Ariana looked into his wide, surprised turquoise eyes and offered him a gentle smile.

“I haven’t forgotten all the ways you hurt me, but I just wanted you to know that I’m happy now. I’m really happy.”

She wrapped her arms around Kenneth’s neck and added softly.

“I hope you won’t be in so much pain anymore either.”

No matter how much she asked, he never told her about the end of his ‘previous life’.

What kind of life he had led, how he had died, or what had happened to him.

Still, she could guess that it hadn’t been peaceful.

This was especially apparent in those rare moments when his eyes looked far older and more weary than his current age would suggest.

“This time, I won’t let you be in pain.”

The regret in his eyes as he said it was genuine. She knew he could never forget the sorrow of those days, but she hoped he would stop tormenting himself over sins he had never committed in this life. She prayed that the ache in his voice when he held her would someday lift.

“Kenneth.”

“Mm?”

“I’m sorry I left you alone back then.”

Instead of telling him it was all right, Ariana simply nodded. She knew that flowery words meant nothing; she had spent enough time with him to recognise the sincerity in his simple apology. Relaxing against him, she let him play idly with her hair while she hummed, her cheek pressed against his chest.

But when she spoke again, his shoulders flinched.

“Kenneth, about a second child…”

“I don’t need another.”

‘Not if it means losing you.’

Rather than voice that fragile, ominous fear, he tightened his arms around her and left it at that.

Ariana, however, stubbornly lifted her head to whisper in his ear.

“But you’d be a wonderful father if it happened. Don’t you regret missing Bibi’s baby years?”

“There’s no need for you to risk yourself again.”

“Mm… I’m still so devoted to Bibi that I’m not sure I could handle having another child. But—”

She brushed a light kiss against his cheek, like a bird pecking with its tiny beak.

Happiness had changed her, bit by bit. The old wound caused by her mother’s favouritism had given her the confidence to believe that she wouldn’t make the same mistake if she had another child.

“Bibi takes after me completely, It would be lovely to have a little one who looks more like you.”

He said nothing, but his silence spoke of careful attention.

“So, if—if another child comes to us—promise you won’t leave my side. Stay with me from beginning to end, for me and for the baby.”

“I could start looking after you right this very moment.”

“Mm, then I’ll pass every tiresome chore over to you… Ah—”

Ariana gasped as a flush of heat bloomed where their legs were intertwined. She had been so absorbed in talking that she hadn’t noticed how eagerly her body had responded; she couldn’t remember when the spark had first ignited.

Kenneth pushed himself up and traced the soft skin along her inner thigh with four unhurried fingers. A tremor rippled through her. Staring at the man braced above her, her mouth went dry, yet a sweet ache made her swallow. A breathy m*an escaped her lips as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“If this keeps up, we’ll have to bathe all over again…”

This late-arriving thought carried not a hint of regret.

***

Bibi’s earnest wish went unanswered that year — the stork never came. By the time she was six and there was still no baby, she had gradually forgotten her dream of having a sibling.

But the summer she turned seven, Bibi noticed some strange changes in her mother. Everyone moved around her more carefully than ever before and fussed over her whenever they brought her meals.

Surely someone should explain what was going on? After all, she was seven — old enough to understand the world. Why were they tiptoeing around as though they were hoarding some great secret?

Unable to contain her curiosity, Bibi stuck out her bottom lip as she watched her father personally check her mother’s snacks.

“Daddy, I have a question.”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Mommy’s been sleeping far too long lately — or rather, she seems to nap all the time.”

Her mommy was always a late riser, but recently, Bibi had often found her dozing in a cosy armchair, even in the afternoon. She used to take walks with Bibi and climb the department store stairs without a second thought, but now she seemed to avoid both.

“And that trifle cake — Mommy eats one every single day.”

“….”

“What’s going on? Are you throwing a secret party without me?”

Kenneth glanced down at the tray that he was about to carry to Ariana, remaining silent. It contained layer upon layer of strawberries and deep-violet fruit nestled between sponge cake, all neatly packed into a small glass jar.

Kenneth simply gave his daughter a cryptic smile.

“We’ll probably have the party later.”

“Later?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Bibi tilted her head in sync with her corgi, Penny. She knew her father well enough to recognise that he wouldn’t say any more than that if he didn’t want to.

Carrying the tray of trifle, Kenneth headed towards the new bedroom. Although the second floor had the better view, they had recently decided to move to the first floor for the time being.

In the room, long white curtains billowed all the way to the floor. Ariana lay in bed with her eyes closed. Despite the cold, she had insisted it was hot and thrown open the balcony doors to let in the sea breeze.

Kenneth set the tray down on a nearby table and hurried to her side.

“Ariana, how’s your stomach? Are you OK?”

“It’s… more bearable than it was with Bibi.”

“That shouldn’t be the standard.”

He took a damp cloth from the bedside table and gently wiped her face.

“Ah, that feels nice.”

“It looks like our daughter has caught on already.”

“Well, it’s not surprising. Everyone’s being way too obvious…”

With all the fussing and hovering, even seven-year-old Bibi was bound to notice that something was amiss. Ever since Ariana received the good news from the doctor last month, the household had been operating as if a covert mission were underway.

If the doctor hadn’t insisted that Ariana walk on her own to stay healthy until the end of her pregnancy, Kenneth would have been ready to carry her everywhere himself. Outings had been drastically reduced and Ariana rarely left the estate. Of course, Bibi had started to notice.

“When do you plan on telling her?”

“Once I’m safely out of the danger zone…”

Ariana murmured, barely suppressing her nausea.

“I just don’t want to make a big deal of it yet. Not until I know things are OK.”

Kenneth gazed down at her, gently patting her side as she drifted back into a hazy state. His eyes held a trace of pain.

They had made the decision to have a second child together—but was it truly the right one?

He’d been hesitating ever since that day late last year, when Ariana brought it up with the same calm tone she used when mentioning a ball the next day.

“Kenneth, I think I’m ready now.”

Their daughter would always be their precious little girl, but Bibi was growing—faster with every passing day. And with each new word and step their daughter took, the desperate fear that had once clung to Ariana—the fear that had once driven her to a corner—began to melt away.

“I no longer worry that I might end up favoring Bibi and hurting the second child. I think… I think I can love the next one simply for who they are.”

“…”

“It must be true what they say—that love, the more you receive, the more room it makes in your heart. And it’s all thanks to you.”

Faced with Ariana’s golden lashes fluttering like sunlight, Kenneth found it impossible to argue.

He, too, had always mourned the days he had missed with Bibi as a baby. Back in Duvris, Ariana hadn’t taken many photos, and those lost moments were now beyond his reach forever.

As the silence stretched on, Ariana, who had been quietly enjoying the cool cloth on her skin, smiled gently.

“Don’t start getting nervous already, Kenneth. This time, I have you. I’m not worried.”

Only then did Kenneth lift one corner of his lips into a reluctant smile.

Unlike during her pregnancy with Bibi, this time had brought nothing but good news. Dr Bialle and the others all said she was in excellent health. Her morning sickness was within the normal range, and her occasional dry heaving was milder than average. The fact that she could still enjoy trifle was a small but comforting reassurance.

Not to mention, Kenneth thought, a certain vow had been made.

After the incident in Duvris—when Ariana had stood on the brink between life and death—a solemn promise was given: that nothing would ever again harm her.

Even so, Kenneth couldn’t help but ask himself.

‘Am I truly doing everything I can for her?’

He gently took Ariana’s limp hand in his.

“This time… I’ll be with you through it all.”

So that she could be happy—always.