Into The Rose Garden

Regardless of the situation, Aelock was currently raising Klopp’s first child in his belly. It wasn’t something to go out and brag about, but he also didn’t think he needed to cower and hide about it. He also didn’t have any acquaintances who would reach out to him to socialize now.

The alpha’s attitude changed a bit now that he knew his omega was pregnant. He didn’t hit Aelock and checked once a day to make sure he was safe.

“You’re a little late today.”

“Ah, there were a lot of people rushing to me. There are quite a few people these days who are losing money on foolish investments,” Klopp said as he handed his coat, hat, and gloves to Martha.

Aelock was sitting in the living room, reading a book with a blanket on his lap. He didn’t have anything else to do, so he decided that he wanted to do a bit of prenatal care for the child. Right now, he was engrossed in reading the works of ancient philosophers. Getting immersed in the classics that required a few minutes per line to ponder, time passed quickly, and above all, his heart felt at ease.

At first, he would play the piano or violin at the music hall, but now his belly had grown too big, and he couldn’t sit at the piano or stand for too long because his legs hurt. There was a piece that he wanted to hear, but it didn’t seem like Klopp would allow him to go out, and Klopp didn’t seem willing to invite a performer too, so Aelock just held it back.

“How was your day?”

Just as Aelock wanted to speak up after flipping his book, Martha, who was putting away Klopp’s coat, spoke first.

“He had been eating well and exercising. The baby is growing well. Other than that, he spent the whole day sitting and reading.”

“The baby must be smart.”

As they exchanged conversation as if gossiping about themselves, Aelock glanced at them with a stern expression before returning his gaze to his book. Aelock thought Klopp would leave soon, but instead, he sat down on the couch across from him.

“What are you reading?”

“<Forms of Crimes>.”

Of all books, why did he pick this one today? And why did Klopp ask something he usually wouldn’t? Aelock didn’t deliberately avoid eye contact, but he didn’t think he needed to see the other man’s sneer. As he was in the middle of reading a book.

“What does the book say? What form of sin is it when a pervert who lusts after the same alpha instigates a pregnant omega to his death?”

The fingers gripping the book became white with tension. The pages he was about to turn creaked.

“The crimes discussed in this book are not related to actual criminal law, but rather philosophical and moral sins that should not be committed as social leaders.”

“I see. That’s why you could commit such a sin without a conscience. You’ve never been taught about it. Wouldn’t it be better for you to read <Human Justice> before reading that? It would teach you the basics that you need to have as a human being.”

Hearing those words, Aelock raised his eyes and looked at Klopp. His tone was sarcastic, but his expression was serious. He was tired of the hatred and condemnation pouring out without the slightest pretense. Aelock sighed softly and closed his book.

“I’ll take note of that.”

He stood up, leaving to sleep first. And Klopp did not stop him.

The usual bedtime routine done by the butler was now taken over by Martha, who had a displeased face. She was Klopp’s right-hand woman, in charge of everything in the estate, where there was no butler.

“I wish I could have some warm tea before bed.”

“Tea is not good for the baby.”

“It is not good for the baby either if the expecting mother is unhappy.”

At those words, Martha, who was tidying the bed, glared at him fiercely. She quickly approached and roughly took off Aelock’s clothes and dressed him in a white nightgown. Her hands were rough like a stern nanny dealing with a naughty child. She forcibly pushed Aelock onto the bed. Being forcefully pushed to the bed, he tried to reach for a book that he hadn’t finished reading on the table, but Martha hit the back of his hand painfully.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I can’t allow you to stay up any later than this. Sleep is essential for the baby’s growth.”

He was an adult and of higher status than her, and on top of that, he was pregnant with her master’s child. He felt offended by her harsh words.

“Even as Klopp’s housekeeper, you’re being out of line. Is your master aware of your rudeness?”

He didn’t like to directly say he dislike a servant, but he had no choice since Martha was unmanageable. Despite Aelock’s scolding, she continued to spit harsh words.

