If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 175

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

Agatha must’ve missed her mother. She must have been so afraid when she became pregnant.

As Agatha sank into sleep after giving into her discomfort again, Charlotte gently stroked her cheek.

Agatha didn’t open her eyes until a couple of hours later. It was a deep sleep, the kind where she didn’t even dream. How long had it been since she had this restful slumber? She slowly sat up, feeling the refreshing sensation.

“You’re awake?”

As soon as Agatha woke up, she expected Charlotte to speak, and indeed, Charlotte spoke from nearby.

“Lottie.”

Agatha smiled brightly as she called Charlotte by her nickname. The sight of her sparkling smile made Charlotte unknowingly smile back.

“You should eat.”

“Hmm, I want something sweet.”

“Sweet? Should I bring some fruit?”

“Yes. It would be even better if you drizzled honey on it.”

“Got it. I’ll prepare it right away.”

Even when she was young, Agatha had loved sweet fruits. Now that she was pregnant, it seemed that those childhood cravings were coming back. It was both heartwarming and a bit pitiful.

Charlotte hurried to the kitchen. However, she knew that eating too much fruit at once wasn’t ideal, so she decided to prepare a reasonable amount. She mentally calculated how much and which fruits to bring as she quickened her pace.

Left alone on the bed, Agatha sat for a moment, gazing out the window. The wall that faced the bed window was designed as a large window, so every morning, the sunlight poured into the bedroom, making it feel cozy. The sea outside shimmered like glass, reflecting the sunlight.

As she watched the flowing waves and the sparkling droplets, it felt as though all her worries would disappear, carried away by the ebbing tide.

Since meeting Charlotte, the heavy burden that had weighed down Agatha’s heart was gradually lifting.

Although her situation—having to bear a child alone without a husband—hadn’t changed, how could it be that her heart felt lighter?

As Agatha absentmindedly caressed her belly while gazing out the window, she realized that her abdomen, which had been flat when she left Arta, had started to take on more shape. For some time now, she had been feeling what seemed like bubbles rising inside her belly.

Charlotte had told her that such sensations happened when the baby moved. It was a strange feeling.

What she felt inside was undeniably a part of her, yet it wasn’t entirely her body; something constantly moved, making its presence known. It was an odd, constant reminder.

“Have you decided on a name?”

Was it just the other day? Charlotte had casually asked her that question. Agatha was taken aback at first, surprised by her own ignorance, realizing she had never thought about the baby’s name.

She was also struck by the realization that she was now the guardian of another life.

Becoming a mother required more preparation than she had imagined. Even the mental readiness hadn’t come naturally, and Agatha still found herself wondering dozens of times a day if she was ready to give birth.

But despite her doubts, she couldn’t bring herself to let go of the precious life growing inside her. And as the days slipped by, time marched on relentlessly.

Suddenly, Agatha remembered what Esther had once said.

Esther had told her that if it was an unwanted pregnancy, she should get rid of it while she still could, because the most important thing was herself. At that moment, instead of thinking about her own situation, Agatha found herself thinking about Esther.

The sad look on her face when she spoke those words made Agatha feel uncomfortable, as if she could see the struggles in Esther’s life reflected in that brief expression.

Perhaps those words weren’t meant for her but for Esther herself, a message she wished she could say to her own self.

“Miss.”

Charlotte entered, holding a basket full of fruit in both hands. It hadn’t been long since she left the bedroom, yet Agatha quickly lowered her feet from the bed.

“I hurried because I thought you might be waiting.”

“You didn’t have to rush so much.”

Agatha chuckled. Even though she had become an adult, and was now carrying a child, Charlotte still treated her like a baby. It was amusing, but Agatha didn’t mind at all.

She picked up a cherry and put it in her mouth. The juice burst with sweetness. Closing her eyes for a moment, Agatha savored the taste, a long smile spreading across her face.

“Sweet.”

“Come to think of it, your mother also craved fruits when she was carrying you.”

The mention of her mother caught Agatha’s attention. She opened her eyes in surprise.

“My mother? She ate a lot of fruit too?”

“Yes. She craved sweets so much, the servants had to go searching for cherries on snowy winter days. It was quite a task.”

Now, Charlotte giggled softly.

“Tell me more. About my mother.”

The long-forgotten memories of her childhood, now brought back to life by Charlotte, began to shine again in Agatha’s mind. The memories of her mother, which had once been stained with wounds, were now healing, like new skin being formed in Agatha’s heart.

The conversation about the old days continued for quite a while. Agatha laughed heartily at the stories of her father, the late Duke, being scolded for not being there when her mother gave birth, and the romantic tales of the Duke and Duchess in their younger days. Her laughter echoed out of the bedroom.

Passing by outside, Karon paused for a moment after hearing the clear, bright laugh, and followed with a smile. It was the first time he had heard her laugh since meeting her again.

He made a quiet wish, that it would have been better if Agatha had come to meet Charlotte sooner. He hoped that this peaceful moment would never be broken.

He hoped that Agatha’s laughter would continue…

Karon sighed with relief, then continued on his way to his original destination.