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“Jaynon?”
“Yes, he told me to take this path, and I wondered if there was a reason… But why are you here? Did something come up?”
“What do you think?”
The Grand Duke gently pulled Ed close, supporting him as they ascended the stairs.
“I came to escort you.”
The warmth surrounding him brought Ed a sense of calm, though he couldn’t help but glance around nervously in case anyone might see.
As the Grand Duke subtly guided him closer to the wall, Ed found himself pressed against it, his back to the cold surface.
Looking up, he met the Grand Duke’s gaze.
“…”
“…”
The Grand Duke leaned closer, his eyes softening.
“Should I kiss you?”
Though his words were barely a whisper, the Grand Duke didn’t wait for a reply.
The kiss began with a gentle press of lips but quickly deepened into something more.
“Ah… Your Grace.”
When Ed’s breath hitched, he lightly tapped the Grand Duke’s shoulder, prompting him to pull away.
Finally able to breathe, Ed exhaled and asked:
“Why so suddenly?”
“It’s not sudden. Ed, you just looked so adorable when you turned your head.”
At the Duke’s whispered words, Ed felt a wave of heightened sensation course through him, his fine hairs standing on end.
“No, what do you mean by that…”
“So let’s see it again.”
As the Duke lowered his head once more, Ed quickly raised a hand to cover his mouth.
“W-wait a moment.”
When Ed, his cheeks flushed bright red, softly exclaimed in protest, the Duke chuckled.
“Why do I like you so much, Ed?”
Whether you’re standing, smiling, or simply zoning out—no matter when or where, no matter what you’re doing—everything about you drives me to the brink.
The Duke silently confessed these feelings as he took Ed’s hand, the one covering his lips, and gently pulled it forward.
He pressed a soft kiss to Ed’s fingertips and then to his palm, his head lowering gradually.
Ed shivered as a series of light kisses trailed down his wrist, each touch stirring his breath and making his fingers tremble.
Ed, too, wanted to wrap his arms around the Duke’s neck and bask in the warmth they shared.
But something held him back, a lingering hesitation.
Finally, he closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again, stopping the Duke.
“M-my hands are dirty.”
“Dirty? They’re perfectly clean.”
“No, that can’t be true. I was just handling fabric to make dolls—it’s probably all dusty.”
The Duke, momentarily pulling back from Ed’s soft skin, straightened up.
With a leisurely gaze, he noticed the dolls poking out of both of Ed’s pockets.
“Did you make these today?”
“Yes. This one’s mine, and the little fox in the other pocket was made by young master Ronen.”
Noticing the Duke’s attention shift, Ed quickly responded.
He pointed at the dolls and explained that Tens had helped a lot.
It was clear the Duke was captivated.
‘Does His Grace also like dolls?’
Just as Ed reached into his pocket to show the dolls more closely, the Duke gently took hold of his right hand.
Intertwining their fingers, he gave a light squeeze, then relaxed his grip, massaging Ed’s hand as he did so.
“Does that feel nice?”
“…Yes, Your Grace.”
“Was it hard to make them?”
“It wasn’t hard; I just had to sit and use my hands. Besides, like I said, Tens helped a lot.”
Even such a small gesture made Ed’s heart race, his cheeks reddening.
As the Duke slipped his fingers under Ed’s sleeve to softly stroke his wrist, Ed suppressed the sound of a sigh that almost escaped his lips.
“Y-Your Grace. What if someone sees us?”
“So that’s your real concern?”
“…I can’t help but be worried.”
Although they were in a secluded spot, it was still late afternoon, not yet dark.
If someone happened to pass by and see them…
“You can let that worry go. I made sure no one would come this way today.”
“…”
“Anything else on your mind?”
When Ed remained silent, the Duke slowly leaned down again.
“Then, may I kiss you again, Ed?”
After their secret rendezvous, Ed arrived at the Duke’s office looking like a thoroughly ripened tomato, flushed from head to toe.
As he entered the room alongside the Duke, Ed noticed an unfamiliar man sprawled across a three-seater sofa, deeply asleep.
‘…Who is that?’
The man, small and slight, appeared to be in his early to mid-thirties. Ed, certain he hadn’t seen him before at the northern castle, looked up at the Duke.
“Your Grace, who is that man, and why is he sleeping here?”
As the Duke guided Ed to sit, he replied.
“He’s a doctor sent by the High Priest.”
“A doctor? Why is he sleeping here, though?”
Lowering his voice so as not to wake the man, Ed asked.
The Duke placed a light kiss on the crown of Ed’s head before answering.
“He seemed exhausted from traveling to the North in a hurry. His eyes were half-closed even as he reached the office.”
Handing Ed a warm glass of water, the Duke continued.
“I’d left the office to bring you here, but when I came back, I found him like this, fast asleep.”
After draping a small blanket over Ed’s lap, the Duke pulled out a pocket watch to check the time.
“Maybe we should let him sleep a bit longer.”
“Then let’s wait to see him later.”
“That’s probably best. If he examines you while he’s tired…”
At that moment, the man’s eyes flew open. He blinked, looked around in confusion, then sat up with a start.
“M-my apologies, Your Grace!”
The man quickly bowed to the Duke, his voice filled with embarrassment.
“You must have been quite fatigued from the journey. Wouldn’t it be better to rest more before conducting an examination?”
“No, I’m fully awake now. I can begin the examination right away.”
The Duke glanced at Ed, silently asking for his opinion.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ed gave a small nod.
The doctor had been sent by the High Priest, after all, so Ed decided to trust him at least once.
Seeing Ed’s approval, the man exhaled lightly, shaking off his tension.
“Good day. I am Yen, sent by the High Priest. May I examine you?”
“Yes.”
“Please lean back against the sofa. Relax, and try not to be nervous.”
Yen began a thorough examination.
After some time, he spoke with certainty.
“It’s confirmed—you’re pregnant.”
The Duke nodded slightly as Yen continued.
“With Your Grace’s permission, I’d like to assist Ed moving forward.”
While Ed was being examined, the Duke recalled Yen’s credentials as described in the High Priest’s letter.
Yen, now in his late thirties, had studied extensively at the High Temple from a young age, mastering both ancient texts and modern medicine.
The letter also mentioned that Yen had ample experience assisting with births and was discreet, making him trustworthy.
Yet, no matter how capable Yen was, what mattered most was Ed’s comfort.
“What do you think, Ed?”
Feeling reassured by Yen’s meticulous demeanor and focused examination, Ed made his decision without much deliberation.
“I’ll be in your care, Yen.”
Yen responded with a gentle smile.
“Thank you. I’ll do my best.”
That night, the Duke had a private conversation with Yen.
“Have you ever encountered a case where a man bore a child?”
Yen looked up into the Duke’s intense, crimson eyes and replied.
“There are rare cases among the Zelda tribe, as recorded in ancient texts.”
“The Zelda tribe—those elves who lived near the icy lakes of the northeastern mountains? I thought they were extinct.”
“Indeed, they’re a nearly unknown tribe. At some point, they vanished without a trace.”
“I see. The High Priest mentioned that you’ve assisted with male pregnancies before. Were they from the Zelda tribe?”
“Yes. It was a long time ago, but it’s true.”
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