If he was this surprised by something he couldn’t have imagined, how surprised must she have been? She too seemed quite shocked, as if she really didn’t know. No wonder she felt upset after he left her alone in that state.
When he heard the word “pregnant” from her lips, he was truly shocked to the point where his heart sank. And when he heard it was a joke, he didn’t want to believe it. All he could think about was confirming whether it was a lie or the truth.
“What do you think? Are you happy?”
“……”
“Huh……”
With no response from the other personality, Crazy Rian let out another deep sigh. He carefully placed his hand on her flat stomach, which hadn’t shown any particular changes yet. It was hard to believe that his child was growing inside this small body. Yet, his feelings were becoming complicated in various ways.
He couldn’t forget the thrilling feeling he had when Font confirmed the existence of the child. His heart raced, and he felt what joy was for the first time. But soon, worries began to boil. When he thought about what his c*ck might have done to the small life in her womb, he was so anxious about the baby being harmed that he felt like going crazy.
But he was furious at the nonsense from his other personality. Just like before, he almost hurt her again. To say it didn’t feel like his child. Even if he didn’t know before, he knew now. He was truly an idiot.
Rian, who still didn’t acknowledge that the other was also himself, gritted his teeth, thinking that the tears in her eyes were because of the other personality.
“You are not helpful at all.”
“Be quiet.”
“You be quiet and disappear. You’re the one who even rejected your own child.”
“It wasn’t rejection. I was just… annoyed that I couldn’t hold her more.”
“That’s why you’re an idiot.”
“Is this the time to fight over such things?”
“Then?”
As the small whispers bared their teeth at each other, Crazy Rian’s eyes narrowed at the other personality’s words.
“We should try to make an effort now.”
“What kind of effort?”
“We can’t show this state in front of our child who will be born soon.”
“……That’s true. So you just need to disappear.”
“You know that’s not possible. Can you disappear if I tell you to?”
“……Ha, why did the personalities have to split.”
“That’s my line. Why did you have to appear.”
“I didn’t appear, this is the original me. You’re just an idiot.”
With Crazy Rian’s words, both personalities’ mouths shut tight. Whether they were each thinking or thinking together, no one knew. Only Rian knew.
“As Font said, you stay away from my wife for a while.”
“Hmph, don’t you know he said it’s fine?”
“You crazy bastard. Is that the question you ask now?”
“Of course. Didn’t you hear earlier? He said that’s allowed, no, it might even be better for the baby.”
“……”
Crazy Rian deeply recalled Font’s answer to his question earlier. Of course, he had long forgotten Font’s distorted face.
‘Is that allowed…?’
‘What now?’
‘Without putting the c*ck in, the rest……’
“If Font had a knife in his hand, he would have slashed you right away.”
“Then that bastard would have lost his head as the Grand Duke’s assassin.”
“Hmph, just be careful. Of course, I’ll stop you.”
“Let’s see how well you can stop me.”
“But….”
Suddenly, Grand Duke Rian’s voice sounded somewhat sad. Though it was his own voice, Crazy Rian also kept his mouth shut, knowing what worry was contained in that voice. Even if their personalities were split, they had lived through the same years. And that trauma applied to both personalities.
Crazy Rian, with his twisted lips, spoke as if it was a needless worry.
“Belita won’t do that.”
“Right…? She won’t do that to our child like mother did?”
“She’s not that cruel of a woman. Isn’t that why you brought her?”
“That’s right…. At that time, I thought even those lifeless, soulless eyes would be better.”
“I was worried you might be stupid enough to marry Lovia without saying anything as usual, but fortunately you weren’t that stupid. Do you know how horrifying it was to think I might wake up doing that with that woman?”
Rian’s face changed to an expression like he had eaten something disgusting, as if the mere thought was horrifying. Then soon, with a hollow laugh, Grand Duke Rian’s calm voice flowed out.
“Hmph, no matter how stupid I am, I wouldn’t marry a woman who looks exactly like mother.”
“Thanks to that, only Belita suffered. What a hardship to meet a crazy bastard.”
“That’s why don’t be so violent. She’s already a delicate woman.”
“You should stop being cold. Whether you bought her or whatever, she’s still your wife, why do you hurt her by not giving her your presence?”
“……You’re right. Why did I do that?”
