I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 106

“…Peach tart!”

I don’t remember exactly what dream I had. I only recall that a tart, specifically the peach tart from the dessert shop right in front of the imperial palace in the capital, was taunting me, coming and going before my eyes.

I didn’t know you could wake up shouting from a dream about food, rather than crying from a nightmare.

“Peach tart?”

There’s no way Cassion, who was sleeping right next to me, couldn’t have heard my desperate voice that was almost a scream. Moreover, as my morning sickness subsided and stability set in, he became increasingly restless with each passing day, so he couldn’t have been in a deep sleep.

He sat up abruptly almost simultaneously with me, repeating my words, and then, as if realizing something, he jumped out of bed and started getting dressed.

“No, Cassion, it was just a dream.”

“I’ll be back. Go back to sleep for a bit more.”

I tried to stop him in confusion, but Cassion, who had at some point brought his outdoor clothes into the bedroom, put them on at an incredible speed and came back to give me a quick kiss on the forehead.

“It’s the dessert shop next to the imperial palace, right? Is there anything else you want?”

“It’s fine, really.”

“Blueberry macarons? Strawberry chiffon cake?”

“…All of them.”

“Don’t come out from under the blanket, it’s cold. I love you, Asil.”

He dashed out as if his clothes were on fire. Having already learned from a couple of experiences that the foods I crave are from the dessert cafe we used to visit on dates, he didn’t hesitate.

“…Hehe.”

As he had advised before leaving, I burrowed into the blanket that was still warm with his lingering heat and burst into laughter. I’m happy.

Others say they feel sorry and pitiful when their husbands run out at dawn to find what they’re craving during pregnancy, but I just feel happy because I can sense his love. Is it selfish if I say that?

“How cute.”

Lacking warmth, I sneakily grabbed the pillow he had been using and hugged it, rolling around in bed, overwhelmed with happiness. He even almost tripped over his own feet trying to rush out in his pajamas the first night I mentioned wanting something. If I told the knights, no one would believe it. It’s my own cute little secret.

“My little piggy, just wait a bit. Daddy will be back before noon.”

But being happy is one thing, and nausea is another. I thought that when you’re pregnant and crave something, you just salivate like you would for a late-night snack. I didn’t know your head would hurt and your stomach would churn if you couldn’t eat it.

Given how intense the craving was to wake someone up shouting in the middle of the night, the nausea rose rapidly after rolling around a few times, but I tried to hold it back by taking familiar deep breaths and patting my still-flat belly.

Maybe because it’s my first pregnancy, or perhaps it’s just my constitution, but even though it should be showing by now, my belly has only become slightly firm with little visible change.

“I wonder if we shouldn’t have nicknamed it ‘piggy’. It was just because Cassion dreamed of a wild boar, but what if it really becomes a pig… Gasp!”

After patting a couple of times and starting to gently rub, I felt a sudden unfamiliar sensation.

“Ah, no. This is. Eek!”

I curled up like a shrimp while lying down, then sat up startled, only to hunch over again at the recurring sensation. Is this really it?

“What kind of fetal movement is this?”

Isn’t fetal movement supposed to be somewhat touching? Something like gentle taps? The sensation of being pushed from inside was already unfamiliar, but the intensity was alarming. Moreover, it wasn’t even in my belly but slightly lower, making me wonder if this was normal.

“This won’t do, I need to get checked before Cassion returns.”

It’s better to be sure about everything. I was already disappointed that I hadn’t felt any movement for so long, but I never expected to feel it so intensely like this.

Thinking it’s fortunate that I felt it when he wasn’t around, I carefully got up and rang the bell. I’m sorry for the late-night disturbance.

***

“It’s not that the baby is at the bottom, but it’s grown enough to occupy the entire space from top to bottom.”

“But my belly has only grown this much. How can it be that big? It feels like it’s pressing down hard with its feet.”

“Given the position, it’s probably hitting with its head, not feet.”

“…I guess it’s healthy then.”

“Extremely so.”

