Chapter 553: The Stamp(2)
Chapter 553: The Stamp(2)
Two days.
That’s how much time has passed since I proposed to Marie.
It’s also the amount of time we’ve spent holed up in the lodging I booked in advance.
Overwhelmed by the unexpected proposal, Marie clung to me for a long time before heading straight for the motel.
And there, for two days straight, we did nothing but lose ourselves in each other's bodies. Without exaggeration, if you exclude the basic necessities of eating, sleeping, and using the bathroom, we craved each other like beasts.
Part of it was an explosion of suppressed desire, but according to Marie, she had been incredibly anxious lately.
She worried that I might turn my gaze toward the many women more charming than her, and she had even tried to convince herself she’d have to accept it if I did.
But then I went and proposed. All her worries and anxieties melted away, and her frozen heart flared up with a renewed flame.
As a result, those two days spent confirming our love only served to forge an even deeper bond.
I gave Marie my trust, and she confirmed my sincere love. It couldn't have been a happier time.
Ah, just to be clear, I made sure to use protection.
At one point, Marie went wild, shouting that she didn't need such things, but I followed Mora’s advice and held my ground until the end.
What if Marie got pregnant? People would congratulate us, sure, but the other women would react differently.
Cecile, in particular, would craftily declare herself the next in line and try to seduce me. I suppose the only saving grace is that the Demon race has a very long cycle, much like the Elves.
Besides, a shotgun wedding would mean rushing the marriage preparations, and I still have to finish the serialization of Blood and Iron.
Once wedding prep starts, I won't have a second to write. All the plans I’ve carefully built would crumble with a single pregnancy.
"Hehe."
"You like it that much?"
"Yeah. I’m the happiest person in the world."
The day after our two-day marathon.
We were leaving the motel and heading back to the dormitory. However, I was carrying Marie on my back.
Perhaps because she had overexerted herself for two days, she found it difficult even to walk. The moment she tried to take a step, she nearly collapsed.
Well, considering how rough we were for forty-eight hours, it’s no surprise her legs gave out. If anything, it’s impressive she lasted that long.
On the other hand, I was perfectly fine. Having consumed Divine Power, this was exactly what I expected.
Mwah. Mwah.
Marie left light kisses on my neck, marking her territory. She even went as far as nibbling on my earlobes.
My body was already covered in the traces she had left behind.
They were hidden by my shirt, but if I took it off, anyone would gasp at the sight.
Of course, Marie was in a similar state. Her knees were bruised blue as a baseline, and her snow-white skin was dotted with red marks.
As I said, this was the result of two people devouring each other like animals.
"Mmm. This is so nice."
"How nice?"
"Just... nice. Just being like this."
Marie, who had been kissing my neck, leaned her full weight against me. I could tell how she felt just by the cozy tone of her voice.
I chuckled at her words and glanced down at my right side. Her hands were wrapped around my neck.
On the ring finger of her right hand sat the ring I had given her yesterday. The blue gemstone sparkled as it caught the sunlight.
That spot used to be occupied by the couple ring I gave her for our anniversary a year ago, but that ring was destined to be turned into a necklace now.
It feels strange.
It was a peculiar sensation. We had been intimate many times before, but this time carried the tension and fulfillment of a first night.
Marie hadn't stopped until she was completely exhausted, far beyond simple satisfaction.
It wasn't that our affection had ever faded, but it felt as though someone had poured oil onto an already burning fire.
"Isn't that Xenon?"
"I think so. And the woman on his back is..."
"It's Lady Rekilis. Didn't they say she's his fiancée?"
We left the motel in the morning. Because of the hour, there were many students and passersby around us.
A man carrying a woman on his back is enough to draw eyes on its own.
Add to that the fact that I am Xenon and Marie is the famous daughter of Duke Rekilis.
It was a combination that couldn't help but attract attention. Naturally, the people passing by began to whisper.
But I don't feel uncomfortable at all.
In the past, the weight of those stares would have made me hurry my pace. I would have worried about some unexpected situation breaking out.
