I Helped The Imprisoned Male Lead And He Became Obsessed - Side Story, Chapter 4

Roughly nine months until the baby arrives.

No intimacy with Emilian for that long?

That’s not okay!

We were still newlyweds! We had just started our life together, and now we’d have a long hiatus in our relationship?

As I wrestled with these thoughts, the physician mercifully came to my rescue.

“While it’s essential to avoid intimacy as the due date approaches, that isn’t necessary during the early stages of pregnancy,” she clarified.

“So, as long as it doesn’t put undue stress on her body, it’s fine?” Emilian asked.

“Yes, that’s correct,” the physician confirmed.

Emilian questioned her repeatedly, ensuring there were no additional risks or precautions.

Finally, he seemed to relax, stating, “As long as it won’t harm her health…”

Hearing this, the nervous whirlwind in my mind calmed.

Thank goodness he’s reconsidered.

After all, while the baby was important, so was maintaining our relationship as a couple!

***

The chirping of crickets filled the air, a soothing backdrop to the gentle swaying of curtains in the night breeze.

That evening, I lay with my head resting on Emilian’s arm, speaking softly.

“Emil, about our baby… Do you think you’d prefer a girl or a boy?”

Ever since finding out about the pregnancy, I’d been curious about the baby’s gender. I wondered if Emilian, as a soon-to-be father, shared the same curiosity.

He turned slightly, his crimson eyes meeting mine as his long lashes curved with a gentle smile.

“As long as the baby is like you, I don’t care about the gender,” he replied, his lips brushing against my forehead in a featherlight kiss.

“Because I know I’ll love them, no matter what,” he added, his voice melting with sweetness as he pulled me closer into his embrace.

His warm, musky scent filled my senses, and I nestled into his firm yet comforting hold, feeling a deep sense of peace.

Then, his voice drifted down from above my head.

“What about you, Anise?”

“Hmm? Oh…”

His question made me pause. A girl or a boy?

Furrowing my brow slightly, I pondered the possibilities.

If it were a girl, I’d have the fun of dressing her up in adorable dresses and styling her hair. Plus, as fellow women, we could form a special bond and share many things as she grew.

But if it were a boy, I imagined he’d look like a little version of Emilian, and that thought was unbearably cute.

Ah, what do I do? Both options sound so wonderful.

Caught in my indecision, I shook my head lightly, surrendering with a sheepish smile.

“I can’t choose. I’d be happy with either,” I admitted.

At my response, Emilian let out a warm, hearty laugh.

“In that case, we should have both—a daughter and a son. That is… if you’ll allow it.”

“Hmm, I’d be okay with that,” I said without hesitation.

My easy agreement made Emilian blink in mild surprise before a teasing smile curved his lips.

“Didn’t expect you to agree so quickly,” he mused. “I didn’t know you’d already planned for a second child without consulting me.”

His playful tone made me chuckle awkwardly. “Well… I just thought an only child might feel lonely. So I figured we’d have a second one eventually.”

“Hmm. Already making plans for two kids, are we?” he teased, his low voice vibrating as he dipped his head, letting the bridge of his nose brush against my neck.

“Ah! That tickles, Emil…”

Ignoring my protests, he licked my neck, as though savoring a sweet treat. The sensation was maddeningly ticklish, and I squirmed in his grasp, unable to suppress my giggles.

Even when I begged him to stop, he continued with an impish grin, likely taking playful revenge for my unspoken second-child plans.

Overwhelmed by his relentless teasing, I finally flipped over and stretched out my arms, cupping his cheeks firmly.

“Now you can’t do it,” I said triumphantly, gazing up at him with a smug smile.

But as I looked at him, I suddenly found myself captivated by his face.

His high, straight nose, the deep, elegant curve of his eyes, the perfectly shaped brows, and his sculpted lips—everything about him seemed almost unreal.

His flawless features, balanced to perfection, never failed to take my breath away.

Though I didn’t yet know whether the baby would be a girl or a boy, one thing was absolutely certain:

If they take after their father, they’ll grow up to be a stunning beauty or a heartthrob.

Emilian had expressed doubts about being a good father, but as I admired his face, sculpted as if by a divine hand, I couldn’t help but think:

He’s already doing great—his genes alone make him a fantastic dad.

***

The sky was clear, not a single cloud in sight.

Early in the morning, with the help of the maids, I began to prepare for the day.

I chose a simpler look than usual for a duchess—minimal jewelry, and my hair styled neatly and modestly.

Today is a special day, I thought, adjusting a simple pearl earring the maids fastened for me.

Once ready, I stepped outside to find a carriage emblazoned with the crest of the Bernstein family waiting at the entrance.

With Emilian’s assistance, I climbed aboard.

