He carefully swept through her disheveled hair, tracing the smooth curves from under her ears to her shoulders with her fingertips.
A delicate skeleton was felt under her fair, sweaty skin.
There was even a strange nervousness in her delicate body, which seemed to crush if he touched it with a little force.
It was so delicate that it was difficult to contain the blood, flesh, and bones of one person. He couldn't believe that a new life might have dwelt in this.
Barcas, who looked down at her with worried eyes, carefully sat up with his upper body up. Then he pulled the fallen woman and sat her on his lap and made her rest her head on his chest.
"Thalia, go to dinner."
"It's annoying. I'm going to sleep."
She whined like a sleeping child and pushed him away. Barcas didn't care, wrapped one arm around her back, and picked up a bowl of soup from the tray.
"You need to eat a little, so you can cheer up."
He grabbed the bowl with the hand that held her and picked up the cutlery with the other.
A thin stream gushed out from the thin soup made by adding softly soaked barley and various herbs to the clear chicken broth. After cooling it to a moderate temperature and bringing it to the corner of her mouth, the woman who was wrinkling the bridge of her nose reluctantly opened her mouth.
He carefully pushed the food into it and carefully examined her expression. Fortunately, the woman, who was pursing her lips like rose petals, soon swallowed the soup.
He let out a small sigh of relief and thought of another spoonful of clear soup.
"One more bite."
The woman, who had been dozing off in his arms, opened her mouth again. It looked like a young bird opening its beak and eating food.
He felt something heavy in his heart and moved the spoon at regular intervals.
The woman, who would have been nervous that she didn't want to eat It normally emptied a bowl of porridge.
Barcas, who looked down at the bowl with happy eyes, exposing the floor, rubbed her lips with his thumb and asked.
"Shall I bring more?"
"I don't like it. I'm full."
She curled her lips and curled her body.
He put the bowl aside and gently wiped her lips.
Is this what satisfaction feels like? His stomach wasn't full, but he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
He was intoxicated by the strange feeling and let out a long breath.
For more than ten years, she had never felt an appetite. Naturally, she had never been gluttonous, and she had never eaten anything to her heart's content. She has always consumed only the right amount of food as needed.
However, if she still has a desire for food, he thought that this feeling of fullness now would be similar to the feeling he felt when he ate what he liked.
He leaned his cheek against her fragrant hair, which smelled of rose oil, and swept down her spine at regular intervals.
The sound of colorful and even breathing melted softly into the quiet evening air. Barcas listened to the sound and looked at the gentle baby-like face for a long time.
Perhaps this overwhelming feeling is a natural reaction that everyone in the company feels.
Isn't the desire to feed and care for their mates comfortably imprinted in the blood of all males?
Thinking about it, his unusual reaction seemed natural.
Barcas quickly cleared his mind, wrapped his arms around her tightly, and closed his eyes.
***
"Congratulations, Your Highness. It's clear that you are with a child."
After the examination, the priestess said with a bright smile on her lips.
I just blinked in the distance. Then, when I heard the excited nanny's voice, I came to my senses.
"Oh my dear, my young lady! It's a mess. It's so annoying!"
She hugged me tightly and patted me on the back with her thick palms. I saw the maid's face stiffen through the nanny's round shoulder.
Did you not welcome the news of my pregnancy? As I was staring at her eyes, the maid grabbed the nanny's shoulder roughly and shot at her in a hard tone.
"What if you treat a pregnant woman so harshly? What if the fetus is surprised!"
The nanny's face turned red at the harsh reprimand.
She retorted by puckering her lips.
"Who said I treated her harshly? I've been taking care of my little girl since she was a baby! I know best about my young lady's physical condition!"
"You haven't even noticed the fact of your appointment so far, and you're talking about it."
At the maid's blow, the nanny closed her mouth like a mute. It was no wonder that I was pregnant, and she had never noticed the changes that had occurred in my body, even though she was singing pregnancy songs.
The same was true for me. It had been a long time since the period had stopped, but it hadn't been linked to pregnancy. Maybe in the back of my mind, I never believed that I would actually have a child.
I looked down at my belly with a confused expression. Even at this moment, I didn't feel it very much. Did I really have a child in this?
I caressed my flat stomach with an awkward hand, and a firm voice echoed from my bedside.
"So far, I have followed Your Highness's wishes, but from now on, you will have to be served by the maids of the Grand Duke's family."
I glared at her with a wary look. The hand that wrapped around my stomach was extremely strong.
"Why me? I have no problem with this state now."
"Your Highness is no longer a single body. I can't leave the safety of the fetus, who may be the next heir of the Grand Duke family, to a clumsy attendant."
She spat out stubbornly.
I clutched the hem of her nanny's clothes with an anxious face.
"If you say I don't like it, what can you do? Who do you dare to do this or that to me...!"
"Your Highness, please think of the baby in the womb."
The priestess, who had been silent, suddenly intervened in the conversation. I looked back at her with a stern face.
The priestess, who was scribbling something on the parchment, continued calmly.
"At this time, pregnancy itself can be a burden on Your Highness's body. To give birth safely, you must receive professional care."
I looked frightened.
"Is my body so bad?"
"It's hard to stay pregnant at the moment."
The careful answer made my heart pound.
The priestess, who lowered her eyes as if she were sorry, added cautiously.
"Fortunately, the fetus is in very good health, but the condition of Your Highness is not very good. If the child grows up more than he is now, the burden on Your Highness will grow out of control, and the aftermath will be passed on to the fetus. To fill the ten months safely, you need to start taking care of it thoroughly from now on."
"...What should I do?"
"Please eat enough nutritious food and take a calm mind and body. You need to pay attention to your appearance, especially in the early stages."
I, who had bitten my lip with a pale face, asked in a frightened tone.
"...If I do as you say, will it be really okay?"
As if satisfied with the patient's calm attitude, a gentle smile appeared on the corner of the priestess's mouth.
"Sure. If you take care of it now, you will be able to give birth safely."
I, who had been watching her with suspicion, nodded immediately.
The priestess stood up from her seat, putting the medical tools she had packed up in her bag. Then she handed the maid a parchment document with something written on it and explained in detail what to pay attention to in the early stages of pregnancy.
At first glance, I could see the nanny, who had been pushed out of her exclusive position, pursing her lips in dissatisfaction, but I pretended not to know. Isn't it true that the nanny was dumbfounded and careless?
I don't care if I'm alone, but when I think about the child in my womb, I think it would be better to have talented servants by my side.
'Child in the womb...'
I looked down at my belly again.
Among them is Barcas's child.
After pondering the fact that I couldn't believe it at all, I hurriedly grabbed the maid.
"Don't tell Bascas."
The maid, who looked surprised for a moment, immediately gave me a solemn look.
"It can't be. Of course, the Grand Duke should also know this fact..."
"I'll tell him myself."
I hurriedly interrupted her.
"So keep it a secret until then."
When I raised the corners of my eyes and issued a stern warning, I could see the maids who filled the room exchanging glances with awkward expressions.
One of them spoke carefully.
"Your Highness, His Excellency..."
"I understand. I will keep it until Your Highness tells His Excellency in person today."
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