“I’m so happy you’re my husband.”

“Ha.”

He let out a soft laugh at my words, dropping his head slightly, a smile stretching nearly to his ears.

Seeing this masterpiece of a man blush filled me with warmth.

Even as his touch remained gentle, I could feel him moving with a slight roughness, his passion not diminishing.

So faithful, this man of mine.

Though it wasn’t the same intense love as before pregnancy, this careful touch was still heartwarming.

My sweet words seemed to inspire him as he leaned closer, pressing his body against me.

“Ah…”

A soft moan slipped from my lips.

“This isn’t… too intense, right?”

“Don’t worry. This… is just right…”

Ah.

I was suddenly at a loss for words.

It felt like something had sealed my mouth shut, leaving me only able to clutch his arm.

I worried I might have held him too tightly, but he was lost in other sensations.

I took in the sight of his handsome face, as if it were a scene from a movie.

His brows furrowed with a hint of distress, a sweet sigh escaping him, his solid form carefully restrained to avoid crossing any boundaries, yet fully committed to igniting my senses.

“…No matter how much I see you, you’re always so charming. So handsome.”

“Haa…”

The sight alone made me feel a surge of thrill that threatened to shatter my reason. Clutching his arm tightly, I found myself grasping at the bed sheets.

I wanted to keep watching him as he focused so intently on me, but I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.

“Louise…”

The bed shook with a deep, rhythmic motion, and a steady warmth spread from deep within me, filling me with a feeling of love.

‘Enough. Enough…’

‘No, more. More…!’

The euphoria surged up to my throat. My head lolled, and his hand gently cradled my chin.

Like a man dying of thirst drinking greedily from a spring, his tongue parted my lips, swirling around mine with a fierce intensity. The raw groan that seemed to come from the depths of his being echoed near my ear.

Like a butterfly drawn to honey, I too indulged in his mouth.

I wished this moment of bliss would never end.

It was something we’d done countless times, something we’d likely do again, but each time, I found myself wishing for it to last forever.

The sound of sheets rustling, like leaves in a gentle breeze, reverberated through the room.

—

How long would this lingering euphoria last?

Alec, holding Louise in his arms, leaned back on the bed together. His chest rose and fell with excited breaths, while Louise nestled close, still reveling in the leftover thrill.

It must have been over an hour, yet neither showed any inclination to leave the bed.

Pulling her closer, he pressed a soft kiss to the crown of her head. Her silky silver hair brushed against his lips like a gentle spring breeze.

The delicate touch of her warm, slightly damp skin against him felt as though he were floating on clouds.

Her slender, round shoulders, which he could embrace with just one arm, stirred his heart, making it race even faster.

“Alec.”

Louise lifted her head, and he offered a refreshing smile.

“Yes?”

“…It must have been hard for you to hold back, wasn’t it?”

“Oh…”

He quickly understood what she meant and let out a hollow laugh.

“Beyond words.”

Countless times he had reined in his urges — the desire to lift her up and move with more fervor, the primal instinct to intertwine wildly, giving in to sheer passion…

But those impulses were nothing compared to the reality that she was carrying his child.

He and Louise had tread carefully, savoring each other quietly, taking heed of their situation.

Compared to now, their passion before the pregnancy was more like a battle to possess each other than love.

“It was hard for me too. Every time you frowned sweetly, I wanted to push you over, pin you down, and—”

Before she could continue, Alec pressed his lips to hers to silence her words.

Placing a finger over her lips, he gave a playful warning.

“Don’t say things like that. Do you know how much harder it makes it to resist when you talk like that?”

“…Hah.”

Louise let out a small laugh, amused, and spoke quietly.

“I can’t hold back anymore.”

She slipped from his embrace and playfully pushed his shoulder. Alec, feigning surprise, quickly fell back onto the bed.

Whether she realized he did it on purpose or not, Louise lifted her light dress that hung loosely on her waist and climbed onto him.

Her gaze was deadly.

He bit his lip, suppressing a smile that threatened to escape.

Still playing the role of a “lady torned from a portrait,” she raised one eyebrow seductively.

“Oh my, look at these abs. Such… a luxurious ride?”

Well then, he ought to match her in this little act.

Swiftly sitting up, he reversed their positions with a provocative look, all while being mindful of her, knowing she was pregnant.

Slowly withdrawing his hand from beneath her waist, he narrowed his eyes.

“…Is it just a luxurious ride?”

“Hmm. Do you think your wife knows you act like this?”

“Hahaha.”

Alec couldn’t hold back a laugh. Seeing Louise, who was usually so composed, playing a character so different from her usual self was adorable.

“That line might not be the best for baby’s ears.”

“Then let’s say something good now, shall we?”

“Alright.”

Alec gently lifted Louise and laid her down straight on the bed. Then, he stroked her belly and brought his face close, wanting to feel their tiny child, who was still only the size of a small bean, as close as possible.

“I can’t wait to meet our baby.”

Louise laughed warmly and spoke aloud.

“A child who looks half like you and half like me—I can’t even imagine it. How remarkable it will be… since we’ve never seen a child like that before.”

“She’ll be as beautiful as you are.”

“And not as dashing as you? If it’s a boy, he’ll be a stunning young man, as if sculpted by the gods. With silver hair like mine and dark, sparkling eyes like yours… I can already imagine how many girls he’ll leave heartbroken.”

“Haha…”

Alec laughed in a low voice.

Not only they but also the people of the North were curious whether their child would be a daughter or a son. However, Alec hadn’t given much thought to the child’s gender. Of course, a daughter who resembled Louise would be wonderful, but he believed that, eventually, whether a daughter or son, they would have many children.

“…Whatever child we have, I’m truly grateful that we can give them the most perfect childhood.”

“…Alec.”

He leaned over slightly, resting his chin in his hand, meeting Louise’s eyes. His hand continued to stroke her belly gently.

Once, he had sworn he would never marry or have children, fearing he would pass down his own tragedy. He had been unsure he could raise a small, precious angel of a child well, given his own unhappy upbringing. But now, those dark emotions had long since washed away.

Knowing all about his past, Louise looked at him sympathetically for a moment before she spoke.

“It’s the same for me. I’ve lived two lives, yet I was always unhappy as a child. I can’t even begin to speak of your unhappiness, but our children will grow up surrounded by our love… and for that, I am so grateful.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Louise.”

“No, it’s thanks to you, Alec.”

Louise drew him close into her arms, tenderly stroking his head as though she were the Virgin Mary.

In her soft embrace, Alec felt a warmth as if the earth itself were opening its heart to him, and he nestled his face quietly against her slender form.

It was the warmest, broadest embrace he could imagine.

“Our children are so fortunate to have you as their father. Having a father from the North, they’d feel as though the whole world were there to protect them… just as I feel now.”

“…”

Louise gently stroked each strand of his hair, as if counting them. She felt just as calm and at ease as he did at that moment.

And so, she suddenly said to him,

“I’ll protect you.”

“Instead of me protecting you?”

“That’s just what I feel like.”

Louise and Alec laughed quietly at the same time.

Anyone could see Alec was the stronger one, but Louise’s words to protect him made them both laugh.

However, Alec already knew Louise had always been his protector in many ways, and he was forever grateful.

“…Louise, you’ve always been protecting me. If not for you, my soul would have melted away like snow… and tumbled down into the dark valley below. And, in reality, I wouldn’t have been able to get back up. You’re the one who saved me.”

“So you saved me in return?”

“That’s right.”

“Hehe.”

With a small laugh, Louise pulled his face even closer into her embrace.

“I’m so happy. I have you in my arms, and our baby too.”