But he had always stood on the opposite side from her.
Now he was playing the role of a devoted husband, but there was no telling when he might turn his back on her again.
Continuing eagerly, Talia said,
“When this child is born, teach them how to ride a horse. I heard you easterners learn horseback riding before you even learn how to walk. This child is half Easterner too, so...”
She had been talking nonstop in the hope of making Varkas grow attached to the baby, but suddenly another thought occurred to her.
What if he really put a child who couldn't even walk onto one of those smelly, violent beasts?
She hurriedly added,
“But only after they've grown enough. And... if they're too frightened, don't force them. If the child takes after me...”
She had been about to say they might be timid, but quickly changed her words.
“They might just hate horses.”
“...That would be rather troublesome.”
Still gazing silently at her lower abdomen, a faint crease appeared between Varkas's brows.
“If they are to succeed me as ruler of the East, horseback riding will be indispensable. The heir to the Grand Ducal House must command sixty thousand cavalrymen.”
Talia frowned.
She had absolutely no intention of sending the little fairy growing safely inside her womb onto a battlefield.
Dangerous things like that can be left to Varkas and the knights who follow him. My baby will stay somewhere safe with me and live happily.
She swallowed those words before they could escape.
What mattered was that Varkas clearly regarded this child as the heir to the Grand Ducal House.
“Then teach them slowly, so they'll come to love horses.”
The man lifted his head and looked at her.
His expression remained as unreadable as ever, yet Talia could now easily recognize the concern and anticipation hidden within his eyes.
He spoke softly.
“Don't worry. Once the child is born, I intend to raise them patiently. More importantly... doesn't it hurt when the baby moves like this?”
“Of course it hurts!”
In truth, this was the first time the baby had moved so forcefully, but Talia deliberately exaggerated.
Varkas's face stiffened immediately.
“Have you spoken with the healer? Surely there's some way to ease the pain...”
“They wanted me to use sleep herb, but I refused. It might harm the baby.”
Wanting him to understand just how much she cared about their child, Talia told him everything in detail.
Varkas stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.
“You should follow the healer's advice. Your Highness must remain healthy if you're to have a safe delivery.”
“I can manage perfectly well as I am.”
Talia immediately shot back.
“Every woman in the world goes through this. Why would I be any different?”
A skeptical look appeared on Varkas's face.
Talia noticed his gaze naturally drifting toward her legs, and humiliation flooded her cheeks.
Why? Because you think a cripple like me can't even give birth?
She barely restrained herself from saying it aloud.
If remembering her broken body made him feel even greater guilt and responsibility toward her—if it made him put her and the baby above everything else—then a little humiliation was a price she could easily bear.
Concealing the bitterness in her heart, she deliberately smiled with feigned petulance.
“Why are you taking it so seriously, you idiot? I was only complaining.”
“...”
“You've always been like this. You're far too rigid. You never joke around, and you take every little tease so seriously.”
“How am I supposed to treat it as a joke when my pregnant wife tells me she's suffering?”
Varkas let out an exasperated sigh.
His response softened Talia's heart, and she allowed him to keep caressing her stomach for a little longer.
A short while later, the maids entered with the meal.
Varkas watched her eat, then changed his clothes and left the room.
Talia waited for him to return until quite late, but eventually exhaustion overwhelmed her and she fell asleep.
Several sleepless nights had drained every ounce of her strength.