He must have ridden hard for two nights without rest.

No matter what, the man with a monster’s stamina never seemed to tire.

‘I can’t take this anymore.’

“Haah.”

Sel, facing Lavi, let out a faint sigh and closed her eyes.

Her limp body collapsed onto Lavi’s.

“Sel?”

Lavi caught her as her body crumpled and held her tightly.

Her slender, sweat-soaked golden hair flowed across Lavi’s chest.

“With stamina like this…”

Still sitting against the headboard, Lavi gently laid Sel down.

It was only because it was Sel that he could even keep up.

Unaware of that fact, Lavi began planning how to build up her basic strength and laid beside her.

“Sleep well.”

‘My dearest woman. My glory. My life.’

Lavi gazed at Sel until the moment he fell asleep.

The man who had stayed up for ten nights purging enemy strongholds could finally rest—only after holding his beloved in his eyes.

***

A pitch-black space surrounded him.

‘Where am I?’

Lavi brushed aside the dense mist and looked around.

The landscape was similar to the place with the River of Death.

‘D*mn it, no way!’

Anxiety gripped him. A cold shiver ran down his spine.

‘I can’t leave Sel alone again!’

Lavi frantically searched for an exit, but saw nothing.

Just then, he sensed a presence beyond the fog.

He instinctively stepped half a pace back and assumed a defensive stance.

A pitch-black silhouette slowly approached him.

“Who are you?”

Lavi’s voice was firm, brimming with tension.

“How disrespectful.”

A familiar voice.

The figure’s face slowly came into view.

“…Father-in-law?”

Former Emperor Luxos approached with an overwhelming presence.

Despite the cold air around him, the way he kept glancing back seemed oddly gentle.

Lavi, who had been glaring, slowly lowered his clenched fists.

The tension drained from his body in an instant.

“Who’s behind you?”

Lavi narrowed his eyes and peered beyond the fog.

Former Empress Creta waved affectionately at him.

“I’m right here—where are you looking?”

Luxos scolded him while clearing his throat.

“I… I’m not dead, right, Father-in-law?”

“Would I have given my daughter to a man always one step from death?”

Only then did Lavi feel certain that he was still alive.

‘Thank goodness… I won’t have to leave Sel again.’

Lavi, whose face had gone deathly pale, regained his color.

His life’s goal was to live exactly one day longer than Sel.

So that she would never have to see him die again. So that he could support her through every remaining moment of her life.

Just the thought of possibly leaving Sel behind made it impossible to breathe. Even now, he struggled to draw breath, as if his lungs had frozen shut.

Lavi spent a long time steadying his breathing.

“Then, where is this place?”

“What if I told you it’s heaven?”

“Then I’d beg to be sent back. I still have to live a long, happy life with Sel.”

Though his lips curled into their usual smile, his eyes were nothing but serious.

“I can’t save you twice, you idiot.”

“Tch. That slippery b*stard—what did my daughter see in him to marry him?”

Luxos muttered into the air, then glanced back over his shoulder.

He mouthed ‘I’m doing well’ and gave a small wave.

“Father-in-law?”

“Ahem. I came because there’s something I need to tell you.”

“I’m listening.”

“The wine you’ve been offering lately… it’s quite good.”

“It’s distilled from Mount Sevica. If you like it, I’ll make sure to serve it from now on.”

“From the looks of it, you’re taking good care of our Sel.”

“It’s not enough. I’ll do better.”

Lavi answered robustly, his posture as respectful as he could manage.

“Talk is cheap. Here, take this.”

Since he’d had a drink, it was time to return a favor.

Luxos threw a golden cat toward Lavi.

“What’s with the cat, Your Majesty?”

“You fool. That looks like a cat to you?”

“Then what is it?”

Lavi looked down at the cat.

“Whap!”

 The cat slapped him repeatedly with jelly-like paws.

The force was so strong that Lavi’s head whipped in the direction of each hit.

