Refusing Your Ex-Husband’s Obsession: A Guide - Side Story 18

Side Story 18

Translator: Yonnee

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Shocked, Ciel jumped up, pushing the tray far away and grasping her hand that was covering her mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

“Mmph!”

Irene wanted to respond, but the retching continued so violently she couldn’t speak.

Though nothing came up, she felt so deathly nauseous, and the feeling of queasiness only intensified by the second.

In his panic, Ciel pulled the bell rope.

The chief butler rushed in breathlessly.

“Did you call, Milord?”

“Call the physician, now!”

“What’s…”

“Now!”

Seeing Ciel snap at him uncharacteristically, the chief butler hurried out, bewildered.

“Rin, look at me. Are you okay?”

A startled Ciel quickly embraced her. Irene, still heaving, pointed to the food tray in the corner of the room and said,

“Please, get rid of that, uurrp. I hate the smell.”

“Just a moment…”

He used his wind ability to send it away. Only then could Irene breathe properly again.

Then, a thought flashed through her mind.

“…It can’t be.”

Despite being intimate almost every day since their honeymoon, could it have happened so quickly?

“What? What is it?”

Though she murmured quietly, Ciel caught it and so he asked.

She looked up at him, wrapping her arms around her in confusion.

“It can’t be.”

Having a child wasn’t in her immediate plans. Though she hoped for it, she hadn’t expected it so soon.

She hadn’t even finished organizing their new home or gotten used to it. While she was lost in thought, the physician arrived.

“Excuse me.”

The physician approached swiftly, extending a hand.

“Milady, may I see your hand?”

“…Uck, yes.”

As Irene extended her hand, she looked at the physician with a pounding heart. The physician carefully checked her pulse, then suddenly looked up.

“Your Highnesses, Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.”

“What? Is there a serious problem?”

Ciel, flustered and fearing the worst, was taken aback by the physician’s next words.

“It’s not a problem, it seems like good news.”

“What?”

“It appears the Grand Duchess is with child.”

Ciel was so shocked he couldn’t respond. The idea of having a child hadn’t crossed his mind at all.

“Wh…What?”

It took a moment for his brain to catch up. Ciel looked bewildered, blinking stupidly, then shivered as if he was malfunctioning.

“With child?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Irene was equally shocked, her mouth agape, unable to speak.

“A child?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“A child… A child…”

“Yes, it is confirmed the Grand Duchess is with child.”

“Honey!”

Several confirmations later, Ciel finally reacted and rushed towards her.

“Be careful, Your Highness!”

At the physician’s shout, he halted abruptly, then embraced her with utmost caution. It wasn’t a fierce hug as usual, but a hold so gentle, as if fearing even to touch her too firmly.

“…Ciel.”

“Thank you, Honey.”

He hadn’t anticipated that another member of their family would come into being so swiftly. He had wanted to enjoy their newlywed life leisurely, but now, a child would be born to them both.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t overjoyed.

“Really, truly, thank you….”

“…I feel the same way.”

She wrapped her arms around Ciel’s neck and rested her face on his shoulder. His nape felt intensely warm against her cheek.

His overwhelming emotion was palpable. For a long while, they just held each other, saying nothing.

The physician watched them with a moved expression. Seeing the couple he served in such harmony was certainly no bad thing for him.

The chief butler, who had been waiting outside the bedroom, heard everything. Unable to hide his joy, he quickly went downstairs.

Good news was meant to be spread far and wide.