CH 143

A hand slipped in from the side and carefully touched her stomach. Feeling comfortable from the touch, Elena buried her head deeper into the pillow, still lying on her side. When something wriggled in her stomach as if to respond to the warmth from the hand, the hand flinched slightly before carefully covering the slightly protruded belly again. The hand stroked Elena’s stomach for a while before creeping up to her breasts. It then cautiously caressed her perky yet soft mounds for a moment before moving up to touch her neck. These touches had become a morning ritual to wake up Elena, who had recently gotten used to sleeping in in the morning.

Noticing the changes in her breathing, Gareth smirked mischievously and bent his head to rub the back of her neck with his nose. His breaths shook the tiny hairs on her neck, sending waves of tickles down her back. Elena was holding back her laughter, her lips twitching, when the hand that was tracing her spine suddenly grabbed her buttcheek.

“I’m awake now,” she mumbled.

His lips were now touching her shoulders and his body covered hers from the back like a blanket. A large hand groped through the outline of her slim face.

“I’m awake, Gareth,” Elena repeated, her shoulders shrinking inward from the soft touches.

“Get some more sleep,” Gareth said, touching her breasts again before moving to her belly.

Smiling, Elena murmured with her eyes closed. “I can’t if you keep touching me like this…”

“Shh…” Gareth placed his hand on his now six-month pregnant wife’s belly and waited for the baby to kick again. He soon felt a heavy force, followed by a vigorous movement. “Did you sleep well, little one?” he asked in a hushed yet warm tone.

Elena reached her hand down to hold Gareth’s hand to her stomach, then she took a deep breath in.

“How about you, my love?” Gareth asked.

Instead of answering, Elena kissed the back of his hand lightly before biting it playfully.

“Good morning, Elena. It’s a lovely day outside.”

In the autumn, the sky seemed particularly bright from Gareth’s estate. With Elena in his arms, Gareth turned his eyes to the window to take in the beautiful view. ‘It is indeed a great day…’ he thought. He remembered his blessings: being able to hold and caress Elena and being able to touch the baby growing safely inside her. Moreover, today was a great day because it was a special day for Elena. It was the day Gareth had decided to make a vow in front of the people… and God.

“Help me up, Gareth,” Elena asked him at that moment. Gareth hugged Elena, who had her arms opened to him like a child, and slowly pulled her out of bed. The woman who had lived all her life putting others before her was now depending on Gareth, which helped push away the guilt that had become ingrained in him. She longed for his affection, wanted to be looked after, and acted like a child only in front of him. She loved him and showed that she desperately needed him again and again. Thanks to her, Gareth could gradually start living as a normal man, not a mercenary.

* * *

“Are you uncomfortable by any chance?” Gareth asked in a gentle voice after washing her face and wiping her hands and feet.

Elena sat down on a chair with a smile while giving him a comb and answered, “Everything’s fine. You’re really good. I want you to wash our baby once it’s born as well.”

Gareth nodded as he took the comb from her and began to brush her hair slowly, watching her thin, smooth black hair glistening as he did so. Gareth carefully brushed her hair for longer than usual, feeling that her hair was softer than normal today.

“Today is the first day of the harvest, right?” Elena asked at that moment.

“Yes, it is.”

Elena gazed at the stunning view out the window as she enjoyed the feeling of the comb moving up and down her hair. She exclaimed, “It’s a good day, a good day to enjoy the blessings of the harvest.”

“It is going to be a great day, Elena.”

Once Gareth finished combing her hair and Elena had tied her hair neatly, he helped her change into a dress.

“Every time you do this, I feel like I’m dreaming.”

“Why?” Gareth asked back rather bluntly, unfolding a new dress and carefully placing it over her neatly tied hair.

“I pinch my cheek sometimes because you’re so kind to me.”

“You don’t have to do that, Elena… because this is not a dream.”

As she was pulling her hands through the sleeves of the dress, she exclaimed, “Huh? I’ve never seen this dress before.”

“Madel worked hard on it. Your stomach should be a little more comfortable now.”

Elena stood still in awe at the new light yet warm dress that covered her body.

“Do you like it?” Gareth asked.

Elena grinned as she fiddled with the dress that had more area around the belly and contained fancy lace. “I love it! Oh no, I might start asking for a new dress every day now.”

“You can ask for as much as you want,” Gareth replied as he approached her to tie the straps on the front of her dress. Elena gazed at him as he finished helping her dress.

When Gareth had returned in the spring, he had armed himself with his armor and iron gauntlets every morning and had finished the day by shining his armor and sharpening his sword as usual. Now, he was standing in front of her without his armor despite the routine having long protected his life. He still didn’t let Elena touch his armor and sword. Although Elena was confused about his adamant behavior at first, she was able to understand why when he had said one thing.