Chapter 104
“You’re about five and a half months along now, but your belly still hasn’t grown that much. It’s really fascinating. The baby is strong enough to release traces of its own pheromones while still in the womb, yet it’s still so small. Doesn’t it seem like the baby is growing slowly on purpose so as not to make its mother suffer too much?”
Marie no longer worried or feared that the baby might be developing incompletely because it had failed to receive enough pheromones.
After all, her husband Russell, the Crown Prince and the strongest trait-bearer in the kingdom, had personally examined her thoroughly with his pheromones, and the child had been found to be perfectly healthy.
The royal physicians had confirmed it several times: Ryan’s words seemed to be true. The baby was simply growing slowly, and there were absolutely no other abnormalities.
‘My precious baby.’
Smiling softly, Marie absentmindedly caressed her stomach, which had finally begun to show.
The child seemed as though it would be very gentle. Judging by the pheromones, there was a high chance the baby would be born an Alpha, but she thought she would be happy even if it turned out to be an Omega.
A child considerate enough to think of others even while still in the womb. How angelic would it be once born?
“Ah, by the way, Marie. When I saw His Highness at the ball this time… um…”
“Yes?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“…”
Ryan, who had spoken without thinking, suddenly clamped his mouth shut, wearing an expression that clearly said Oops.
Seeing how awkward he looked, Marie raised an eyebrow. He could be reckless at times, but he was usually bold enough not to worry about what others thought. So why was he suddenly backtracking like this?
“What are you trying to hide, Reian? You do realize you’re being incredibly obvious right now, don’t you?”
He scratched his head vigorously. It was hardly a dignified sight, but it suited him.
“It’s okay. Just speak your mind.”
“Well… it’d feel strange to just let it slide, but looking at your condition now, I wonder if I shouldn’t say anything after all. Ahh, if His Highness finds out later, what if he really picks a day and beats me black and blue?”
What did he mean by that? Marie furrowed her brow.
“Could something have happened to Russell?”
Nothing came to mind, no matter how hard she searched her memory.
Even amidst his overwhelming workload, he had been an incredibly devoted husband. Just this morning, hadn’t he spent a long time soothing and pampering Marie when she had clung to him sleepily, exhausted by the drowsiness that had come with pregnancy? He had kissed her and held her tenderly in his arms.
Especially his pheromones, soft and comforting whenever they relaxed around her, always gave her the sense of resting safely in a cradle…
Wait. Pheromones?
‘Had he released any pheromones today?’
It was such a familiar part of her daily life that she had not consciously noticed, but now that she thought about it, she did not think she had sensed his pheromones at all today.
Come to think of it, ever since becoming pregnant and no longer experiencing heat cycles, she had completely forgotten.
What about his rut cycle? Was it really being properly managed?
Her heart dropped.
‘He was someone whose pheromones had once become dangerously congested after relying on suppressants for so long.’
Marie bit her lip. This was something she should have been paying attention to.
On top of that, because of their one-sided imprinting, there was no one else who could calm him down in an emergency.
A crushing wave of guilt washed over her.
Seeing the color drain from her face, Ryan grew visibly uneasy. Lowering the corners of his eyes, he said:
“Ugh, don’t worry too much, Marie. I only brought it up because I thought it might be worth checking on. His Highness’s pheromones are always absurdly strong, so maybe I was just imagining things.”
“No, Ryan. Thank you for telling me. I can’t believe I never even thought to ask. I feel so foolish.”
Marie let out a deep sigh. By now, Russell would probably have finished his afternoon duties and be on his way back to the palace.
“Ryan, I’m sorry, but would it be all right if we end our visit here for today? I think I need to go see him.”
“Of course! I just hope it’s nothing serious.”
Leaving the maids to see their guest out, Marie turned and headed toward the Crown Prince’s Palace, accompanied by her knights and attendants.
And the moment she stepped inside the palace, she felt it. That presence.
She felt his pheromones, sharp and piercing, like needles stabbing into her skin.
Marie’s face drained of color.
A rampage. No, something close to one. His pheromones were that violent.
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