By Zephyria 
Looking back now, there was a feeling that Ryle had become calmer as Hae-jin became the Chairman of the Board. It seemed he was respecting Hae-jin’s social standing now that he had begun public activities.
However, the pregnancy had essentially returned things to how they were before.
“Hae-jin!”
“Oh dear, Chairman. You’ve been caught.”
“It’s okay. As soon as I saw the Chairman, I quickly closed the front door so the cold wind wouldn’t get in.”
He heard Ryle calling him from a distance. Looking dismayed, Hae-jin hurriedly scanned his surroundings.
He thought about sitting on the stairs for the time being, but quickly decided against it. He felt Ryle would worry more if he found him sitting somewhere cold.
“Hae-jin.”
“Ryle.”
“Why were you outside? Dressed so thinly.”
It was true that he had sneaked out for a walk while Ryle had left the bedroom to check on something. However, Hae-jin felt somewhat wronged.
Fearing Ryle would worry about the cold wind if he went outside, he had intentionally stayed within the indoor areas. Just in case, he had even carefully wrapped a blanket around his shoulders.
Yet, Ryle could not hide his anxiety.
“Come here.”
Ryle approached urgently and promptly scooped Hae-jin up into his arms. He acted fussily, pressing cheek to cheek as if checking Hae-jin’s body temperature.
Fortunately, upon realizing that Hae-jin’s body wasn’t that cold, he seemed slightly relieved. Only after confirming this did Hae-jin attempt a timid rebellion.
“I can walk.”
“No. You have to be careful.”
“You said it’s not good if I don’t get enough exercise…”
“That’s why I built an exercise facility indoors. You can exercise there, avoiding the stairs, instead of taking walks.”
“….”
Hae-jin wondered where he had been; it seemed he had created an exercise room just for him this time. There were already facilities to exercise in the mansion, so it was hard to imagine what changes had been made.
“It’s because I’m worried.”
“You’re over-worrying, Ryle.”
“I know. …But it’s hard to restrain myself…”
Ryle smiled awkwardly but did not put Hae-jin down.
To take it a step further, he even walked while meticulously marking Hae-jin.
The doctor had indeed recommended frequent pheromone showers, as hormone stability was the priority. Especially since Hae-jin had an inferior gene, the pheromones of his Alpha partner were essential.
However, the marking Ryle performed so diligently every day was so thick that it was difficult for other trait-possessing individuals to even approach. His marking had always been strong, but it seemed to be getting even more intense.
Still, perhaps because it was necessary during pregnancy, that thick marking gave Hae-jin a very cozy feeling.
“I’m just worried that Ryle might find it too tiring.”
Ultimately giving in again, Hae-jin quietly stroked Ryle’s cheek. Ryle only laughed softly, rubbing his face against Hae-jin’s as if acting coquettishly.
“It’s not tiring at all.”
He could clearly feel the presence of the pheromones enveloping him like a curtain. Hae-jin, who briefly stroked the air as if he could touch it with his hands, leaned his forehead against Ryle’s shoulder.
Ryle acted as if the entire world were made of needles—as if he were anxious that Hae-jin might be pricked and hurt at any moment.
It was utterly comforting. He felt as if he were lying in one of the cradles from the baby supplies catalog.
However, amidst that sense of security, a faint worry bloomed in Hae-jin. No matter how he thought about it, Ryle’s condition seemed a bit extreme.
He felt he had seen a case of an Alpha exhibiting such symptoms in a book recently. It was from a book he had been reading diligently because he wanted to study pregnancy.
Recalling this, Hae-jin worriedly poked Ryle’s cheek. Ryle simply looked at Hae-jin and smiled with an oblivious expression.
“….”
As expected, he should consult the doctor.
A few days later. The day of Hae-jin’s regular check-up arrived.
“So, you’re saying the Chairman’s obsession has intensified recently?”
After listening to Hae-jin’s concerns for a long while, the doctor summarized it neatly into one sentence.
“…I’m just putting in a little extra effort.”
Ryle muttered quietly, clearing his throat as if uncomfortable with the phrasing. However, since he couldn’t deny the content itself, his reaction ended there.
Hae-jin quickly nodded. Since he and Ryle had agreed beforehand to hear the doctor’s opinion on this matter, he acted without hesitation.
Fortunately, the doctor gave a ready answer.
“Yes. This is a common phenomenon for Alphas whose partners are pregnant. An excessive protective instinct toward the partner arises.”
The doctor provided a few examples of this phenomenon. Such as wanting to be with their spouse every single moment, being extremely wary of the surroundings, or leaving thick markings—they become blindly devoted to the safety of the Omega carrying their seed.
The more he heard, the more it matched Ryle’s behavior exactly.
Though Ryle had always been a bit like that.
“There are differences from person to person, but according to folklore, the deeper the affection, the stronger that instinct becomes.”
“Ah…”
Finally, the doctor added with a slight smile.
Ryle, who had been listening to the explanation with some tension, suddenly looked at Hae-jin with a proud expression. Hae-jin, who found himself meeting Ryle’s gaze, secretly swallowed a sigh.
It seemed he would have to lead a completely sheltered, cozy life for the time being.
“Anyway, fortunately, the Chairman’s test results are also stable. But since it’s still the early stages, please be especially careful. No strenuous exercise.”
“As I thought…”
Knowing exactly what Ryle was thinking as he nodded seriously, Hae-jin hurriedly interrupted.
“Walking is not strenuous exercise, Ryle.”
At that, the doctor glanced at Ryle and took Hae-jin’s side in a small voice.
“…You do need to get moderate exercise. Light activities, like walking.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Ryle nodded with a solemn face once again. However, Hae-jin doubted whether he had actually taken it to heart.
“And it’s about time for morning sickness to start. If eating becomes too difficult, please be sure to contact the hospital.”
“Morning sickness…”
Ryle, who had been acting triumphant, became tense again. Hae-jin could clearly feel his pheromones fluctuating like a rollercoaster.
“Your condition is good now, but if nutritional intake isn’t smooth, balance is easily lost.”
“Ummm…”
At those words, Ryle’s face darkened as if a trauma had been triggered. While urgently holding his hand, Hae-jin answered the doctor.
“Yes.”
After that, the doctor gave a few more reminders. They were similar precautions to the ones he had heard last time. This time, a few methods to try at home when morning sickness is severe were added.
A few days after leaving the hospital.
As expected, the period of morning sickness arrived.
Just as the doctor warned, his stomach felt nauseous, and the smell of food gradually became repulsive. Eventually, it became hard to bear any scent at all, so he often spent the whole day with his face buried in Ryle’s chest, smelling only his pheromones.
Naturally, his food intake decreased. Because of this, Ryle became extremely sensitive, like a man with a noose around his neck.
Hae-jin had vowed to act composed since he knew Ryle would worry, but he was completely overwhelmed by symptoms he was experiencing for the first time in his life. It was a level of discomfort entirely different from simply having no appetite. He couldn’t even fully enjoy the excited atmosphere of Christmas.
After tormenting Hae-jin severely for a few days, the morning sickness fortunately changed patterns as the New Year began.
“….”
Hae-jin, who had barely fallen asleep, snapped his eyes open.
Today had been grueling as well. He had barely managed a few spoonfuls of a thin soup that had almost no smell.
Because of this, he had been lacking energy recently and always overslept whenever he drifted off. It felt as if his body were struggling to preserve as much strength as possible.
But why had he woken up?
Hae-jin instinctively slid himself up. Ryle’s pheromones were enveloping the bed like a canopy.
“Mm…”
As Hae-jin moved, Ryle let out a groan and frowned.
Looking inadvertently at his golden eyelashes, Hae-jin suddenly wanted to eat lemon candies.
“Ryle. Ryle.”
“Yeah.”
Hae-jin unconsciously shook Ryle awake. Fully awakened by the action, Ryle reached out urgently with a surprised look.
