Two days later.
“Is the waist too tight?”
“It’s all right, Madame Korsol.”
Pristin said to Aruvina with a low laugh,
“It’s okay if I don’t squirm too much.”
“You always have to be careful in the early stages of pregnancy. If you feel frustrated, please let me know.”
“I will. Thank you.”
Pristin was busy preparing to attend a ball in the royal palace. It would be her first public appearance since her pregnancy, and the maids were working hard to make her look her best.
At the same time, she avoided overly heavy accessories or heavy makeup to prevent strain on the body. As a result, you may think that the preparation time would be shorter than usual, but with all the restrictions, it actually took longer.
“You look so beautiful, Countess!”
“Your dress is especially flattering on you.”
“That… You can’t tell that my stomach is showing, right?”
“It hasn’t even been two months yet. You’re really…”
Christine responded to Pristin, who asked in a worried voice, as if it didn’t matter.
“You look so pretty today. If I didn’t tell them, no one would know you were pregnant.”
“Thank you for the empty words.”
“I’m not lying. I’m serious.”
“You’re pretty today, too.”
“Thank you.”
The sisters exchanged affectionate words.
“His Majesty is here, Countess.”
Jerald appeared with good timing.
Everyone in the dressing room bent their waists to greet Jerald as he entered. However, seeing Pristin bowing, Jerald was surprised and stopped her.
“I said not to bow.”
Worried that it might strain the child or the mother’s body, Jerald disliked Pristin showing respect to him.
Every time, Pristin pointed out that Jerald worried too much, but it didn’t have much effect.
Now, she was almost in a state of self-pity.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I’m all right.”
Pristin nodded with a smile.
“I’m fine. I’ve been in great condition since yesterday.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Actually, I met Lord Bachell two days ago.”
“Lord Bachell…?”
“Your Majesty, you’re jealous again.”
“…No, I’m not.”
“Really? It seemed like it just now.”
Even with marriage approaching and a child on the way, Jerald couldn’t seem to let go of his guard. At this point, it was just part of his personality.
“Anyway, what about Lord Bachell? What was the reason?”
“He brought me some medicine for pregnant women.”
“He could’ve asked someone else to do that. Did he have to do it himself?”
“Well, Your Majesty. He also came to see my face and ask how I was doing… You know, things like that.”
“Yeah, well…”
Jerald still didn’t look too pleased.
“Anyway, I guess the medicine is working?”
“I feel much less tired, and I feel lighter.”
“That’s good, I was worried you might be overdoing it.”
“Not too much. You have to exercise properly when you’re pregnant.”
Pristin, who laughed low, changed the subject.
“Besides, what are we doing here… we still have time until the ball, right?”
“Yes, we do.”
Jerald suddenly pressed his lips to Pristin’s forehead. Pristin flinched at the unexpected touch and closed her eyes tightly. When she opened her eyes again, Jerald’s face, smiling mischievously, caught her eyes.
A low whisper soon crossed her ears.
“I missed you.”
“…”
“Why should I not have come?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Pristin whispered softly as she lightly wrapped her arms around Jerald’s waist,
“I also missed Your Majesty too.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Pristin asked, tilting her head slightly to the side,
“Did you think I wouldn’t miss you?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Jerald thought for a moment and opened his mouth as if he had found the answer,
“Because you seem a little more expressive than usual?”
“Reflecting on that thought now makes me feel a little sorry.”
“It’s not too late.”
Saying that, Jerald kissed Pristin’s lips this time.
Your Majesty, my sister is watching… Pristin smiled awkwardly and whispered.
“This is something we should only do when we’re alone…”
But Pristin’s whisper couldn’t end. It was because Jerald once again pressed their lips together. Jerald whispered to Pristin, whose eyes were open like a rabbit,
“I don’t want to.”
…I can’t stop you, really. Eventually, people around them made way for them.
Once they were alone, Jerald kissed Pristin once more. It was a deeper, longer kiss than the previous two.
Only when Pristin was out of breath did Jerald release her, and she exhaled deeply.
“Hah… I realized why I’ve been so reserved with Your Majesty.”
“What?”
“Because Your Majesty has been trying to express yourself so openly with me.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. Rather than being bad…”
Pristin hesitated, searching for the right words.
“It’s just that we should consider the time and the place… That’s what I mean.”
“Okay.”
Jerald asked with a grin,
“But now it’s quite the right time and place, right?”
I can’t stop you, really. Pristin laughed low and replied,
“Yes.”
Then there was the kiss again. Pristin hugged Jerald’s waist a little tighter, thinking she would be happy to kiss this person all day.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
“His Majesty the Emperor and Countess Rosewell are entering.”