Since it was still early in my pregnancy, my belly wasn’t showing yet. And with the journey being short, we’d determined it was safe to travel by carriage.

The physician assured me it was fine, I reassured myself as the trip commenced.

The carriage rolled smoothly along the well-maintained road.

Instead of sitting across from me, Emilian chose the seat by my side. He gently guided me to rest against his shoulder, speaking in his usual calm tone.

“It’ll take about half a day to reach Lorène.”

Lorène was a small village within the Bernstein territory.

Since leaving the imperial research institute years ago, I had made it a point to visit Lorène every year.

I usually came with Sir Natalie and Lady Cecilia, I mused, glancing out of the window.

But this time, I was traveling with Emilian.

Truthfully, I’d always wanted to bring him here.

As I rested my hand lightly over my stomach, I gazed out at the passing scenery.

Whether it was the comfort of Emilian’s presence or the subtle exhaustion of early pregnancy, drowsiness crept over me, and I drifted into sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, I was greeted by familiar sights outside the window.

The peaceful village of Lorène unfolded before me—a patchwork of golden wheat fields and leisurely spinning windmills.

We had arrived.

The carriage passed through the village entrance and continued eastward until it came to a stop.

When we stepped down, we found ourselves at a cemetery.

Together, we walked through the entrance, guarded by a twin-headed eagle statue, and into the quiet grounds.

Row upon row of gravestones stretched before us, their solemnity matched only by their simplicity.

None of the gravestones bore names, but I knew exactly who rested here.

Seven years ago, this had been the research institute where Emilian and I had stayed—the Transcendent Research Facility.

Here lay the resting place of the children who had perished as experimental subjects.

On the day Emilian awakened as a transcendent, the Emperor had arranged for the children’s remains to be respectfully recovered and laid to rest in this nearby village.

I bent down, placing flowers on one of the gravestones, and Emilian followed suit, silently offering his tribute.

His crimson eyes were deep and heavy with emotion.

Since the war had ended, Emilian had devoted himself to eradicating all traces of transcendent research from the world. Not only within the Empire but also internationally, he was working to establish agreements that would permanently ban such inhumane experiments.

It wasn’t an easy task, but I believed wholeheartedly that he would succeed.

Looking at the gravestones lined up in quiet rows, I spoke softly.

“Hey, Emil.”

He glanced at me as I began to share something I had long wanted to tell him.

“When I faced the World Tree’s trial to save you, someone helped me.”

The memory was vivid in my mind. When I was trapped in the World Tree’s trial, lost in an indistinguishable haze between dream and reality, I had wandered aimlessly, forgetting even my mission to save Emilian.

It was then that a voice had called out to me, breaking through the fog.

“Anise, isn’t there something you’ve forgotten?”

“You still have something important to do.”

I hadn’t had the clarity or time to dwell on it then, but now, standing here, I knew who had guided me through the trial.

It must have been these children.

I gently ran my hand over one of the gravestones, its surface cool and smooth beneath my palm.

Emilian listened to my story in silence. For a moment, I worried he might think it strange—talk of spirits or ghosts often sounded fantastical.

But then he spoke, his tone steady and understanding.

“Is that why you wanted us to come here today?”

“Yes,” I replied softly.

“That’s just like you,” he said with a small smile. The warmth in his crimson eyes softened his expression.

“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice directed at the gravestones. “For helping Anise… and for helping me.”

He reached out, gently brushing his hand over the stone’s surface, as if caressing the head of a child.

“And thank you on behalf of the child we’ll soon welcome into this world. They’ll be grateful to you, too.”

Turning to me, Emilian rose to his feet and took my hand in his.

Despite having touched the cold gravestones moments ago, his hand felt warm, as if it carried the heat of life and hope itself.

***

As the seasons turned, Anise’s belly grew steadily rounder.

What had once been a gentle curve had now become a pronounced mound, akin to a small hill.

Though she had been able to manage light walks earlier, her movements were now limited. Without the assistance of the maids, even the simplest tasks became difficult for her.

It was clear—the baby would arrive soon.

Just as he had been in the early stages of her pregnancy, Emilian refused to leave Anise’s side, his devotion unwavering.

His constant presence was partly to assist her with her limited mobility, but more than that, he wanted to ensure he was there when labor began.

The thought of missing the joyous moment when their child entered the world was unthinkable to him.

From the countless books on pregnancy and childcare he had read, one lesson had been emphasized repeatedly: no husband should be absent during the birth of their child. It was, apparently, the ultimate mark of failure for a father-to-be.

Thus, Emilian spent the final weeks of Anise’s pregnancy almost entirely within the duchy, scarcely leaving the castle grounds.

Then, on a warm and sunny morning, the moment they had been anticipating finally arrived.