*Ding!*

[Chapter 2 has successfully concluded!]

With the system’s notification, I slowly opened my eyes.

Had I finally returned to reality?

I glanced around, taking in my surroundings. The grand and elegantly decorated bedroom was indeed my own.

“So, we completed Chapter Two safely.”

The day was drawing closer when I’d be able to present a special reward to my little one.

Feeling cheerful, I gently touched my belly. About six weeks into pregnancy, it was just beginning to show, though outwardly it still looked as it had before.

A subtle difference that only I could sense.

“Did you sleep well, sweetie? Don’t worry about what you saw in the dream. Mommy isn’t really a boss monster.”

The quest had been like a fully immersive virtual reality game. Once it began, it was as if my consciousness was transported to another realm, so vividly real that it felt like I’d lived in another world.

It was astonishing how realistic it was.

Still, it occurred to me that this was something of a dilemma.

“Our tiny little bean likely experienced all that vividly too.”

Seeing Mommy branded as the final boss, watching her fiercely wield magical weapons against monster knights, seeing Daddy try to subdue her…

This wasn’t prenatal bonding—it was parental sacrifice for the quest rewards.

However, since the child wouldn’t remember anyway, I consoled myself and got out of bed.

Just then, the door quietly opened, revealing a bright, handsome face through the gap. Then the door swung wide open.

Alec was smiling at me with the most charming smile in the world.

“Alec.”

“Louise.”

He approached me in an instant, cradling my head and pulling me into his embrace, his strong arms wrapped around my waist.

I hugged his waist tightly with both arms, savoring his warmth and his unique scent.

Oh, how cozy and comforting.

Having hugged him after twelve hours, I missed him even more and felt so happy that I rubbed my cheek against his chest.

“Honey, our little one really loves being in Dad’s arms.”

He, having experienced this once or twice before, let out a low chuckle and stroked my head.

“And what about Louise?”

“I love it even more than our little one does. Especially… when there are no clothes involved.”

“…”

He covered his lips and trembled slightly.

I bit my lip and lowered my head, my shoulders shaking with laughter I couldn’t contain.

How is it that, after seeing his bare body countless times, I still feel my face heat up like this?

“By the way, that quest was truly cruel. If we encounter something like that again, then I should be the hunter, and Alec can be the final villain or something.”

Who knew being a villain wouldn’t suit me at all?

Honestly, it would be more fun to take down the bad guys while twirling in a dress.

“Are you saying you’d do such a hard quest again?”

“…Was it difficult?”

“It was difficult because I had to say cold words to you.”

“…”

Alec lowered his head as if genuinely troubled, pressing his forehead against mine. Sensing his emotions, I couldn’t help but put on a sympathetic expression.

“I feel the same. The sixty-fifth husband, they said? There’s only one husband for me, right here.”

“…If Louise were the true final boss, I’d choose the end of the world instead. How could I even think of trying to defeat you?”

“Oh my.”

I let out a small laugh and quickly responded.

“Well, defeating a final boss like me wouldn’t be easy, would it? Especially if it were my husband….”

Suddenly, he lifted his hand and slid the strap of my nightdress off my shoulder. With that gentle yet bold gesture, I met his gaze, a little intrigued.

When he undressed me like this, I could sense his desire, and it made me feel quite content.

“But at the end, it was worth it, wasn’t it?”

“Actually, it was for me too.”

Give us a bit more of that kiss scene, won’t you, quest?

Just as our light laughter faded, we pressed our lips together.

…Thud.

The nightdress slipped down my waist and legs, falling to the floor.

A faint cool breeze touched my bare skin, but before I could feel that chill, his warm touch settled on my skin.

With large, graceful hands, he gently caressed my sides and waist.

There was strength in his grip, as if he wanted to completely possess me, his touch so intense it seemed to melt me entirely.

As his hands held me firmly, he passionately explored my mouth with his own, and I responded, intertwining my tongue with his.

In the meantime, I loosened the cravat around his neck and slipped off his white shirt.

My fingers traced along the curves and contours of his body.

How satisfying it is to have a living sculpture as a husband.

While I leisurely enjoyed the feel of his muscles, his hand, which had been holding my waist, moved lower past my hips.

I traced the smooth lines of his waist, grabbing his firm, apple-shaped bottom in one hand.

It’s so soft I want to bite it.

Squishy, squishy.

I found myself instinctively kneading that soft, dough-like sensation in my hand. It felt a bit like kneading bread dough or playing with slime.

Is his bottom softer than my chest?

It’s surprisingly addictive.

“Ha, Louise.”

Suddenly, he stopped kissing and let out a warm breath against my neck.

He seemed to be holding back laughter, or perhaps he was shy and flustered. For him to suddenly feel shy now…

“…What is it?”

“It tickles.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I should’ve controlled my strength better.”

I should’ve squeezed harder so it wouldn’t tickle.

I wondered if this was enough and then playfully squeezed his skin. His body tensed in response, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“What an incorrigible woman,” he said, shaking his head a couple of times with a faint blush. Then, without warning, he scooped me up in one arm and laid me gently onto the bed.

Positioning himself above me, he braced his hands on the bed, almost as if creating a boundary around his space.

I bit my lip, struggling to keep a smirk from creeping up, but he met my gaze with narrowed eyes and teased, “Don’t you know that if you tickle me, things only get more… intense?”

“…Of course. That’s the fun, isn’t it?”

“You’re not trying to escape anywhere, right…?”

“Me? I only want to stay here with you in bed. That’s all I was doing before, but then I got caught up in that quest.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, smiling.

Who could possibly stop us?

Before the baby, we hardly ever left the bed, using the excuse of “needing to make a child.” Now, even after our little angel came into our lives, things haven’t changed much.

I could rest safely in our room, and my husband would stay here, protecting me… as if we didn’t already have many responsibilities as Duke and Duchess. For now, nothing was more important than our love and the baby’s health.

…So, staying in bed is a must.

“I feel the same way, my dear.”

“We were apart for twelve whole hours. That’s a tragedy.”

“Then we’ll need twelve hours to make up for it.”

“Oh, please do.”

“But you’ll need to eat as well…”

He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and pulled back with a small, audible smack.

“Could you hold out for just an hour?”

“Of course. Although I’m hungrier for you than any meal, we should nourish our little one, so I’ll allow an hour.”

“I’m honored, Your Grace.”

His laugh was as pure as a snowflake in winter. We devoured each other’s smiles before our lips met again.

His chest, pressing slightly against me, tensed and settled over me, showing off those faint, rippling muscles.

I gripped his thick arm as if it were a lifeline, my tongue entwining with his in a tender dance.

His heat was overwhelming, his softness melting me like butter. *Bliss.*

Oh, so sweet…!

Yet, we both tried to avoid falling into the same wild passion we’d had before the pregnancy.

Instead of consuming each other with intensity, he savored every inch of my skin, licking and kissing my chest.

We had to consider our baby now…

Which only made his touch more tantalizing. I gripped his hair firmly, stroking it as he nuzzled my chest.

Just a little.

Only a little…

Carefully, without too much motion, yet still with depth.

Feeling us unite, I wrapped one leg around his waist. He looked down at me with a smile filled with affection, and I lightly kissed the corner of his eye.

“Alec?”

“Yes?”

Sinking into the feeling of merging with him, I gently cupped his face.

“I’m so happy you’re my husband.”