"Why did you… suddenly ask that?" Shichen looked into Emilia's violet eyes, blinking in amused puzzlement.
"Curious…" Emilia pressed her lips together, a little embarrassed.
"What's there to be curious about?"
"I… didn't I misunderstand how babies are made before… and you promised you'd tell me."
"I did say that… 'kissing makes you pregnant'—only a little dummy like you would think that." Remembering Emilia's earlier innocence, Shichen couldn't help laughing.
"Ugh, I am not a little dummy. I hate you!" Emilia swatted his chest in protest.
Shichen, in turn, let his fingers go to work.
"Mm~" Emilia's body went stiff at once, and she slumped onto him.
"Heh~ You really want to know?" Shichen asked with a grin.
"Mm…" Emilia, face red, held it in and gave a small nod.
"We got delayed by the White Whale, but that's handled now. You said I should tell you…"
"I know. But don't get shy later," Shichen warned.
"Shy?" Emilia looked at him, confused.
Shichen didn't explain. He released her, stood up, and began setting a barrier—also strengthening the ward that kept Puck's presence out.
"What are you… doing?" Emilia tensed.
Every time Shichen did this, it meant he was about to "bully" her.
So having a baby also meant bullying her?
"I'm not going to let you run away~" Shichen's eyes burned as he stared at her.
He'd been "checking" Emilia's development for a while; he'd long since run out of patience—if not for Rem.
Now that she wanted to know on her own, how could he refuse to "teach"?
"Why would I… run away? Is having a baby scary?" Emilia asked, pure as ever.
"No, it's something very happy."
"Something happy?" Emilia tilted her head, all innocence.
Looking at her, Shichen felt a flicker of guilt. Emilia's mental age wasn't very high, really—maybe just a bit older than Yatogami Tohka.
Her body had grown for over a hundred years…
But sealed away for so long—did that count as growing?
Forget it. Overthinking now would be the real problem.
Shichen stepped up to her, stroked her guileless face, then let his hand slide down to her collar.
"Shichen?" Emilia grew nervous; she knew this move all too well.
Was he going to "help her develop" again?
"Don't be nervous. Leave it to me," Shichen soothed.
"Mm…"
"Then, let's take off your nightgown first."
"Eh? Why?"
"What are you afraid of? It's not like I haven't seen you."
"It's just…" Emilia flushed.
"This is a necessary part if you want to know—unless you don't."
"I see… okay."
Emilia trusted him completely. She lowered her head so he wouldn't see how red she was, and slowly slipped off her nightgown.
It wasn't the first time she'd undressed before him, but she was still shy.
She could feel the heat in her cheeks, even up to her ears.
Bit by bit, the nightgown came away, and her bare skin shimmered under Shichen's gaze.
She couldn't help lifting her arms to cross them over her chest.
The modest pose only stoked Shichen's interest.
She wore only a single, pure-white undergarment—just like her heart.
Her figure was on the slender side; her skin was smooth and fine, fair as jade, like moonlight at night—
cool and cold to the touch.
But because of her shyness, a blush slowly spread across that porcelain skin—on her shoulders, at her chest, over her knees…
Shichen swallowed, stepped in, and gathered her into his arms as they fell back onto the bed.
"Shichen…?" Emilia stared, dazed.
"Leave it to me," he murmured, kissing her forehead.
"Mm…" Emilia let out a faint smile.
She had a sense of what was coming—her heart tight and fearful—but since it was Shichen, she found the courage to face it.
She only needed to trust him.
…
At dinner time, Emilia didn't come to eat.
"Rem, Ram, sit down and eat together."
"No. We're only servants," Ram refused with a shake of her head.
"Then that's an order."
"This…"
"I understand." Rem obeyed, taking the seat beside Shichen.
"Good girl." Shichen rubbed her head.
"Hehe~"
"Rem's sitting already—are you still going to insist?" Shichen asked Ram.
"…Fine." Ram sighed as if forced, and sat in the seat beside Roswaal.
Roswaal wasn't there; he'd been gone for a while.
If he were, Shichen would have dragged him along to the Whale-slaying just to see his real power.
"All right, let's eat," Shichen announced.
"Yes."
"Shichen, when are you taking me back for a visit?" Beatrice suddenly asked.
"Back?" Shichen blinked.
"I want to see everyone."
"I see." He understood.
He'd actually been planning to head back for a bit.
The White Whale was dealt with; they had a stretch of time now. It would be perfect to take Emilia and the rest to see the modern world.
Emilia wasn't truly invested in being king; becoming a candidate just meant she intended to do her duty properly.
"Shichen, what does Beatrice-sama mean?" Rem asked.
"Mm~ I'm thinking of leaving for a while."
"Leaving?" Rem stared blankly.
"Don't worry, I'll take you along. And we'll be back soon." He soothed her with a head pat.
"Oh. Okay." Rem exhaled in relief.
"So you don't trust me?" Shichen feigned a pout
.
"What can I do—Rem will just accept Shichen's punishment then~" Rem said with a smile.
"Punishment? More like a reward for you, isn't it?" Shichen rolled his eyes.
"Hehe~ Are you scared? Maybe you overdid it with Emilia-sama?"
"Trying to provoke me? Just wait—you're in for it tonight."
"Rem can't wait~"
"…"
"What are you two even talking about? What punishment? What reward?" Ram asked, baffled.
"These things are still too early for Sis~" Rem replied sweetly.
"Rem…"
"Right—Shichen, are you taking sister along?" Rem asked.
"If we all leave, she'll be here alone."
"What would I take her for? No." Shichen refused flatly.
"Tch~ I don't want to go with you anyway," Ram pouted.
"Perfect. You can be here by yourself—test your independence a bit. You can't always rely on Rem; time to be the big sister." Shichen grinned at her.
"Ugh…" Ram ground her teeth.
After dinner, Shichen took some food to Emilia's room and fed her a little.
Exhausted, Emilia fell back asleep right away.
The room was a mess and would have to wait until she got her strength back.
Shichen didn't disturb her and returned to his room to await the night.
It had been Emilia's first time; he'd been gentle for her sake, not working too hard. Since Rem had provoked him, he'd let her see how "terrible" he could be.
That night, Rem's voice was left completely hoarse.
Naturally, that delayed their departure by a day.
Shichen told no one—he simply took them away. None of them asked questions; by now, they trusted him completely.
And truth be told, when it came to Shichen, seeing was believing anyway.