Episode 98. Pregnancy (1)

The carriage speeds along. The scenery I hadn’t noticed on the way here, preoccupied as I was with a hangover, rushes past. A forest full of trees with bare branches, the very picture of autumn, and wide open fields. Various memories flash by, including the night Winnie and I spent camping outdoors.

Because of that, I’m already tired of looking at the scenery, even though we’re almost there, so I’m rereading Winnie’s letter and thinking about its contents. Something terrible has happened, please come quickly. These two sentences, a short letter containing only these words. Vera’s letter, which came with it, didn’t say much, but the letter I received from that old nun afterwards…

“I won’t let you off easy when you get back. Hmm…”

What’s that about? What did I do wrong? When I first read it without thinking too much, I thought she just meant she wanted to see me soon and not let me off easy as in have sex, but after reading Winnie’s letter again, I feel uneasy. Did I do something wrong? Even if I did, it would have been almost two months ago, how am I supposed to remember what happened back then?

‘Could Monica have found out?’

That would definitely be a big problem. If Monica found out about my relationship with Vera and Winnie, what kind of reaction would she have…? Considering her personality, I needed to solidify my position even more. I can’t hide it forever, but when that time comes, I need to be able to stand up for myself without being kicked out… Of course, it would be absolutely disadvantageous for me. Monica is the one I officially married, and what I’m doing is an affair.

That’s why I thought I should be even more careful, and I erased that possibility from my mind. I didn’t feel any urgency or anxiety in Vera’s letter, and if I really had been caught, there was no point in me worrying about it.

If not that, then what’s the problem? Winnie is thinking seriously, and Vera is taking it lightly… I can’t think of anything. While I was worrying about that, dusk fell, and the brightly lit Yulstein Castle came into view in the distance.

I was supposed to arrive around noon tomorrow, but I urged the coachman and arrived a day early. Changing horses at Retinel in the middle of the journey also seems to have helped a lot… Anyway, for that reason, the castle gates were tightly closed. When we reached the gate, the guards who came to check our identities immediately opened the gate after seeing the crest I presented. We reached the main castle without any hindrance, and Vera-nunim was waiting for me, having apparently been informed in the meantime.

“Mother-in-law, it’s been a while.”

“Edward-kyung, you’ve worked hard. The Count-nim is exhausted from overwork and has gone to bed early… You must be tired, so get some rest and say hello tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

Conscious of prying eyes, formal and polite conversation ensues. While the servants sorted out the luggage loaded on the carriage, I followed Vera into the castle. As soon as the others disappeared from sight, I hugged Nunim from behind.

“Nunim, I’m back. I missed you.”

“Me too, Edward. Uum…”

Lifting me up, Vera hugs me again, facing me. A welcome back kiss. Feeling Vera Nunim’s luscious body for the first time in a while, I rubbed my lips and body all over her. After a slightly long kiss, I saw Vera Nunim’s dazed face.

“You… seem to have gotten better at kissing since you’ve been away. Did you just practice kissing with someone?”

“Hey, what do you take me for?”

Keuheum, my conscience pricks me a little. To gloss over it, I pressed my waist tightly against her soft thighs. Vera Nunim’s face turned red as she felt the sensation of my penis. I’ve been holding back for a little over a week because of the carriage ride, so I’m this pent up, how hard must it be for Nunim, who’s been waiting for almost two months?

“Nunim, today too…”

“Uum, wait. Just a minute. Wash up first. You know you’re super grimy right now, right?”

“…Do I smell?”

“A little… a lot?”

My body is as dusty as my lust is built up. Vera, who accepted my hug in that state, is amazing. She has a good nose, so it must be even more bothersome for her… I hurried to the bathroom. Unlike last time, Vera Nunim didn’t come in today and just urged me to wash quickly. It’s a bit of a shame that we can’t do it in the tub, but we can do it on the bed instead.

After scrubbing and shining and changing into new clothes, I felt refreshed. With this feeling, I think I could go all night. As soon as I saw Vera Nunim, who had also changed into new clothes, I clung to her again.

