Chapter 78: The First Child

At his words, Lara let out a faint sob and buried her face in his chest. Alec gently patted her back and began talking about the things they would do once the baby was born.

It was their favorite topic of conversation. From Laurent to now, the only thing that eased the recent awkwardness between them was the baby growing inside her. Kneeling, Alec kissed his wife’s round belly and whispered softly.

“I can’t wait to see you, little one. Whether you’re a prince or a princess, it doesn’t matter to your father. Just come into this world healthy.”

“That tickles.”

Lara burst into laughter. Alec had lifted her chemise and was pressing his lips against her belly, where the pregnancy line was clearly visible. Seeing his wife laughing after so long made his heart ache with love.

“This little one likes it.”

Lara’s belly rippled, as if the baby was kicking. Alec stroked the corner of her damp eyes. He felt that once the baby was born, everything would be resolved—all the current issues would disappear. With a clear heir, even the Empress’s status would be solidified.

The child would become Lara’s strongest pillar of support. Alec stood up, carefully embraced his wife, and kissed her. Lara melted into his arms, receiving his sweet kiss. He held her as if to enclose her fragile, pale body. A heat pooled in his lower abdomen as his body ached with need.

Lara, noticing, blushed deeply. Alec let out a dry chuckle.

“I’ll take care of it and be back.”

“Do it here.”

Lara shook her head and grasped his arm firmly. A hunger, both desperate and shameless, burned in Alec’s gray eyes. Lara swallowed hard. Without a word, Alec unfastened his trousers. Kneeling before him, Lara took him into her mouth with practiced ease.

For the first time in a while, they met as man and woman. Ayec grasped her wavy hair as raw desire turned him into a beast.

Only she could reshape him back into a man. His shameless arousal thrust deep into her hot mouth, over and over. Aylec finally returned to being human only when the morning sun rose.

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A few days later, at midday, Alec was out hunting with senior nobles, including Edwid, the second son of the Marquis of Offreze. He had his rifle aimed at a flying bird when a servant on horseback came galloping toward them.

The nobles enjoyed showcasing their masculinity by catching young animals darting through streams and grass, stacking their kills high to impress the noble ladies.

Men who caught good game were always popular with women—it was an instinctive and childish display.

At ten years old, Alec hadn’t understood this, but after having a wife, he finally did. He imagined Lara’s eyes sparkling with admiration when he presented her with a well-furred animal he had hunted himself.

His interest in the dull act of slaughter had been piqued when Lara clapped her hands in delight over a badger he had caught. For the first time, hunting became enjoyable.

Perhaps because it had once been a matter of survival, Alec had never felt much enthusiasm for it before. But from that moment, he developed a passion for the hunt. It became a game, a competition where he wanted to win.

‘Whether it’s a bird or a beast, I must catch one for Lara.’

That was all he thought. That day, he had been catching a rabbit to gift her, just like any nobleman eager to impress his wife with fine game. He even planned to suggest making the baby’s first fur shoes from its pelt.

Just imagining Lara’s joyful face as she kissed his cheek and stroked his hair made the hunt even more thrilling.

The servant dismounted hastily, his face filled with urgency. Alec pulled the trigger, shooting at the flying bird before turning around.

“Your Majesty!”

Breathless, the servant approached with a pale face.

“What is it?”

“Her Majesty has gone into labor.”

Alec almost dropped his rifle. He hadn’t expected this.

“When?” he asked quietly.

The servant wiped his sweaty forehead and caught his breath.

“Half an hour ago.”

Alec wanted to throw down everything and mount his horse immediately, but too many eyes were watching. He handed his gun to the servant as regally as possible before climbing into the saddle.

“Are you leaving, Your Majesty?”

It was Gillian, the eldest son of the Marquis of Oppreze.

“And if I am?”

“The child will be born regardless, Your Majesty.”

Alec shot him a sharp glare for referring to the imperial heir so dismissively, but Gillian smirked.