Perhaps because this was the first joint entrance with the two. As they entered the ballroom, the eyes of everyone in the room naturally turned toward them.
Pristin whispered to Jerald, feeling awkward,
“I feel like everyone’s looking at us.”
“Of course.”
In reply, Jerald boldly wrapped his arms around Pristin’s waist.
“You’re about to be empress.”
Pristin laughed awkwardly, thinking that this behavior had probably brought them more attention.
It was customary for the first dance of the ball to be performed by the emperor. Jerald gently put his hand on Pristin’s waist first, and in response, Pristin also put her hand on Jerald’s shoulder. The music soon began, and the two began to move their feet gently.
It wasn’t even her first dance with Jerald, but Pristin felt that she was more nervous than usual. This was probably because it was her first dance with him officially since announcing their engagement. Jerald, on the other hand, seemed very relaxed, and after Pristin stared at him in wonder, Jerald eventually asked,
“Do I have something on my face?”
“No.”
Pristin laughed awkwardly.
“It’s just, I’m a little nervous about this situation.”
“You’re nervous?”
“A little, because I think everyone’s looking at us.”
“Yes, everyone is watching us.”
It wasn’t clear what others were discussing while watching the two of them, but it didn’t seem to be anything negative. Everyone had cheerful expressions.
Then, Pristin found Akkad in the distance and exclaimed.
“Ah…”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s no big deal. Lord Bachell is here today.”
“Why don’t you pay more attention to me than to Lord Bachell, Pristin?”
“I’m dancing with you right now.”
Then, Pristin smirked as if she had remembered the past.
“Come to think of it, I had my first dance with Lord Bachell after I entered the palace.”
“You have no idea how hurt I was then.”
“Of course not.”
Pristin replied bitterly,
“I did guess. Despite knowing that, I still danced with Lord Bachell on purpose.”
“That was wrong of you.”
“It broke my heart, too.”
“Did it?”
“Because I loved you.”
Pristin made eye contact with Jerald and recited,
“Even now.”
“…I understand everything now.”
Jerald spoke to Pristin in a quiet voice.
“I can’t imagine what you were feeling then.”
“You don’t have to guess, because I still love you very much, and we’re going to be married soon.”
Pristin locked eyes with Jerald and whispered her heartfelt words,
“And the baby will be here in just a few months. I’m so happy right now, and I’m thrilled to be dancing with you in front of so many people.”
“Me too. I’m overwhelmed by this moment.”
Jerald’s voice trembled slightly, as if the words alone were overwhelming.
“I used to worry so much that moments like this wouldn’t last forever.”
“…”
“I love you, Pristin.”
“I love you, too.”
If it weren’t for the fact that they were dancing, they would have kissed. It was just the mood, Pristin thought.
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
After they finished dancing, they were both overwhelmed by the outpouring of congratulations.
At some point, naturally, they were separated, and Pristin realized that she would have to go back to Jerald when there were fewer people coming to her.
“Countess.”
Then, at some point, Pristin heard a familiar voice. She greeted the other person with a happy expression.
“Lord Bachell, you were still there.”
“Yes. I wanted to see the countess.”
“Oh, do you have anything to say to me?”
“Yes. First of all, congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you, Lord Bachell.”
Pristin felt somewhat embarrassed and ashamed to be in this situation with Akkad. But she didn’t let it show and accepted his congratulations with a thin smile.
“More than that, what do you have to say……. Is it important?”
“Yes. Are you taking the medicine I gave you last time?”
“Oh, yes, of course. I’ve only had it for three days, and it worked.”
Pristin spoke with a visibly jubilant look.
“Thank you for making me a good medication, Lord Bachell.”
“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about the medication?”
“Yes. Would you like to retire to a quiet place for a moment?”
“Yes. Sure.”
Pristin moved without much thought. When the crowd had disappeared and the surroundings were quiet, Pristin asked curiously,
“What did you want to say, Lord Bachell?”
“This one.”
Akkad took out a small bottle of medicine from his pocket. As expected, there was a dark green liquid.
“It’s a little bit of a supplement to the medicine I gave you last time. Actually, this is what I came for, but I’m in a bit of a hurry, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you to drink it and evaluate the taste.”
“Did you really come just for this? I could have managed with what I had…”
“It’s a bit stronger this time.”
At Akkad’s words, Pristin opened the lid of the medicine without much doubt and emptied the liquid inside at once. Just as she was about to comment that it didn’t taste particularly strong…
At that moment, Pristin felt her vision blur. She looked at Akkad with a puzzled expression. He gazed back at her with what seemed like regret.
It was only then that Pristin realized something was terribly wrong with the situation.
