6.10

As the semester officially ended, the Central Academy grew quiet. Some graduates left early, while others lingered behind. Occasionally, even professors left in the same manner. 

Would I be kicked out of the dormitory, or would I be allowed to stay? 

Delphinel stood trembling in front of the school infirmary, waiting for the doctor to call her in. 

‘I submitted the application to stay for the second semester. The dormitory matron didn’t say much, but just in case, I might need a doctor’s note. But… what if they say I’m not pregnant?’ 

Looking back, it was ridiculous how far she had gone just to stay in the dormitory. She had married someone on a whim, lied about being pregnant, and even gone so far as to consummate the lie to avoid a bigger scandal. Objectively, it wasn’t exactly a normal course of action, but she had done her best. 

Yet, if I still ended up being kicked out of the dormitory… 

The image of her and Red carrying large bags flashed through her mind. 

At that moment, all the anxiety she had been feeling while waiting for her turn seemed to melt away. 

‘That’s strange.’ 

No, it wasn’t just peace of mind—she even felt a little excited. 

First, they would need to choose a house and take out a loan. 

What kind of house should we pick? 

Since she was already used to sharing a room with Red, they wouldn’t need more than two rooms. They couldn’t afford a new building, but wallpaper and curtains could change the atmosphere of any home. 

What kind of taste did Red have when it came to decorating? 

He might even have better instincts than Delphinel, who had once treated flower arranging during her noblewoman days like a battlefield. 

‘His fingers are so delicate when he moves them…’  

“Professor Redermoon?” 

“Oh, yes! I’m coming in!” 

At the doctor’s voice, Delphinel hurriedly headed into the examination room. 

The interview, symptom explanation, examination, and diagnosis—all processes flowed as predictably as ‘1+1=2.’ 

Soon, the doctor smiled and said, 

“You’re pregnant. Congratulations.” 

“…Thank you.” 

“Have you planned your leave? Shall I prepare the paperwork in advance?” 

“No, that’s not necessary.” 

“Understood. You don’t need to lie down unless you want to, just go about your usual routine. But don’t overdo it.” 

Her steps as she left the school infirmary were steady. Those who passed by Delphinel would not have sensed anything unusual. Except for Red, who naturally fell into step beside her, taking her bag. 

“Madame! Did something good happen? You seem excited!” 

“Do I?” 

“Yes, your steps are light.” 

“Oh dear, I shouldn’t trip while being so giddy. Truly.” 

Delphinel spoke with a deliberately enigmatic tone, adjusting her clothes. 

Would Red catch on?

When she glanced up at his face… well, he was smiling brightly because she seemed happy, yet it looked like he was also lost in thought. 

‘This man always surprises me with his intuition.’ 

When they finally arrived at the dormitory, as expected, Red set down the bag, closed the door, gave Delphinel a tight hug in the entrance, kissed her forehead, and offered her a glass of water before doing something unexpected. 

“Madame! How did you know?” 

“…Know what?” 

“That I prepared a gift! I tried not to let you find out.” 

“Oh, it’s a misunderstanding. I had no idea.” 

Delphinel immediately denied it. It was a habit she had developed while living with Red. To be honest about everything before things got complicated. Red was momentarily flustered but quickly recovered. 

“Then something good must have happened!” 

“Yes, all the efforts we’ve put in have finally paid off.” 

“Did you get a promotion?” 

“…Hold on.” 

In hindsight, should I really call all the time we spent together ‘effort’? Honestly, calling it effort… 

‘It was enjoyable.’ 

Her face flushed. She felt she might start thinking strange thoughts again. Since she didn’t know how to create a dramatic atmosphere anyway, Delphinel got straight to the point. 

“I’m pregnant.” 

“Oh…!” 

“You’ve been… well, yes, you’ve been very diligent, so it’s a bit late to tell you, but it seems we won’t be kicked out of here.” 

“That’s great. Truly, that’s wonderful.” 

“Yes. Although later, when the child asks, ‘How did I come to be?’ I might not be able to answer honestly.” 

“Indeed.” 

“…Red.” 

As Delphinel spoke, she looked up at Red, who was approaching slowly and cautiously. He stopped half a step away, awkwardly holding his hands up. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Can I hug you?” 

“How tight are you planning to hug me?” 