The temperature of his hand, which naturally wrapped around Hae-jin’s stomach first, was very warm.
“Hae-jin. Are you hurting anywhere?”
“Ryle.”
“What is it? Hmm?”
With Ryle in front of him, urgently checking every part of his body, Hae-jin whispered blankly.
“I want to eat lemon candies.”
“Yeah…”
“Those ones we had during our honeymoon. Lemon candies.”
The words slipped out while he was half-asleep. Without knowing what time it was, and without caring that he had been fasting for a long time, Hae-jin simply pleaded with Ryle.
It felt like a dream. Once the thought of lemon candies entered his mind, he couldn’t stand it. Thinking of that sweet and sour lemon scent made his mouth water to an unbearable degree.
He wanted to eat them right this instant, no matter what.
The craving was so strong that it leaked out through his pheromones. Only then did Ryle snap out of it and bolt upright.
“I’ll go buy them right now.”
Compared to Hae-jin, who couldn’t hide his bewildered expression even as he spoke, Ryle recovered his senses quickly.
He had read about this phenomenon in a book. That when pregnant, one often craves specific foods.
In such cases, time was of the essence. Often, the food one suddenly craved would become repulsive again after a short while, making it impossible to eat.
Especially since Hae-jin had been suffering from extreme morning sickness recently. Ryle felt deep regret that he hadn’t kept them in the bedroom, as he should have put a candy in Hae-jin’s mouth immediately.
“Just lie down for a moment. Okay?”
Ryle rushed out of the bedroom. His movements as he threw on clothes were incredibly urgent. He could have sent someone, but he decided to go himself.
He judged that it would be faster to go personally than to wake the sleeping servants and wait for them to buy it. He didn’t know how it would actually be, but the moment Hae-jin said he ‘wanted to eat’ something for the first time in a long while, Ryle’s reason was paralyzed.
Hurrying to the garage, Ryle started the car without hesitation.
Fortunately, it wouldn’t be hard to find the candies Hae-jin mentioned. They were a famous product, so they were easily found even in Heavy Rain.
Furthermore, after Hae-jin showed interest during their honeymoon, Ryle had signed a new contract with the local manufacturer. He had arranged for not only the lemon flavor Hae-jin liked but also a variety of other types to be imported.
They should be common even near the mansion.
Indeed, Ryle’s prediction was correct.
In the dark city, as he entered a small convenience store attached to the only gas station with its lights on, the target candies were immediately visible.
“Welcome… woah…”
“Check these out, quickly.”
Walking briskly, Ryle urgently grabbed the candies as soon as he saw them and placed them on the counter. The clerk, who had been staring blankly upon recognizing Ryle, was startled by his cold gaze and hurriedly began the transaction.
“H-here you go.”
With a light nod, Ryle disappeared from the store like the wind.
The sighting of Chairman Vermouth that day became a hot topic on the internet for a while, with people debating whether it was real or not.
Starting with the dawn lemon candy commotion, Hae-jin’s morning sickness vanished completely. Instead, as if making up for the previous hardships, Hae-jin suffered from a monstrous appetite.
Ryle welcomed this fact immensely. He kept the thought to himself that he was truly relieved the baby in the womb was no longer tormenting Hae-jin.
The mansion, which had been half-stagnant for the sake of the scent-sensitive Hae-jin, became active again. A servant rotation system was established so that anything could be procured even at dawn.
In particular, the kitchen, which had been practically closed, went into 24-hour standby. The mansion’s chef, receiving a massive special allowance from Ryle, burned with the ambition to feed Hae-jin well.
Since everyone in the mansion had been very worried about Hae-jin, it was a truly welcome change.
Now, Hae-jin ate heartily not only every meal but also snacks. This was because appetite visited him frequently even after eating.
There was no consistency in the diet he sought. One day he wanted ordinary dishes, and another day he sought snacks that a child would eat. It was a big change for Hae-jin, who had not enjoyed snacking in many ways.
However, the difficulty of the food Hae-jin sought was gradually increasing.
Fortunately, Ryle, who had not yet felt a great sense of crisis, held Hae-jin’s hand and walked carefully.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“Ryle, that’s the third time you’ve asked.”
The two were currently out for a walk. The time had come for Ryle, who had been anxious about Hae-jin walking on his own two feet, to make a concession.
Due to the sudden increase in food intake, Hae-jin suffered from mild indigestion. This was despite the fact that the amount of food was still not enough to satisfy Ryle.
He was told that these symptoms would worsen as the baby grew. Ryle, knowing well that Hae-jin’s stomach was not naturally strong, eventually had to make a big decision.
To go for walks with Hae-jin.
In exchange, Ryle boldly gave up going to work. He could not possibly let Hae-jin walk alone. Just imagining Hae-jin falling where he couldn’t see him made him feel as if every cell in his body were being crushed.
Thus, Ryle finished his company work at the mansion during the morning while Hae-jin overslept. Afterward, he would wake Hae-jin and provide the food he mumbled he wanted to eat in his sleep.
After happily admiring Hae-jin eating until his cheeks were plump, Ryle’s main daily routine was to hold his hand and walk together like this. Then, if Hae-jin seemed tired or if it seemed he had digested a bit, Ryle would quickly scoop him into his arms and pop back into the mansion.
Today seemed to be flowing like any other usual day.
“Ah.”
Suddenly feeling a sensation in his stomach, Hae-jin stopped dead in his tracks.
“What is it, Hae-jin?”
Ryle asked softly, without alarm. Seeing his natural reaction, Hae-jin felt a strange heat rush to his cheeks.
“It’s just…”
“Yes.”
Suddenly, he wanted steak.
As he recalled the texture and flavor of softly cooked meat chewed with a salty sauce, he swallowed hard. However, Hae-jin hesitated, unable to bring himself to speak. It was because he had eaten a huge breakfast only 30 minutes ago.
“What do you want to eat?”
“It’s not like, exactly, that I want to eat a lot…”
In truth, he did want to eat a lot. This time, he wasn’t even particularly hungry, but he was anxious to put a piece of that steak in his mouth.
He had heard it was one of the natural phenomena, but he still couldn’t get used to it. He felt a bit sorry to everyone because there were many cases where he received food only to take one bite and put the fork down.
“I told you it’s okay. Honestly, I’d prefer it if you ate more.”
Ryle coaxed him gently, stroking Hae-jin’s cheek. Only then did Hae-jin whisper, glancing down at his toes.
In fact, he felt he wouldn’t be satisfied until he ate this food too.
“…I want steak… the one we had for dinner a week ago.”
“Let’s go.”
Having obtained what he wanted, Ryle contacted the kitchen and promptly scooped Hae-jin up. Even the sight of Hae-jin repeatedly wiping his cheeks with the back of his hand out of embarrassment was utterly lovely.
Before coming out for the walk, Ryle thought Hae-jin had eaten a quite substantial meal. This morning, Hae-jin had uniquely asked for ‘the breakfast from the first day of the honeymoon,’ so just in case, Ryle had prepared not only the first day’s dishes but all the meals they had eaten at the accommodation during the honeymoon.
As if it were the right choice, Hae-jin had calmly tasted every dish with a happy face. Therefore, there was almost no possibility that Hae-jin would finish a new steak.
Still, Ryle was very pleased with this situation. Hae-jin eating so well—wasn’t that like a miracle?
It was a vulgar thought, but as long as it didn’t put a strain on Hae-jin’s body, he felt he wished he could stay pregnant forever.
“We can head to the dining room now.”
“Yes.”
Walking gently through the mansion while holding Hae-jin, Ryle soon made his way to the dining room. He figured the setting should be finished by now.
The moment he entered the dining room, Ryle slightly frowned.
“Hmm.”
“Ryle, what’s wrong?”
“I think the scent of the food is too strong.”
“Is it?”
The piercing scent of meat that hit him the moment he entered was very bothersome. However, Hae-jin tilted his head in curiosity.
