Youngest 173

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Chapter 19

On a pleasantly tranquil evening.

“Oh, right.”

Rosetta set down her spoon. Then she said,

“I’m pregnant.”

In that moment, Leviathan had to wonder if he had heard her correctly. Even though he’d been watching his wife all through dinner.

He blinked slowly.

“…What did you say?”

No, but—

Usually, when someone starts with “Oh, right,” they follow it with something much less important.

For example, “Oh, right. I bought some clothes today.” Or, “Oh, right. How about a walk since we’ve eaten?”

So he stupidly asked again, but he hadn’t misheard her.

“I said, I’m having a baby.”

“…”

“Ours. Yours and mine.”

Crash!

His massive body shot upright. The high-backed chair toppled over without mercy, and Rosetta widened her eyes with an “Oh my.”

The servants, standing discreetly out of earshot, quickly withdrew to respect the privacy of the newlyweds.

Striding over in large, purposeful steps, he crouched down to the floor. Rosetta turned her head to look down at him.

“Say that again.”

“I’m pregnant.”

“Ha…”

The first feeling that overwhelmed him was relief.

So that’s why she’d refused her beloved wine all dinner, just picking at her food. She wasn’t unwell after all.

Then, a bit of incredulity washed over him.

“You’re telling me this now… while squashing your dessert into mush?”

Didn’t we just spend two hours at dinner?

“It’s the telling that matters, not when.”

With a casual air, Rosetta began to slice methodically through the pudding that had been brought out for dessert.

“Ha, really, you’re just…”

He buried his head in her lap, arms still wrapped around her thighs.

“What is this. You… You’re not crying, right?”

“I am. I’m crying. So… put that damned fork down and look at me.”

“…”

“Why would you only tell me now, something so important—?”

He froze, staring up at Rosetta.

Her face, up close, was oddly stiff. He only now realized her restless hands were trying to hide her nerves.

“Rose.”

“…Even I can get nervous, you know.”

Unable to restrain himself any longer, he suddenly pulled Rosetta into a fierce hug.

An indescribable emotion came crashing in like a wave.

“That’s how it is,” Rosetta murmured shyly.

“Ha…”

What is this.

Is this… a dream?

Leviathan was swept away by a feeling beyond words.

“Leviathan, are you happy?”

“Am I happy?”

A breathless laugh escaped him.

Is happiness all there is?

Happiness, joy, delight, gratitude, love, elation… In this moment, all the world’s beautiful words seemed to belong to him.

“…You’re not really fond of kids, are you?”

Rosetta mumbled.

“I’m not particularly fond of them, either.”

To be precise, it was closer to fear.

Children were so white, so small and pure.

If one wrung him out, surely only black and red would flow. Was he really fit to embrace such blank canvases? It always made him wonder.

Leviathan gently stroked her back.

“Want the truth about how I’m feeling?”

“Yeah.”

“The whole world feels like a blessing.”

“Good grief, you’re so cheesy. Get away from me.”

“I was being as matter-of-fact as I could.”

Even as she playfully pushed him away, Leviathan only drew closer, kissing her forehead.

Amid the rain of kisses, Rosetta idly fiddled with his costume’s ornaments and murmured,

“You know… What if I can’t be a good mother?”

“Well. The fact that you’re worrying about that probably means you’ll be a good one. And besides…”

Leviathan paused, then spoke as if making a vow.

“You’ll have me.”

“Excuse me. To be fair, there’s no guarantee you’ll make a great father, either. You haven’t done it before, have you?”

“That’s brutally honest.”

A brief chuckle fluttered between them.

“Then let’s try together,” he said.

“I’ll try even harder.”

Rosetta let out a snort. Only then did the taut string of nerves finally relax within her.

“You know, my friend Yuris says that a baby’s first cry is really powerful. Is it because they’re hungry? What should I do? They say you start knowing what each cry means over time… Maybe I’ll learn too? Have you ever heard an infant’s cry?”

The words spilled out, pent-up and rambling.

“No.”

Leviathan stifled a laugh. Her anxious excitement seemed contagious.

“Hm, since I’ll be the one giving birth, I’ll be the first to hear it, right? You’ll just be sweating buckets outside the door, pacing in circles.”

“Just imagining that makes me want to throw up.”

Rosetta laughed softly.

“Our baby, even if he or she cries, will be so lovable. I doubt I’ll be able to help but hold them close.”

“Of course.”

Leviathan was about to lean in for a deeper kiss when he paused, hand braced on the chair.

The sensation beneath his fingers was so cold, so unyielding. As if doused in ice water, he woke up in an instant.

“The chair’s too hard.”

“Hm?”

“We need more cushions. And you’re going to eat again—you barely touched your food.”

“I’m already full…”

“And a brazier—I’ll have one brought in. No, better yet, we’d do best to spend the winter in the warm south. No, no, long journeys could be worse. Better to wait and see, check your condition first…”

On and on he went.

That mountain of a man prowled in circles, brow knotted in distress. Watching him, Rosetta could only stare, dumbfounded.

‘Baby, just look at him.’

She had to hold back her laughter.

‘Isn’t your father adorable?’

He’s secretly full of charm.

Beaming with satisfaction, she gently cradled her belly.

‘Still, try to take after your mother in looks, if possible. Your dad is the handsomest man in the world, but his face makes social life a challenge.’

Just look at those eyes. So arrogant, aren’t they?

“Tell me if you need anything.”

Watching him cling to her shoulders, face full of pleading, Rosetta thought matter-of-factly,

‘…Well, your eye color is beautiful, at least.’

Those mysterious violet eyes.

It was the hue she loved most.

“If my blue mixes with some red…”

Yes, like a precious Ruby.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

With a laugh, Rosetta wrapped her arms around Leviathan’s neck. He hesitated, then gently lifted her into his embrace.

“I love you, Leviathan.”

Then, Leviathan, a little younger than he was now, looked up at her and smiled softly.

“I love you.”

‘Ah…’

At that moment, a faint sense of wrongness crept in. As lips met, soaked in love sweeter than honey.

‘He’s younger than now…’

A sad realization dawned.

This is a dream.

The baby… The baby is gone.

Rosetta Zevert slowly opened her eyes. One hand was gently cupping her lower belly.

Just as she had in that dream.

“…”

The memory of the happiest day of her life. It had been so long since she’d seen it, even in dreams.

Rosetta blinked, dazed for a moment, then smiled softly.

‘It’s nice.’

To not forget, even like this.

Yawn.

She stretched wide, prompting the maid looking out the window to turn around.

“My lady, are you feeling unwell?”

“No, not at all. When do we arrive?”

“We’ve still got half a day’s journey, my lady.”

“I see…”

She was on her way back to the capital after volunteering in the south.

This winter, her youngest daughter would finally celebrate her eighteenth birthday.

“Oh, I can’t wait to see the children!”

Rosetta stamped her feet in excitement.

The face of Rubian, who had grown up so endearingly, came to mind.

Soft, silver hair fluttering, and eyes like the clear autumn sky. Her cheeks, rounded and fair, still hadn’t quite lost all their baby fat.

‘I measure her height every time…’

To her regret, Rubian’s height had stopped at the tip of Rosetta’s nose… making her perfect for hugging.

‘She runs warm, so she’s so cozy to hold.’

My adorable daughter.

Rosetta chuckled to herself and looked out the window.

A chilly winter wind brushed her cheeks.

‘So it’s all right.’

She quietly, secretly wrapped her arms around her belly, which felt a little colder lately.

‘I’m not empty.’

The carriage rolled on, slowly, toward its destination.