After an intense honeymoon, we settled into a tranquil daily life. The winter that soon arrived brought with it a pure beauty. Waking up in the morning to see a fresh blanket of snow without any footprints filled me with joy.

“Today, I’ll be the first to leave footprints.”

I had woken up before the sun was fully up and was about to leave the bedroom just in my robe.

“Honey.”

Lucian, whom I thought was still asleep, spoke.

“Where are you going?”

His voice was full of discontent.

“I want to go out and make the first footprints in the snow.”

“Why?”

“Um… it’s a long story. Actually, I—”

I’ve been having this strange dream these past few days. It’s like a drama, where the dream continues each night.

The first night, I was walking alone on a snowy path. The second night, I walked the same path, but someone else had left footprints. Today, the third day, I thought I finally saw the last episode of the dream.

At the end of the footprints, there was a large peach tree, heavy with fruit, standing out against the snowy backdrop. The snow-covered peaches looked so delicious just by looking that I couldn’t help but bite into one. The juice burst into my mouth with a refreshing taste.

While looking for another to eat, I spotted the biggest, most juiciest peach.

It was deep within the tree.

It was so inviting that I gulped and grabbed it, and as if it was waiting for me, the peach fell. I caught it hurriedly, afraid of dropping it, and held it tightly between my arm and chest, checking if it was alright before I woke up from the dream.

Despite waking up early, my mind felt incredibly clear, as if the whole world was brightly lit. Maybe my face looked just as illuminated.

“…Then, let’s go out together.”

Lucian, who had been watching me intently, got up. He quickly threw on a robe and reached out his hand to me.

“Sure, let’s go outside together.”

We slowly made our way out into the gradually brightening garden. The lights in the mansion were turning on one by one. It seemed like the employees were starting to wake up.

As the sky turned from dark blue to brighter colors, we walked hand in hand, stepping into the thick blanket of snow.

Crunch, crunch.

The sound was like washing dishes.

Just like in my dream, there was a tree in the center of the garden, its green leaves peeking through the heavy snow.

“…I wish it was a peach tree.”

‘Then, I could have picked and eaten the peaches right away…’

While it was satisfying to make the first footprints, I was disappointed not to see any peaches like in my dream.

“Why do you want it to be a peach tree?”

Lucian asked, filled with curiosity.

“Uh, because I want to eat peaches?”

I dreamed of eating a big, refreshing peach. That would have been completely satisfying.

“Peaches…”

Lucian muttered with a troubled expression. After all, getting peaches in the middle of winter was harder than it seemed.

“Still, I want them…”

Disappointed, I decided to be content with making new footprints and moved on.

* * *

Since then, peaches haven’t left my mind. Whether eating or drinking tea, all I thought about were peaches.

“Hmm…”

I finished my work unusually early today. Maybe it was because the lunch hadn’t settled well, making me feel bloated.

I got up and approached Lucian.

“Honey.”

“Yes?”

He looked up from his documents with puzzled eyes.

“I’m going to head in early today.”

“Why? Are you feeling unwell?”

Normally, I would stay in the office until he finished, so that was why he was immediately suspicious.

“Uung… I feel a bit off. My stomach is upset.”

No sooner had I finished speaking than Lucian also stood up. He signaled to Alex and then reached out his hand.

“I don’t have anything urgent. Let’s go in together.”

“Okay…”

“Do we need to call the doctor?”

“It doesn’t seem that bad…”

“No. We need to check these things right away.”

“Alright.”

I would have done the same if he was feeling ill, so I nodded. We then returned to our room and entered the bedroom.

“Where does it hurt?”

“Feels like my stomach is bloated. Maybe it’s from the lunch I ate?”

“Hmm, and your fingertips feel cold.”

He rubbed my hands, bringing some warmth that seemed to ease my discomfort a bit. After a while, the doctor arrived. He quickly came over and asked.

“What seems to be the trouble?”

“I feel sick. My stomach is bloated. Do you have something that could help with digestion?”

