Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 143

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“I vaguely do. See the uneven stitching there? My mother made those herself when she found out she was expecting Ronen. She wasn’t skilled at sewing and often pricked her fingers with the needle.”

Following the Grand Duke’s finger as he pointed out the stitches, Ed couldn’t help but imagine the scene.

“And how did you feel back then?”

“When I found out I was getting a sibling?”

“Yes.”

The Grand Duke gently brushed Ed’s bangs aside as he replied.

“I was thrilled. I wondered if I’d have a sister or a brother and couldn’t wait to see how adorable they’d be.”

As Ed nodded slightly, the Grand Duke continued.

“But thinking about a child in your belly, I realize I can’t just adore them like I did with Ronen.”

“Why not?”

“Because they shouldn’t make you suffer.”

When Ed laughed softly at the Grand Duke’s unexpectedly serious tone, the man crossed his arms with a grave expression.

“And there’s another thought I’ve had. This time, it’s not just about adoration but about ensuring you and our child are truly happy.”

Ed’s heart swelled.

When he first reincarnated into this novel, survival was his only priority.

Love from someone like the Grand Duke had seemed unimaginable.

The Grand Duke studied Ed’s silent face before speaking again.

“You don’t need to worry about my position, Ed. Historical records suggest that the first person to bear a dragon’s child was also male, though the wording is vague.”

At that moment, the distance Ed had felt between them seemed to disappear entirely.

The Grand Duke leaned closer, whispering in his ear.

“And if people find out you’re pregnant…”

Ed swallowed nervously at the sudden playfulness in the Grand Duke’s tone.

“They’ll see me differently.”

“Pardon?”

“They’ll realize the miraculous power of the dragon’s blood within me—to the point that even a man can conceive. They’ll revere me as someone with a power beyond any magic.”

The Grand Duke’s hand softly caressed Ed’s cheek as he gazed at him.

“So don’t worry about my position. Just focus on eating well and resting. I’ll find the best physician in the empire to care for you, so don’t worry about the child, either.”

“….”

“Any other concerns?”

Looking at the confident Grand Duke, Ed shook his head lightly.

‘I’ve only been worried about His Grace’s situation and the child’s health. Nothing more.’

The Grand Duke nodded subtly.

“Then only one thing remains.”

“One thing?”

“Yes.”

The Grand Duke’s fingers trailed down from Ed’s cheek to tap gently on his chest.

“Your feelings, Ed.”

“…My feelings?”

“You’ve worried about me and the child all this time. But the most important question now is how ‘you’ feel.”

“…”

“Do you want to have our child?”

“…Ah.”

‘Our Child.’

“It’s something that came true because of Ed’s wish, but experiencing it could change your mind. You might feel scared.”

“……”

“Whatever choice you make, I’ll respect it.”

The duke gazed intently at Ed.

“So, what do you want to do, Ed?”

‘My feelings, huh.’

Of course… Ed lowered his eyes to the duke’s fingers resting against his chest.

Feeling the soft tapping on his chest, Ed raised his gaze from the duke’s fingertips.

His eyes traced up the duke’s arm, shoulder, neck, nape, jawline, and finally met his gaze.

Slowly, Ed blinked.

‘Yes, what I want is…’

Looking at the duke, Ed thought absentmindedly.

‘If it’s true that I’m pregnant, does that mean… a child who looks just like that face could be born?’

As the image of a child resembling the duke’s face, personality, and dignity nestled in his arms came to mind, Ed reflexively covered his mouth with his hand.

‘…Then, with the obstacle of an heir out of the way, does that mean I no longer need to hide my feelings for His Grace?’

As his thoughts reached that point, the dam tightly holding back his emotions seemed to crumble bit by bit.

Finally, without anything holding him back, Ed could see his true feelings for the duke clearly.

‘The smiles His Grace gave me without ulterior motives, the gentle voice calling my name—Ed—and the way he said ‘I love you’ with such composed lips, always looking at me with warm eyes.’

Recalling all the things he had tried so hard to ignore, Ed placed a hand on his tightening chest.

His heart pounded against his palm, its presence impossible to overlook.

