Side Story 1. Good News (1)

Shhh—

The familiar sound of waves crashing lingered in Camilla’s ears. She was half-lying on a beach chair, enjoying the sun. This was a private island-turned-resort located in the southern part of the Francis estate.

Taking a break from her busy schedule for a vacation felt as sweet as honey. It was an afternoon she would have otherwise spent frantically working on her tasks at the newly established command tower.

The rare leisure filled her with a lazy euphoria. Just as a hum escaped her naturally upturned lips, a soft touch brushed over them along with a sweet voice.

“Lala.”

A kiss as sweet as the voice landed on her lips.

“Ash, it tickles.”

As Camilla chuckled, Aster released her lips, which he had bitten playfully. His red eyes were filled with immense satisfaction.

“You couldn’t wait, could you? Why do you always pounce on me like that?”

Camilla, used to this, pushed Aster away and grumbled. The more time passed, the hotter he became, making her sigh even more. Especially since he had been pestering her all morning, she felt utterly drained.

Once Aster started, he had a tendency to go on endlessly. Even when she begged him to stop, he would make her beg in a different way.

“I’ve always been like this. I just held back in front of you.”

“Then keep holding back.”

“That won’t be possible.”

Smirking, Aster placed his hands under her knees and armpits. In an instant, she was nestled in his arms, letting out a soft gasp.

“Aster!”

“You shouldn’t have said things like that.”

“What…”

As Camilla looked at him in disbelief, he whispered softly in her ear.

“You said you wanted my child.”

“Ah.”

“So I can’t hold back, can I?”

Huh? Camilla.

His gentle whisper was filled with insidious intent. Having uttered those words herself, Camilla had no choice but to be carried away.

She wanted to say that having a child was enough already, but he wouldn’t listen.

Aster was persistent and extraordinary. Camilla wrapped her arms around his neck, pretending to give in. As they kissed passionately, they somehow ended up under a canopy on the beach.

Since it was private property, they were alone. So Aster had set up places like this everywhere, eager to devour Camilla whenever he got aroused.

The result of her saying she wanted a child was that Aster, who had been barely controlling himself, lost his self-control.

The canopy’s fabric fluttered, revealing two n*ked bodies rolling on a long mat. Both were wearing beachwear, so there wasn’t much to take off. Aster’s lips trailed over her sun-kissed skin.

The cool sea breeze cooled their heating bodies, but his mana heated her up even faster.

“Slow down a bit… hng.”

As Camilla pinched his chest, overwhelmed by the surge of mana, Aster flinched and gradually increased the flow.

It was still difficult to fully merge their mana. Both Aster and Camilla had vast amounts of mana, and their mana tended to cancel each other out.

Camilla ran her fingers through his hair. The sensation of his soft hair slipping through her fingers felt wonderful.

“Haah.”

As a tense breath escaped her, Aster’s tongue circled her ar*ola, gently stimulating her.

“Mm, there.”

Camilla let out a pleased moan, tightening her legs around his waist. He lifted her up, holding her close, and began moving his hips.

Camilla also lifted her legs, moving her hips up and down. With squelching sounds, they both neared their climax.

“Hah!”

“Ugh.”

They both let out moans simultaneously, collapsing onto the mat. Aster looked at her lovingly and said,

“Sometimes, doing it outdoors like this isn’t so bad.”

“Well, if it’s a place like this.”

Camilla responded coyly, snuggling into his arms. Just as he kneaded her voluptuous b*ttocks, his eyes gleamed with desire again.

“No way.”

“Come on up.”

Aster urged her to get on top of him. Camilla felt like crying. His c*ck had grown even larger than before.

“Do you really get aroused just by looking at me?”

“Yes, I do.”

Aster’s eyes urged her as if asking why she was even questioning it.

“Haah, really.”

Despite shaking her head, Camilla lifted her legs and aligned his c*ck with her entrance.

Squelch!

Aster filled her insides once again. Camilla, who had just begged to stop, felt her body heat up again and sighed softly.

Maybe she had caught it from Aster. She, too, felt aroused whenever she saw him.

“What did you do to me? What did you, hng, do to me…!”

As Camilla moved her hips and asked, Aster responded teasingly.

“Something naughty?”

“Hng!”

At his provocative thrusts, Camilla collapsed forward, moaning. Despite having taken the initiative, she ended up being dragged along, moving her hips up and down.

Their passionate act, which seemed like it would never end, paused only when Camilla shouted that she was hungry. But even then, after she ate her fill, Aster would catch her again. In the bedroom, the bathroom, the dining room, even the terrace.

No one could stop Aster when they were alone. Eventually, Aster’s insatiable desire lasted throughout Camilla’s vacation.

It was no surprise when the long-awaited news arrived a while later.

* * *

It was about a month after returning from the resort. Camilla noticed she was sleeping more and felt heavier than usual.

Then she suddenly realized she had missed her period. She immediately called for her doctor.

“You’re pregnant, my lady.”

Francis’s doctor, Vaha, announced with a voice full of emotion.

“Congratulations.”

Hearing Vaha’s congratulations, Camilla was stunned.

‘I’m pregnant?’

Of course, she had expected to get pregnant eventually since they hadn’t been using contraception. But she didn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

‘It must have been that day.’

On the last day at the resort, Aster hadn’t let her go, using the excuse of wanting a child. The night, where she felt like she was being soaked in his hot mana, was still a dizzying, ecstatic memory.