“Wow, strong little guy. Haha…”

But suddenly, the cat he was holding began to grow rapidly.

Around its massive, swelling head, a golden mane burst forth.

“Father-in-law… was this a lion?”

“Father-in-law?”

Lavi looked around, but Luxos was nowhere to be seen.

“ROAR!”

The golden lion let out a deafening roar and charged at Lavi.

Just as a panicked Lavi raised his fist to punch—

“Your Grace?”

The voice of his steward echoed.

“Gasp!”

Lavi’s eyes flew open as he sucked in a breath.

A pot of bubbling soup and freshly baked baguettes came into view.

‘Ah. I was making breakfast for Sel.’

He must’ve fallen asleep leaning on the kitchen counter.

‘What a wild dream.’

Lavi lowered his still-raised fist and scratched his head.

“The soup?”

“It needs to simmer a little longer. Were you very tired, Your Grace?”

“I only fell asleep after watching the sunrise.”

“You must’ve been up late working.”

“No… I was up all night with Sel…”

Oops. Lavi quickly shut his mouth.

“The soup… it’s taking longer than expected.”

The steward, who understood perfectly well, nervously shoved more firewood into the already blazing oven.

The kitchen fell awkwardly silent, save for the vigorous bubbling of the soup.

****

Lavi carried his special homemade soup to Sel’s bedroom.

“Wake up, my lady.”

He pressed a gentle kiss to Sel’s forehead to rouse her.

“…Lavi?”

Sel rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up.

Perhaps because of the strain from the night before, her voice was hoarse and frail.

“It’s time to get up. You have breakfast with His Majesty today, remember?”

“And the soup?”

“I thought you might be hungry before heading to the palace.”

Lavi smiled sweetly and spooned some soup for her.

“It smells burnt.”

Sel pinched her nose and peered down at the soup.

“I guess I can’t hide the fact that I made it myself.”

Maybe he boiled it too hard. Embarrassed, Lavi scratched his head. Sel quickly opened her mouth and swallowed a spoonful.

The smell was a bit strong, but she could manage.

Like a baby bird, Sel kept eating spoon after spoon.

After about three spoonfuls, Sel suddenly frowned and clutched her mouth.

“Sel?”

“Urgh!”

Her stomach twisted, like something had been knotted tight.

She couldn’t hold it back and began to retch.

“Get the physician! Now!”

Lavi shouted toward the door, his face going white.

The steward hurriedly sent a messenger to fetch Edel.

“Oh dear, Your Highness!”

Edel rushed in, flinging open her medical bag to examine Sel.

“Why is this happening?”

It was the ninth time he’d asked.

Unable to focus, Edel snapped at him to be quiet.

‘D*mn it. Was something wrong with the soup?’

He’d checked all the ingredients carefully—but it was still possible someone had poisoned them in advance.

As Lavi’s mind rapidly considered every possibility—

Edel, who had been checking Sel’s pulse again and again, suddenly asked an odd question.

“Your Highness, when was your last cycle?”

“Ah… well…”

Ever since becoming a royal, Sel’s cycle had been perfectly regular.

Now that she thought about it, this month’s date had long since passed.

“It’s still too early to say with certainty, but…”

Edel put away her stethoscope, drawing out her words.

“You may be pregnant. Oh—”

She quickly stepped back.

Lavi, stunned, had let go of the soup bowl.

The soup splashed down onto the floor.

“Duke Penhac?”

“Ah. Right. Pregnant. My God. Thank you, Lord above.”

“Uh… Duke? I’m not God, you know.”

“What? Oh—”

Lavi finally realized he had nearly offered a prayer to Edel.

He cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Thank you, my lady.”

Lavi took Sel’s hands in his. His palms were damp with cold sweat.

“We don’t know for sure yet.”

“Haha, but I have a feeling. I had a dream at dawn today…”

Lavi began to explain in detail the dream in which he had met the late Emperor Luxos.

