~Chapter 133~
Most of the staff wanted to spread the news everywhere, but they just looked down at their feet, pretending not to notice the peaceful morning of the duke and duchess.
Ancia thought Richard would wake up right away if she used the name he liked so much, but when he didn’t react at all, she felt a little disappointed.
“Richard.”
She called his name with a bit of a grumble. Richard’s arm tightened around Ancia’s waist.
“…Ancia.”
Richard answered in a lazy, deep voice. Ancia looked at him in surprise. His eyes, still full of sleep, were looking at her.
This was the relaxed side of Richard that he showed only when they were alone. Maybe he didn’t notice anyone else because he was still sleepy. His hand gently stroked Ancia’s waist, moving in a way that made her blush.
“Um, it’s morning. You need to get up.”
“Just a little longer…”
Richard’s slow, sleepy actions and voice sounded very satisfied. Every time Ancia tried to wake him, his gentle eyes looked so soft and loving that she almost didn’t want to disturb him—if only his hands hadn’t been so mischievous.
Bianca, seeing Ancia troubled, quietly kicked the breakfast tray. The plates clattered, making a small noise. Only then did Richard sit up properly.
Richard was surprised to find himself in the tower where Ancia was staying and to see the maids and guards standing by the wall.
He had only been aware of Ancia in his arms. If this were the monster forest, he could have lost an arm for being so careless.
“Let’s wash up and have breakfast, together.”
Richard nodded at Ancia’s light suggestion. He hadn’t slept well lately, so he had slept deeply this time. He promised himself to be more careful as he followed Ancia into the bathroom.
Because the couple stayed inside for a long time, Harmon and the maids had to prepare breakfast again.
When Ancia and Richard finally came out, Bianca and Ellie helped dry Ancia’s hair and put on a simple decoration.
Richard sat across from Ancia at the table. When he saw the black soup and the bright red salad in front of him, he was speechless.
There was also a simple breakfast like he usually ate, but Richard knew Ancia had been eating this every day recently. He stared silently at the black soup.
“Duke, I wanted you to try it at least once.”
Ancia was smiling, but Richard wondered if she was still upset about something.
The night before, they had talked a lot, though it was mostly small talk, not the real issues. Still, being close together made Richard feel more at ease.
He thought their hearts had finally matched. Even in the bathroom, they showed their affection for each other.
But now, the black soup in front of him made Richard worry that Ancia still had some feelings left unsettled.
“Does it look strange? If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it.”
“No, if my wife eats it every day, I will eat it too.”
Richard couldn’t refuse Ancia’s soup. He stirred it with a spoon. The slippery seaweed wrapped around his spoon. He hesitated, thinking maybe he’d just drink the broth, but then Ancia made a happy slurping sound as she ate.
Richard steeled himself and took a big sip of the soup, like swallowing medicine.
It went down his throat smoothly, and a savory, salty taste remained in his mouth.
It wasn’t as bad as he had expected. It was salty, like seawater, but with a nutty aroma and the deep taste of good meat broth. The black ingredient was slippery but not like jelly. It wasn’t a texture he liked, but maybe someone who enjoyed soft foods would like it.
It wasn’t the worst taste he could have imagined.
“Wife, does this dish have a name?”
“Of course! It’s called ‘miyeok-guk.’ In some countries, new mothers eat it every day after giving birth.”
“So, it’s an important food.”
Richard realized he had misunderstood Ancia all this time. She wasn’t eating the black soup to reject him. Knowing this, the soup looked different to him.
He carefully tasted what was left. Now, it even seemed to taste richer.
“Is it not to your taste?”
“It’s unfamiliar, but it’s not bad.”
Richard tried to be as positive as he could. Ancia smiled happily.
The food was strange, but the late breakfast was cheerful. Richard finally spoke of something he’d been thinking about for a while.
“Wife, if you don’t mind after breakfast…”
Richard hesitated, so Ancia tilted her head, holding her spoon. Her hair decorations jingled and shook, making her look even cuter.
Every time Richard looked at her green eyes, bright as new leaves, his heart pounded as if falling in love all over again.
“Duke?”
“Would you… like to go for a walk with me?”
“A walk?”
Ancia knew she got cold sweats and dizzy when she tried to leave the tower.
Normally, she would have refused, but Richard looked so sincere and shy that she could tell he’d really worked up the courage.
Looking at his large hand, Ancia trusted that he wouldn’t let her get into danger.
“Yes, husband.”
Clink!
Her spoon hit the empty bowl with a clear sound. Richard’s face stayed expressionless, but the tips of his ears turned red.
“Duke?”
“You keep changing how you call me, so I’m a little flustered.”
“Do you dislike it?”
“No, not at all. Call me whatever you like.”
“Then I will, husband.”
Clatter—
This time, she almost dropped her teacup.
Ancia thought Richard’s sensitive reaction to the word “husband” was cute, so she wanted to tease him more.
Richard finally realized she was doing it on purpose when he saw her hiding her laughter behind her teacup.
“I think I need to talk to my wife in private.”
“Yes?”
Unlike the surprised Ancia, the servants understood right away and quickly left the room. When it was just the two of them, Richard stood up and came close to Ancia. Surprised, Ancia started to apologize.
“Uh, Duke, maybe I went a little too far…”
Before she could finish, Richard’s shadow fell over her. He looked relaxed, not worried at all.
“Wife.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“Ancia.”
“…Richard?”
“It doesn’t matter what you call me. As long as you call me, that’s enough.”
Richard’s sincere words made even Ancia’s playful smile turn gentle.
They naturally reached out and hugged each other.
Ancia thought, Maybe we won’t make it on that walk today. Richard picked her up and carried her to the bed.
After Richard had stayed in the tower for over a week, his aide finally showed up with three boxes.
“Your Grace, there’s a pile of documents you can’t put off anymore. I’ll leave them here—please start with the top box when you have time.”
The aide, who hadn’t even seen Richard’s face because the door was always closed, left the boxes and went away.
Ancia, hiding her face in Richard’s arms, lifted her head once it was quiet outside.
“Don’t you really need to go?”
“Do you want me to leave?”
Ancia laughed awkwardly, answering a question with a question.
Neither of them wanted to say goodbye.
Even though she asked if he needed to go, Ancia stayed in his arms. Richard had no intention of letting go, either. He kissed Ancia’s round shoulder and softly ran his hand down her waist.
“Hey, you know we still haven’t gone on that walk?”
“That’s true.”
Ancia noticed that Richard was looking at her belly, which had started to round.
“Don’t look.”
Before, Richard would have gotten all sorts of wrong ideas from these words—worrying, misunderstanding, and blaming himself.
But after holding Ancia for days, Richard learned that keeping his worries inside only hurt both of them. He decided not to do that anymore.
“Why not?”
Richard watched Ancia pull the blanket up to hide her body, and his worries faded.
“My belly is showing. I feel shy.”
“Why would you be shy?”
“…I think I’m just embarrassed because my body has changed.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m grateful to see my wife, who carries our child.”
Surprised by Richard’s answer, Ancia sat up. Richard sat up, too, looking serious.
“I haven’t said this yet.”
“What?”
“Thank you. For carrying my—our—child.”
Richard’s voice was heavy and sincere, filled with his true feelings.