Because that look was so cute, Ryle gave Hae-jin’s cheek a quick kiss. Then, the bothersome scent of the food vanished without a trace.
“Now, eat as much as you want. It’s fine if you leave some.”
“Yes…”
Ryle set Hae-jin down in front of a well-prepared plate of steak. Seeing Hae-jin’s eyes sparkle at the sight of the steak was a truly wonderful thing to behold.
While distracted by Hae-jin, Ryle belatedly turned his attention back to the food.
Immediately, a piercing scent of meat stimulated his olfactory senses.
“Ugh…”
Enduring it for the moment, Ryle began to cut the steak. Every time he moved his hands, the nauseating smell surged, making his stomach churn slightly.
No matter how he thought about it, he felt that something must have gone wrong with the cooking.
Just as Ryle was about to contact the chef because something felt off, Hae-jin, who had been waiting, quickly popped a piece of the sliced meat into his mouth.
“…Does it taste alright?”
“Yes. It’s delicious.”
Ryle had been suddenly worried that the food might be spoiled. However, Hae-jin smiled happily, chewing with his lips. A faint, satisfied pheromone fluttered around him.
Seeing Hae-jin’s face as he smiled with puffed-out cheeks, Ryle’s stomach suddenly felt better.
Smelling the food again, he figured it must have been a misunderstanding.
“I see.”
After that, Ryle diligently sliced the steak. He cut it into small pieces so it would be easy for Hae-jin to eat, and he made sure to coat them evenly with the sauce Hae-jin liked.
Hae-jin ate diligently like a squirrel, but as Ryle expected, three pieces were his limit.
“Hmm…”
Hae-jin glanced at him tentatively, perhaps feeling sorry for leaving food even though he didn’t have to, so Ryle firmly pushed the plate away.
“You can stop eating now.”
“Ah.”
In that instant, Hae-jin’s expression suddenly clouded over with gloom.
Seeing that face, Ryle’s heart thudded and felt as if it had rolled right under the dining table.
“What is it? Hmm?”
“…….”
Did he perhaps want to eat more steak? Was he angry because Ryle had dared to push the food away?
However, Hae-jin leaned back deep into his chair as if he were full. Sensing the mood, Ryle asked cautiously, trying to cheer him up.
“Shall we have some dessert?”
Fortunately, it seemed he had moved in the right direction.
However, Ryle had no inkling that this was merely the prelude to an even more high-difficulty mission.
“I want candy…”
“Shall I give you a lemon candy?”
Hae-jin often looked for lemon candies. Because of this, they were always available in the mansion, and even in Ryle’s pockets.
But Hae-jin soon shook his head. Just as Ryle was about to urge him again, concerned by his gloomy complexion—
“……I want the candy that Hyung used to give me in secret, without Mom knowing.”
At this entirely unexpected challenge, Ryle froze, holding his breath.
“…….”
Unaware of Ryle’s reaction, Hae-jin was lost in thought, his vacant gaze fixed on the empty table.
After finishing the steak, a nostalgic taste had suddenly brushed through his mind. It was the sweet candy his Hyung used to press into his hand behind their mother’s back.
His mother believed that children should eat healthy food. Therefore, she always made meals and snacks filled with love for Hae-jin.
Occasionally, he craved the cookies or candies that came into the orphanage. However, Hae-jin, who tried his best to listen to his mother, always endured those cravings.
As if knowing this, his Hyung would occasionally pop a candy into Hae-jin’s mouth in secret.
“The wrapper was green, and, um, I think it tasted like grapes…”
In truth, it was a very old memory. This was because Hae-jin had soon adapted to his family in the beginning.
As he grew a bit older, he began to pester his mother to buy him snacks, so there were only a few times his Hyung had secretly given him candy.
“Hae-jin.”
Ryle gently wrapped his arm around the shoulder of the pensive Hae-jin.
Only then did Hae-jin emerge from his dreamy gaze and quietly look at Ryle. When those eyes returned to him, Ryle finally let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Why had he been so terrified of that gaze wandering into the past for a moment?
Hae-jin also seemed unsure of exactly what candy he wanted. However, Ryle knew all too well how difficult these recent changes Hae-jin was experiencing were, and he became suddenly worried.
He had heard from the doctor that if a specific food lingered in the mind, the desire to eat it could become intense. It could even turn into an obsession to the point where they couldn’t calm down until they ate it.
Sometimes Hae-jin showed anxiety. This was especially true when waiting for food that couldn’t be prepared immediately in the mansion. Hae-jin tried to hide his agitation, but Ryle couldn’t miss the emotion seeping through his pheromones.
That was why Ryle wanted to fulfill this wish, even if it was just a passing desire.
“I will definitely find that candy for you.”
Because he wanted only happy memories to remain whenever Hae-jin looked back on this time.
A few days later.
Ryle finally discovered what candy Hae-jin had been looking for.
“Hae-jin…”
Holding the result in his hand, Ryle searched for Hae-jin with a beaming face.
He had been away for a short while due to unavoidable work. Even though they were in the same mansion, Ryle was dissatisfied with the fact that he couldn’t be by Hae-jin’s side every single moment.
In the midst of this, the joyful news that the candy had been identified came in as a report. Unable to contain himself, Ryle immediately closed his documents and went looking for Hae-jin.
A considerable amount of money had been spent to find this one small candy.
At first, he thought it would be simple, but it took longer than expected. He thought it would have been easier if it had been discontinued, as he could have at least obtained the recipe.
Ultimately, Ryle had to scour the entire distribution network of the Heavy Rain area. As a result, fortunately, the candy was not discontinued and was still being sold. Upon investigation, it turned out to be a product that had been a brief fad only in the region where Hae-jin had lived, which is why it hadn’t been easy to find.
Seeing this, Hae-jin will surely be happy.
With a fluttering heart, Ryle continued to walk. He ran through every corner of the places where Hae-jin was likely to be at this hour.
However, for some reason, he couldn’t find Hae-jin even after searching for a long time today.
Suddenly anxious, Ryle breathed heavily as he traced Hae-jin’s footsteps. Unexpectedly, the trail led toward their bedroom.
“Hae-jin?”
Hae-jin rarely stayed in the bedroom during the day. He had even cutely thrown a fit, saying he’d rather wander around the mansion because Ryle’s protection felt suffocating.
For such a Hae-jin to be in the bedroom—Ryle’s heart ached with the sudden fear that he might be sick. Strangely, the scent of flowers placed throughout the mansion seemed to make him feel nauseous.
As he rushed into the bedroom they shared, he saw Hae-jin’s black hair disheveled on the sofa.
“Ah.”
For some reason, Hae-jin was lying on the sofa, wrapped tightly in a blanket he had pulled from the bed. He was clutching something tightly in his arms.
Approaching carefully to check, it was none other than Ryle’s pillow.
“Mngh.”
Perhaps he had been in a light sleep, as Hae-jin tossed and turned as soon as Ryle approached.
Seeing that he was about to wake up, Ryle gently stroked Hae-jin’s cheek.
“Hae-jin, why didn’t you just lie comfortably in bed?”
“Ryle…”
Hae-jin’s eyelashes, like curtains woven from the night sky, fluttered slightly. Ryle was captivated by the beautiful eyes that soon revealed themselves.
“I didn’t want… to sleep too much…”
Ryle immediately understood what Hae-jin was saying in his mumbling voice. It seemed he wanted to take a nap, but didn’t want to fall asleep for too long.
That must be why he chose to lie on the sofa. While hugging a pillow saturated with Ryle’s pheromones.
“Is that so?”
The churning in his stomach settled instantly. Instead, a balloon full of joy filled his chest.
Unable to contain the surging fulfillment, Ryle kissed Hae-jin’s forehead and spoke. An unmistakable anticipation lingered in his voice.
“Hae-jin, look at what I found.”
