101st Confession - Side Story Episode 16 - Herwin\'s Troubles (3)

Side Story Episode 16: Herwin’s Troubles (3)

Herwin chuckled and bent his waist again with a smile. 

Then, he whispered to Lucia’s dangerously close lips.

“You have no idea how much I’ve been enduring.”

“…Enduring?”

“Yeah, at the beginning of the pregnancy, I held back because it wouldn’t be good for the baby, and now I think it’s not good because your body is getting heavier.”

Lucia blushed understanding Herwin’s words. She felt embarrassed as she realized she had misunderstood him all along.

“Do you know why I hug you from behind every night?”

“Wasn’t it to talk to the baby?”

“That’s one reason, but also because I couldn’t bear to look at you directly. And I think that way, I won’t do anything harsh.”

But all that worrying was unnecessary.

Instead of kissing Lucia’s cheek, Herwin changed the course with his adorable lips.

Lucia felt dizzy for a moment from the kiss she hadn’t received in a long time.

After a brief kiss, Herwin withdrew first. However, Lucia immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

It felt different from what she had been doing. Moreover, while before he used to kiss her roughly as if devouring everything, now it was a kiss that showed consideration for her, yet with a hint of impatience, one that was more sensual.

Herwin’s sharp gaze softened into gentle curves.

Worried about pressing on Lucia’s belly, Herwin stroked her waist and lay down beside her.

The fact that his lovely wife ardently desired him made him lose his reason.

His dormant instincts were awakening and starting to rampage.

Sensing a potential disaster, Herwin regretfully coaxed Lucia, who seemed disappointed.

“Hah… You understand my feelings now, right? So don’t jump to conclusions with that little head of yours. It’s subtly frustrating.”

Lucia only gave him a dazed look in response to Herwin’s playful tone. She still seemed unable to escape from the passion.

At that moment, Herwin also sensed the danger and stiffened his expression.

‘Is this dangerous…?’

As he tried to pull away, Lucia grabbed Herwin’s collar.

Then, with a flushed face, she whispered.

“It’s okay.”

Veins stood out on Herwin’s backhand. His red eyes finally became serious, revealing the hidden beast within.

“I asked the doctor, and he said it’s okay now that we’re in the stable period, as long as we don’t do it intensely. But above all… it’s my decision.”

Lucia approached Herwin, revealing her excited emotions.

“Please, hold me tight.”

Thump!

The patience he had barely held onto snapped. Herwin immediately transformed into a beast and engulfed Lucia in one go.

His rough movements, just like during their honeymoon, were incredibly welcomed. And at the same time, it had been so long that his heart raced as if it had gone mad.

While Herwin was trying to unbutton his shirt, he tore it apart in his impatience.

Lucia’s eyes widened.

Although she had seen this sight several times before, today it seemed even more provocative.

When Lucia cautiously touched his torn abs, Herwin grabbed her wrist firmly.

“Don’t tempt me anymore, Lucia. I really can’t hold back.”

Although she wanted to say it was okay not to hold back, knowing they were in a stable period meant they still had to be cautious. Lucia only nodded her understanding.

Herwin’s lips moved toward her belly.

“…Isn’t this strange?”

She felt a little embarrassed when the situation turned out like this despite her being the one who had tempted him first.

As she tried to cover her bulging belly, Herwin gently stopped Lucia’s actions and buried his face in her belly.

“No. It’s lovely. Beautiful, Lucia.”

His actions of leaving short kisses all over her bulging belly felt sincere.

That night, Lucia experienced ecstasy.

If the nights she had spent with Herwin so far could be described as a dizzying hurricane, this time it felt like surrendering to deep waves, melting her entire body.

And…

“It was good, Lucia. You’re so beautiful.”

Seeing Herwin, who seemed tireless, Lucia realized how absurd her previous misunderstandings had been.

She wanted to fully accept Herwin, but his desires seemed to outweigh her feelings, so she couldn’t bring herself to resist.

Herwin also understood this well and didn’t make unreasonable requests.

“When our child is born, I won’t tolerate it anymore.”

… Somehow, she became afraid of what would happen after giving birth.

* * *

Lucia’s appetite returned, and the tension that had been present every night was resolved, making their relationship even stronger than before.

But there was still one worry lingering.

“Oh! Look at this! Isn’t it adorable? Henry and our Herwin were this small when they were young.”

Scarlett, who had brought a lot of baby items today as well, swung her feet in excitement while looking at the tiny mittens and booties smaller than her palm.

Sitting next to her, Lucia smiled happily as she caressed her belly.

Yes, just looking at that scene, everything seemed fine. However, Herwin felt a strange uneasiness that no one else could perceive.

Lucia was touching the baby’s clothes with a slightly sad expression in her eyes.

