I plopped down on a plush red velvet sofa, enjoying its softness and opulence. It felt as if I were a protagonist in a fairy tale. Only someone who has experienced it can understand how thrilling it is to enjoy such luxury after a dark and poor past.
I patted my slightly protruding belly and yawn. Since returning to Terran, I had eaten too much food that suited my taste, causing me to gain some weight. Although no one seemed to notice since I had been too thin before, I could feel the extra weight.
‘Ugh, I really need to eat less when I get back. At this rate, I’ll be rolling around.’
I’m not dieting or restricting my food intake for beauty’s sake. I just didn’t like the feeling of my body being heavy. With so much to do, I need to stay agile. I thought being chubby was something I could do in about 10 years. Of course, I would also be very pretty if I were chubby!
“Ah, I shouldn’t… fall asleep…”
Why… am I so… sleepy?
It’s been a long time since I felt this kind of drowsiness pulling me down. I could hear Lacius getting out of a light shower, but I couldn’t move my body. And just like that, I was sucked deep into sleep.
* * *
‘Huh.’
And after a while.
I blinked open my eyes to find myself in a place I didn’t expect. I should have been in Makarten’s floating hotel, but now this place was the Archduke of Terran’s residence.
‘… … ?’
I tilted my head and looked around.
This was the garden. The faces I knew—Theobalt, Maynard, Juliet, and Lacius—were all there, but they were all looking up at something. They seemed very excited and elated, as if waiting for something. Oddly, I didn’t feel the urge to ask what they were looking at. I just naturally looked up at the sky with them.
‘Ah, I’m excited.’
My heart is pounding. My heart beat in a joyful rhythm. I couldn’t help but smile. In the auspicious scene of vibrant clouds and bright sunlight shining down, a golden bird rose through the high roof and spire of the Archduke’s residence. The song it sang was sweeter than any music I had ever heard.
‘Ah, I’m happy.’
Who is that bird, and why is it in our house? How does it sing so beautifully?
‘I want it.’
Suddenly, a desire surged within me. The bird, with its brilliant golden wings and long tail streaming behind it, circled above my head and continued to sing. Just as the song was about to end, the bird suddenly swooped down towards me.
“Gasp!”
I was so startled that I gasped and spread my arms. The bird, with its shimmering blue eyes, smiled at me—yes, it truly smiled at me—and snuggled into my arms. At that moment, I woke up from my sleep with a start.
No, this can’t be… … !
A conception dream*?
*(Dreams that are said to foretell the conception or birth of a child, dreamt by the future mother or people close to her.)
When that thought came over me, I was so shocked that I covered my mouth. Oh, no way. Probably not. It’s not easy to get pregnant, and there may be cases where you thought you were having a conception dream, but it was just a dream. I thought that and tried to calm my startled heart, but it kept pounding.
“Shay… … ?”
Lacius called me in a sleepy voice and hugged me by the waist. The blue eyes under the barely opened eyelids were still drowsy and seemed to ask if something was wrong. I debated whether to tell him about the dream but decided to keep it to myself.
What if it wasn’t true? I wanted to confirm it myself first, then share the joy with him if it was certain.
‘Oh, do they have pregnancy tests here? Or do I need to go see a doctor?’
My heart races with excitement. A tiny, precious life has taken up residence within me. I almost want to pull it out and ask how long ago it was.
When could it have happened? Was it in the desert?
‘Wait a minute, does this mean we need to hold the wedding as soon as possible?’
Rather than fooling around here, we should return to the capital quickly. I need to get secret checkups and buy books on pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare.
‘The ceremony can be simple. Would there be any gossip?’
Originally, the marriage of the imperial family or an archduchy was considered a grand national event. Out of the hope that the future married life would be happy, food and drinks were distributed to the citizens, and gifts were given to the children of the impoverished to wish for the health of their future offspring.
To symbolize the inclusion of even the lowest class, clothing, lamps, and oil were given to the commoners, and taxes for three months were reduced or exempted for the regular citizens.
It takes a month to prepare, and then the full next month is a celebration. As envoys from each country arrive with attendants, knights, and retainers, sales in the capital also skyrocket. Therefore, it was no surprise that the people eagerly awaited the marriages of the imperial family or the archduchy due to the numerous benefits they received.
However, if we were to hold a simple ceremony, everyone would be very disappointed. Even if I wanted to keep things simple and short, I couldn’t do that for the sake of the people because of my status as the Archduchess. I stroked Lacius’s hair as he fell back to sleep thinking.
‘Should we just have the baby quietly and then have a wedding after?’
In fact, considering the season, Her Royal Highness’s birthday banquet would definitely be held soon. A birthday banquet of a member of the Imperial family. And it wasn’t just any imperial family member, but the one who was sure to become the next emperor. My wedding couldn’t possibly coincide with their celebration. I’d have to push it back, but then I’d be heavily pregnant and have difficulty moving around.
‘Such things shouldn’t be worried about alone.’
I thought to myself as I lay awake at night, too excited to sleep. I wouldn’t be the only one carrying and giving birth to the baby. From pregnancy to childbirth and parenting, Lacius would be with me throughout the entire process. He would do everything he could as the baby’s father, and he would do so because he wanted to.
As I looked at Lacius’ face, softly lit by a bluish light, I smiled slightly. I thought it was adorable that he was still sleeping without knowing anything.
‘It’s a little unexpected, but I’m happy. I’m so happy that I can’t contain it.’
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