“My master is probably unaware of it, as he is rotting in the ground with his unborn child. So don’t try to act like you’re my master under the excuse of your petty pregnancy.”

Oh. Martha was probably Rayfiel’s servant. Now he understood why the middle-aged omega was so ferocious. She would probably be this mean to Aelock for the rest of her life. Martha turned off the light and left without asked.

He couldn’t sleep, so he lay in the dark room and stared blankly at the dark ceiling. Aelock decided that he would have to send her away when he gave birth. No matter what, the servant of his deceased ex-wife would not be good for the baby’s emotional development. He wrapped his round belly and closed his eyes, thinking about how to persuade Klopp for the baby.

Martha, who had revealed her true colors, often made Aelock miserable. At first, he wanted to let it go, but later, she crossed the line too much. She made him eat all the leftover meal that didn’t suit Aelock’s taste.

“Some people can’t eat this, even if they want to. If you don’t finish everything, I will inform the master.”

“I don’t like fish. Give it to someone else who wants to eat it.”

“I’m telling you to eat it for the child, not for yourself. It’s a generational tradition from the paternal side of the family to have the pregnant woman eat fish.”

As soon as he heard the word “you,” Aelock raised his head and glared at Martha. He couldn’t hear the rest of her words because of the shocking vocabulary. No matter how low he had fallen, a commoner shouldn’t use such language toward a noble. Aelock couldn’t bear the rising anger and shame, and he spoke in a stern voice with a slightly reddened face.

“Once I give birth to my child, I’ll kick you out.”

Martha snorted at those words.

“Who’s talking about whom?”

“As the biological mother of the child who will inherit the Viscount estate, I can no longer tolerate your rudeness.”

“Then do you think one can tolerate a pathetic, selfish person who killed a kind master and his baby, yet still complains about food?”

The frank reproach stung him. Aelock’s mouth hung open. For a moment, he was stunned by her unsophisticated and crude language. Aelock let out his anger which rarely happened.

“Get out right away. Your vulgar language is rotting my ears!”

“I don’t want to breathe the same air as something who’s not even human too.”

She cursed until the end, and Aelock’s hands on the chair trembled due to the shock. He couldn’t bear the sudden rush of fatigue and went to bed early. Late at night, he heard the voices of Klopp and Martha through the crack of the door. Aelock covered his ears with his hands.

From the next day on, fish was added to all his meals.

——

“Oh no, it’s fish.”

A piece of smoked red-fleshed fish fillet came in the grocery basket in front of the cabin today. It was nicely trimmed for eating, seasoned with bay leaves and whole peppercorns, and wrapped in clean paper. Judging by the skillful work, it was probably done by Martha.

Fish was always the hardest food to get on the street. Even though he had eaten fish countless times before, he couldn’t remember what it tasted like. He thought for a moment about what to do with it, then he unwrapped it and put it in a rustic pot, then he threw it into the fire pit, which was still burning. It was fish, so he figured he could just roast it.

Soon a delicious aroma wafted through the air, and without realizing it, his mouth watered. He opened the hot pot to reveal juicy and delicious roasted meat. Aelock picked up his fork and took a piece of perfectly cooked meat. Carefully putting it in his mouth, the meat melted on the tip of his tongue. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with hunger.

“It’s delicious. Don’t you think so too?”

As if answering his question, the baby in his stomach gave a weak kick in response. Laughter burst out of him. It seemed like the father’s love for fish was genetically passed to the baby. Yielding to the baby’s urging a few more times, Aelock happily tore into the hot flesh, blowing on it to cool it down.

After eating fish for the first time in a long time, he felt drowsy after the full meal. The baby seemed satisfied and slept without any more movements. He hadn’t seen Klopp yet today, so he tried to wait it out, but his heavy eyelids kept closing, and darkness crept in. Unable to hold out any longer, Aelock ended up sitting at the foot of the bed, only his upper body resting on the bed, and fell deeply asleep.