“Very tightly. Actually, I want to lift you up. I recently found a valley while gathering materials, and it looked so beautiful at sunset. I want to take you there! We can go!”

“This man… Put your hands down.”

“Ugh…” 

Red lowered his hands dejectedly. His shoulders slumped as if he were making a ‘whimper’ sound. 

Oh, really. Was he just kind-hearted, or was he sly like a fox?

In the end, Delphinel couldn’t resist and hugged him tightly. 

“Madame?” 

“Stay still. I’m going to hug you.” 

“…” 

She could hear his heart pounding next to her ear. The chest she sometimes used as a pillow, the one she sometimes clung to. She thought she knew both his calm and excited heartbeats… but this heartbeat, like music, was new to her. 

Even when she fell asleep or woke up. Even if they went on a long journey, she felt it would be okay as long as this sound was with her. 

Though their marriage had started in chaos… 

The man who had always been by her side, even now, was looking at her with infinitely loving eyes. 

When their eyes met suddenly, Red’s face turned bright red. 

“What’s wrong, are you embarrassed?” 

“Don’t tease me!” 

“What’s the big deal? It’s not like this is the first time we’ve hugged.” 

“It’s just that, somehow, you look even more beautiful…” 

“…” 

Now it was Delphinel’s turn for her face to turn red. 

Really, he acts like a bear most of the time, yet he knows how to strike her heart at crucial moments. 

Delphinel pouted as she spoke. 

“You said you prepared a gift. Are you going to give it now?” 

“I was planning to… but could you wait just two more days, no, just one more day?”

“Huh? Why?” 

“I think I need a little more time to prepare. I’m sorry!” 

Even though she hadn’t been expecting anything, hearing that she had to wait another day made Delphinel feel as though something had been taken from her. That feeling alone was enough to bother her. 

‘How childish… I should be more mature! Oh, right. Maybe I should prepare a gift too?’ 

As if reading her mind, Red spoke up like a ghost. 

“You don’t need to prepare anything in return. Just accept the gift tomorrow and give me your answer.” 

“Ah… alright!” 

“Then, let’s go in and rest—” 

“I told you not to carry me!” 

Red, as usual, tried to lift Delphinel into his arms and carry her into the room, but she smacked his arm. Her strength was the same as always, and it made Red laugh. Delphinel, on the other hand, was left bewildered by Red, who laughed even after being scolded. 

* * * 

Until the following afternoon, Delphinel kept herself busy at school, deliberately finding things to do. Originally, she had planned to spend her time reading in the dormitory, but even the sound of the wind outside the window made her glance toward the front door. She simply couldn’t sit still. 

‘What kind of gift could it be?’ 

Delphinel had never had high expectations for gifts in her life. Her mother’s gifts were always unwanted jewelry accessories, accompanied by the words, “Become a lady who suits this.”

Her father? It would be a miracle if he even remembered family birthdays. There was even a time when, after being reminded of her mother’s birthday, he brought over a gift he had received and proudly declared, “What the husband receives is also what the wife receives, isn’t it?”

‘The more I think about it, the more depressing it gets….’

By the time she had filled the gaps between those gloomy memories with numbers, it was time to return to the dormitory. Delphinel practiced smiling brightly at the entrance before opening the door. 

“Welcome back, Delphinel!” 

“I’m home.” 

Red, as usual, came out to the entrance to hug her but hesitated when he looked at his hands. He quickly clasped them behind his back. The scent of soap was faintly present but distant now. It seemed there was a stain that even soap couldn’t remove. Because of that, Delphinel had a vague idea of what kind of gift he had prepared. 

Red handed her a small box. 

Its contents were as she had anticipated—a ring. However, her expectations only heightened her amazement. 

“Wow…” 

The ring, which Red must have crafted himself, appeared silver at first glance, but it was clearly neither silver nor gold. A black sheen, reminiscent of flowing lava, flickered as the light shifted. 

How many hammer strikes had it taken to create such a vivid design, resembling the scales of a dragon in motion? 

Following the beautiful flow of the design, her eyes were drawn to the rose-colored gemstone embedded in the center. 

“It’s… truly… truly, truly… um, Red. I’m not good at choosing artistic words.” 

“Do you like it?” 

“I love it! No, it’s not just that I like it, it’s… oh, I love it!” 

“…I’ll take it as proof that I did such a good job that I stole your words, Madame. And here’s the reason I asked you to wait one more day.” 

