The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 173

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 173
Ch.19
One pleasant evening.
“Oh, that’s right.”
Rosetta set down her spoon and spoke.
“I’m pregnant.”
In that moment, Leviathan had to question whether he’d heard correctly—even though he’d been watching his wife throughout dinner.
He blinked slowly.
“…What?”
I mean, really.
Statements that begin with “Oh, that’s right” are usually followed by something far less significant, aren’t they?
Like “Oh, that’s right. I bought clothes today” or “Oh, that’s right. Since we’ve eaten, how about a walk?”
So I asked foolishly, but I hadn’t misheard.
“I’m carrying a child.”
“…”
“Your child. Mine.”
Crash!
The massive frame shot upright, and the tall chair toppled without mercy. Rosetta’s eyes widened in surprise as she uttered a soft “Oh my.”
The servants standing out of earshot tactfully withdrew to respect the newlyweds’ privacy.
He approached with long strides and lowered himself to the floor. Rosetta glanced sideways, looking down at him.
“Say it again.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Ah…”
The first emotion that struck me was relief.
So that’s why she’d refused her beloved wine throughout dinner and merely picked at her food. She wasn’t ill—the realization brought a strange comfort.
Then a sense of absurdity crept in.
“You’re telling me something this important… while mangling your dessert?”
We just had a two-hour formal dinner.
“The news is what matters, isn’t it?”
Rosetta began attacking the pudding that had been served for dessert with casual indifference.
“God, you really are…”
He buried his face in his hands, which gripped her thigh.
“What? You’re not… crying, are you?”
“I’m crying. I am crying. So… put down that damned fork and look at me.”
“…”
“Why are you only telling me this now…”
He froze, looking up at Rosetta.
His wife’s face, seen up close, was oddly tense. He belatedly realized that her restless hand movements were an attempt to conceal her anxiety.
“Rose.”
“…I do get nervous sometimes.”
He could no longer hold back and pulled Rosetta into his embrace.
Indescribable emotions flooded in like waves.
“So it’s come to this.”
Rosetta murmured, her face flushed with embarrassment.
“Ha….”
What is this?
Is this a dream?
Leviathan was engulfed in an indescribable feeling.
“Leviathan, are you happy?”
“Happy?”
A hollow laugh escaped him.
Would it be merely happiness?
Happiness, joy, elation, gratitude, love, bliss…. All the beautiful words in the world belonged to him in this moment alone.
“…You don’t really like children, do you.”
Rosetta murmured.
“I’m not particularly fond of them either, to be honest.”
More accurately, I leaned toward fear.
The children were so white, so small, so pure.
If I were to squeeze myself, black and crimson liquid would surely flow out. How could someone like me dare to embrace these children, like blank canvases? That’s what troubled me.
Leviathan gently stroked her back.
“If I told you how I truly feel right now?”
“Yes.”
“The whole world feels like a blessing.”
“Ugh, how sappy. Get away from me.”
“I said it as plainly as I could.”
Despite her playful push, Leviathan drew closer and kissed her forehead.
As Rosetta received countless kisses, she fidgeted with the ornaments on his clothes and murmured.
“What if I can’t be a good mother?”
“Well, the fact that you’re worrying about it suggests you’ll be a good one. And….”
Leviathan paused for a moment, then added as if making a vow.
“I’ll be here.”
“Excuse me. To be blunt, there’s no guarantee you’ll be a good father either. You’ve never lived as one before.”
“That’s genuinely harsh.”
A short laugh followed.
“Then let’s try together.”
He said.
“I’ll make more effort.”
Rosetta burst into laughter. Only then did the tension that had been pulled taut finally snap free.
“You know, my friend Mrs. Uris was saying that babies’ first cries are incredibly loud. Is it because they’re hungry? What am I supposed to do? She said that later on, you can tell what they need just from their crying…. Will I become like that too? Have you ever heard a baby cry before?”
Words that had been held back came tumbling out in a cheerful stream.
“There isn’t one.”
I swallowed my laughter. Her anxiety and excitement were contagious, washing over me like a wave.
“Well, since I’m the one giving birth, I’ll hear it first, won’t I? You’ll just be pacing outside the door, drenched in cold sweat.”
“…Just imagining it makes me feel sick.”
Rosetta laughed softly.
“Our baby will be so adorable when they cry. I won’t be able to help but hold them.”
“Of course.”
I leaned forward to deepen the kiss, my hand reaching for the chair—then stopped abruptly.
The sensation beneath my fingertips was shockingly cold and hard. It jolted me awake as if I’d been doused with ice water.
“This chair is too hard.”
“Hm?”
“I need to add more cushions. And we should eat again—you’ve barely touched anything all evening.”
“No, I’m full….”
“We need more braziers too. Actually, it would be better to spend winter in the warm Southern Region instead. No, wait—long journeys might be worse, so let me assess your condition first….”
And so on and so forth.
The massive man furrowed his brow seriously, circling the room restlessly. Watching him, Rosetta’s expression turned bemused.
‘Look at that, little one.’
Another soft laugh escaped her.
‘Your father’s cute, isn’t he?’
Surprisingly full of charm, that one.
She smiled contentedly, cradling her belly.
‘Still, I hope you inherit Mother’s looks as much as possible. Father is the most handsome man in the world, but he does look a bit difficult to get along with socially.’
Especially those eyes—don’t they look arrogant?
“Tell me what you need.”
Watching him wrap his arms around her shoulders with a pleading expression, Rosetta thought calmly.
‘…Still, those eye colors are beautiful.’
Mysterious violet eyes.
Her most beloved hue.
“If my blue mixed with a touch of red…it would be perfect.”
Yes, a precious ruby color—that would be just right.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
Rosetta smiled and pulled Leviathan into an embrace. He hesitated before carefully lifting her up.
“I love you, Leviathan.”
Then a slightly younger version of Leviathan gazed up at me, his smile gentle.
“I love you.”
‘Ah….’
In that moment, Rosetta felt a brief sense of wrongness. As lips sweetened with affection pressed together.
‘Younger than now….’
A melancholy realization dawned.
It was just a dream.
The baby is… gone now.
Rosetta Zebert slowly lifted her eyelids. One hand cradled her lower abdomen tenderly.
Just as in that dream.
“….”
A memory from the happiest day of her life. It had been so long since she’d seen such a dream.
Rosetta blinked her vacant eyes for a moment before breaking into a gentle smile.
‘How lovely.’
That even this way, I haven’t forgotten.
“Haaa.”
As I stretched languidly, the Maidservant who had been gazing out the window turned her head.
“My lady, is there anything troubling you?”
“No, nothing. When will we arrive?”
“We still have half a day’s journey ahead.”
“I see….”
The journey back to the Capital after completing volunteer work in the Southern Region.
This winter, my youngest daughter would finally come of age at eighteen.
“Oh, I miss the children so much I could die!”
Rosetta bounced on her toes.
The face of Rubian, who had grown so naturally adorable, came to mind.
Soft silver hair that flowed gently, and eyes the color of clear autumn sky. The round, pale cheeks still retained the softness of youth.
‘Every time I visit, I measure her height….’
Sadly, Rubian’s height stopped just at the tip of my nose…. But that made her perfect for embracing.
‘She runs warm, so she’s always wonderfully toasty.’
My adorable daughter.
Rosetta chuckled softly as she gazed out the window.
The winter wind, now crisp and cold, brushed against my cheek.
‘So it’s alright.’
I quietly wrapped my arms around my belly, which somehow felt colder.
‘I am not empty.’
The carriage moved slowly toward its destination.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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