Chapter 99: Side Story (Episode 19)

I don’t even know what exactly, or how far, I’m allowed to go.

Catching his breath, Riorem found himself lost in the same thoughts he’d had more times than he could count.

Chernea was already unconscious. She had fallen asleep as if fainting, exhausted by the string of climaxes.

Because he just kept going without stopping.

Riorem looked down at the bed with an expression as if he’d lost his way.

Her naked white body was a complete mess. The semen he had spilled was splattered not only across Chernea’s lower belly but even onto the valley of her chest.

“Ha……”

His taut abs twitched with tension. The fact that he had just reached climax moments ago meant nothing—he could get hard just by looking at this woman’s toes.

Still, wasn’t it a bit much to push her until she passed out and then act like this?

Swallowed by self-reproach, Riorem gently spread Chernea’s thigh.

Thanks to the copious amount of her juices, there were no serious wounds, but the skin was reddened and raw.

Riorem let out a long sigh.

‘I really… should’ve told her no.’

He recalled the harsh words he’d heard as a child in the Temple.

The Priests had been right. He truly was a product of lewdness.

Otherwise, there was no way he would be tightening the thighs of the woman carrying his child and poking around in her like this every day.

Carefully, Riorem began to clean Chernea’s body. Instead of the crumpled mess of blankets, he fetched a dry, soft Summer Blanket to wrap her in and lay down beside her.

His body’s heat hadn’t cooled yet. If it were up to him, he’d leave the bedroom and stay awake all night, swinging his sword or jogging, just to clear his head.

But Chernea wouldn’t allow it. She even threatened she’d cry if he didn’t hold her all night.

Normally, he might have tried to resist. But after seeing Chernea actually cry, he couldn’t bring himself to sleep apart, no matter how restless his nights became.

Her Blue Eyes stared quietly at his pale face.

Nights like these slowly wore down Riorem’s patience.

He spent the whole night watching Chernea, becoming aroused on his own. Then morning came, and it became harder to resist Chernea’s temptations as she ran her hand between his thighs.

Still, he didn’t want to see those tears streaming down her face again.

‘…It’s absurdly arousing.’

Riorem muttered, frowning.

If he were an ordinary husband, he might have been at a loss trying to comfort his crying wife.

But the moment Chernea’s tears fell and she glared at him, Riorem honestly felt admiration.

‘So she really can cry.’

He wouldn’t say he knew everything about Chernea.

But he had watched her for a very long time and knew well that among all the emotions she could feel, sadness wasn’t one of them.

So when Chernea’s feelings stirred so violently that tears dampened her cheek—because of him—he was so overwhelmed that he struggled to suppress the urge to bury himself inside his wife.

He never wanted to make Chernea cry, never wanted to anger her by leaving her alone at night.

And that was how things ended up like this: a night where he couldn’t even touch himself, standing rock hard, only staring at Chernea.

His fingertips gently brushed Chernea’s eyes.

‘Her mood swings… have really gotten worse, huh?’

The shopkeepers and villagers they met on the road all warned about emotional changes in early pregnancy.

Even Chernea herself had admitted her feelings were unstable and cautioned him.

But Riorem hadn’t noticed much difference in Chernea’s behavior. It might seem odd to say this after seeing her cry, but her occasional temper and torment didn’t feel especially unusual.

Of course, sometimes it reminded him of his childhood days. But compared to then, it was less than half as hard now.

In truth, he barely realized she was even pregnant. If not for her gradually swelling belly, he probably wouldn’t have felt any reality at all.

‘…Is that why I keep getting hard all the time?’

Riorem’s gaze landed on the lower belly wrapped beneath five layers of Summer Blanket.

‘If you’re curious, go ahead and touch it.’

A phrase Chernea once said echoed in his mind.

Was it really okay? To place these heavy, hard hands on such a fragile life?

There were so many things he honestly wanted to ask.

How much pressure was safe to use when touching her belly? If she slept for too long, was it okay to wake her? Was surviving on a glass of milk and a few Wild Berries for half a day too hard on her?

And—was she ever afraid he might do something wrong?

“…….”

Riorem pressed his palm against his eyes.

Could he really trust this woman who said everything was fine?

After all that worrying, he pulled the blanket back over Chernea once more.

When the sun rose, his mind cleared somewhat.

Though, after climbing the mountain twice before dawn and still feeling so energetic, he wasn’t sure if “clear” was the right word……

Still, today he regained his senses more quickly. It was thanks to Chernea eating a slice of bread.

Unlike her swelling belly, Chernea’s morning sickness showed no sign of easing. So on days like today, when she managed to eat even a little grain, he wanted to shout with joy.

What’s more, after finishing her meal, Chernea even suggested going out first.

“The morning air feels nice. Shall we go for a walk?”

Riorem felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth.

She ate a slice of bread, and now a walk too.

Without realizing it, he smiled and stood up.

“Please wait a moment.”

Riorem immediately stepped out onto the Porch.

There, along the path leading to the coastal road, he quickly cleared every branch and pebble from the way.

In doing so, he naturally realized that today wasn’t the best day for a walk. The ground was slippery with Sea Mist that had settled overnight.

But since Chernea had taken the initiative to suggest a walk, he couldn’t refuse. If she started crying about being overprotected, he might not be able to hold himself back.

So Riorem smoothed the ground himself, dispersing the moisture that had settled.

Once he thought it safe enough, he rose, only to find Chernea leaning against the Porch, watching him.

Their eyes met, and she asked,

“What are you doing, Riorem?”

“The ground is slippery. I smoothed it so you wouldn’t fall.”

“You actually cleaned the dirt path in the Yard for something like that?”

“Yes. Still, it’s dangerous, so you must not walk alone. I’ll wash up and change clothes, so please wait a little longer.”

Chernea burst out laughing at that.

He wondered why she was so happy but didn’t ask.

A laughing face was much easier to bear than a crying one, which only fueled his desire.

After confirming Chernea had sat down on the chair in front of the Porch, Riorem went to wash.

He only washed off the sweat and dirt, feeling a little uneasy, but it was already too late to apply Aroma Oil after keeping Chernea waiting.

So, he roughly wiped the water off and returned, only for Chernea to call him.

“Do you need anything else?”

Her Golden Eyes looked up at him as he approached.

Having just rushed to wash at the water basin, Riorem was still dripping wet.

His sleek Black Hair clung to his ivory skin, his muscles showing faintly through the thin Summer Shirt. The sight was irresistibly arousing.

In his heart, he wanted to collapse onto the bed with her immediately.

But Chernea suppressed her desires and used a towel to wipe the water off his body.

‘She made such an effort, so we can’t skip the walk.’

Chernea smiled softly.

Both the hands gently drying him and the man receiving that touch were silent, swallowing the heat rising to their necks.

The heavy silence was scattered by the summer breeze blowing in through the wide-open Porch.

Finally, beneath the damp towel, her Blue Eyes peeked out.

Through the still-wet strands of Black Hair, Riorem looked down at Chernea quietly.

His Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.

Swallowing thickly.

Chernea lifted her lips.

“Shall we… go for that walk now?”

“…….”

“Don’t want to? Should we just not go?”

“…….”

Riorem was speechless, unable to answer either way.

Chernea laughed.

“Then… just one kiss before we go?”

“…Yes.”

Riorem reached out his hand toward the Porch door.

The still-quiet coastal road was partially hidden behind the half-closed white door.

Hiding Chernea in the shadows like that, Riorem bent down.

Because he hadn’t closed the door completely, his own figure remained fully visible outside. But knowing this, he left half the door open anyway.

Really, he intended to just kiss once and then go for a walk.