“Huh……”
For the first time revealing his inner thoughts and having a serious conversation, Rian’s eyes turned toward Belita. Gently brushing aside her disheveled hair, Rian let out a deep sigh. Rian’s mind was complicated with various thoughts, like tangled threads. He felt sorry both for the child who would have a crazy father and for Belita who might be hurt repeatedly because of his two personalities.
And all the affairs of the Grand Duchy that he would have to face added weight to his sigh. As if making a resolution, Crazy Rian spoke firmly.
“Soon, I’ll meet the Emperor.”
“Brother…. You’ll meet him.”
“I will. But don’t interfere no matter what I do.”
“……Alright.”
In the deepening night. Rian’s two personalities became of one mind for the first time. It was a moment when the existence of the new life and wife they had to protect united the two personalities.
* * *
Belita, who barely opened her eyes in the morning, sighed while touching her swollen eyelids. Soon after, she gently stroked her lower abdomen and greeted it affectionately.
“Hello, baby? Did you sleep well?”
Even though it was just a small embryo without eyes, ears, or a body yet, Belita smiled broadly as she gently caressed her lower abdomen, feeling as if the child could hear her voice.
Until last night she had been so distressed and sad that she couldn’t stop crying, but fortunately her mood was better after a good night’s sleep. And she was both amazed and excited by how her life had changed overnight. She opened her eyes wide, though they barely opened, and clenched her fists tightly. What did it matter if her husband didn’t want it? She didn’t expect anything from him either, so that was fine.
Since things had turned out this way, she resolved to fully enjoy her position as the Grand Duchess and solidify her standing. She would not be foolishly taken advantage of and would take everything she deserved. Then, after the winter rainy season passed and the child was born, she would proudly receive alimony and leave this house. And she decided to live happily with just her child.
Is this what being a mother is like…? While Belita as a woman was infinitely weak, Belita as a mother now feared nothing. Confidence welled up that she could do anything for her child.
“Let’s eat, baby. What do you want to eat? ……Hmm? Ah, our baby wants fruit? Then mommy will eat plenty of meat for the baby, and then give you lots of fruit. Okay? Ah, you’re so good.”
Patting her flat stomach, Belita carefully got up holding her waist. And just as she was about to take a step, she was startled by a sudden voice.
“What are you doing…?”
“Mother of God!”
Not knowing when he had arrived, Rian was leaning crookedly against the doorway, tilting his head as if he had witnessed something strange, and Belita sat down right where she was.
“Are you okay!?”
Glaring at the man who approached urgently with a surprised face, she bit her lip tightly. He should at least make some noise when moving around! Belita, who covered her belly instead of her fluttering heart, exhaled deeply, trying to stay as calm as possible.
“Does your stomach hurt?”
“……Huh, no.”
The tips of Rian’s fingers, who was supporting her, trembled at Belita’s sharp voice that blew like a cold wind. Since he had first seen her, this was the first time he had seen such an expression and heard such a voice, so he was perplexed.
“Please knock when you come in from now on.”
“……Alright.”
“It would be better if you don’t come often if possible.”
Rian’s eyebrows twitched at Belita’s action as she slapped his hand away and stood up.
“I need to change clothes, so if you don’t have any particular business, would you please leave now?”
“……What are you trying to do?”
Rian’s voice became as sharp as Belita’s thorny tone. He had come to apologize for yesterday, but her response hurt his feelings. Her heart began to pound again at his chilly voice. Trying to stay as calm as possible so as not to startle the baby, Belita looked straight at Rian.
“This is my room. Even if you’re my husband, I’m asking you to keep basic courtesy.”
“……Ha!”
“Ah, I’m sorry for having an unwanted child on my own. But since you’re partly to blame, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t show how much you hate it. Even a small life in the womb can hear and feel everything.”
“……What nonsense is this.”
“!”
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Nous_Defions
Oh no, trouble’s brewing…
Crazy Rian should just shut up, and let Grand Duke Rian handle thos situation… At least, he might have the sanity to reel in his emotions, and see things from Belita’s perspective, and explain calmly that he actually is happy about the baby, and that it was never unwanted to begin with…
He really has to keep both his personalities together, otherwise, he’d end up losong both Belita and the baby… This idiot! 😅