“Of course. However, it would be best to perform a proper examination. Please excuse me for a moment, ma’am.”

“Yes…”

The doctor took my wrist, looking serious. He concentrated for a moment, then suddenly flinched as if surprised.

“What’s wrong?”

Lucian, who was watching from the side, asked in surprise.

“Ah, just… a moment. Let me check your pulse again.”

While the doctor examined me more intently than before, I held my breath, anxiously waiting for his words.

It should not be a big problem.

The more I looked at him concentrating, the more I felt that my mouth was drying up. Lucian, too, grew impatient and urged the doctor.

“It’s not a serious illness, is it? It shouldn’t be.”

His voice was almost ominously low, and it sounded gloomy. Finally, the doctor looked up at us.

“….Madam, Duke.”

“What is the name of the disease? There must be a proper treatment.”

Despite Lucian’s almost threatening tone, the doctor smiled warmly and answered.

“The only treatment I can recommend is rest.”

“What does that mean?”

“Congratulations! It’s a joyous occasion for the Leon family.”

“What are you talking about…?”

As I asked in a dazed voice, the doctor answered more clearly.

“Madam is three months pregnant.”

“….”

“What?”

“You must be very careful now. It seems like the discomfort might be morning sickness symptoms.”

Both of us were speechless, staring blankly at the doctor as he hastily scribbled some notes.

“I’ll inform Miss Amber about the foods that are good for pregnant women and those to avoid. I’ll excuse myself for now.”

He quickly packed his medical bag and vanished even before we could say anything more. In the meanwhile, we sat in stunned silence, unable to find words. I glanced down and gently touched my stomach. It hadn’t shown any signs of change.

“Ha…”

Lucian swallowed hard.

He was standing up and sat down cautiously next to me. Holding my hand tightly, he stammered in a voice full of shock and fear.

“….Can we really raise it?”

It was only a few months ago. There was no reason to think things would be dramatically different now.

Yet, I felt somewhat different about it.

Yes, when had everything ever been perfect? There were painful days and joyful days. We’ve survived all those times to get here, so what was the big deal of getting pregnant?

It was just adding one more member to our family.

“Honey.”

“Yes?”

“Our past might have been challenging, though that doesn’t mean our child will have the same fate.”

“….”

“We can avoid making the mistakes we disliked to our child, that’s enough. We’re adults now, and we are capable of self-control.”

“…Ray, you always know how to guide me.”

Lucian gently stroked my cheek, very carefully, as if handling something precious. I grabbed his hand and rubbed it against my cheek playfully.

“It’s the other way around. Luci helped me stand up properly.”

“No, I wouldn’t be who I am without you.”

“Hehe.”

We both said, “It’s thanks to you,” and then laughed together. Although it still didn’t quite feel real, the thought that we were going to have a child felt incredibly surreal. It was half fear and anticipation. I believed that together, we would manage just fine.

“Madam? Madam!”

It seemed Amber had already heard the news as she knocked urgently.

“Come in!”

“Madam!”

Amber rushed in, standing before us with tears in her eyes. It made me feel like I might start crying, too.

“Congratulations.”

Lucian made room for her.

Amber, who was like a sister and a mother to us… She might have been the key to adapting to this new life. As I hugged her to show my gratitude, she hugged me back.

“Thank you…”

“I’m grateful, too.”

“Hehe…”

Today really seemed like a day of gratitude. I already felt thankful for the joy this child was bringing.

Just as I lightly patted her back before letting go, a certain smell wafted from her clothing. I sniffed unconsciously, and Amber, with a flustered voice, stepped back.

“Oh dear, I was checking the menu in the kitchen when I heard the news. Does it smell a lot like food?”

Normally, I would have found the smell appetizing, but now it was oddly unbearable. Even though I should reassure Amber it was okay, opening my mouth felt like it might lead to disaster, so I covered it with my hand.

“Madam?”

“Uugh!”

“Ray!”

This nausea was unlike any morning sickness I’d heard of. It was the first time in my life. It felt like my stomach was being turned inside out.

__