But today felt different. Even with so many people around, it felt as if only Marie and I existed.
It wasn't that I had let my guard down, but rather that I felt a sense of profound comfort. I wished this moment could last forever.
"Isaac."
"Yeah. Go ahead."
"I'm the first, right?"
"You're the first."
"Hehe."
Marie giggled and tightened her arms around my neck. Since she was drained of strength, it was more like a gentle squeeze.
In fact, she had asked that same question dozens of times. From the moment we became beasts in that motel room until now.
This was a monumental day for Marie. It’s a bit embarrassing to say, but she had essentially become the 'first wife.'
She claimed she was going to make a grand declaration once we got back to the dorm, and I was curious to see how that would play out.
"Marie."
"Yeah?"
"What are you going to say when you call everyone together?"
"That’s a secret. But I’ll tell you this: I’m going to let out all the feelings I’ve been bottling up at once."
Hearing that made me even more curious. I chuckled at her playful response and kept walking.
Given her usually bold personality, I had high expectations. I had a feeling Cecile would be the most shocked of all.
"I want to wear my wedding dress soon."
"Just wait one more year—"
"And then white will be on the wedding dress again... Hehe."
"..."
Um.
I decided it was best not to respond to that. Everyone is entitled to their happy fantasies.
Dreaming of the future isn't a bad thing. It’s just that the 'rating' of her future was a bit high.
I walked on in silence, listening to her mutter all sorts of suggestive—or rather, explicitly lewd—comments behind me.
Click—
"We're back."
"You're here?"
As soon as we returned to the dormitory, Adelia greeted us. She didn't seem particularly surprised to see Marie on my back.
That was because I had told her our date would take a few days.
I had explained that, according to Luminous's prophecy, nothing bad would happen and that I wanted to enjoy a date with just the two of us for the first time in a while. Adelia had accepted that.
Of course, I hadn't mentioned a word about the proposal. That was the trump card I had been keeping hidden.
"Seeing her on your back, I take it she can't walk?"
"Yeah."
"I don't know exactly how much you two did, but I'm jealous. Anyway, Marie, let's get you to bed."
"No. No way. I’m staying stuck to Isaac."
Despite Adelia’s suggestion, Marie shook her head vigorously. Instead, she clung to me like a cicada on a tree.
Adelia looked exasperated by the childish tantrum. Then, she shot me a look.
A face that demanded an explanation for what on earth had happened. I gave her a bitter smile.
"I'll explain everything in a bit. But first, call the others."
"...Classes will be over soon, so I'll call them then. For now, just put Marie in bed."
"You heard her, right?"
"I don't want to..."
"Now, now."
When I spoke firmly, Marie finally began to loosen her grip. I laid her down on the bed just as she was.
"..."
"...What?"
Lying on the bed, she asked in a puzzled voice. Honestly, there was no particular reason; I just thought she looked so beautiful that I couldn't stop staring.
As time passed, Marie had grown from a girl into a proper woman. I had realized it during our 'activities,' but looking down at her like this, the difference was stark.
Her limbs were longer, and she had grown quite a bit taller. Not to mention her curves had become much more pronounced.
It was just that Cecile was so overwhelming; Marie certainly didn't fall behind anyone else. You have to compare apples to apples, after all.
I looked down at her for a long moment before leaning in. I gave her a light kiss on her snow-white forehead and stroked her hair.
That alone seemed to make Marie happy, as she smiled brightly and gently took my hand. The blue ring shining on her finger caught my eye.
"Papa~!"
While we were quietly confirming our affection, Ariel came running over. Judging by the crust in her eyes, she must have just woken up from a nap.
I lightly caught Ariel as she ran into my open arms and sat her on my lap.
"Did you just wake up, Ariel?"
"Mhm. I felt Mama and Papa, so I woke up."
Even though her body had grown, her behavior was still that of a child. The formal speech she used at first had shifted to casual speech at some point.
I carefully wiped the sleep from Ariel’s eyes. She closed them, leaning into my touch.
Seeing her translucent wings and long ears twitching up and down, she seemed to be in a good mood.