“And then, a golden lion leapt into my arms. I think it must have been a conception dream, my lady.”

“That does sound like an extraordinary dream.”

“Right? Even I think that it’s just… ugh!”

Lavi suddenly covered his mouth and couldn’t finish his sentence. A wave of nausea hit him out of nowhere.

“Lavi, are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s not that… it’s just that the smell of the soup suddenly turned my stomach.”

Lavi frowned as he looked at the soup he had spilled by Sel’s bedside.

Edel, who had been watching, smiled contentedly.

“It must be Couvade syndrome.” 

“Is Lavi sick?”

“No. Sometimes, the husband experiences morning sickness in place of—or along with—the wife. That’s called Couvade syndrome.”

“!”

“It’s said to happen when the husband loves the wife very much.”

“My goodness.”

Lavi covered his mouth, deeply moved. Morning sickness on behalf of Sel—what a relief and joy it was.

“It can get worse around the third month and the final stages of pregnancy. Duke Penhac may become a little sensitive, so please be cautious.”

“Oh no. What should we do, Lavi?”

“I couldn’t be happier…Urk—just a moment.”

Lavi hurriedly bolted out the door.

Sel watched him anxiously, and Edel gently held her hand.

“You needn’t worry, Your Highness. Your husband is strong. He won’t lose his health over something like morning sickness.”

“That’s reassuring…”

“Your health comes first, so take good care of yourself.”

With that, Edel bowed and left the bedroom.

Before boarding the carriage to return, Edel glanced up at the second-floor window. Her chest swelled with emotion.

‘You must have struggled so hard to become the person you are now.’

Sel, who had entered a mercenary corps while hiding her gender, had endured everything with quiet strength. Edel remembered the resolute blue eyes that faced harsh reality without flinching.

‘I believe in human effort, Your Highness.’

Seeing Sel had always reminded Edel of her own past—attending the academy in disguise as a man.

‘Watching you establish your place so firmly in the mercenary corps gave me the courage to try again.’

At first, Edel had been content just to become a physician despite her gender. But through Sel, she realized her aspirations could be much greater.

‘I will raise female physicians like myself.’

It was Sel, the princess, who gave her this dream.

“I truly hope you’ll be happy. Thank you.”

Edel whispered softly, offering her blessing to Sel.

She was likely not the only one praying for Sel’s happiness.

‘No.’

Many people around her must feel the same way.

“Professor Edel! You have a class at the academy soon. Please board the carriage.”

The coachman urged her.

“Yes, let’s hurry.”

Edel, the first female professor at the academy, smiled faintly as she boarded the carriage. The sky she saw through the window was as clear as Sel’s eyes.

***

“What the h*ll is that? You look like you’ll die when the last leaf falls.

Eric frowned as he looked at Observation Target No. 1.

Lavi, looking pale from morning sickness, was sitting by the window, knitting. He had been clumsy at first, but now his hands moved with skill.

‘Sel’s the one who’s pregnant, so why’s he the one acting up?’

Eric dropped the skewered street food Lavi had asked for, irritated.

“Why the h*ll are you making me buy this instead of sending a servant?”

“The ones they buy taste bad. Yours are way better.”

Lavi put down his knitting and began devouring the skewers greedily.

‘Can’t even punch him for this.’

Eric let out a deep sigh.

“What’s with the pointless knitting?”

“It’s prenatal education.”

“Prenatal… Are you insane?”

“Don’t swear, Eric. The baby can hear.”

“You’re not the one who’s pregnant.”

“But I’m the one with morning sickness. That means everything I see and hear could affect the baby.”

Of course, he was planning to give his best in prenatal care. Lavi smiled proudly and held up the piece he was knitting.

‘That hat looks way too big for a baby…’

Eric frowned at the clumsily made hat. Its design was far from any known standards of beauty. On top of that, two pointy protrusions stuck out from the hat—like demon horns.

