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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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With a sudden, twisted expression, Sylphia cut the magic she’d been using to eavesdrop.
A year had passed since the wedding.
Whether Sylphia trembled with rage at Eileen, who had already surged ahead, was entirely Sylphia’s issue, given that she was the one secretly spying with magic.
Rudrick wore a bewildered look, his mouth agape.
“This is… surprising.”
“Right? I thought so too.”
Regardless, Eileen smiled bashfully, gently stroking her belly, which, far from showing any signs of pregnancy, looked as if she hadn’t even told anyone she was expecting.
Rudrick’s mind, momentarily stunned by the bewildering emotions, began to race.
There was no such thing as an ultrasound in this world, unlike his past life. The most reliable method was typically to estimate based on the menstrual cycle and then use magic. The fact that Eileen spoke so confidently meant she had already confirmed everything.
It wasn’t that he disliked the fact or considered it a failure. It was just that the vaguely anticipated event had suddenly arrived.
In this world, Rudrick was just barely within the marriageable age range, and the others had already long passed it. But in the terms of his past life, he was just stepping out into society.
He was only twenty-one years old.
“Isn’t it a bit early to become a father…?”
“It’s not early… but I wouldn’t say it’s late either. If anything, it’s late for me to become a mother… So, shall we say it’s somewhere in between?”
“…Well, that’s not really the important part, is it?”
“I suppose not.”
Eileen smiled, unfazed by Rudrick’s reaction.
From a distance, her eyes seemed almost dreamily unfocused.
The wedding had already taken place, and legally, they were undeniably husband and wife. Her decade-long unrequited love, spanning even the regression, had been reciprocated. But now, with the addition of a child, they were truly bound together as a family.
From the moment she’d first confirmed it, she’d found it hard to contain her strangely excited emotions.
Even with Sylphia’s advice to be honest with her desires, she wouldn’t have normally chosen such a dress, thinking it wouldn’t suit her. But in a way, this was a product of that advice.
Clasp.
Eileen reached out and took Rudrick’s hand.
Her face was flushed with a strange excitement.
At first, she’d been worried, but seeing Rudrick’s embarrassment brought a subtle pleasure and joy. And anticipation, excitement for what was to come, a longing to fulfill her desires.
With a mix of these emotions, Eileen whispered.
“…I’ve cleared the room. You don’t have any other plans today, do you?”
“Well… um…”
This wasn’t the Eileen who used to get nosebleeds just from holding hands.
They had already consummated their marriage, and she was pregnant. There was nothing to hold back.
As if she had become a different person, Eileen’s advances left Rudrick flustered, retreating step by step.
“Why, do you have plans?”
“No, but…”
“Then it’s fine. Or do you dislike it?”
“No, it’s not that I dislike it, but the sun is high in the sky, and to do this in the middle of the day…”
“It’s not unusual. We sometimes do it in the morning.”
Her voice was sticky and sweet, like a whisper in his ear.
The way she pressed him relentlessly was truly befitting of a woman of this world.
With their hands clasped, Eileen drew closer, and in the end, it was Rudrick who surrendered first.
“…Please be gentle.”
“Don’t worry.”
The corners of Eileen’s mouth lifted, and her red tongue lightly traced her lips.
“Darling.”
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To put it simply, after entering the empty room hand-in-hand, Rudrick experienced something quite extraordinary.
He was fed snacks as if he were an invalid incapable of moving his hands, and he directly observed Eileen smiling as if she were full just from watching him.
He also learned the new fact that Eileen’s lap was surprisingly soft when he rested his head on it.
He learned many other new things during that time.
For instance, Eileen enjoyed being a bit rough, and she had been suppressing the urge to hold him tightly from behind while sitting on her lap and nuzzle his face.
And it wasn’t surprising that Rudrick wore a dazed expression, being on the receiving end of all these actions.
It wasn’t about what they had done.
“…?”
The blanket had slipped, revealing his bare upper body, but Rudrick didn’t even think to cover himself, his expression blank.
How had things ended up like this?
Where had the innocent Eileen gone, the one who got nosebleeds from just holding hands?