“Uuung…”
At those words, Hae-jin showed signs of fully waking up.
Noticing this, Ryle quickly unwrapped a candy he had been carrying in his pocket and popped it into his mouth.
Without a shred of doubt, Hae-jin opened his mouth obediently like a baby bird. Hae-jin’s cheek soon puffed out slightly.
Hae-jin, who at first chewed the candy with a puzzled look, suddenly widened his eyes. Like someone who had instantly recognized the taste of a certain memory.
Hae-jin soon beamed with the happiest face in the world.
“Thank you, Ryle.”
Watching this with pride, Ryle decided he should acquire this candy company. While searching for the candy, he had learned that the product was likely to be discontinued within a few years.
Since he didn’t know when Hae-jin might crave it again, he had to keep it alive.
“Of course. Is there anything else you want to eat? Tell me anything.”
Ryle knelt on one knee in front of the sofa, continuously stroking Hae-jin’s hair. A smile as happy as Hae-jin’s permeated his face, not hiding his pride.
Hae-jin, who had been diligently chewing the candy, blushed at Ryle’s question. Then, though hesitating slightly, he softly opened his lips.
Ryle thought absentmindedly that his face, still full of sleepiness, was incredibly cute.
However, at the wish that followed, Ryle’s hand stroking his hair came to a dead stop.
“I want to eat the food Mom used to make for me.”
His face, murmuring with a shy smile, was dreamy. Like someone who had just had such a dream.
While staring at that face in ecstasy, Ryle broke into a cold sweat down his back.
“How about this sauce? Looking at the release date, it seems many households would have used it at the time.”
“Hmm… seeing as he prefers a more mild star soup, I don’t think his mother used a sauce of that variety.”
“Then how about this recipe?”
“Given the nature of Stelline noodles, they wouldn’t have been cooked for that long.”
The people gathered in the mansion’s kitchen continued their serious meeting. They were all servants of the mansion.
Upon hearing that Hae-jin wanted to eat food his mother had made, they each wiped away tears. Especially those who knew the meaning of the star soup, they offered ideas regardless of their role in the mansion. Even if they didn’t work in the kitchen, something could serve as a hint.
Even if Ryle hadn’t specifically asked, they likely would have taken the initiative.
However, the discussion made little progress. There were too few hints to uncover a lost recipe.
They had heard roughly from Hae-jin about the products his mother used, but since it was from his childhood, he didn’t remember much. In the end, the best they could do was speculate based on products popular at the time or Hae-jin’s usual tastes.
In the process, those working in the kitchen felt their hearts ache.
Because throughout this time, even while eating the star soup that reminded him of his mother, Hae-jin had never once expressed dissatisfaction with the taste.
On the contrary, he occasionally expressed special gratitude to those working in the kitchen. He could have demanded this or that to make it resemble his mother’s taste.
As if he were satisfied as long as there were star-shaped pastas in it.
Pained by that fact, the chef wanted to let Hae-jin taste his memories no matter what. However, despite trying every possible attempt, there was no recipe that felt right.
It was just as they were reluctantly writing down all the possible recipes. Mark, the Butler, rushed into the kitchen, disregarding his old age.
“I’ve made contact with Ms. Catherine!”
At that news, the servants snapped their heads up. Catherine was none other than the name of a middle-aged woman who lived next door to the Bright family.
If it was her, who had also been invited to this wedding, she might remember more. Thus, the people crowded around Mark with anticipation.
Without further delay, Mark smiled benevolently and shared the result.
“She says… she has a recipe in mind!”
The kitchen was soon filled with the cheers of the people.
That evening.
“Ryle? Is something wrong?”
Hae-jin asked bewilderedly as Ryle led him by the hand with a somewhat solemn expression.
He had only mentioned that he wanted some warm soup today, but the reaction was quite serious.
“Well, I’ve prepared a special meal.”
The slight worry vanished at Ryle’s words. Come to think of it, he had expected something. Ryle had been asking various things recently. In particular, he had asked if Hae-jin could describe the taste of the star soup in detail.
While thinking he had said something pointless in his sleep, Hae-jin had faithfully described what he remembered. He was grateful for Ryle’s effort to fulfill his wishes even in this way. He also felt sorry, thinking the other people in the mansion might have gone through unnecessary trouble.
He decided he must not be disappointed no matter what food came out.
However, as soon as he entered the dining room, Hae-jin let out a bewildered exclamation.
“Oh…”
The scent of food brushing his nose somehow carried a sense of longing.
“Now. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
Ryle quickly pulled out a chair for Hae-jin. As Hae-jin sat there as if possessed, a bowl of star soup in a familiar shape was placed before him.
His hand moved automatically before Ryle could even encourage him.
“…….”
Ryle watched with a nervous heart as Hae-jin hurriedly took a spoonful of soup.
Hae-jin didn’t know, but other servants were also anxiously waiting for the result outside the door leading to the kitchen.
Hae-jin took a bite of the soup without hesitation. Ryle watched without blinking as the white cheeks chewed the food. Then, as Hae-jin swallowed the first spoonful, Ryle swallowed hard in sympathy.
Surprise soon bloomed on the small face. As soon as he read that emotion, Ryle sensed success.
“Wow… it’s… really, really similar to the one my mother made…”
Of course, it couldn’t have reproduced the taste exactly. Even if they had brought a perfect recipe, it would have been the same. The important thing was the longing for the person who made it, rather than the recipe itself.
However, Hae-jin was as happy as a child receiving a gift he hadn’t expected. Thanks to that, Ryle also let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
“Thank you so much. Everyone else, too.”
Hae-jin smiled with his eyes and looked toward the door leading to the kitchen. He seemed to have realized the cause of the commotion in the mansion over the past few days.
Ryle also let out a low laugh. Although there were quite a few obstacles, Ryle felt that these moments were actually quite enjoyable.
Because he could give Hae-jin what he wanted.
And so, the winter for the two of them passed reasonably well. Cozily, as Ryle tried his best to fulfill whatever Hae-jin desired.
However, soon another crisis slowly crept up on the two of them.
The long winter passed, and it became a time when the scent of spring wafted in the wind.
As time passed, Hae-jin’s symptoms improved considerably. There were still times when he suddenly thought of food he wanted to eat, but it wasn’t uncontrollable like it had been a while ago.
It was likely thanks to Ryle’s devoted care.
His belly had become a bit heavy. Now, he could clearly feel that a new life was growing inside him.
The check-up results continued to be smooth. To the point where the fears of miscarriage in early pregnancy had all vanished.
Despite this, Ryle still overprotected Hae-jin. Having grown accustomed to it, Hae-jin simply decided to look forward to the coming new spring.
However, as the spring breeze began to cross the window, Ryle started showing strange reactions.
“Hmm…”
“Ryle, are you okay?”
Today was a day they were having lunch in the greenhouse for a change. The grass outside the greenhouse, sprouting green for spring, had become quite pleasant to look at.
However, as soon as Ryle entered the greenhouse, he stopped abruptly, covering his mouth. Hae-jin noticed his abnormality immediately.
That was because Ryle had been in this state for the past few days.
At first, it was just asking if the scent of the food was a bit too strong. Or mentioning that the scent of flowers in the hallway was strong.
Then, he gradually became more sensitive. Later, it reached the point where he asked the servants to remove the flower vases because the fishy smell of the water was too severe.
Naturally, there was no way he could eat properly. While struggling with the smell of food, Ryle still tried his best to eat together with Hae-jin.
Today’s meal in the greenhouse was part of that effort. He had tried it thinking that perhaps changing the environment would make things better.
“Ugh.”
“Ryle!”
However, Ryle soon had to double over and flee outside the greenhouse. In his heart, he wanted to get much further away, but feeling Hae-jin urgently chasing after him, he simply stopped nearby.
Instead, with trembling hands, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and urgently covered his mouth. Even so, the smell of food and plants he had encountered moments ago felt as if they were turning his stomach into a mire.
