Chapter 51
“Don’t cry. Stop!”
As if it understood her words, the dragon immediately became happy and wagged its tail excitedly. The vigorous tail movement caused the boat to rock sharply, and just as Charlotte, losing her balance, was about to fall to the deck…
“…Charlotte. Charlotte.”
Someone with a familiar voice was shaking her awake.
“Lucius? Why are you here? Weren’t we supposed to meet at the Loin River?”
Blinking her eyes, still dazed from sleep, Charlotte belatedly realized she had fallen asleep and made an ‘oops’ expression.
“I’m sorry, I meant to just close my eyes for a moment, but I must have fallen asleep. You didn’t wait there the whole time, did you?”
Lucius reassured Charlotte, who was flustered with apology.
“My business in the capital ended earlier than scheduled, so I came straight here. I thought it would be better for us to depart together.”
“Ah… I’m glad that’s the case.”
Noting her expression, which seemed relieved yet somehow uneasy, Lucius looked at her with concern.
“Charlotte, is something the matter?”
“Actually… I have some news to tell you.”
Charlotte moistened her dry lips and fidgeted with her fingers. Instead of urging her to speak, Lucius quietly took her hand. Encouraged by his affectionate gaze that seemed to say everything would be alright, Charlotte mustered her courage after a moment of hesitation.
“I haven’t known for very long either. According to the physician…”
Lucius, upon hearing the news of the pregnancy from Charlotte, muttered in a daze, half out of his senses.
“You’re… with child……”
Lucius quickly began retracing his memories. He had always meticulously tracked Charlotte’s menstrual cycle, never missing a date. His expression darkened with guilt over having been away in the capital and failing to notice the changes in her. Misinterpreting his reaction as displeasure at the news, Charlotte forced an awkward smile, trying to hide her disappointment.
“I understand you must be very surprised. But…”
Before Charlotte could even finish her sentence, Lucius pulled her tightly into his embrace. A faint tremor was detectable at the edge of his voice.
“I’m sorry, Charlotte. I, as your husband, should have noticed sooner…. And thank you. For making me the happiest man in the world.”
Pulling back from Lucius’s embrace, Charlotte asked, bewildered.
“Really? You’re truly happy that I’m pregnant?”
“Happy doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“But all this time, I thought you didn’t want a child…”
“Charlotte, I was worried about your body. Of course, I still am. When you were carrying Yulia, I thought I might lose you forever. And while you endured all the pain alone, I couldn’t be of any help to you.”
Overcome by the helplessness of that day resurfacing, Lucius weakly lowered his gaze. Charlotte gently caressed his cheek and said.
“Don’t think like that. Having you by my side makes me feel so secure and happy. I promise, you will never lose me. As you have always been, you will be right here protecting me, so what is there to fear?”
“Charlotte.”
Lucius rubbed his cheek against Charlotte’s palm and kissed it. Just then, Yulia, who had been peeking through the crack in the door, ran over and squeezed herself between them.
“Me too! I wanna grow up fast and protect Mommy and the baby too!”
At Yulia’s spirited declaration, Charlotte and Lucius exchanged a look. And then, all three of them burst into laughter simultaneously, no one starting first.
The golden, brilliant sunlight shone brightly down upon the three of them, as if blessing their future.
It was a warm season.
-End
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