“It’s really true? Fine. Prince Lucas, Princess Cecilia, thank you for everything. We can take it from here. Please rest as long as you need to. Heh heh…”
“Thanks.”
Why is Prince Islan laughing?! And Lucas’s smug face is infuriating! If he thinks he can pull this kind of stunt and then take me to the inn for a victory lap, he’s got another think coming!
“You idiot! I told you to behave!” I smacked his shoulder over and over as he picked me up and started striding off like he owned the place. He wasn’t even embarrassed. Instead, he just gave me a cocky smile.
“I am behaving. We came to Majaar for our honeymoon, so it’s only proper that we spend time together. It shows we have a healthy relationship. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“I-I mean, I guess, but…”
Why does it sound so reasonable? I can’t argue with it, and I hate it!
I could only pout and glare, my cheeks burning. He grinned like he was going to make some ridiculous declaration, and then he did.
“Oh, and by the way. We got permission to have children.”
“What?!”
It was so sudden, I couldn’t even process it. I just stared at him with my mouth hanging open.
Lucas looked straight at me, his golden eyes burning bright, and uttered a solemn promise.
“Yes, children. I know it’s a hard topic emotionally, but I’ll make sure no one ever exploits them. I promise. So get ready, Cecilia.”
That voice… It’s like he’s saying he’s ready!
The weight of it made my chest tighten, and I pressed my forehead against his shoulder. “Just be gentle.”
I meant it in a lot of ways. And in response, my sweet husband blushed all the way up to his ears and pulled me into a tight embrace.
“That might be hard today.”
Figures. I gave him the flattest look I could manage and pinched his cheek hard.
That was hardly appropriate for a proper knight, but his lips were the only ones that could have spoken it. And that just made my heart ache all the more.
“You’re so frustrating, I could scream…”
“That hurts, Cece…”
“Then don’t be mean to me!”
He didn’t answer.
Not answering?!
I stretched his cheeks in protest, already bracing for whatever he was plotting, but before he could do anything, Prince Islan let out a teasing laugh and said something so unhinged we had to gawk at each other.
“Ha ha! With how in love you two are, I wouldn’t be surprised if an heir showed up any day now! No matter who the kid takes after, they’ll be ridiculously good-looking. Let’s keep the bonds between Bern and Majaar strong for another generation, eh?”
Oh wow, so that’s on the table, too?
Not that I saw much of a benefit. And if the child looked like Lucas, I was pretty sure Dirk would veto the whole thing. The idea was so audacious, I couldn’t help but turn it over in my mind.
Having a baby with Lucas… Our baby…
We’d fallen in love and gotten married. I always imagined us walking forward together, hand in hand, but now I found myself picturing our hands holding someone else’s, too.
Lucas’s face was closer than usual, since he was carrying me, and I couldn’t help gazing at him and imagining.
While my thoughts spiraled, Lucas’s expression suddenly grew serious. His brow furrowed ever so slightly, and his barely whispered words tugged at my heartstrings.
“I wonder who they’ll look like…” The little wrinkle between his brows said he was thinking the same thing, so I couldn’t help but tease him.
“Would you rather the baby look like you or me?” I asked nervously, still feeling uncertain about this whole thing.
He held his breath for a second, and then, with a troubled face, answered with bare honesty.
“I don’t know, I can’t imagine it. Either is fine.” Then he added more softly, “As long as they’re born healthy.” There was so much anxiety in his voice that I had to laugh from sheer relief.
“Ha ha ha. You’re right. They’ll be adorable, either way.”
I really did hope we would get to meet a child like him someday. Gentle, kind, and a little mischievous. Actually, maybe not the mischievous part. I still had to think about that one.
I held his flushed cheeks, still caught up in my daydream.
“Now the question is: Do we ask the duke or the marshal to name them?”
“My mentor has nothing to do with this. We can name them after Marquis Cline.”
“But the marshal doesn’t have any children. He’d be so happy if we asked him.”
I couldn’t imagine a better way to thank him after all the years he spent caring for Lucas. Even though I may have been overstepping, I wanted to put the idea forward. Lucas paused and thought it over, then nodded, masking his bashfulness with a surly scowl.
“I’ll think about it.”
Oh, wow. He’s really growing up! The way he’s already taking this in stride like it’s a done deal… Like it’s just a matter of when! He’s probably already mapped it out in his head.
Lucas had always taken on more responsibility than anyone around him. He was the type who never left his burdens for someone else to carry. He was a true knight.
And I couldn’t help but hope from the bottom of my heart that the future we dreamed of would come to pass, and that we would never have to choose another fate.
Suddenly something tugged at me. It wasn’t a sound, but both of us turned to face Bern, like we were pulled by the same invisible thread.
“There’s an emergency!” Finn cried out, running toward us, pale as a sheet. The fear in his voice made me shudder. “A huge swarm of monsters appeared on the border forest! Marshal Webber went out to fight them, but we’ve heard no word of him since!”