Fortunately, there’s nothing unusual, they say. It’s a bit shocking to hear that our little piggy has already grown so big that it’s pushing around because it’s cramped. I should just tell Cassion there was fetal movement and not mention this part.

“The baby is healthy, but now we need to pay attention to your health, my lady.”

“Huh?”

Nevertheless, relieved that everything was healthy, I got up thinking to go back to sleep, but the physician’s words stopped me. She looked at the ledger where she had been recording my and the baby’s health with a somewhat serious expression.

“While the baby has grown this much, you’ve actually lost more weight, my lady.”

“Me? I lost weight? But I’ve been eating enormously lately.”

“That’s not you eating; that’s the baby eating.”

Surprised, I looked down at my body, touching my forearms and other areas. And I was a bit shocked. I hadn’t noticed because I’d only been touching my belly, but there was no flesh to grab.

“Is it serious?”

“Not really. It’s one of the normal reactions, but it would be good to be careful from now on. That’s all.”

“Then let’s not tell Cassion.”

“My lady, I don’t want to lose my job.”

“Oh, come on. You said it was normal.”

Though I tried to act cute, it only made her more serious. She was truly the most level-headed person in our castle.

“You do realize it won’t be just my job I’ll lose, but my head?”

“…Fine.”

“And I’ll be shortening the intervals between check-ups from now on.”

“Alright! I’m going to rest now!”

My lips jutted out unnecessarily in protest. However, like my attempts at aegyo, my pretend sulking had no effect. Only the physician needed to be up, but my bell had woken up Pia, the knights, and all other servants. As I stomped down the lit castle corridor, people followed.

“My lady, your feet must hurt. They’ve been swelling lately too.”

“Should we lay carpets along the corridor?”

“No, it’s fine…”

My irritation couldn’t last long, thanks to the kind castle staff. How could they carpet this long corridor? But knowing these people would actually lay down the world’s fluffiest fur mats if I huffily demanded it, my attitude deflated.

It’s annoying how Eugene, who had been following silently, shakes his head disapprovingly.

“Asilia! What’s wrong!”

“Cassion?!”

But then I saw Cassion running like mad from far away. Wait, didn’t he say he was going to the dessert shop in the capital?

The capital is normally a day’s journey away. Cassion usually rode alone at high speed and took half a day… but it was still early morning.

He had left in the middle of the night, so only a few hours had passed.

“How are you back already?!”

“Did you get examined? Where does it hurt? What happened?”

Cassion approached with a pale face, realizing the direction I was coming from was the infirmary. One arm was still dangling with desserts.

“I did get examined, but it’s not because I’m sick. There was fetal movement… it was such a strange sensation. Please calm down and breathe.”

Seeing him panting, which was rare, and his pale complexion showing how urgently he must have rushed here, I became worried instead and tried to soothe him. Only then did Cassion relax and mumble.

“I saw the castle lights were on from far away… haa.”

He must have misunderstood because of the torches that were lit everywhere when all the servants woke up from my bell. But wait, where did he see this from to arrive so quickly?

“So you’re really alright, Asil?”

“I’m fine. While you catch your breath more, shall we go downstairs and eat these together?”

“…Ah.”

Isn’t he curious about the fetal movement? As I patted his back, still cold from the wind, leading him to the kitchen which was closer than the bedroom, he suddenly froze. Now what?

“Ah.”

What went wrong? As I looked questioningly at his frozen figure, he opened the dessert box with trembling hands… The various desserts that should have been neatly packaged by the owner, who must know Cassion’s face from his frequent visits, were all jumbled and tumbled together. I let out an exclamation without meaning to, and his face grew even more haggard.

“I’m sorry, Asilia.”

“No, it still looks delicious though? It’s okay, Cassion. Food actually tastes best when it’s all mixed up like dog food.”

“Dog food.”

I was thinking of bibimbap, fried rice, and porridge from my original world when I said that, but perhaps the comparison wasn’t appropriate. Seeing Cassion become like a dejected puppy at the words “dog food,” I could almost see drooping ears on top of his fine hair, making me burst into laughter.

These are still such happy days.