“What are those pointy things on top of the hat?”

“It’s a cat-ear hat. Cute, right?”

Lavi proudly pointed at the unevenly crafted ears.

Eric wanted to critique it but held back. He wasn’t going to wear it anyway, so even if Lavi knitted a pile of crap, it didn’t matter.

“So, is that why you’re skipping the social club, for prenatal care?”

After getting married, Lavi had been consistent with social activities to consolidate the family’s power. But now, he hadn’t shown his face in a long time.

“Why would I go to a place where a bunch of lunatics drink and smoke in broad daylight?”

“You were the craziest b*stard in there even without the drinking or smoking.”

“I don’t want to taint my ears with political talk.”

“You’ve always been tainted.”

“I go to the temple these days. I purify my body and soul every day.”

“That’s why the priests hate you so much.”

“They’re just jealous. I’ve become more devout than them.”

Lavi shrugged proudly, but Eric remained deadpan.

‘That guy acted like a leaking bucket in front of Sel…’

But once outside, he became a cunning fox maintaining a delicate balance between the royal family and the nobles. He still managed to reap every possible benefit for the ducal house like a sly snake.

In that sense, Eric felt a subtle pride. It was like watching a worm that used to spout nonsense grow into a snake.

“What’s with that look on your face?”

“What?”

“You’re smiling like a creep.”

“You look like you’re grinning in the most irritating way possible.”

“Oh, I think I’ve finished this one. Come here for a second, Eric.”

Lavi waved his hand, completely ignoring Eric’s insult.

Eric wanted to maintain a respectful social distance from Lavi, but truthfully, he was curious about the piece of trash Lavi had made. With a reluctant expression, he approached him.

And immediately felt suffocated.

“Are you f***ing kidding me?”

Eric’s eyes widened as he stared at Lavi. In a flash, Lavi had pulled a knitted hat over Eric’s head by force.

“Haha, it suits you well. Cat ears and all.”

“Do you have a death wish? Take your hands off me!”

Something that hideous was now on his head! Horrified, Eric squirmed and flailed in disgust.

“That’s a hat a dear friend made stitch by stitch. You call it hideous?”

“The fact that you stitched it stitch by stitch is the most horrifying part, you b*stard.”

“I even struggled making the cat ears!”

He had unraveled and re-knitted the yarn for an entire week. Lavi’s hands trembled with indignation, but Eric didn’t even blink.

Just as Eric was about to rip the hat off and throw it into the trash…

“Our dear Eric should really get married soon. That rough heart of yours might soften.”

“!”

“Maybe I’ll formally ask His Majesty about it tomorrow.”

Lavi gazed wistfully out the window, deliberately bringing up Eric’s least favorite topic.

It was a threat to not throw the hat away.

“…I really want to kill you right now.”

Eric stuffed the knitted hat into his pocket with a rough gesture.

“No need to thank me. Just don’t treasure it too much. Wear it once in a while.”

“Are you insane? I’ll give it to someone who actually needs a hat.”

“Oh? Who?”

“Someone.”

“A lady?”

At Lavi’s question, Eric tilted his head. Was there any woman he disliked enough to give her that?

He briefly thought of his younger sister, Lauren, but quickly frowned, unwilling to entertain the idea any further.

“Think whatever you want.”

He didn’t want to waste any more words on this uncultured idiot. His duty of delivering the skewers was over.

Eric raised his middle finger in the most polite farewell possible.

“Is Jude Emmet doing well?”

Lavi threw the question at Eric’s back as he was leaving.

Eric stopped in his tracks and sighed.

“…Why are you asking me that?”

“No reason. I was just wondering if he’d like the hat.”

Lavi shrugged and grinned playfully.

He then waved the empty skewer stick enthusiastically, as if to thank Eric for the food.

‘Ugh, always playing sly, like a damned raccoon.’

Eric slammed the door behind him as he left the drawing room.