Chapter 36
Having been on the battlefield even before coming of age, he was familiar with the scent of blood. It was faintly reminiscent of the smell of iron from sword blades. Lowering his gaze slowly, he soon realized what had happened.
“……”
He had suspected this moment would come soon, given Rosen’s recent growth. Her body’s lines had softened, and her small earlobes, neck, cheeks, and other pulse points had taken on a rosy hue due to her elevated body temperature.
Just last night, she had mentioned having a slight fever and a stomachache, so he had gently rubbed her lower abdomen before she fell asleep.
“S-Sorry! I slept too deeply, I really didn’t know… hic…”
Rosen was extremely flustered and didn’t know what to do. She looked on the verge of tears, her face full of embarrassment. Since it was still dark, she couldn’t see the color that had stained the sheets and assumed she had wet the bed.
Knowing she would be even more frightened and flustered by the sight of the bright red blood, he pulled her small body into his arms instead of turning on the light.
“Come here, Rosie.”
“Brother! N-No! It’s dirty…”
“Shh, it’s okay. There’s nothing to hide or be ashamed of.”
Rosen sobbed and tried to push him away, but Iscarion held her, gently patting her back and whispering softly.
“It’s something to celebrate.”
“Something to celebrate…?”
“Yes, especially for me.”
Wondering how to explain it to her without scaring her, Iscarion pulled the cord by the bed to summon the head maid.
Unlike her peers who might have been told about such things by their mothers or older sisters, Rosen had no one to inform her. Her old nanny, who had taken care of her since childhood, had retired and returned to her hometown, and Iscarion had personally overseen all aspects of her education instead of hiring a governess.
He had considered hinting to the head maid or other servants to prepare her for this, but his possessiveness had stopped him. He was reluctant to completely let go of the time when Rosen’s entire world was confined to his arms.
Watching the little bird in his embrace grow day by day was gratifying, but also occasionally filled him with a sudden fear. He dreaded the day she might leave his side to explore the wider world with longing.
Of course, he would never let that happen, but even the thought of Rosen having such ideas was unbearable. Iscarion wanted to possess not just her body, but every tiny fragment of her heart as well.
“Having your period means you’re growing up healthily. It also means your body is now capable of having babies.”
As the head maid went to prepare linen pads, toiletries, and bathwater on his instructions, Iscarion held Rosen and explained in simple, calm words. Relieved that it wasn’t urine, Rosen listened quietly, her eyes widening at the mention of babies.
“…Babies?”
When Rosen had once asked how babies were made, he had told her that if a grown man and woman held hands and slept together, a baby would be born. Remembering how she had held his hand tightly while falling asleep the previous night, Rosen hiccuped nervously. She seemed worried that she might already be pregnant.
“Don’t worry, you’re not pregnant yet.”
Iscarion laughed softly, seeing her small hands anxiously touch her lower abdomen.
“To have a baby, other parts of your body need to grow more… so you’ll have to wait a bit longer.”
He glanced at the red stain on his bed before speaking again, more thoughtfully this time.
“From now on, we need to sleep separately.”
“……”
“We can’t risk you getting pregnant already, can we?”
Looking at her innocent face, full of disappointment, Iscarion comforted her.
“I still need to take care of you, Rosen.”
Though visibly disappointed, Rosen didn’t argue. Babies were adorable, but she wasn’t ready to raise one yet.
“Are you upset?”
“Yes…”
“I’ll come to your room every night, Rosie.”
Iscarion smiled gently, soothing her.
“I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep… and hold your hand too.”
“But, what if I get pregnant…”
“It’s okay as long as we don’t lie in the same bed.”
He whispered softly, kissing her white forehead under the gentle moonlight.
“Remember, we’re not drifting apart. The day we become husband and wife is getting closer.”
“……”
“Becoming husband and wife means we’ll be together forever. So don’t be sad, alright?”
The lips that had kissed her nose now moved to her peach-like cheeks. Kissing was a common greeting among family members and an acceptable expression of affection for children.
But somehow, what had been normal until that morning now felt embarrassingly intimate, making Rosen’s face flush red as she silently nodded.
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