“Heuheut, that tickles.”

“You said you wouldn’t let me off easy. That’s what I should be saying.”

On the bed, I’m going to have sex until all the lust that’s been building up for two months is released. Vera Nunim’s body also seems to be looking forward to it, I could feel it burning hot. But the place Nunim led me to was not her room, which was right next to the bathroom, but outside the main castle. After walking a short distance in silence, Nunim turned to me and said.

“It would be nice to spend the night together, but there’s something we need to take care of now.”

Looking at Nunim’s eyes as she looked at me, and the Mountberne Count Family’s mansion we had arrived at, I could sense that it was related to the problem I had been worrying about.

“Is it related to that letter Winnie sent?”

“Yes.”

“What’s wrong…?”

“I think it’s best to hear it directly from the person involved.”

Vera Nunim just stood there with an embarrassed smile. Hmm, I have no information at all. But looking at that expression, I was relieved that it didn’t seem like a terribly serious problem.

“Winnie is having a hard time, so please comfort her. Whatever you hear, just say you’re sorry.”

No, is it serious? I don’t know what it is, but Vera Nunim thought I was in the wrong and was saying that. Suddenly, the uneasy thoughts I had buried deep in my heart resurfaced. Those thoughts that I had buried, saying it didn’t make sense, that there was no possibility… Vera, not knowing whether Edward knew what was going on inside, was already knocking on the door.

“Winnie-yang, I’ve brought Edward-kyung.”

Late at night, Winnie was alone in her room, doing research. Edward said he would come tomorrow. Aiming to finish what she was making now before then, she boils medicine in a room where the lights never go out.

“If I add this…”

Fortunately, even though it was the first time she had made this medicine, the process was going smoothly. Now, if she adjusts the heat to low and boils it down until tomorrow, it will be finished. She’ll have to check the effects, but so far it wasn’t much different from the descriptions written in the book. Both the process and the results.

“Huu…”

What will happen to her and the baby in her belly will be decided by Edward. Thinking of tomorrow as the day of reckoning, Winnie tidied up her room to go to bed early. It was much earlier than her usual bedtime, but it was all as Vera had advised. She told her to minimize anything that would cause stress…

Knock knock-

But then, there was a knock on the door.

“I’m sorry for the late hour. I have something to tell you…”

“It’s okay. What’s wrong?”

Vera spoke cautiously, as if she felt awkward for breaking her own words to go to bed early.

“Edward has arrived now. What do you want to do…?”

…!

‘Why, why did he come so early?’

I was preparing myself to meet him tomorrow, but suddenly? I felt embarrassed but not unhappy.

“Shall I bring him here? You’ll need time to talk alone.”

Nod nod.

Leaving the flustered Winnie behind, Vera disappeared to get Edward. Winnie tried to calm her trembling heart and calm herself. There’s no point in getting unnecessarily nervous. It’s a little earlier than planned, but it’s really just a little. If I do as I thought, it will work out well. While she was relaxing, more time passed than she thought.

Knock knock-

“Winnie-yang, I’ve brought Edward-kyung.”

Vera entered the Mountberne mansion with Edward.

“Well, it’s something you guys need to sort out between yourselves… I’ll be out for a while. Is that okay, Winnie-yang?”

“Yes…”

“Good luck! If Edward says anything weird, tell me.”

“No, what am I…”

Squeak- Thud.

With that, the door closed, and only Winnie and Edward, sitting across from each other with a table between them, were left in the room. Edward, watching Winnie, who didn’t look happy, opened his mouth first.

“Um… I’m back.”

“Yeah…”

Winnie, who was usually strangely curt but answered much brighter.

“What did you write in the letter…?”

As if she had been waiting for those words, Winnie raised her head and looked at Edward. Her expression, which seemed determined as if she had made up her mind, looked very serious.

“I’m not kidding, I’m being serious.”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t say something like, I can tell just by looking at your face. Edward answered briefly and looked at Winnie, who was pursing her lips. Winnie, who hesitated several times even right before speaking, said as if blurting it out.

“I’m pregnant.”