“Thank you, Vaha.”

“It’s nothing. I’ll prepare some medicine to help with your health. You must eat well, sleep well, and rest well for the baby.”

“Yes, I will. Oh, and I’ll tell the family myself, so there’s no need to inform them separately.”

“Understood.”

With a warm smile, Vaha withdrew. Camilla looked down at her still-flat belly. It was hard to believe a new life was growing inside her. She wanted to share this joyful news as soon as possible and got up.

“I need to go to the Red Knight Order.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare everything.”

The waiting maid quickly helped her get ready to go out.

Aster had recently been promoted to Commander of the Red Knight Order. It was a condition from the start that he would be promoted to Commander after a year.

The Imperial Knight Order, which had been eyeing the magic swordsman Aster, decided it was better to give him a high position.

Just in case, Camilla wore an outing dress that didn’t tighten at the waist and got into the carriage. As the carriage arrived at the Red Knight Order building, knights who recognized the carriage’s owner stopped and bowed their heads.

When she reached the Commander’s office, Aster, who had already been informed, came out to greet her.

“What brings you here?”

Aster, with a face full of delight, held out his hand to help Camilla down from the carriage. Familiar with his escort, Camilla took his hand and stepped down.

“I just suddenly wanted to see you.”

“How am I supposed to react to that?”

Aster whispered as he pressed his lips gently to the back of her hand. His eyes already burning with passion at her words made them look like newlyweds.

The maid blushed and looked away. Camilla, giving Aster a small glare for showing affection anywhere, ordered the maid.

“Wait here.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You, come with me.”

“With pleasure.”

Despite her stern tone, Aster’s face was full of ease. He looked loyal, as if he would follow her anywhere.

Camilla headed to his office with Aster. Every time she visited, there was a plush sofa in his office for her to rest comfortably.

Aster, who placed her personal cushion behind her back, asked softly.

“So, did you really come because you missed me?”

“Yes. And I have something to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

Aster tilted his head, looking curious. Camilla felt embarrassed now that she was about to share the news of her pregnancy.

How do most couples share this news?

Her heart was already pounding. She didn’t know how to express this overwhelming emotion in just one sentence.

Camilla, her lips trembling, gestured for Aster to sit next to her. Holding his hand tightly as he obediently sat beside her, she spoke firmly.

“First, take a deep breath.”

“So suddenly, what’s this about?”

“Hurry.”

At Camilla’s urging, Aster reluctantly pretended to take a deep breath. He was the type of person who would gladly drink poison if she asked him to.

“Now that I’m ready, will you tell me?”

“Well….”

Camilla realized that she was the most nervous one and took another deep breath. Aster was persistently waiting for her to speak.

“Don’t be surprised.”

Camilla continued with a bright smile.

“I’m pregnant.”

“…….”

“According to Vaha, our child is here.”

Camilla shyly murmured as she stroked her belly. Once she said it out loud, she felt as if she was floating in the sky with joy. When she received the diagnosis from Vaha, she was bewildered, but seeing Aster’s stunned face made it all feel real.

“You’re pregnant?”

Aster’s voice trailed off, unable to believe it. His gaze, like Camilla’s, was fixed on her belly.

“Yes. We’re going to be parents now. …Ah!”

Camilla’s voice was filled with emotion, but she let out a soft gasp. Aster had suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I’m so happy.”

Aster barely managed to utter the words, burying his face in her shoulder. Camilla felt his heart beating faster than usual and burst into laughter.

It was clear that he was just as thrilled as she was. She felt a warm emotion rising from her belly.

She never imagined she would feel this way. It felt like a dream, which made it hard for her to contain her emotions.

“Sniff, me too….”

Eventually, Camilla burst into tears, hugging him tightly and shedding tears of joy. Being in his strong arms and feeling blessed, she couldn’t help but cry.

“Sniff, I’m so happy….”

Aster’s lips curled up uncontrollably at Camilla’s tearful confession. He, too, struggled to hold back his tears of joy.

After patting her for a while, he gently cupped her cheek. His eyes were just as red as hers. Although he didn’t shed tears, he looked deeply moved and surprised.

He kissed her lips and whispered,

“Thank you so much, Camilla.”

“For what?”

“For being by my side. For becoming the mother of my child.”

Aster couldn’t contain his overwhelming emotions. What news could be more miraculous than hearing that the woman he loved was carrying his child?

For Aster, family had a special meaning. He always wanted to build his own family, having never received enough love.

His mother, who was ill from the time he was born, his stepmother who wanted to kill him, and his indifferent father. There were no proper adults around Aster. This made him anxious. He wondered if he could ever be a good father.

But meeting Camilla changed his life. The timid and fearful boy changed a lot after meeting her brave self. If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have endured so fiercely in Arendt.

It took quite some time for the boy to become a young man. And when he met her again, she was still dazzling and beautiful. Aster couldn’t help but fall for her once more.

“I love you.”

At Aster’s heartfelt confession, Camilla’s eyes widened before she smiled brightly.

“I love you too.”

Camilla’s response made Aster smile widely. Now, he had a loving wife and a child on the way. There would be no greater happiness in his life.

“I’ll do my best from now on. I’ll protect you and our child no matter what.”

At Aster’s vow, Camilla burst into tears again. Perhaps because of her pregnancy, her emotions seemed to be all over the place.

* * *