My eyes met Thierry's as he lifted his gaze, his eyelashes fluttering. Although Thierry once seemed self-centered and intimidating to me, I know very well that he is not like that anymore. Even now, I could tell just by looking at the way he glanced at me, even while venting his frustrations.
Even though he might not be able to open his heart to the baby right now because of my worries, if I earnestly wished for it, he would sincerely accept it.
"...If the baby is born safely, I will do that. Just remember that my priority is always you."
"Don't attach such conditions; just answer that you will protect me."
"Okay. But you tell me everything if you're feeling even the slightest bit off. Never hide anything, no matter how trivial."
I laughed at his attitude of answering reluctantly, then glaring at me with wide eyes and earnestly pleading with me in a brazenly defiant manner.
Okay, let's just leave it at that for now. After all, if he sees our baby, he is bound to fall in love a second time.
"All right."
The faint laughter that escaped as our noses brushed against each other was drowned out by a warm kiss.
***
Contrary to my worries about severe morning sickness, I was living a peaceful life even though I was approaching my fourth month of pregnancy.
I sat by the wide-open window, stroking my cutely bulging belly as if by habit. A pleasant scent of the garden wafted in from outside, along with the cool breeze.
"His Majesty these days."
I murmured softly while gazing at the blades of grass glistening in the sunlight.
“Is he very busy?”
"Yes?"
"Because the days we eat together have decreased significantly."
I turned my head to look at Anna. I saw her hand pause as she set the dessert and slowly poured tea into the empty teacup.
"Ah... He must be a bit busy. It's hard to see the aide these days, too."
"That's true, but... it really bothers me that the person who comes to see me whenever they get the chance just skips out during meal times."
Someone who even follows me for walks skips meal times? That basically just means they are neglecting their own meals. It already breaks my heart to see your cheeks looking so sunken, perhaps from fatigue.
I let out a shallow sigh and nervously fiddled with the teacup handle.
"It is just that he is sometimes away in the mornings, but we always have dinner together. I understand that he simply eats separately in his office and never skips meals. And won't he go back to spending mealtimes together like before soon?"
Anna lowered the corners of her eyebrows and smiled awkwardly. It was obvious at a glance that she didn't know what to do because I looked so downcast.
"If that's the case, I just wish you'd cut down on the time you spend coming to see me and have a proper meal at a restaurant. No, wait. What's the use of telling Anna this?"
"Yes?"
I jumped up from my seat.
" I'm going to have to talk to them today."
"Your Majesty, you must be careful when you get up. Huh? You are walking too fast."
"This much is fine. Anna, I will be having tea with His Majesty, so tell them to bring it back to the office."
Leaving Anna, who was fidgeting and following me, behind, I headed boldly toward Thierry's office. Oscar, who was standing outside the room, kept sniffing uncharacteristically, as if he were anxious about me suddenly heading toward the office.
After passing through the long corridor, I arrived in front of Thierry's office on the floor below. I gestured to the knights, who were about to greet me in surprise, that it was alright, and gave them a look to call me over.
"Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived!"
As soon as the knight finished speaking, the door opened.
"Elisha? What brings you here?"
Since he had installed an elevator that only went between the first and third floors for me because I was afraid of stairs, he seemed quite surprised to see me appear, as I rarely had a reason to come to the second floor, which requires taking the stairs. I smiled and glanced into the office.
"I wanted to see you. Can we have a cup of tea for a moment?"
"Did you miss me? Then you should have called me."
Thierry's lips curved softly as his gaze looked down at me affectionately. He gently led me to a very plush-looking sofa.
"Wasn't there originally no sofa?"
"I was worried you might come."
Just moments ago you asked why I came in person, yet now you’ve prepared the sofa as if you were waiting for me to arrive. I let out a small laugh and sat him next to me.
"Did you have breakfast in the office again today?"
"Hmm..."
"Aren't you eating too carelessly? It looks like you're losing weight, too. Wagen, isn't that right?"
I stuck close behind Wagen as he quietly tried to leave the office. Wagen flinched and turned around with a stiff movement.
"Haha, I suppose it is because it is summer. Your Majesty has a high body temperature, so you have a particularly hard time in the summer, don't you?"
" That's true, but summer is almost over now, isn't it? Hasn't the weather warmed up a lot?"
"...It seems you are feeling the heat unusually late this year. How are you, Your Majesty?"
"Huh? Yeah. It was a bit hot this year."
"Is it so?"
I tilted my head and examined Thierry's face. Slowly stroking his cheek, I furrowed my brow slightly at his skin, which seemed rougher than before.
I'm the pregnant one, but somehow Thierry looks more haggard. My appetite has been so good lately that I feel like my cheeks have already gotten fuller.
I was torn whether I should wait and see for now, or if I should insist that we share every meal together starting tomorrow.
Knock knock.
Just then, a knock was heard, and a maid entered through the open door, pushing a trolley. As soon as the trolley, laden with teacups and various desserts, entered the office, a strong scent of sweetness wafted out. Since I had been craving sweets so much lately and eating them frequently, it seemed Maud had prepared and sent a spread of desserts that suited my taste.
I should have told them to prepare everything that would suit Thierry's taste, but I didn't think of that because I came in such a rush. Fortunately, I saw a few light desserts, so I looked at Thierry to get him to eat at least one, but I saw him covering his nose and mouth with his hand.
“Thierry?”
The sight of him holding his breath with his forehead contorted as if in agony, felt unfamiliar. Was he really sick? I opened my eyes wide and carefully took his wrist.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, it's fine. Mmm."
He suddenly shrugged his shoulders and gagged. I was so shocked that I couldn't react at all. I just frowned and stared at him for a long time as he blinked his eyes in agony, then I parted my lips.
"...Are you feeling unwell?"
“Hmm, that’s a bit like that.”
“Just the smell?”
"Hmm, I think it's because of the sweet smell."
His face, tilting toward me as if to avoid the smell, buried itself in the nape of my neck. The rhythm of his deep breath tickled my skin.
I slowly looked back on the series of events and spoke in a low voice.
"You're not having morning sickness right now, are you?"
"..!"
“For me?”
Thierry's body froze. It was a more definitive answer than words.
As if realizing his mistake too late, he tried to lift his head, but seeing that it was impossible, he burrowed back into my neck and gestured for the table.
Wagen bit his lip and moved quickly. It was clearly a face trying to hold back laughter, not a troubled expression.
"Pfft, ahem, I'll be leaving now."
After quickly clearing the table with the ladies-in-waiting, Wagen smirked and backed out. Wagen could not take his eyes off the back of Thierry's head for a single moment until he had completely left the office.
"How long has it been? Since you started morning sickness instead of me."
I grabbed Thierry's hands as he slowly tried to wrap them around my waist. Thierry leaned against my shoulder and looked up at me at an angle.
"...From the day you stopped having morning sickness."
He hesitated, but when I pretended to push him away completely, he confessed reluctantly. I couldn't say anything at his sighing voice.
'How could I not know at all?'
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