“Ha… if you, ugh, run like that, you’ll get hurt, Hae-jin.”
“Ryle, look at me. Please?”
Hae-jin, who had approached him, reached out in alarm. As he drew closer, Ryle felt he could finally breathe a little easier.
“Now, whew… I’m okay. Don’t worry.”
“But…”
“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to eat in the dining hall. Is that alright?”
Gripping Hae-jin’s hand instead of the handkerchief, Ryle quietly buried his nose in the palm of that hand. While his complexion had certainly improved compared to a moment ago, Hae-jin remained deeply worried.
Furthermore, Hae-jin finally realized the cause of Ryle’s sensitive reaction.
Wasn’t it similar to the time when his own morning sickness had been severe?
“Let’s go see our doctor.”
Even if it wasn’t that, he felt it had to be related to something. Otherwise, there was no way the healthy Ryle would exhibit such symptoms.
At that, Ryle started, grabbing Hae-jin’s cheeks and scanning his face.
“Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Yes, Hae-jin?”
“Not me, Ryle.”
“Ah. This much is…”
Ryle laughed awkwardly, trying to brush the situation aside.
However, Hae-jin intentionally maintained a firm expression to coax Ryle.
“You have to go to the hospital.”
Ryle couldn’t bring himself to answer and continued to gauge Hae-jin’s reaction.
Knowing why he was anxious, Hae-jin gently held his hand.
“I’ll go with you. If you’re anxious, just carry me there.”
“I understand…”
Ryle barely managed to swallow a response that sounded like a sigh. Gently patting the back of his hand, Hae-jin also tried to swallow his own worries.
Hoping that it wasn’t anything serious.
The very next day, the two visited the doctor.
At first, they visited a gastroenterologist, but there were no particular abnormalities. Afterward, they visited their pheromone physician, partly to get a check-up for Hae-jin as well.
Sure enough, Ryle’s symptoms were not a simple physical problem.
“I have heard that there are occasional cases where the spouse experiences morning sickness instead…”
The doctor, who had been listening quietly to Ryle’s symptoms, spoke with a somewhat perplexed expression.
Glancing at Ryle’s face, his complexion was poor—to exaggerate slightly, it was similar to when he had suffered from pheromone congestion.
“There are such cases?”
“Yes… however, usually, it tends to improve gradually as the spouse’s period of morning sickness passes, but… Chairman, your symptoms seem to be worsening?”
During this consultation, Hae-jin was quite surprised. It was only after meeting the doctor that he realized Ryle had been experiencing this discomfort for quite some time.
He was told that Ryle had similar, albeit mild, symptoms since the time Hae-jin had struggled with morning sickness. He felt apologetic that Ryle had not let it show while carrying so much food and so many gifts for him.
“Hmm… the symptoms are intensifying…”
The doctor frowned, focusing his gaze on the medical chart. Hae-jin held Ryle’s hand, patting it gently as if to comfort him.
“It may be that because the Director’s symptoms have eased significantly, the Chairman’s suppressed symptoms are exploding in contrast. Simply put, the tension that had built up in the body has suddenly released, leaving him weakened.”
“Is there a way to fix it?”
Hae-jin felt a pang of sorrow thinking that Ryle must have been tense all this time while taking care of him.
When Hae-jin asked urgently, the doctor gave a prescription in a tone slightly lighter than before.
“I believe it would be helpful if the Director shared a bit of their pheromones before meals. You two are in a special situation, after all.”
“Ah…”
Of all things, his own pheromones were the prescription. Just as Hae-jin was wondering if this was an aftereffect of imprinting or a common prescription for such symptoms—
Ryle, who was beside him, began to question sharply.
“Hae-jin’s pheromones?”
“Yes.”
“Is there no problem with Hae-jin’s body?”
“If it’s a small amount, there shouldn’t be any major problem…”
“Even if it’s a small amount, what if that small amount of pheromones causes an imbalance in Hae-jin’s body?”
“Looking at today’s results, the situation isn’t… that precarious…”
“Situations can change abruptly at any time; isn’t this too complacent a prescription?”
The doctor broke into a cold sweat under the barrage of questions asked without a single breath. Because Ryle’s gaze was so fierce, he checked the chart once more, but honestly, there were no major issues on Hae-jin’s end.
When the morning sickness first started, the doctor had been quite worried. Since the pheromone levels were too low, he feared it might be a difficult pregnancy.
However, whether it was a miracle or because he had an inferior gene guardian, Hae-jin’s condition had remained stable. It was similar even when compared to cases of Dominant Omegas.
It was a rare case that deserved to be reported to the academic community. The doctor suspected that the imprinting Ryle had performed was the cause.
This time, too, it was as if Ryle had become worn out from supplementing the pheromones his spouse lacked.
“Ryle, you have to listen to the doctor.”
“Mmm…”
Then, Hae-jin, who had been silent, stopped Ryle.
Only then did the doctor swallow a sigh inwardly, seeing Ryle’s fierce gaze finally subside.
“You mean he’ll get better if I give him a pheromone shower?”
“Not to that extent; I think just a small amount would be enough. For example, by putting pheromones on a handkerchief.”
The doctor urgently conveyed his exact intention to Hae-jin. Because Ryle reacted so strongly, the doctor had also become slightly worried.
Although imprinting provided support, he judged that it would not be good for someone with inferior genes to have pheromone showers too frequently during pregnancy.
The doctor glanced sideways at the robust Alpha who wouldn’t die even if he starved for a few months.
“…Please do not consume a large amount. Right now, the Director’s health is the priority.”
“Yes…”
It was practically telling him to just let Ryle starve if it came down to it. However, despite his haggard complexion, Ryle smiled with satisfaction upon hearing the prescription.
Seeing that, the doctor realized he had made the right choice again and quietly swallowed a sigh.
Fortunately, the doctor’s prescription was quite effective. Ryle became able to eat little by little as long as Hae-jin’s pheromones were nearby.
It would have been better to give him a full pheromone shower, but Ryle was adamant. Thus, Hae-jin could do nothing more than release a tiny bit more pheromones than usual when Ryle ate.
“If I give you a bit more pheromones…”
“No, Hae-jin. I’d rather starve.”
“Mmm…”
Hae-jin knew well how important the balance of pheromones was during pregnancy, thanks to his diligent studying. It was the first thing the doctor checked every time.
So, while Hae-jin looked at Ryle with pity, he intentionally avoided straining himself to produce pheromones. Gripping the handkerchief lightly scented with Hae-jin’s pheromones like a lifeline, Ryle lifted his spoon with a tense expression.
In front of them sat star soup made from his mother’s recipe.
Thanks to the efforts of the mansion staff and Ryle, Hae-jin often sought the touch of his mother. Today, he had craved star soup since morning and sent word to the kitchen.
Belatedly, Hae-jin felt a bit worried. Since Ryle’s symptoms had seriously worsened, he hadn’t eaten star soup yet.
Unfortunately, his mother’s soup had a fairly strong aroma. Just as he was thinking that he would just eat alone later if Ryle struggled—
“Ah.”
As soon as Ryle put a bit of soup in his mouth, he let out a faint exclamation.
“Ryle?”
Feeling the flavor of the soup entering his mouth, Ryle realized.
Surprisingly, he felt an appetite for the first time in a while.
“Are you okay?”
At Hae-jin’s worried question, Ryle looked down at the bowl with a bewildered expression.
As if all food had never been nauseating, it was perfectly fine. To the point where a hunger he had forgotten for weeks suddenly rushed back.
Of course, he was still tightly gripping Hae-jin’s handkerchief in his hand, but he was just glad for this. Ryle quickly urged Hae-jin to eat as well, then slowly moved his spoon again.
His stomach did not reject this particular food.
“I’m glad you’re eating well, Ryle.”
“…Yes.”