‘I really, truly like His Grace so much.’

As he looked at the duke, who remained silent to give him time to think, Ed reflected.

‘When His Grace says he respects my opinion, he’s leaving room for the possibility that I might choose not to have the child.’

But that thought didn’t cross Ed’s mind.

‘Because I want to be a family with His Grace. And also…’

Staring into the unwavering red eyes fixed on him, Ed arrived at the most essential answer.

Because he loved him.

Yes, because he loved the duke, he wanted to have ‘their’ child.

Even if it was an idea so unexpected that it left him flustered and frightened, he wanted to summon the courage to move forward.

“If Your Grace found it strange that I’m pregnant…”

“……”

“Then I might have thought about raising the child alone. But other options wouldn’t have crossed my mind. Yet.”

Ed paused, and the duke handed him a cup again.

Thirsty, Ed offered a faint smile, drank some water, and let out a small sigh.

Then he looked directly at the duke.

“I’m truly happy that Your Grace is sincerely glad about the child between us. I’m happy because the child in my womb is a blessing to both of us.”

“Ed.”

“Yes, my decision is obvious. I’m going to have this child.”

At some point, Ed had been stroking his abdomen with his hand.

When the duke placed his hand over Ed’s and intertwined their fingers, Ed looked up at him.

“Thank you, Ed.”

Then, the duke stretched out his arms and embraced Ed.

Once again enveloped in the duke’s warm and comforting hold, Ed hesitated for a moment, glancing around nervously.

‘Would it be okay if I hugged His Grace first this time?’

Well, ever since he resolved to reject the duke’s confession, he had avoided physical contact with him. But now… it seemed okay.

After deliberating, Ed tentatively wrapped his arms around the duke’s back.

The duke chuckled softly as Ed embraced him.

The pleasant vibration of his laughter traveled through their connected chests.

As Ed’s cheeks flushed, he couldn’t help but laugh along, and the duke patted his back lightly.

They held each other for a while before Ed loosened his arms first.

Hearing the duke’s heartbeat, he began to worry about something else.

‘Am I really pregnant?’

Ed rubbed his pajama-covered stomach thoughtfully.

‘What if the physician misdiagnosed me, or it’s just my imagination?’

Though Ed trusted the experienced and cautious family physician, if it turned out to be a mistake, he resolved to grab the man by the collar and give him a good shake.

As his thoughts wandered, Ed started to feel unnecessarily anxious.

Slipping his hand under his clothes, he carefully stroked his stomach.

‘It’d be nice if I could feel something to confirm it. Baby, are you really inside me? If you are, where exactly? Here? Or here?’

Ed found himself touching his abdomen more than he ever had before, probing cautiously and attentively.

‘If only you’d kick or something to announce your presence. But since it’s been less than two months since I left the cave, it’s probably too soon for that… If only I had an ultrasound image, it’d feel more real.’

For a fleeting moment, Ed missed the technology of the 21st century.

With a small sigh, he reminded himself:

‘But if it were the 21st century, something magical like this wouldn’t have happened. Instead of longing for what I don’t have, I should focus on what I can do and what lies ahead.’

Looking at the duke, Ed felt that as long as they faced the future together, everything would turn out fine.

With the duke, their child, and the people of the northern castle, nothing seemed daunting.

‘Is this how my mother, Ed’s mother, and His Grace’s mother felt when they carried a child?’

Was he, like them, born under such blessings?

He hoped so. As his thoughts wandered, Ed’s eyes began to brim with tears.

“…Huh, why am I crying?”

When Ed muttered absentmindedly, the duke held him close without saying a word, gently patting his back.

Though Ed had endured so much, he had never shown weakness in front of the duke. Seeing his tears now, the duke’s heart ached.

“Ed, you’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

“No, it wasn’t hard… Or, maybe it was?”

As Ed spoke, he rubbed his eyes against the duke’s shoulder.

Had it been hard?

Yes, it had been.

Loving him while hiding his feelings, thinking he had to give him up despite loving him…

That had been hard.

And so, Ed silently let his tears flow.

The duke stroked his hair gently until Ed’s trembling shoulders calmed.

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