"Ubu."
Her cheeks, soft as rice cakes, were addictive to touch. How could such a cute creature exist?
I played with Ariel’s cheeks for a bit before setting her on the bed. Once she was there, Marie started poking her cheeks too.
"How can Ariel be this cute? I want to have a baby like this later."
"Who do you want them to look like?"
"They say the first daughter always looks like the father, right? And the son looks like the mother."
Whether it’s a son or a daughter, they’re practically guaranteed to be blessed with good looks. It’s embarrassing for me to say, but I’m on the handsome side myself.
Especially as I grew, I started inheriting my mother’s sharp eyes. I used to have a much softer impression.
Furthermore, I have red hair, and Marie has bluish-silver hair that’s almost white. Just the hair colors alone would make them overflowing with personality.
"What do you think, Ariel? Do you want your sibling to look like Mama or Papa?"
Since Ariel was right there, Marie posed the question to her.
Ariel blinked at the question and then spoke quietly.
"Do I have to choose?"
"Yes. You have to choose."
And then, I realized once again that a child’s creativity is truly terrifying.
"Can't it be half-and-half?"
"Pfft!"
What is this, fried chicken? Half-and-half? It was an answer that defied all expectations.
Not just me, but even Marie burst out laughing at Ariel’s creative response.
"Puhuhu. Ariel, where did you learn to say things like that?"
"I just said what came to mind. And it really is half-and-half."
"Alright, alright. You mean you want them to look like a good mix of Mama and Papa, right?"
I thought it was a typical child's answer. Even though she had grown, her vocabulary was still limited, so that’s probably what she meant.
But Ariel shook her head and pointed her index finger somewhere. I looked where she was pointing.
Her finger was aimed directly at Marie’s stomach. Her lower stomach, to be precise.
"No, no. It really is half-and-half."
"...Huh?"
"What... do you mean?"
While I was stunned, Marie asked Ariel.
Judging by her slightly trembling voice, she seemed to have instinctively sensed that something was unusual.
Ariel wasn't an ordinary being; she was an Angel, a creature out of myth. She could sense things we couldn't.
"I feel Papa inside Mama's tummy."
"...What?"
"It's still tiny. But I feel Mama and Papa at the same time. How did you do that?"
Ariel called all the women I was involved with 'Mama.' She said she could feel my 'energy' from them.
But she had never made a statement about them being 'combined' like this. Nor had she used the term 'half-and-half.'
In other words, if the energies were combined...
"...What do you feel in Mama's tummy?"
"Mhm. It's about this big. But it's growing, little by little."
Ariel explained while holding up her tiny pinky finger. It seemed she wanted to express the smallest thing she could think of.
The moment Marie and I heard that, we looked at each other simultaneously.
Something... something felt very strange.
"...I'm going to the temple for a second."
"Eh? Oh, okay. Take your time."
Am I really getting a speeding ticket? With a racing heart, I hurried toward the temple.
"Hm? Ah, hello, Lord Isaac. Have you come to offer a pray—"
"I'm sorry! I'll talk to you later!"
I ran into Cardinal Kate as soon as I arrived, but I had to pass her by.
Kate was startled by my frantic appearance, but she soon gave a gentle smile and cast a blessing on my back.
I entered a private chapel, caught my breath, and quietly closed my eyes to connect with Luminous.
[You've come.]
...It's not true, is it?
To my question, which was loaded with various meanings, Luminous replied.
[Congratulations. You are about to become a father in your own right.]
The answer felt like a hammer blow to the head.
My head spun for a moment, but I barely managed to keep my wits about me. I had to figure out the situation first.
But I definitely used protection! We were a bit... no, a lot rough, but I was careful!
[Did you honestly think a medicine made by mortals could block Divinity?]
"..."
The serialization of Blood and Iron.
[The future was so vast that even we didn't know how to advise you. I am sorry.]
I now had a reason to finish it within a month—no, two weeks.
I'm only just at the German-Soviet War...
The day I’d be 'canned' was not far off.