It was a subtle expression that seemed both happy and sad.

“Excuse me, Your Grace.”

At that moment, a maid appeared with a large box. Not only that, but servants came one after another carrying something.

“What’s all this?”

“These are gifts from Countess Agnes.”

“Oh? Really?”

Scarlett recognized the letter with the seal of Countess Agnes on it. Lucia, who was standing next to her, blinked her big eyes and stared at the letter Scarlett had taken.

With a sly smile, Scarlett handed the letter with Countess Agnes’ seal to Lucia.

“It’s from Julian. Seems like she has a lot to say to you.”

Lucia received the letter with trembling hands and stood up for a moment.

When Herwin tried to follow her, Scarlett stopped him.

“Leave her alone. Lucia needs some time alone, don’t you think?”

Although Herwin was worried as Lucia seemed about to cry, he took Scarlett’s advice and sat back down.

Of course, his gaze was still fixed on Lucia.

Observing his expression, Scarlett smiled.

“Take good care of Lucia.”

“I am taking good care of her.”

“Yes, I know. I know how much you cherish Lucia. But that’s not what I mean. I mean, take better care so that she doesn’t feel homesick.”

“…Homesick?”

When Herwin showed a surprised expression, Scarlett continued, thinking he would react that way.

“I didn’t think about it, but even if you’ve been familiar with each other for a long time and know each other well, living in a new place away from home might not be comfortable for her.”

Homesickness. He never thought about that. Perhaps that was the cause of Lucia’s occasional strange behavior. 

“When I first came here, it was quite difficult. Of course, your father took good care of me, and people around me were also kind, but still, I kept thinking about my hometown separately.”

“What did you do at times like that?”

“I wrote a lot of letters. As you know, your mother is from the southeast. Since the distance was far, I couldn’t go often, and I eagerly waited for the letters my parents sent.”

Just one line asking if they were doing well served as a great comfort. Even though she thought she should get used to living here and readied herself, every time she read the letters, she wanted to run to her parents and cry out loud.

Of course, the homesickness didn’t last long. Soon, Herwin appeared, and now that this place was her new home, she tried her best to adapt.

“There’s no cure for the homesickness. It might be resolved if you go back to your hometown, but you can’t stay there forever. So, try to accumulate as many memories as possible to get attached to this place.”

Gradually, the homesickness was hidden, and this place began to feel as comfortable as her hometown.

“Lucia will find it even more challenging than me. It’s a sudden pregnancy, so she might feel the homesickness even more strongly. So, take good care of her. Understand?”

“…………Yes. Thank you, Mother.”

Scarlett, who had a surprised expression, finally laughed softly.

“You’ve grown into an adult without me noticing. Yes, you inherited the dukedom, so the time of being a child is long gone.”

Scarlett was briefly lost in memories, wearing a somewhat bitter expression. When did the small child who used to look up at her with innocent eyes become such a fine adult? Moreover, the little one who looked up at her with the same wide-eyed wonderment was giving her a grandchild.

Scarlett smiled at the approaching Lucia, who shook her head in disbelief.

 “Why are you smiling, Mother?”

“Oh, it’s because our Lucia is so beautiful. I hope the baby looks just like you.”

“Me? Mother, you’re too…”

Lucia couldn’t hide her embarrassment but also couldn’t conceal her joy. Her previously somber expression had noticeably improved.

“Yeah. What did Julian say?”

“The usual. Asking how I’m doing, if the baby is growing healthily, if there’s anything I’m craving…”

“Hah, every time I hear this kind of talk, it hits me that I’m really becoming a grandmother. I never thought such a day would come.”

Scarlett’s demeanor overlapped with Julian’s. 

When they first announced the pregnancy, they almost immediately received a reply, or rather, a letter arrived after a long delay. The letter expressed Julian’s bittersweet feelings about not fully realizing that she had become a grandmother. But despite her words, it seemed she still welcomed the new blessing.

“Shall we check what she sent?”

Lucia nodded and opened the largest box first.

Inside were clothes.

“Oh! They’re matching outfits for the baby and the mother!”

Scarlett became even more excited about buying clothes. As she said, they were matching outfits for the baby and the mother. Since they didn’t know the gender, there were lace details on the baby’s clothes.

With a tender smile, Herwin held up the tiny baby clothes.

“Should we dress the baby in this for the portrait when they’re born?”

“Absolutely! That’s a great idea. Since it’s like this, how about we also make a new outfit for you, Herwin?”

Thinking about Herwin wearing clothes with lace, which he usually didn’t like, made Lucia laugh.

Seeing Lucia smile, Herwin gladly nodded.

“I guess we should make one based on this outfit.”

There were also various baby items and items for the mother. 

The caring hearts of the Agnes couple, who cherished Lucia, were evident.