Can't Come Back - Side Story 2

Side Story 2 –  The Fruits of Jealousy (2)

“Is that… so?”

Having a baby. Even after becoming Grand Duchess, Berlia had just thought about it. What would it be like to have a child resembling Cain and me? Berlia’s heart flutters a little at the prospect. Having a child now would be different than in the past. There was no reason to be concerned about what would happen once the child was delivered.

She would be giving birth to her beloved Cain’s child, surrounded by numerous blessings. Is it better to have a daughter or a son? Berlia paused for a time before shaking her head. It didn’t matter whom, as long as it was the child of someone she cared about.

After seeing her bright, imaginative smile, Cadelin believed Berlia had a plan for a second child.

“Do you remember the aphrodisiac candle I gave you as a gift?”

Cadelin believed it was a good idea to bring the aphrodisiac candle.

“Ah, yes, that one…!”

Berlia’s face flushed as she remembered how she had spent a particular night with Cain thanks to that candle. Cadelin nodded, a knowing smile on his face.

“I brought it because I didn’t think you’d bother to pack something like an aphrodisiac candle from Notium.

“You did, Cadelin?”

“Of course.  Wasn’t it wonderful, like I said? Here’s a present.”

Cadelin presented a tiny box. Berlia fixed her gaze on the box she was now holding. She was expecting the bottle with the crimson liquid, precisely like the last time. Berlia’s cheeks remained pink, whether from the effects of the alcohol or embarrassment.

* * *

Night has fallen. On the other hand, Cain had yet to return to their room and was still in his office. He had sent Martin home early because he was distracted, but there was still a lot of work to be done. Why did he abruptly tell Martin to leave? Cain sighed, regretting his actions.

‘And I can’t concentrate.’

Despite the overwhelming number of responsibilities, he was unable to concentrate. Throughout the day, other things predominated in his mind.

It was around 10 p.m. Staying at the office much longer would be pointless. Cain set his pen down, exited the office, and went to their bedroom, ready to hold Berlia and rest.

He carefully pushed open the bedroom door. He was met by silence.

“Berlia.”

Cain called her name quietly. However, no response was received. She didn’t seem to have returned either.

“Has she returned yet?”

He said to himself. Cadelin had arrived from Notium that evening. The two women appeared to be deep in conversation.

Cain then proceeded to the adjacent bathroom. A warm bath appeared to promise to take away the weary of the day. After his bath, he returned to the bedroom, but Berlia was still not there.

It was around 11 p.m. He might have to sleep alone that night. 

‘Perhaps they’re conversing, and she’s not going to bed tonight.’

She could wish to sleep with her friend Cadelin, who she hadn’t seen in a while. Cain’s face tightened slightly at the thought.

‘Today is simply not my day.’

It wasn’t very significant, but Cain had decided to address the possibility of having a second kid with Berlia tonight. In some ways, it was an important day in their lives, and an unexpected sense of longing washed over Cain.

Thud-

The door to the bedroom opened amid these thoughts. Cain instinctively raised his head to see who was coming in. Berlia. They would have knocked first if it had been one of the maids.

“Berlia…?”

Cain’s mouth dropped open to say her name.

“I’m sorry, Cain. You haven’t yet fallen asleep.”

He finally heard the voice he had been longing to hear. Berlia’s voice was always soothing. Her face was flushed, whether she had been drinking or not. The aroma of wine pierced Cain’s nose even from a distance.

“Did you have any wine? It appears that you had a lot on your plate.”

“Right… I was so excited to see Cadelin after such a long time that I accidentally drank quite a bit…”

Berlia walked a little shakily. She had consumed more alcohol than she was used to. Why had she drunk so much alcohol? Cain called her name quietly as she neared the bed, sighing softly.

“Berlia,”

Cain wrapped his arms around her, a more intense aroma of wine flowing from her.

“Yes, yes?!”

Berlia’s body jerked as a result of Cain’s unexpected gesture. Even though she had been in his embrace numerous times, her talk with Cadelin that evening stuck in her thoughts.

‘I’m still thinking about it. The aphrodisiac incense discussion and the talk of having a kid….’

Berlia bowed her head involuntarily, blushing. Cain’s surprise comment resonated in her ears at that precise moment.

“Berlia, what do you think of us having a child?”

“…What?! A child?”

Berlia looked up in astonishment, her head buried in Cain’s chest, and questioned him. Was Cain seriously recommending that they have a child? For a brief period, she asked her ears. It didn’t take her long to understand she had heard him right. Cain’s expression was solemn.

“How about that…”

Berlia was deep in thought. But, oddly, she didn’t answer soon away. She’d been talking to Cadelin all day and hadn’t said anything about having a child. She was more supportive. She’d gotten acclimated to life in the Tbilisi Duchy and had recovered long ago. It wasn’t a wrong moment to start planning for a pregnancy. 

But hearing from Cain about the topic she planned to bring up tonight was startling. 

“… We don’t know when something like the Laimbron incident will occur again.”

“The Laimbron incident?”

Berlia blinked twice as she heard Cain’s comments. What the hell was he on about? Berlia looked Cain in the eyes for an unusual purpose. His demeanor was dead serious. No, it appeared to be a little shy.

‘Is it possible, Cain…?’

Jealousy was the right answer.

“Cain, are you… feeling jealous right now?”

Berlia inquired, her voice light with amusement.

“… Well,”

Cain’s face turned somewhat red. His jealousy appeared to be genuine. He had always smitten her, but she had never felt this mix of lust and resentment. Berlia bowed her head, feeling a new emotion.

“I’ve also thought about having a child.”

“Berlia?”

Berlia’s positive response took Cain aback. He hadn’t expected her to say yes so quickly. Cain, on the other hand, had approached the matter with caution. He had been through so much agony, so he hadn’t intended to bring it up again until she stated her desire. 

Cain could no longer hold back as Grant began to admire Berlia. He brought it up since he was concerned about Berlia’s reaction.

“Of course,” she says. “I wish we had children to carry on our Tbilisi ancestry.”

Berlia recalls a covert encounter with Cain in the attic. She still didn’t know the father of the child she was carrying at the time. But now that I think about it, it feels like Cain’s child. There was no evidence, but her intuition told her otherwise.

‘I couldn’t even name him at the time.’

But that child had vanished without ever being named.

“If we have a child this time, I want to name it Cain above all else.”

Cain continued, whispering in Berlia’s ear,

“Don’t we need a child to name it?”

“Of course, yes? Ah…!”

Cain’s lips unexpectedly met Berlia’s before she could respond. Her lips were filled with the pleasant aroma of alcohol. Cain enjoyed Berlia’s lips, detecting the wine’s delicate yet exciting scent.

“Ah, hmm…”

Cain’s tongue danced around Berlia’s mouth. Berlia sighed and let out a moan.

“Ah…”

Cain’s hand moved softly across her shoulder. Berlia’s dress strap had come undone, exposing her white shoulder.

“Haah…”

The two’s lips slowly separated. He lowered his lips slowly, following the line of Berlia’s neck as she exhaled. Cain took a deep breath and brushed his lips on Berlia’s collarbone again.

“Ah…!”

Berlia shivered at his breath. It was a mundane stimulus, yet she had no idea why her skin trembled violently. Such private encounters with Cain were always exciting.

Cain leads Berlia’s body with care. He guided her softly onto the bed.

“Ah, hmm!”

Cain’s hand slipped beneath her skirt. Berlia’s beige dress gradually began to roll up. Cain wished to rapidly remove the clothes that covered Berlia’s body and inspect her most personal regions.