It seemed he had caused too much worry. Seeing Hae-jin smile brightly, Ryle also felt a great sense of relief.
In truth, it couldn’t be said that these symptoms weren’t a struggle, but Ryle truly didn’t mind. If the doctor’s diagnosis was correct, it was far better for him to suffer instead of Hae-jin continuing to struggle with morning sickness.
He even thought of it as a grateful phenomenon. Just as he was thinking it would be troublesome if his physical strength dropped too much, fortunately, a means of absorbing nutrients had appeared.
“…”
Ryle looked at the soup from his mother’s recipe with trembling eyes. A thought suddenly crossed his mind: was it alright for him to receive such undeserved help?
Just then, Hae-jin, who was sitting beside him, suddenly flinched and dropped his spoon.
“Ah!”
“Hae-jin?”
Seeing him reflexively place his hand on his stomach, Ryle’s heart sank.
Urgetly pushing back his chair and standing up, Ryle instinctively layered his hand over Hae-jin’s.
“Are you okay? Does it hurt?”
“Ah, no…”
“This won’t do, we must go to the hospital immediately…”
Hae-jin, with wide eyes, looked at his stomach and couldn’t find the words.
Just as Ryle, having urgently assessed the situation, was about to lift him up—
“Ryle! It’s the baby moving!”
Hae-jin shouted with a bright smile.
“…Eh?”
At that bright expression, Ryle froze. He didn’t immediately understand the meaning of what Hae-jin was saying.
However, his instinctively extended hand layered gently over Hae-jin’s hand again.
“It probably isn’t strong enough for you to feel it yet, Ryle.”
“…Yes.”
Hae-jin gave a small explanation as if embarrassed. Only then did Ryle, belatedly recalling the characteristics of this period, nod his head.
Yet, even knowing that, Ryle forgot about his meal and endlessly stroked Hae-jin’s stomach. Until Hae-jin urged him to eat again.
Time flew by. Before they knew it, the expected date to meet the child was only a month away.
Hae-jin was quite exhausted due to his stomach, which had become considerably heavy. He often woke up during the night, and even lying down comfortably was difficult.
They said that because he had a male body, his stomach wouldn’t protrude more than this, but burdensome was burdensome. If Ryle hadn’t been by his side, it would have been a much harder path.
Perhaps that was why Hae-jin often recalled the day Ryle felt the first fetal movement. That ecstatic moment when emotion slowly spread across Ryle’s face as he felt the beautiful vibration.
It was the same now, as he lay on his side, overcome by a sudden wave of sleep. Standing on the boundary between dream and reality, Hae-jin thought of Ryle.
“Hae-jin, it’s the time you asked me to wake you.”
Soon, the real Ryle in reality gently woke Hae-jin, who was lying in bed.
“Mmm…”
As if he had been waiting for him, Hae-jin began to open his eyes blurrily.
Since he couldn’t sleep properly at night, he kept falling into naps during the day. But when he did, he strangely had scary dreams. It seemed to be because of his uncomfortable body.
That was why he had asked Ryle to wake him once a certain amount of time had passed. When Ryle woke him by gently stroking his hair, the scary feeling vanished completely, which was nice.
“Shall we sit up against the bed?”
When he nodded, Ryle gently helped Hae-jin’s body rise. Recently, even getting up from lying down alone wasn’t easy, so he quietly accepted his touch.
While Ryle placed a cushion behind his waist, Hae-jin leaned weakly against those broad shoulders. Even with his cheek half-pressed, he mumbled a question.
“Did you… eat the star soup?”
“Yes.”
His proxy morning sickness symptoms persisted. Even as the due date approached, there were no signs of improvement.
Fortunately, Ryle could eat his mother’s star soup. Although he occasionally needed Hae-jin’s pheromones, at least the worry about his health deteriorating was gone.
Hae-jin thought of it as a gift from his mother. When he told Ryle so, Ryle replied in a low voice that it was something to be grateful for, though he looked apologetic.
“The marking has faded a lot.”
After settling Hae-jin comfortably, Ryle leaned in and gave a light peck on his warm cheek.
“Come here.”
Although the salvation of star soup existed, Ryle must have been quite tired as well. Whenever Hae-jin woke up in the early morning, Ryle naturally woke up with him. Always accompanying him for fear that Hae-jin might get hurt while going to the bathroom alone.
Recently, it had become a daily routine for Ryle to carry Hae-jin in his arms again. It was because Hae-jin himself was afraid his legs wouldn’t hold up due to his now truly heavy body.
In all those moments, Ryle diligently took care of Hae-jin. When the pheromones protecting Hae-jin faded like this, giving him a pheromone shower immediately was one of the important daily tasks.
“Lean here if it’s hard.”
“Mmm…”
Sitting side by side with Hae-jin, Ryle immediately spread his pheromones wide. Hae-jin did not hesitate to sink into the familiar forest that appeared over the bed.
The firm protective shield that had faded slightly became strong again. In that pleasant coziness, Hae-jin exhaled languidly and leaned on Ryle’s shoulder.
After giving a thorough pheromone shower for a long time, Ryle then carefully and gently rubbed Hae-jin’s stomach.
“It would be better to apply a bit more cream.”
This, too, was one of the important daily tasks. Ryle followed every single one of the doctor’s recommendations without exception.
Because of this, Hae-jin sometimes felt as if he had returned to being a child. Since his stomach became uncomfortable, even bending his waist wasn’t easy, so he always had to rely on Ryle’s hands whether it was putting on clothes or applying lotion.
The fortunate thing was that Ryle seemed to quite enjoy these tasks.
“Let’s apply it and change your clothes. This seems a bit thin.”
“Yes.”
Bringing the lotion from the nightstand, Ryle calmly applied the cream to various parts of Hae-jin’s body.
In truth, it hadn’t been long since he had showered and applied lotion with Ryle’s help before falling asleep. Nevertheless, Ryle caressed Hae-jin’s entire body with meticulous hands.
While doing so, he would gently massage any areas where the muscles were knotted. Especially when he caressed the thighs, which were very tight from walking tensely recently, it even felt like a strange sensation.
“Ngh…”
Troublingly, once the fire of arousal was lit, it did not easily subside.
“Does it hurt?”
“No… it doesn’t.”
Hae-jin quickly swallowed the strange sound that was about to escape. However, as Ryle’s hand gently caressed the inside of his thighs, his waist kept twitching in sync, which was a problem.
Amidst that ticklish sensation, even his toes were secretly wiggling inside his socks.
“Hae-jin.”
Closing the lid of the cream with a click, Ryle looked up at Hae-jin, gave a gentle smile with his eyes, and asked.
“Do you want to?”
“…”
Hae-jin couldn’t bring himself to answer Ryle’s suggestive question.
Inwardly, he even blamed Ryle. He wondered if the touch while applying the cream just now hadn’t been too erotic.
“I think you want to. Hmm?”
Ryle let out a small laugh and moved closer to Hae-jin. Unable to move an inch because of his heavy stomach, Hae-jin had no choice but to welcome Ryle without being able to retreat.
Ryle’s handsome face filled his entire field of vision. Seeing those eyes curved sharply, the desire that had been ignited a moment ago indeed did not subside.
“Yes…”
“I’ll do it for you.”
He smiled with satisfaction and tilted his head. His face, as he gave a light kiss to Hae-jin’s lips which were slightly pouted, looked very fluttering.
The pheromones surrounding him were the same. The thick energy floating around clearly conveyed Ryle’s anticipation.
The kiss that started on the lips continued to spread to the cheeks and neck. Hot lips brushed against his earlobe. Whenever the skin was scratched by teeth that were slightly bared, a faint pleasure arose, as if an itchy spot was being scratched.
“It tickles…”
“Really?”
The hands digging under the clothes also suggestively groped Hae-jin’s waist. Since Hae-jin’s slightly enlarged nipples had become very sensitive, Ryle caressed Hae-jin’s chest with a touch more careful than usual.
