Chapter 17 – Part 18

“I love you.”

Her heart had finally found its home.

The blue eyes filled with Liese’s image welled with emotion.

Just as he had slowly fallen for her, Marcus was now being swept up in her confession.

Thump, thump, her heart pounded loudly in her chest.

“You know, our baby has been trying hard not to burden me.”

Liese’s tear-soaked voice answered. Her face was wet with tears, but her eyes, reminiscent of greenery, looked straight at Marcus.

“So the baby must take after you. How could I not love this child?”

“…”

“Marcus, this is our child.”

Those words left Marcus momentarily speechless. The eyes that had once seemed cold now burned with intense emotion, focused entirely on her.

Without a word, their lips met. Marcus quickly turned his head, swallowing her sobbing breath. His fingers tangled in her sleek, brown hair, pulling her closer. He held her tightly, as if he never wanted to let go.

“You have no idea how much I want you.”

His excited voice tickled her ear.

“I love you, Liese.”

“Liese. Lieselotte. I love you so much.”

His whispered words were earnest. Liese accepted his love willingly, embracing him tightly.

***

A week later, on a morning when snowflakes were falling thick and fast.

Liese, who had been in a sweet slumber, suddenly felt a soft touch on her lips. As she forced her drowsy eyelids open, she saw Marcus kissing her with a gentle smile. The man who had been waking her up with kisses for the past seven days seemed to enjoy this moment quite a bit.

“Wake up, Liese.”

“Mmm…”

“Come on. It’s the day of your last schedule.”

‘Last’ The word instantly woke Liese up. Today was the last day she would spend in Raum.

On the day she had her first check-up at the hospital, Marcus had vowed to stay by her side every day until they returned to Bachmann.

The problem was where they would stay together. Although Abigail had offered her house, it was still a place Liese rented from her. So, after discussing moving to a hotel with Marcus, Liese met Abigail and explained the situation.

“Wait, wait…! So you’re saying you reunited with your ex, you’re carrying his child, and you’ll be staying at a hotel until you return to your home country, so I should move back in?”

Overwhelmed by the sudden news, Abigail had a perplexed look on her face, then suddenly burst into tears.

“Congratulations! But you’re leaving for Rosen? That’s so sad!”

Liese had to hug and comfort her for a while.

Abigail, who had planned to stay at her aunt’s house to spend time with her cousin during their semester break, generously allowed Liese and Marcus to stay at her place comfortably until their departure, saying a pregnant woman should stay somewhere familiar and comfortable.

In return, she asked to be invited to the wedding, to which Liese responded with a tearful smile. She couldn’t express enough gratitude to the friend who had been her support in a foreign city.

Next was Mrs. Morgan. Despite knowing Liese couldn’t work for long, she had employed her, and Liese was indebted to her in many ways.

Mrs. Morgan didn’t seem very surprised by the news that Liese was carrying Marcus’s child, perhaps because she had seen Marcus lingering around the flower shop.

“I knew he was your match since I saw him loitering in front of the shop.”

The next day, she came to see Liese personally, gifting her high-quality tea and baby clothes in a chick-yellow color suitable for a pregnant woman. After giving a knowing look to Marcus standing behind Liese, Mrs. Morgan left cheerfully.

Marcus smugly claimed that anyone could see they were lovers and demanded a kiss.

And finally, today, they were scheduled to say goodbye to the children and parents she had taught in her spare time. Since there were quite a few, they had to meet over several days, scheduling up to the day before their departure.

Despite vowing not to form attachments to the city, Liese had met and bonded with many people in a short time. Saying goodbye was bittersweet, and Liese found herself crying several times. She thought it might be because of the life growing inside her, making her more emotional.

“Come out for breakfast.”

After kissing Liese’s lips and cheeks, Marcus left the attic first.

Among all his tasks, preparing food for Liese was the most important. He sent messengers everywhere to ensure delicious and fresh meals were prepared every time, though Liese felt sorry for the errand runners as it happened every meal.

After all, food was one of the biggest reasons Marcus couldn’t wait to return to Bachmann.

“You need to eat well and grow strong.”

For the sake of their child, Liese agreed. She got out of bed, walked sleepily, picked up a comb, and brushed her hair. Even half-asleep, she didn’t want to show a disheveled appearance to the man she loved.

Once ready, Liese opened the attic door and stepped out. As the door closed, the mistletoe decoration hanging from the ceiling jingled softly.

