naked with a single apron covering him, but he was so intent on making sure Asha was well-fed.
Blushing, Jackal cleared his throat and moved closer to Asha.
“This natural herb is known to relieve morning sickness. I confirmed with a doctor that it has no side effects. Try it.”
He scooped up the porridge and gently blew on it before offering it to Asha.
Asha was deeply touched and eagerly opened her mouth to eat the porridge.
A smile formed on her hesitant lips.
Jackal asked cautiously.
“How is it? Does it taste okay?”
“Yes. It’s really delicious! Our baby thinks it’s delicious too.”
Seeing that she didn’t feel nauseated when she ate something for the first time, she was amazed at how the herb could be so tasty without being bitter.
Relieved, Jackal let out a sigh.
Suddenly, Asha realized that he had gone out to fetch the herbs without having his own dinner.
“Jackal, you should hurry and have your meal too. You couldn’t eat because of me.”
“It’s alright. If my wife can’t eat, then as your husband, I won’t eat either.”
Upon hearing his words, Asha’s eyes widened even further.
Jackal had a sincere and serious expression on his face.
“I wish I could carry our baby in your place. How troublesome the foals are. I’d prefer our baby to be the one bothering me…”
As he murmured those words, Asha gently placed her soft hand on his face.
Her eyes were already brimming with emotion.
He always wanted to shield her from pain whenever she was hurt.
He would reassure her that he would quickly recover because he was a wild horse…
Every time he did, Asha felt fortunate to have met such a good-hearted man.
Such a man seemed to be a rarity in the world.
“…But I don’t want you to go hungry because of me.”
Upon hearing Asha’s concern, Jackal smiled slightly and leaned in, gently pressing his lips against hers.
“Okay, I understand. I’ll make sure to prepare something for myself too. Since the herbs are precious, you can have them all, I’ll add some carrots to my porridge instead of the herbs.”
At Jackal’s words, Asha laughed happily.
“This can’t go on. Since you love carrots so much, I should plant a carrot garden behind the house.”
“That’s a great idea. Our child will probably love carrots the most.”
As they exchanged jokes, Asha continued to laugh happily.
She eagerly anticipated the arrival of their baby and imagined the little one happily munching on carrots.
* * * * *
A few days later, Sosa and Sonya’s wedding took place.
The wedding proceeded smoothly, as they had meticulously prepared everything in advance.
Sosa and Sonya exchanged shy kisses, while Jackal and Asha cheered and offered heartfelt congratulations.
Jackal, in his role as the village chief and representative of the Kelpie Clan, personally bestowed his blessings upon the couple.
With the increase in the number of kelpies, the villagers organized another festive celebration.
The village had reached a point where they would joyfully proclaim ‘celebration!’ whenever something happy occurred.
It may be because they were minorities they could not enjoy the festivities.
They built a big bonfire in the town square, played music, and danced traditional dances with their partners.
Although Jackal excelled in martial arts, he appeared tense and awkward during the dance.
As Asha looked at him, she whispered.
“Just follow my lead.”
Jackal’s heart raced at her reassuring and steady presence.