Red pulled out another box. It was a bit shabby compared to the ring box, as if he had hastily found it, but it was larger in size. 

‘It’s about the size of a book… no, it’s too light to be a book.’ 

Before pulling the ribbon, Delphinel studied Red’s expression. He looked even more nervous than when he had handed over the ring. He seemed like someone waiting for the result of an impossible test. 

Soon, the box opened. 

“…Huh?” 

All her predictions collapsed. 

Inside the box, resting on soft ivory fabric, was a geometric arrangement of lines and shapes. 

She carefully lifted it by what seemed to be a handle, examining it closely. It took her a moment to realize what it was. 

“It’s a mobile!” 

Suspended from a delicately intersecting cross-shaped frame were small metal pieces crafted into the shapes of chicks and flowers, spinning gently. The surface had been hammered unevenly, giving it a natural appearance, like clouds. 

“How adorable… Red, did you make this for our child?” 

At the mention of “our child,” Red nodded with a slightly flushed face. 

“Yes. I rushed to make it, so there aren’t many decorations yet. I plan to add more gradually.” 

“It’s already beautiful. I can hardly believe you made this in just a day. And there’s still plenty of time before the baby arrives.” 

“I originally planned to make leather shoes.” 

“…You made the right call.”  

Should Delphinel praise him for not making a toy sword for their future child? She chuckled softly as she carefully put the mobile back into the box. Just as she was closing the lid, Red’s hand, holding the ring, reached out and touched hers.

“Though it’s late… I dedicate this to you, my wife.”

In a voice trembling as if he were proposing, Red lifted Delphinel’s left hand. The ring slid on as though it had been made really for her. His nervousness quickly turned into a smile. It was the bright smile of a man who had just received an answer to his proposal.

“It fits perfectly. Honestly, I brought my hammer just in case the size was off, so I could fix it right away.”

“Pfft, having a blacksmith for a husband is truly wonderful. But are you sure I don’t need to give you anything in return? This is such a precious gift that I feel like I should do something.”

“It’s fine. You’ve already given me so much.”

“Huh? What have I given you?”

“You gave a man who had given up on life in the corner of a forge… a family. Even if the reason behind it was something completely absurd… I can’t help but be grateful for everything I’ve received.”

Red lowered his head. His lips touched the ring, and that ticklish feeling—the one Delphinel had first felt when she realized her feelings for Red—came rushing back.

The thing that stirred her heart, yet still gave her a sense of stability, was always the same: those gentle green eyes that looked at her.

“Delphinel, to the one who has always given a family to others, I offer you my heart and ask… Please, continue to be my family…”

“We’re already family.”

Delphinel pulled Red into a tight embrace.

The moment his green eyes began to glisten with tears, she couldn’t hold back any longer. How could she ever leave someone so lovely all alone? She didn’t want to separate herself—or him—from their shared warmth.

“Red, I’ll never let you go. From the moment you accepted my ridiculous proposal, it seems like I was destined to cling to you.”

“There’s no need to hold on. I’ll stay here forever.”

“Don’t say things that make my heart race…”

“I’ll try my best.”

Well, could he really keep that promise? For a long time, the obedient husband stayed nestled in Delphinel’s arms, but he didn’t wait forever. His arms eventually wrapped around her shoulders.

“Red, I told you not to carry me for a while.”

“You said I just shouldn’t pressure you, right? Isn’t that correct?”

“…You’re very clever.”

“And I’m even better at listening.”

Red’s arms were as heavy as stone. They had always been like that. But now, they simply rested against Delphinel. He held her in his arms like a protective fence and whispered softly.

“And I’m even better at protecting. Truthfully, this is my first time protecting someone, but I’ll do well. I can promise you that.”

“…Red.”

“Will you trust me?”

Before she could answer, old memories blocked Delphinel’s mouth. Until now, her parents, siblings, students, and even her colleagues had always been people she either had to leave behind or surpass. Could she truly take someone as an equal partner in her life?

But her body moved before her mind could decide.

It had always been that way with Red.

Delphinel rose onto her tiptoes. That was enough. Red lowered his head.

Their lips met. At first, it was soft, like a greeting. Then it grew warmer, like an embrace, as their breaths intertwined.

Love is always the answer.

『Kisses Are Only for People Who Love Each Other, Right?』 The End