“I’m simply saying you should enjoy yourself a little longer. There are plenty of ladies here waiting just for you.”

Gillian cast a glance toward his sister, a sneer playing on his lips. Alec frowned.

Even at a hunting ground, Valerie refused to abandon her extravagant dress, smiling at him with an enigmatic expression.

She had always looked at him that way—subtle and calculating. Unlike Belzenoir’s daughter, who boldly flaunted her beauty, Valerie painted herself in subdued colors, her pale green eyes filled with silent ambition.

Alec barely spared her a glance before turning his horse. He had no intention of wasting time entangled with the Offreze siblings.

He rode toward the palace, pushing his horse at full speed. Since he had ventured deep into the hunting grounds, it would take at least twenty minutes to reach the palace.

Alec bit his lip, his mind racing with thoughts of Lara. Had it been a mistake to enter the hunting grounds, thinking he had two more weeks until the due date? The distance between them felt agonizingly slow to close.

‘It’s our first child. Parents are new at this too.’

He recalled a man from Laurent patting his shoulder once, a father of a two-year-old daughter who had married around the same time as Alec.

“A child is hard work, but that’s what makes them precious.”

Back then, Alec had thought it wouldn’t be difficult. No matter how often the baby cried or how much trouble it caused, he was ready to give everything, even his own flesh and blood, if needed.

‘So just be born healthy.’

Thinking of the baby, who had decided to come early, Alec urged his horse forward. It took exactly twenty minutes to reach the palace.

Panting, he climbed the stairs and stopped before the Empress’s chamber. It must have been an amusing sight—him, the mighty Emperor, breathless and disheveled—but he had no time to care about the onlookers.

“Where is the Empress?”

“She is in labor, Your Majesty.”

A middle-aged woman, the head lady-in-waiting, blocked his path. Alec frowned and tried to step past her, but she bowed and insisted firmly.

“Please observe the proper customs, Your Majesty. Childbirth is a battle the Empress must face alone. You must wait outside.”

“This is my first child. Are you saying I can’t even comfort my wife before labor fully begins?”

“But, Your Majesty…”

“I don’t want to hear it. No matter how different the palace is from common households, if a husband cannot even be by his wife’s side, what separates him from an ordinary man?”

Alec’s voice was sharp. The lady-in-waiting, recommended by the Marchioness of Oppreze, was supposed to guide Lara in imperial etiquette, but she frequently obstructed their meetings, nitpicking about rules.

Alec found her presence distasteful, especially since he had heard reports that Lara seemed wary of her. But whenever he brought it up, Lara always defended her.

“She’s a good person, Alec. She just wants me to learn. She’s strict, but she means well.”

Every time he tried to dismiss the woman, Lara shook her head and smiled, believing that if she worked hard, people would see her differently.

But Alec didn’t care how others saw her. As long as she stayed by his side, nothing else mattered.

“Your Majesty—”

“Step aside.”

Pushing past the woman, Alec entered the chamber.

Hearing the commotion, a maid rushed forward with water for him to wash his hands. Alec scrubbed them quickly, eager to touch Lara’s forehead.

When he sat beside her, she turned to look at him, her pale face damp with sweat, her half-lidded eyes glistening with tears.

His heart ached. He should be happy that their child was coming, but seeing his wife in pain made it hard to breathe.

Before she could reach out, he took her hand in both of his.

“Rose.”

“Your Majesty…”

“I’m not the Emperor right now. I’m your husband.”

I will always be yours. Only yours.

Alec kissed the back of her trembling hand. Lara gave a fragile smile, tears slipping from her eyes.

“It’s okay. We’ll meet our baby soon.”

“Yes.”

“Just a little longer.”

Holding her small hand, he kissed each fingertip. Thinking of their child, his heart swelled with an indescribable joy.

But seeing his wife in such pain made him feel as if he were plummeting from the clouds.

“I can do this. For our baby, I will be strong. And when this is over, you and I will—ah!”

Lara let out a sudden cry, her body tensing. Alec rushed closer, his heart pounding.