Hae-jin’s cheeks soon flushed with a languid expression. He leaned deeply into the cushion Ryle had comfortably provided, but he felt no sense of pressure pressing him down.
Ryle continued to kiss various parts of the skin with his lips, being careful not to press Hae-jin recklessly. He then kissed the roundly swollen stomach as if it were lovely, and moved down toward the legs.
I could clearly see Ryle’s bright blonde hair moving between my legs. Driven by a certain sense of anticipation, Hae-jin unconsciously swallowed hard.
After passing the early stages of pregnancy, where extreme caution was required, they had slept together a few times. However, Ryle, who had been overly worried, never engaged in full penetration.
Hae-jin, who had been fine at first, gradually felt his sexual desire build up in small increments. It seemed he had become far too accustomed to the pleasure Ryle provided.
Then, once it became uncomfortable for Hae-jin to move around, they stopped doing that as well. Hae-jin worried about Ryle’s pheromone release, but Ryle remained firm, stating that it was no reason to push Hae-jin while he was pregnant.
Fortunately, Ryle’s pheromone levels had been quite stable recently, so he didn’t suffer from pheromone congestion. Instead, he actively took advantage of the times when Hae-jin suffered from a tingling sexual desire.
“Nng…”
“You’re getting cuter and cuter, Hae-jin.”
Ryle, who had been quietly stroking Hae-jin’s belly, let out a small chuckle.
Before Hae-jin could even react to those words, Ryle quickly stripped off Hae-jin’s pants and lowered his head.
“Ah…”
Hae-jin’s member, which had been damp and tense inside his underwear, vanished into Ryle’s mouth in an instant. The sensation of being swallowed by a hot place was something he never grew used to, no matter how many times he experienced it.
As Hae-jin gasped in surprise, Ryle gently rubbed his waist. It was a touch born of concern that his muscles might cramp, but to Hae-jin, even that felt like a ticklish stimulation.
“Ugh, nng, nng, Ryle, Ryle…”
Tilting his head to dig between his legs, Ryle began to suck Hae-jin’s member in earnest.
The damp stimulation applied to his member from the start caused the pleasure to peak quickly. Simultaneously, Ryle’s large hand slowly rubbed his buttocks before gradually sliding between his legs.
His thumb gently scratched the area below the testicles as if playing a prank. Then, as Ryle sucked his member and his finger dug into the perineum at the same time, Hae-jin let out a feverish moan.
“Haa-ut.”
Ryle continued to press down on the perineum, which had swollen plumply like the member, with his thumb. At the pleasure that felt as if the inner wall was being scratched directly, Hae-jin panted with his mouth open.
However, just as the stimulation began to feel slightly insufficient, the finger slowly moved toward Hae-jin’s hole.
“Ra, ut, Ryle…”
With the member still deep in his mouth, Ryle looked up at Hae-jin. As if confirming whether the expression on his face was indeed pleasure.
When their eyes met, Hae-jin flinched in embarrassment. Because Ryle’s face, seen beyond his bulging belly, looked far too erotic.
It seemed that feeling leaked out through his pheromones as well. Ryle gave an even more erotic smile and then moved his finger the rest of the way.
The finger lightly traced the hole, which was already damp with lubrication.
“Ah-ut…”
A jolting pleasure instantly occupied his lower body. Because of his heavy body, the pleasure dug deep into him instead of shaking him.
The finger invaded slightly into Hae-jin’s interior. However, without going deep, Ryle pressed firmly against the entrance of the inner wall.
As Ryle began to relieve his desires like this recently, Hae-jin realized something.
That there were parts there that felt particularly sensitive.
“Ah, hng, ugh!”
At the consecutive waves of pleasure, Hae-jin’s legs trembled and stretched straight forward.
His greatly swollen chest heaved up and down breathlessly. The edge of the sheet, which he had gripped tightly without realizing it, was crumpled mercilessly.
“Ah, aaah, Ryle…”
Unable to hold out much longer, Hae-jin finally ejaculated with an urgent moan.
Ryle willingly swallowed it all, continuing to suck the member. Until Hae-jin was completely satisfied.
“Huu…”
Hae-jin’s body, completely consumed by bliss, soon went limp.
Only after a long while did Ryle slowly lift his head.
“It didn’t hurt, did it?”
“No…”
Soon, Hae-jin’s figure filled Ryle’s vision. That face, leaning dreamily against the soft cushions he had laid out.
The feverish eyes and pink cheeks were truly beyond lovely.
With a face full of satisfaction, Ryle tidied Hae-jin’s clothes.
“Are you sleepy again?”
Perhaps because the strength had drained out of him after ejaculating, Hae-jin’s eyes were flickering again. Thinking that lying flat would be uncomfortable, Ryle carefully supported Hae-jin’s body to help him sit up.
Hae-jin leaned his forehead against Ryle’s shoulder and shook his head.
“Yes… but, yawn… I don’t want to sleep, Darling…”
Hearing the child-like whining, Ryle laughed softly again. It was a problem that looking at Hae-jin these days kept making him laugh like this.
“Then let’s go for a walk.”
“Mm…”
As Hae-jin wished, Ryle promptly scooped him up in his arms. His touch was practiced, firmly supporting the buttocks from the side so as not to press on the belly. Hae-jin leaned comfortably into his embrace.
Ryle thought that this day, spent strolling through the garden until Hae-jin was satisfied, was simply a beautiful miracle.
The next day.
It was a morning where his eyes opened clear and bright for once. Thanks to Ryle, he had spent all his energy and slept deeply yesterday, so he was able to sleep through the night without waking up.
Thus, Hae-jin bravely held Ryle’s hand and headed toward Bright House. Although he spent about half the way carried in Ryle’s arms, it was the most he had walked in recent days.
They decided to spend the whole day chatting in the living room of Bright House. This was because it had become the most beautiful season to view the meadows from there.
“Be careful.”
“Yes.”
Hae-jin, who had diligently packed a book to read in one hand, held Ryle’s hand and climbed the stairs of Bright House.
“…”
Upon entering, it was exactly as Hae-jin remembered it. Although the two of them didn’t stay here long, strangely, he felt a sense of warmth every time he entered the house.
Perhaps prepared by the servants, a snack basket was placed in the living room. Even though the lights weren’t on, bright sunlight shone through the windows, illuminating every corner of the house.
Approaching the window that offered the widest view of the meadow, Hae-jin looked up at Ryle beside him.
“Are you going to put up a fence over there?”
“Yes. Not too high.”
Unlike the mansion, Bright House was located in the middle of the meadow.
However, the number of people visiting this area had increased significantly recently. It seemed that after Bright House became known as the place where Ryle proposed, it strangely became a photo spot for couples.
Knowing that Hae-jin visited often, Ryle was concerned about safety. Although this was private property, he decided to put up a fence to moderately restrict access.
“I think white would be pretty.”
“I’ll do that.”
Hae-jin shared the same concern for safety. Now, the two of them had an angel—their child—to protect.
“Shall we sit on the sofa?”
“Okay.”
It was while they were chatting and moving toward the living room sofa.
“Ah…”
Suddenly, a stabbing pain was felt.
“Hae-jin!”
Sensing something was wrong from that scream, Ryle urgently supported Hae-jin’s body.
Hae-jin’s face grew even paler at the sensation of lukewarm liquid flowing between his legs.
“Ry, Ryle.”
“Don’t worry.”
Ryle answered reflexively to Hae-jin’s frightened voice. However, both he and Hae-jin were thinking the same thing at the moment their water broke.
The due date was still a month away.
“What do I, ah…”
They urgently contacted the mansion, but that wasn’t enough.
Ultimately, Ryle hurriedly scooped Hae-jin into his arms and ran toward the mansion.
“It’s okay. It’ll be okay, Hae-jin.”
He kept muttering words, unsure if they were for Hae-jin or for himself.
