Shichen didn't get up until near noon; Est and Betty didn't bother him, playing chess at the foot of the bed.
The two of them naturally knew what Shichen had done—even if Est hadn't actually seen anything.
They'd seen enough to recognize it: Rem's state today was far too obvious.
Only Emilia and Ram were clueless.
"Shichen, you're up~"
Just as Shichen sat up, Rem pushed the door open and came in, a tray of food in her hands.
"Rem… what time is it?"
"Just past midday." Rem smiled as she came to the bedside.
"I see… haa~." Shichen couldn't help yawning.
Changing his sleep schedule always threw him off, but after a small shake he was fully awake.
Sleep or no sleep didn't matter to him; he just liked sticking to old habits. So it wasn't that he couldn't keep up with Rem or was worn out—he'd simply gone back to sleep to make up for it.
"Shichen, you must be hungry? Rem saved you some lunch—want a bit?" Rem asked softly, voice gentle.
Shichen looked at her, puzzled. For some reason he felt like he was seeing a perfect little wife.
Such a big change overnight?
"I am a bit hungry…" He took the tray.
"Want Rem to feed you?"
"No need… by the way, are you alright?"
"Rem? Rem is fine~" she sang, twirling once by the bed with not the slightest sign of discomfort.
"Recovery that fast? You almost cried at the start."
"Rude~" Rem pouted at him.
"Tasty," Shichen said, digging in and wolfing it down.
"Right? Rem thinks so too…" Rem's eyes curved as she stroked her lower abdomen, pointedly.
"…" Shichen kept eating in silence.
"Shichen, do you think I'll get pregnant?" Rem asked suddenly.
"Ahem… what's with the sudden question?"
"Maybe I will~" Rem's smile turned tender, almost motherly.
"…You won't."
"Eh?"
Rem blinked at him. "Why not?"
"I'm not ready to be a father."
"But…"
"I definitely took some precautions."
"How could you…" Rem looked wounded.
"You already want to be a mom?"
"Well, after that…"
"Don't worry; it won't be so fast."
"Mm…"
"Why the long face?"
"Because… Rem already pictured being a mom. Our child would be so cute…" she muttered, pouting.
"There'll be a chance later."
"Then shall we continue tonight?" Rem asked expectantly.
"…We'll see."
After he finished eating, while Rem went to wash the dishes, Shichen headed to Emilia's room.
He wasn't sneaking around—Rem had told him Emilia was looking for him.
This time he didn't knock; he pushed the door open directly. The sound wasn't quiet, but Emilia, seated at the vanity with her back to the door, didn't react at all.
He came up behind her and realized she was still spacing out.
That wasn't like her, especially with study materials laid out on the desk.
"Emilia?"
He called once; when she didn't respond, he patted her shoulder and called again: "Emilia?"
"Eep~!" Emilia jumped with a little cry.
"Sh-Shichen? When did you get here?"
Once she saw it was him, she relaxed and blushed, asking awkwardly.
"…A while ago. I already called you."
"Really?" Emilia looked mortified.
"What's wrong? You look totally lost in thought." Shichen sat on the bed and looked at her.
"Mm…" Emilia pressed her lips together, hesitating.
"Is there anything you can't tell me?"
"N-no…"
"Rem said you had something to talk to me about—go on." Shichen took her hand.
Emilia looked down at their hands, feeling the breadth and warmth of his palm, and her heart settled.
"I understand."
"That's better." He smiled, gave a gentle pull, and drew Emilia into his arms—settling her sideways across his lap.
"Eeh— Sh-Shichen?" Emilia stammered, nervous.
"Don't like it?" He slid an arm around her slim waist and leaned in close to her ear.
"Mm…"
His breath there made her neck shrink in; "It's not about like or not… I'm just not used to it."
"It's okay. Sit like this enough and you'll get used to it."
"Mm… Shichen, you're getting bolder."
"Aren't we already a couple? Why be restrained?"
"I suppose…"
"It's fine—this is the most basic thing between lovers; no need to be shy."
"R-really? I haven't read much… don't trick me." Emilia said pitifully.
"Really." He nodded with a smile.
"Okay."
"Now, can you tell me what it is?"
"Mm…"
After a pause, she bit her lip, nestled in his arms, and spoke slowly: "Shichen, what should we do about our child in the future?"
"Mm?" Shichen froze.
"What did you say?"
"Our child," Emilia said, puzzled as she looked up at him.
"Which child…?"
"The child between me and you," she replied matter-of-factly.
"When did we… oh." He realized what she meant mid-sentence.
Right—pure, innocent Emilia didn't know anything; she probably thought kissing could make a baby.
Quite a difference from Rem's understanding.
"Shichen, you're not planning to deny the child, are you?" Emilia frowned, staring at him.
"Of course not… it's just, you aren't pregnant."
"I'm not pregnant? Impossible, we… kissed."
"Ahem. As cute as you are right now, I still need to break your illusion—kissing doesn't make you pregnant."
"How can that be? When I was little, my mother told me…"
"That's to keep you from being tricked by boys."
"R-really?"
"I'd never lie to you, Emilia~"
"So… pregnancy from kissing is fake?" Emilia murmured, dazed.
"Yes." Shichen hugged her, amused.
"Then I totally misunderstood? Mm…" Emilia covered her face and shrank into his arms in embarrassment.
"It's okay. I'll teach you what really makes a baby." He patted her back, comforting.
"What do you do to really make a baby?" Emilia couldn't help asking.
"Want to know? That kind of thing is easier to understand with practice."
"Practice…" Emilia blinked her guileless violet eyes.
Since it wasn't kissing, it must be something more "amazing" than kissing between lovers… and not "checking development," or Shichen wouldn't have been sure she wasn't pregnant.
She had no idea, and the books hadn't said.
"Don't rush. I'll teach you slowly. You can't even handle me directly checking your development—how could you handle the act of having a baby?"
"Directly… too embarrassing." Emilia said, flustered.
It was a huge challenge for her.
"Then how will you have a baby later?"
"Mm, that…" Emilia fell into a dilemma.
"So, how about a little at a time?" he coaxed.
"What's 'a little at a time'?"
"Want to try today?"
"Mm…"
He chuckled, and without waiting for her to say more, he guided his hands—exploring.
Her outfit was a one-piece, hard to find an opening. He could only work in from along her thighs.
Being touched there for the first time, Emilia panicked a bit, drawing her legs in and curling up in his lap.
Which, in fact, made "checking her development" easier—her knees pressed right to his chest.
"Mm…" Emilia suddenly froze.
Soon, a low, muffled whimper sounded in the room—like a teasing scratch, suggestive without words.
But this lovely sound couldn't carry; Shichen had already laid a barrier on the room and screened out a certain crystal-bound furball's senses.
No one would intrude on their time for two.
It was a new step: innocent, unknowing Emilia—he was checking her development.
Once she got used to it, he could move from "checking" to "tasting."
Life was getting better and better.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 220+ Chapters Ahead of Others!