Chapter 360
Both Irene and the doctor, at nearly the same time, scrambled to change the subject.
âMore than that, it seems youâre enjoying your nights a little too much. Your vitality is worn down, so try cutting back a bitâŚâ
âY-Yes, maâam!â
Irene diligently wrote down the doctorâs advice. As she did, the doctor smiled and saidâ
âThereâs no need to write it down so thoroughly. Honestly, your partnerâs stamina must have its limits too, so things will naturally slow down bit by bit.â
At those words, Irene could only give a weak smile.
He doesnât get tired⌠We just keep goingâŚ
Back at her lodgings, Irene fell deep into thought.
Since there was nothing wrong with her, the reason she couldnât conceive had to lie with Michael.
At first, she was shocked. She had thought that having a child together was only natural.
But as she worked through her feelings alone, a new thought occurred to her.
âDo I really have to have a child?â
Irene thought about why she wanted a child in the first place.
Was it perhaps some kind of compensation for the time sheâd spent alone as a child?
Old feelings of loneliness came to mind.
Those moments, sitting by herself, looking at people passing by with envy.
Those cold days when sheâd wanted to hug a puppy wagging its tail.
But that was all in the past. What about now?
Irene wondered if sheâd felt that kind of emotion at all recently.
âNo.â
Ever since she reunited with Michael, Irene had always felt a warmth and security, as if she was enveloped in his broad embrace even when alone.
Sheâd worried that his presence in her life was so overwhelming that sheâd feel anxious whenever he wasnât there, but since being with Michael again, every day had felt full.
Even now, in this moment when he was briefly away, she found she could smile to herself just thinking of him.
So thenâŚ
âMaybe itâs alright not to have a child.â
Even now, without a child, both she and Michael lived every day in utmost happiness.
So things were fine as they were.
That was the conclusion Irene came to.
But a new worry arose.
âHow am I supposed to tell Michael about this?â
How could she possibly bring up the idea that he might be lacking in reproductive ability?
Especially since such a subject was so sensitive it could deeply wound him.
A vision of Michael, terribly disappointed in himself and falling into gloom, flashed through Ireneâs mind.
Irene ran a hand over her face.
I wonât say it.
No, I canât say it.
* * *
And yet, to find herself pregnant now?
At this very moment, the most flustered person wasnât Michael, who had just been called impotent, but Irene herself.
The two of them stared blankly at each other, then realized they were both leaving something unsaid and opened their mouths.
âThe truth isâŚâ
âThe truth isâŚâ
Speaking at the same time, they looked at each other, then spoke again.
âYou go first.â
âPlease, go ahead.â
After giving way to each other, Irene ended up speaking first.
âI thought it was strange that I wasnât getting pregnant, so I went to see a doctorâŚâ
Irene told him about visiting the doctor.
As he listened, Michaelâs expression grew stiffer and stiffer. Finally, he managed to speak with difficulty.
âI see. So⌠you thought I couldnât make you conceiveâŚâ
Michael still seemed to be reeling from the word âimpotentâ.
âThen I suppose itâs my turn to speak. ActuallyâŚâ
With his expression still dazed from the shock, Michael explained why Irene hadnât conceived until now, and why she had this time.
ââŚThatâs what happened.â
When he finished, Michael couldnât lift his head.
He had only ever held back because he hated the thought of Irene suffering, but in his jealousy, heâd ended up desperately spilling himself inside her.
Now, knowing that the child in her womb existed because of his own desire, he only felt remorseful.
While Michael was at a loss, overcome with guilt, Irene, face flushed red, looked down at what was beneath him.
He was wearing loose cotton pants that he usually wore around the house, but even so, his outline was plainly visible, blatantly revealing how large he was.
And it wasnât just the size.
She also knew just how often he would become aroused, and just how much seed he would release.
And yet, she had thought he was infertile.
âI didnât know a Monster King could control that sort of thingâŚâ
With a sigh, Irene moved closer to Michael.
She gently took his lowered face in both hands, lifting his head.
His eyes were glistening with moisture, as if he was deeply sorry.
Whenever Irene saw Michael like this, her heart would ache.
A man who had killed countless monsters, and ruthlessly killed off his own feelings, would become unreasonably vulnerable whenever he was with her.
As if to comfort him, Irene softly stroked his cheek and asked, her face full of worry,
âMichael. Are you unhappy that we have a child?â
With that, she pressed her lips to his cheek.
âIâm truly happy, you know.â
In that moment, Michael suddenly pulled her into his arms. With an overwhelmed voice, he said,
âIâm⌠happy too.â
Michaelâs voice trembled as if he had received a gift far beyond what he deserved.