Now, taking advantage of her first pregnancy, the only Eileen left was one who seemed intent on tormenting her husband as she pleased.
He racked his brain, but the answer eluded him.
Even now.
“Huhu…”
A blissful smile graced Eileen’s lips as she tirelessly toyed with a few strands of Rudrick’s hair.
For Eileen, she simply enjoyed their current situation.
She had broken through a mental barrier, a limit she had set for herself.
If it were the old her, or even just a few days ago, could she have so casually expressed her affection for her husband and unreservedly used the affectionate term “darling”?
Not a chance.
‘It was all a matter of mindset…’
Eileen mused, stopping her hair-twirling and snuggling into his embrace like a puppy.
The first child was merely a catalyst.
It served as a device to freely express the desires she had suppressed, claiming they didn’t suit her personality.
‘Was Eileen always like this?’
On the other hand, Rudrick was still bewildered. It would be more accurate to say that he couldn’t comprehend their current situation.
Perhaps he had been too careless, thinking of Eileen.
Until now, all he had seen of Eileen were images of her blushing from their first date when he held her hand, or simply from being called by her name.
But after experiencing this firsthand, Rudrick understood.
“There was a nine-tailed fox hiding inside…”
“Hm?”
“No, it’s nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Eileen was no different.
In fact, having overcome her mental limitations, Eileen was more, not less, extreme than the other wives.
‘There was a nine-tailed fox inside, how did she hide it so well?’
Rudrick inwardly clicked his tongue.
It had been a year since their marriage, and he marveled at how well she had restrained herself during that time.
There’s a saying about how those who learn late stay up all night, so Rudrick casually changed the subject.
“So, will it be a son or a daughter?”
“…Well. I’d prefer a son.”
Eileen expressed the same opinion as before.
Roughly equating it to his past life, it was like a father hoping for a cute, mother-resembling daughter, so it wasn’t particularly unusual.
Rudrick nodded in understanding and asked,
“What if it’s a daughter?”
“If it’s a daughter… she will be the future Grand Duchess of Nord, so we must raise her strictly…?”
“Hmm…”
Rudrick made a short sound of contemplation.
They were supposed to be of one mind as a couple, but unfortunately, they didn’t see eye to eye on this matter.
Eileen, considering the position of the future Grand Duchess of Nord, favored strict discipline.
Rudrick, still holding onto the mindset of his past life, lacked the confidence to raise a daughter so sternly.
“But isn’t it a bit harsh for the first child?”
“Darling, then there’s a good solution.”
“What is it? If you say we should have more children, I’ll really be upset.”
“Uh-hmm…”
Eileen, who was about to suggest that very solution, quickly shut her mouth. But even she felt that one child was somewhat lacking.
Although it was an era where infant mortality rates were high, that was a concern for commoners, not for nobles who could receive immediate treatment and magical benefits.
Even Eileen was an only child, so it wasn’t necessary to have many children.
However, she couldn’t deny that one child felt insufficient.
“…Elena said she wanted four.”
“It’s come to this, hasn’t it…”
Rudrick sighed when she mentioned something Elena had said.
It was a predetermined future from the moment Elena had publicly declared she would have four children.
Four was a nice number, but with five wives, if they all insisted on having four children, that would result in twenty children.
“A soccer team only needs eleven players, so why do we need enough for a starting lineup and a full bench?”
Rudrick grumbled and shook his head.
The mere thought of having enough children to form a full team with substitutes was almost instinctually overwhelming.
Knowing that Rudrick would eventually give in if she persisted, Eileen formed a gentle curve with her lips.
“…Darling, then shall we have the second child right after the first? Consecutive births.”
“Oh, seriously!”
Eileen giggled softly at Rudrick’s reaction.
Then, snuggling closer, she thought.
She had initially considered it an absurd marriage, but if she could live like this, then accepting it had been the right choice.
Still, she desired to spend more sweet, newlywed-like days with Rudrick.
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[Your Text Here]
It’s nice to see Eileen happy. And all the spouses are going to milk Rudrick lmao