Duke, Please Stop Because it Hurts

Chapter 176

The Responsibility for an Action

Only after a few dozens of inspections did the Duke’s people were finally able to leave the Marquis’.

It was a rather light travel when she first headed to the Marquis’, but now, it was far different. Amidst the harsh and brutal environment, Molitia was then carefully  transported.

Despite having doubled the number of knights, Raven still remained alert. He chose to be safe even if the pace would be a little later.

As the wind eventually calmed down, the slow-moving carriage finally arrived at the Duchy.

The atmosphere in the Duchy’s garden was quite tense, which had never been felt before. This was due to the knights who had first left and scouted the area one step ahead before announcing the Duchess’ arrival.

“I can’t believe that the Madame, whom we all worried about freezing in that cold place, has finally returned!”

The door of the carriage eventually opened amidst the joy, celebration, anxiety and also concern.

It was then Raven who had appeared with misty breath from the carriage. Despite the happy news of the Duchess’ arrival, the whole garden was disappointed by his seemingly cold appearance instead.

‘Madame?’

‘Where is the Madame?’

Raven looked around, utterly unaware of their burning innermost thoughts that were circulating. He then reached into the carriage again as if he had finished checking the Duchy that was already with a tight security.

“Molitia.”

A milky white hand softly went on top of the black glove. Locks of hair as white as snow slowly fluttered in the wind. When she emerged from the carriage with a slightly raised cheek, Raven outstretched the rest of his hands.

“Come here.”

Molitia hesitated to pay attention to the meaning of his arms that had been spread open proudly. Nevertheless, his firm arms were showing no intentions of making any concessions as well.

In the midst of a small scuffle, Molitia finally lifted her upper body slightly as she finally yielded. His arms which wrapped around her shoulders were holding her familiarly.

All bundled up with her thick clothes, she began hugging as if she were drowning within his wide arms. When the only couple emerged from the carriage, the servants immediately bowed in unison.

It was similar to a greeting that had welcomed the safe return of both the lords of the Duchy. Molitia’s cheeks flushed even redder when she realized that more people had been paying much attention to the two of them.

“I’m not sick.”

“I know.”

“You know that I can walk as well, right?”

Raven’s response halted for a mere second.

“What if you fall down?”

“Have you ever seen me fall?”

“You might take this time to actually fall.”

In Raven’s eyes, even the garden had appeared like a dangerous path. How did they clean up the garden when there were rocks in the middle of the road and weeds that hadn’t been pulled out.

He didn’t know when or where she might step on them before slipping or even tripping all over them. It was just unimaginable to let her walk amidst such a dangerous place.

Her head immediately sank to the ground when it seemed like he had no intention of lowering his hands, in fact, his embrace had just grown even tighter.

“Raven, the others are watching.”

“Not only one or even two, but just look at them.”

“Still… achoo—”

It was just a tiny voice, but Raven wasn’t the only one who had been surprised. Pillen, who was carefully on the lookout behind Raven, freaked out before wrapping her up with the blanket in hand.

“Still?”

“…I just had an itchy nose.”

“No.”

He instantly hugged Molitia, who was still expressing her desire to be put down.

She rubbed against his cheek with her white hand before it landed eventually on his shoulder.

“Let me know that you’re all safe in my arms—keep yourself warm too.”

He looked absolutely obsessed with her safety that had been rather too much, she thought, but Molitia just couldn’t stop him at all. It was all the more so since she precisely understood how he had felt.

“I got it.”

Although she finally sighed as if she was hurling, Raven was still satisfied just by her resignation. He kissed her cheek briefly before he quickly proceeded into the mansion while wondering if she might have still gotten a cold.

The servants were all delighted by the scene of reconciliation between the couple, which could be said to be rather lengthy yet still short. Nevertheless, peace didn’t last that very long.

“Urgh!”

“Molitia? What’s wrong?”

It had been the same time for a meal as usual—until Molitia, who was already seated at the dining hall while waiting for the food to arrive, suddenly clasped onto her face.

“That… the smell of food feels disgusting all of a sudden. Urgh!”

Raven instantly jumped out from his seat when Molitia, who had already turned blue, covered her entire mouth.

“Doctor!”

The doctor hastily visited the dining hall at the fierce voice of Raven’s. Fortunately, it turned out to be her morning sickness—one of the common symptoms of pregnancy.