The year changed, and spring arrived.

Perhaps it was the season, but Anne felt perpetually drowsy and constantly craved sleep. She also found herself thinking about grapes, something she never used to eat before.

The unique scent of grapes had become irresistible. It was so intense that she even dreamed of vines laden with grapes.

“My Lady, you’ve been sleeping a lot lately.”

“Is it already lunchtime? Where’s Evan?”

“He went down to fetch your meal himself. He should be back soon, so you should get up….”

“Ah, why am I so sleepy? I keep wanting to eat something.”

She was starting to worry that she might not be able to manage her weight. Suen looked at Anne’s face cautiously. Oddly enough, Anne’s face seemed healthier and more radiant than before.

“Maybe you’re feeling the spring fatigue.”

“Suen, if I start gaining weight, you must tell me.”

“Oh, come on. You should gain a bit more weight, My Lady.”

Anne shook her head. Gaining weight was unacceptable, so she leaned in and whispered in Suen’s ear.

“I have to stay slim to live long.”

However, perhaps her voice was louder than she thought. Evan, who had just walked in with a tray of soup and bread, chuckled and said,

“Are you managing your weight so you can live a long life with me?”

“No way!”

Anne blushed from her cheeks to her ears and hid her face under the blanket. Suen, smiling, left the room and winked at the Duke.

Catching the signal, Evan immediately lifted the blanket to enjoy Anne’s flustered reaction.

“We have to live long, both of us.”

“We will.”

“Then, since you had an apple late last night, maybe you should skip breakfast?”

“W-Well, you see!”

At that moment, a sudden, rumbling sound filled the room. It came from a very close source.

Anne’s stomach was growling loudly, demanding food. She let out an awkward laugh and glanced at the food he had brought.

“Do you have any grapes?”

Evan was planning to tease her based on her reaction, but he was quite surprised when she responded differently from what he had expected.

There was no way grapes, which are harvested in the summer, could be available now.

“…Grapes?”

“You can’t get grapes these days, right?”

“…Probably not.”

Evan, watching Anne dip her bread in the soup with a disappointed expression, cautiously recalled her recent changes in behavior.

Lately, she has often become suddenly melancholic. The strangest thing was that she had started talking in her sleep. And the subject of her sleep talking was…

‘Grapes.’

Eventually, he secretly searched for grapes but couldn’t find any within the capital. He was even considering smuggling some from Vails, where the weather was warmer, if they could be found there.

“Then… mulberries? Is there anything like that?”

Guessing how much she wanted grapes, Evan stood up.

“Would you like some wine instead?”

“Yes, I would.”

Evan walked slowly to the door and instructed the attendant outside to bring a bottle of wine. Watching the attendant quickly run off, Evan couldn’t shake a strange feeling.

Wasn’t she acting as if she were pregnant?

…?

“Fetch a physician. Immediately.”

He knew that because she had taken too much Seipa all at once, she wouldn’t be able to conceive for a long time.

It could just be a wild guess that she might be pregnant. She might even be disappointed. Still, it was something that needed to be confirmed.

Especially since a bottle of wine was on its way to replace the grapes she wanted so much.

Evan entered the room holding the wine in one hand and leading the physician with the other.

“Before drinking, let’s do a check-up first.”

In the end, Anne lay on the bed with the wine bottle right in front of her.

The physician began the examination carefully. Noticing Evan’s serious expression beside her, Anne added a comment out of concern.

“…Evan, you’re doing this because I suddenly want grapes so badly, right? I’m not pregnant.”

“We’re just checking to be sure. Even if it’s not pregnancy, you haven’t been looking well.”

Anne thought she wasn’t pregnant as she gazed at the wine bottle in front of her. It was the first time that deep red liquid with a hint of purple had looked so appealing.

They had been so lush, even in her dreams.

Wine made from such grapes…

She knew the taste, but something told her it would be different now. Realizing that the examination was over, Anne sprang from the bed and walked toward the glass of wine.

Then it happened.

The physician hurriedly blocked her path.

“You shouldn’t drink this from now on.”

“What?”

“You are indeed pregnant! Congratulations. Even after several checks, it’s confirmed. You are pregnant.”

“……”

With that, Anne felt happy but couldn’t help looking wistfully at the wine in front of her.

Evan handed the wine to the attendant with a nod. As she watched the wine disappear, Anne gave a slightly awkward smile.

“I’m happy, really happy.”

“I know. You really wanted those grapes.”

“I thought I’d be overjoyed if I could get pregnant, but right at this moment, why do I feel like this…?”

At those words, the physician offered a piece of advice.

“Unexpected joys sometimes don’t feel real at first. Especially when you can’t yet feel the presence of the child, you may not feel much. But when the baby starts moving, it will be truly overwhelming. You can take your time becoming parents.”

It was a heartfelt piece of advice.

“We will.”

Evan’s response made the physician smile broadly. Soon, the mansion would be filled with the laughter of children.

Evan caught a brief smile on Anne’s face, despite her disappointment over not being able to eat grapes.

“…I’ll be a good husband and a good father.”

“So will I.”

* * *

“You’re going in there?”

“The woman who’s going to be the Duchess is pregnant, and she’s still in the study at this very moment. What is the Duke doing, not stopping her?”

Evan’s nanny, Mila, who had recently returned from a break, pushed open the door to the study, leaving behind Suen, who hesitated to enter, worried she might disturb them.

And what they saw inside made Mila and Suen take a deep breath and smile.

“When did you set up a bed in the study?”

“I guess they can’t bear to be apart for even a moment.”

Anne, sleeping under a blanket on a single bed, and Evan, sleeping beside her, looked just like a picture.

“It seems best not to disturb them. Fortunately, the young lady is also sleeping comfortably.”

But Mila, thinking it would get colder as the night deepened, took out two blankets. Then she covered both of them with the blankets.

“Of course!”

“Let’s tidy up that cluttered desk together. Leave the important documents, put bookmarks in the open books and place them back on the shelf.”

“Yes!”

Following Mila’s instructions, they started organizing the young lady’s desk. The two of them smiled contentedly as they read the contents of two books.

“I don’t think we should be looking at this.”

“Yeah. Let’s pretend we didn’t see it.”

When they closed the book, the cover read “Exchange Diary.” It was the same kind they used to write in when they were very young.

~~~~

As we go through life, we face numerous problems. Sometimes, these problems are overwhelming and sad, but I think we promised to make the best choices we could.

I always hoped the choices were right, and even as time passes, I still don’t know if they were.

But always, there were many people, including Evan, by my side, and a miracle of a child grew in my broken body. Sturdy one, I’m so happy you came.

In the end, nothing comes to mind except to say that I’m so happy.

From Anne’s Diary

~~~

Thinking rationally. I thought it was all about finding the most efficient way.

My determination to get her out of my life crumbled like a hastily built sandcastle. I still don’t know if I made the right choice in holding on to her.

One thing is for sure, I wake up every morning relieved to know that I can love her until I die.

I miss her even now.

And I want to make you happy in the home we’ll build together, Anne.

From Evan’s Diary

“My goodness, the more you know about them, the cuter they are.”

~~End of Side Story~~

TL NOTE: For more interesting stories visit dusk blossoms .