Hae-jin, who was moved immediately to the hospital, went into emergency surgery.
“…”
Ryle sat in a chair in front of the operating room with a devastated expression. He had originally been glued to the door of the operating room, and the bodyguards and mansion staff had barely managed to pull him back.
Hae-jin had lost consciousness just before entering surgery. It was because the contractions had suddenly become too severe.
From the moment he saw Hae-jin groaning in agony, Ryle’s heart had been scorched black, and as the time spent staring at the operating room door that wouldn’t open grew longer, it turned to ash.
It felt as if he were being burned alive in the fires of hell. Eventually, when he thought that Hae-jin was suffering again because of him, he felt such self-loathing that he wanted to strangle himself.
Just as he began to fear that his entire existence might scatter into the void, the loud cry of a baby was heard from beyond the wall.
“…!”
And a short while later, the door finally opened.
The moment he heard the baby’s cry, Ryle sprang up and was already right in front of the operating room. The specialist who emerged with a tired face didn’t even seem surprised to see Ryle.
“Hae-jin is…”
“The Chairman and the baby are both fine.”
The doctor quickly gave the result first. Because the pheromones Ryle had been unable to control in the hallway were writhing in frustration.
“Ah…”
At the doctor’s words, Ryle covered his face with both hands. Had he ever prayed for something so desperately in his life?
“The baby is healthy, but they will have to stay in an incubator for the time being.”
Ryle couldn’t bring himself to speak, so he simply nodded.
Only then did the doctor smile faintly and point to one side.
“Please go to the recovery room. The patient will wake up from the anesthesia soon. For the next few hours, the guardian must keep talking to them so they don’t fall back asleep.”
“Thank you.”
Expressing his gratitude in a choked voice, Ryle hurried in the direction the doctor pointed. The annex of the hospital, where there were no patients other than Hae-jin, was silent.
Perhaps that was why the baby’s first cry he had heard earlier lingered in Ryle’s ears for a long time.
A while later, Hae-jin, whose treatment was finished, arrived at the recovery room with a pale complexion.
Although his mouth was still bone-dry, Ryle desperately tried to refine his expression and pheromones. He didn’t want Hae-jin to feel anxious when he opened his eyes.
Soon, the tightly closed eyelids lifted, revealing the black pupils that Ryle loved.
“Ryle…”
“Hae-jin.”
However, once their eyes met, Ryle could no longer hold back. Holding Hae-jin’s hand—the one without the IV—Ryle kissed it reverently.
Ryle’s hand, pulling Hae-jin closer, was trembling miserably.
“The baby?”
“They’re fine.”
Though his voice kept cracking, Ryle faithfully informed Hae-jin of the baby’s condition. The details he had heard more thoroughly upon entering the recovery room flowed from Ryle’s lips.
“They have to stay in an incubator for a while because the pheromone glands might be underdeveloped, but they’re healthy. They said the weight was better than expected.”
“That’s a relief…”
“Yes.”
In truth, because it was much earlier than expected, Ryle had prepared himself for many things. But fortunately, the baby was born healthy.
Looking at the baby’s weight, which was unexpectedly close to the normal range, it almost felt as if the baby had hurried out before becoming a burden on Hae-jin’s body.
It was truly a miracle.
As if to bless that miracle, a bell rang outside the recovery room.
“The baby has arrived.”
When Ryle opened the door, the baby lying in the incubator was slowly brought into Hae-jin’s room.
The two of them stared at the baby as if possessed, unable to look away.
“Congratulations.”
The nurse said as she pushed the incubator machine to a spot where the lying Hae-jin could see it well.
“Ah…”
Only then did Hae-jin let out a small exclamation, as if waking from a dream.
The baby had golden hair just like Ryle’s. The hair, so thick it was hard to believe they were newborn, swayed along with the baby’s flailing movements.
It was their baby.
The baby, who had been moving without being able to support their head, suddenly turned their head toward Hae-jin. Only then did the baby’s eyes slowly open and meet Hae-jin’s.
The baby’s pupils were also a lake-like blue, just like Ryle’s.
“You don’t have to worry too much. The baby is very healthy for being born at this gestational age.”
“Thank… you…”
Hae-jin answered in a choked voice at the nurse’s kind words.
The baby boy had hair and eyes that were the spitting image of Ryle, but his features were very similar to Hae-jin’s. Even though the newborn’s face was wrinkled, Hae-jin could tell.
A child who looked just like him.
Looking at that child, Hae-jin strangely thought of his Hyung. A sudden thought occurred to him that if he had truly been connected to his Hyung by blood, perhaps he would have had an appearance like that.
It was a strange imagination, even though the blonde hair and blue eyes had a special meaning. Regardless, even though he thought of his Hyung, strangely, no tears fell.
Only a sparkling joy surged up in his chest.
The desire to hold the baby in his arms immediately rose. However, neither the baby lying in the incubator nor himself, who had just woken from anesthesia, were in a position to do so.
So, Hae-jin asked the most reliable person in the world.
“Ryle, please hold the baby’s hand for me.”
“…”
After opening the door and coming near the incubator as if possessed, Ryle had a blank expression.
His gaze was entirely fixed on the baby, unable to detach.
“Hurry.”
At Hae-jin’s urging, his body finally moved. Like someone who had forgotten how to move his arms, Ryle barely managed to lift his hand and approach the incubator.
“You can put your hand in here. You must move very gently so as not to startle the baby.”
Following the nurse’s guidance, Ryle put his hand into a hole on one side of the incubator. It was a structure where the wrist part of a glove was connected. It was intended to treat the baby, who was vulnerable to external infection, without touching them directly.
On the other side of the glove was the baby.
“…”
The baby made whimpering sounds and flailed their body. Seeing the wire-like things connected to various parts of the body, Ryle’s heart ached because they looked uncomfortable.
On the other hand, the baby was simply adorable.
His hand inside the glove trembled miserably. But Ryle kept moving his hand steadily.
Until a single finger finally touched the baby’s palm.
“Ah!”
The baby immediately curled their palm tightly. Ryle froze at the body heat felt even through the glove.
“Now place your other hand here and give the baby your pheromones. It’s a special device that can regulate pheromone penetration.”
The strength of the grip on his finger was quite strong. Holding his breath, Ryle placed his remaining hand where the nurse pointed.
He quietly released his pheromones. Praying that these pheromones would become a strong barrier to protect the baby.
Pheromones like threads woven from affection gently wrapped around the baby.
“How is it, Ryle?”
“I… I’m not sure…”
At Hae-jin’s weak voice, Ryle barely managed to open his mouth. A blind emotion surfaced, feeling that it would be perfectly fine to give his finger, which was still being held, to the baby just like this.
Ryle’s complex gaze landed on the baby’s appearance.
Blonde hair and such chillingly blue eyes. They would probably be a Dominant Alpha, just like himself. Thinking that, he remembered his childhood when his parents had displayed him like a trophy.
But the baby resembled Hae-jin.
“…”
With that simple fact alone, Ryle could realize immediately.
How futile and foolish his worries had been.
“You’re not sure?”
“…They’re lovely.”
It would have been the same even if the baby didn’t resemble Hae-jin. The mere fact that they were the fruit of himself and Hae-jin was enough.
It was impossible not to love such a child. Just as he loved Hae-jin.
No matter how his parents had lived, it had nothing to do with him. Ryle finally realized that fact.
Because he would love Hae-jin and this child forever. Because he would never repeat a foolish mistake again.
‘This child will be a Dominant, just like me.’
His mother’s voice, which sounded like a scream, was slowly erased from his mind.
Instead, on a summer day when everything sparkled, Ryle whispered in overwhelming emotion.
“This child will be the happiest person in the world.”
His happiness had become two, starting today.
Drowned in that heavy sensation, Ryle smiled brightly while looking at the baby.
<Heavy Rain Side Story 2 End.>