Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

It was something that she could have never imagined in her whole life. It was an imagination as well as happiness that she had given up over and over again under all kinds of ridicule and insults.

“I grew up hearing the words that said I’ll never be able to have a child in my life. My body is weak and so are my organs—they are too weak to function properly.”

Nevertheless, she still thought of a child who would look like him and herself. Even as she watched him take those birth control pills, she still dreamed of holding a child while smiling happily.

Even though she strictly knew that it was just a dream that would never come true for her.

“And then, I’m carrying your child. I can’t just give up on a child who stayed hard by my side in order to live even when it went through such an unbearable time.”

Raven’s bleak sense had filled his throat with those determined eyes. He too, had felt the same way as herself.

“So, please don’t give up. Raven, please.”

“But you could die.”

“I’m not dying.”

“Molitia, you—”

Raven slowly took her hand. Her wrist, which could seemingly break even with just a little effort, remained unchanged even as he approached her.

But it was fine since there had been the warmth that could actually touch it. He wanted to be with this warmth forever. It was crystal clear that this warmth of the two would be absolute affectionate; if not three.

“…I don’t want to imagine a world without you, Molitia. I just don’t want to taste that terrible sense of despair that I’ve experienced this time once again. I felt like my blood was slowly being drained without you. It was even better to be on the battlefield and being threatened with my life instead.”

“Raven.”

“You’re much more important to me than the child.”

“I can’t give it up.”

Raven’s eyes were shaken by Molitia’s words. Did she even know? Her face was so small and her body was thin. He always worried that she might break someday.

“…You ought to think about this calmly.”

“Raven!”

“Take a good rest. Don’t get up as much as you can and get some rest too.”

Raven immediately stood up from his seat. His gaze was no longer fixed on Molitia.

“Let’s get the doctor too.”

He turned his back before leaving without any hesitation. Shortly after Raven left, she heard a knock on the door.

‘No way, is it him?’

The door eventually opened towards the end of Molitia’s low voice.

“Madame.”

There stood the Duke’s doctor. Of course, for some reason, Molitia couldn’t hide her disappointment entirely.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t feel any pain?”

Her hand reflexively brushed against her cheek at the doctor’s remark. Her swollen cheeks gave her a tingling sensation one her fingertips had touched them.

The doctor, who seemed to understand even when she didn’t say it, quickly began the treatment. The small face and her pitifully swollen cheeks were all crinkled whenever the cotton soaked with medicine was applied.

After finishing the treatment of her cheek, she slowly touched other places as well. Molitia was only watching as the doctor’s hand moved diligently.

“You must be feeling much better, but still, you need to relax as well.”

The doctor put her back to bed and continued.

“You have to refrain from sitting down straight. Except for eating and doing your business, it’s better to keep on lying down. If you happen to bleed again, do call me right away.”

“I took a cold pill the other day; isn’t that harmful to my child?”

“Fortunately, there are no drugs that could harm the child directly. But from now onwards, I will prescribe a much milder medicine instead. The baby consumes what My Lady eats after all.”

Molitia’s hand fidgeted at the doctor’s words that were spoken softly. She then raised her eyes after tapping her fingertips several times.

“…my body—is it too dangerous to give birth?”

Her hand instantly stopped while she was still organizing her bag.

“Madame, that’s……”

“Be honest with me—without holding back at all.”

She heard that couples usually resembled one another. Molitia’s firm voice reminded her of the Duke. However, the first thing that had been asked by the two of them was different. It was a question to find out whom they had put foremost.

The doctor, who agonized about it for a while, eventually looked up.

“As a matter of fact, the probability is half and half. The baby may not be able to withstand Madame’s frail body. Or instead, when you raise the baby, it might be smooth sailing, but when the time comes to give birth, there might be a crisis.”

“Then, are you against me giving birth?”

Molitia placed her hand on her stomach. Her thin wrists were moving ever so cautiously.

“Madame.”

Her anxious eyes slowly entangled with the doctor’s. Her shoulders gradually shrank from anxiety that could be seen clearly upon her body.

Nevertheless, her face didn’t falter at all. Her hands were still wrapped around the child in her stomach as if she was protecting it. Seeing her determined expression, the doctor eventually stopped talking.