This morning, too, there was an excessive amount of food prepared for Liese alone. Without hesitation, she started eating calmly.

Whether she was really hungry, wanted to show Marcus that she was eating well, or did it solely for the child, seeing something going into her small mouth put Marcus at ease.

“Eat with me.”

Liese, munching on a walnut bread piled like a mountain, suddenly offered him a new one. Marcus, who had unconsciously been staring at her again during the meal, didn’t refuse her offer.

Though the soft bread with strange jam wasn’t to his taste, he ate it out of respect for her gesture.

A few days ago, Marcus had secretly packed dozens of these walnut breads and sent them to Bachmann. Top bakers and chefs were already investigating the ingredients and flour mixture of the bread.

He felt a bit sorry for the bakery in Raum, but since it was only going into Liese’s mouth, he thought it was fine.

Meanwhile, Marcus’s eyes followed the slender lines of Liese’s body. Despite eating diligently and taking supplements for a week, she still had a long way to go. How would she ever gain weight if she was so thin?

Marcus wanted to carry Liese around every day if possible… though that might just be his selfish desire.

Nevertheless, Liese remained as beautiful as ever. There had never been a moment when she wasn’t beautiful in his eyes. Even if she were as thin as a skeleton, she sparkled more than all the jewels in the world combined.

Marcus knew he would desire Liese until the day he died. No matter what she looked like, every time he saw her, he would feel an indescribable joy.And then, their culmination.The truth was, his heart was deeply touched by Liese’s expression of referring to the child that way.The presence occupying the womb of the woman he cherished above all else did not sit well with him. Perhaps it never would. Though he would never confess this to Liese, Marcus was prepared to cast aside anyone who endangered her without hesitation.

“Suddenly, I felt a sense of déjà vu,” said Liese, who had finished off two walnut breads. Marcus softened his gaze and listened intently.

“What kind of déjà vu?”

“At Marquis Bryson’s villa, do you remember? You brought me breakfast there too.”

“Ah, of course.”

Marcus leaned his chin on his fingers, smiling handsomely.

“It was there that I first confessed my love for you.”

Liese, who was eating tomato stew, stopped. Her face showed a flicker of shock.

“That was a confession?”

“Did it sound like a threat?”

“I almost hit you… Instead, I lost consciousness.”

Marcus laughed out loud. His eyes sparkled like waves catching the light as he gazed at Liese.

“I meant every word back then too.”

What had he said to her? After pushing her to the point where she could barely walk, he confessed with a crazed look that he wanted to leave his mark on every corner of her body. He had declared that he wished he was the only man who could do that.

He had also mentioned that he would enjoy caressing her belly once it was beautifully rounded with his child…

In the end, everything had turned out just as he had hoped.

Marcus looked lovingly at the woman who had brought him immense fortune.

“In hindsight, you’ve always been a consistent person,” Liese remarked.

“And you’ve always had a constant heart. You just realized and accepted it late.”

Liese smiled brightly, like a blossoming flower. As Marcus followed suit and smiled, he pulled a ring case from his inner pocket.

“Lieselotte.”

It was time to add the finishing touch.

Liese, still engrossed in her meal, inhaled sharply. She was clearly surprised by the sudden appearance of a diamond’s sparkle before her eyes.

Even though she recognized the gem he had shown her before.

“I wondered if I should propose at a place with a nice view.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow playfully.

“I remember being rejected at the finest restaurant in Bachmann.”

“Ah…”

“Just keeping the ring has been a hardship.”

Liese, who had been looking down at the jewel, calmly raised her eyes to meet Marcus’s gaze.

Though he appeared relaxed now that everything had gone as he desired, the mere look in her eyes made his fingertips go cold.

“Lieselotte.”

Liese’s eyes, brimming with the jewel’s light, gazed quietly at Marcus.

“When the season returns, the one where we spent time like lovers in our prime…”

Though it hadn’t begun as a season of beautiful love.

“After your body recovers and summer is in full bloom.”

In this season where our culmination will come to fruition.

“Will you marry me?”

Tears quickly welled up in Liese’s eyes, and she nodded repeatedly. Only then did a broad smile spread across Marcus’s lips.

“Yes. I’m truly happy.”

“I love you too, Liese.”

Liese laughed aloud, tears clinging to her eyelashes. Reaching out, Marcus finally slipped the ring onto her slender finger.

They embraced the sense of complete satisfaction and smiled at each other.

Outside, abundant snowflakes fell, blanketing the world in white.