Reborn: The Duke's Obsession-Chapter 266 - Two Hundred And sixty six

"You are with child?" he whispered, the words filled with a profound and wondrous awe. The world seemed to stop, the quiet of the study broken only by the frantic, hopeful hammering of his own heart.

Delia, still cradled in his lap, looked up at him, her own eyes shining with a mixture of nervousness and joy. She gave a small, certain nod.

That single movement was all it took. The dam of his composure broke, and a wave of pure, unrestrained happiness washed over him. An incredulous, breathless laugh escaped his lips. He lowered his head and began to pepper her face with kisses—her forehead, her cheeks, her eyelids, the tip of her nose. They weren’t kisses of passion, but of worship, of gratitude, of a joy so immense it couldn’t be contained in words.

"Eric!" Delia said, giggling as she squirmed in his lap, her laughter like music to his ears.

He stopped, pulling back just enough to look at her, his hands framing her face as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. His eyes shone with unshed tears of happiness. "A baby," he breathed. "Our baby." He shook his head in disbelief. "I haven’t even decided on a name yet. I need to start making a list. So many names are already on my mind."

Delia’s arms, which had been resting on his shoulders, wrapped tightly around his neck, pulling herself closer. "Do you want a girl or a boy?" she asked, her voice soft.

"A boy or a girl," he replied without a moment’s hesitation, his voice thick with emotion, "if they look like you, they will be the loveliest child in the entire world."

He saw the joy in Delia’s eyes, a reflection of his own, and he couldn’t stop himself. He pulled her into a tight, all-encompassing hug, burying his face in the crook of her neck. He held her as if he could physically protect her and their unborn child from all the dangers of the world, from fate itself.

"My goodness," he murmured into her skin, his voice muffled. "I’m so happy right now, Delia. I think I’ve forgotten how to breathe."

She melted into his embrace, her own heart swelling with a happiness so fierce it almost hurt. They stayed like that for a long moment, two souls clinging to a perfect, beautiful truth. But even in the brightest sunlight, shadows can linger.

Delia spoke, her voice a quiet, somber whisper against his chest. "The rose has only one petal now," she said, the words a stark reminder of their fragile reality. "It may fall today, or tomorrow." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The joyous energy in his embrace lessened slightly. He rested his chin on the top of her head, his own voice low and heavy. "Right," was all he could say. The word was a quiet acknowledgment of the fear that always lingered just beneath the surface of their happiness.

Delia pulled back from the hug, though she did not leave the circle of his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but her expression was determined, hopeful. "The fact that this news came to us today, of all days... it has to be a good sign, right?" she asked, her voice pleading for him to agree, to believe with her.

Eric’s heart ached with love for her, for her strength, for her ability to find hope in the face of such uncertainty. A gentle smile touched his lips as he leaned down and pressed a soft, reassuring kiss to her forehead. "Yes," he said, his voice firm. "It’s the best sign." He took a deep breath, his mind shifting into a protective, practical mode. It was his way of fighting back. "I’ll summon the doctor tomorrow morning. He needs to check you for any possible complications. We’ll get the best physician in the capital."

Delia chuckled, the sound a little watery, but it chased away some of the sadness. "I have already seen a doctor at my mother’s house," she reminded him gently. "He said everything is perfectly fine. It’s not really needed. Besides, I have business to attend to tomorrow."

"Everything is needed when it comes to you," Eric replied, his voice full of a fierce, unwavering devotion. "And to our child."

Delia’s expression softened. She raised a hand to his face, her fingers gently tracing the line of his jaw. She held his face in her hand and pulled herself in for a quick, sweet kiss. "Fine, fine. If it will put your mind at ease," she said, her voice a playful, loving murmur, "then it will be as you wish, Your Grace. But, it should be when I’m back."

The familiar, formal address, now used as a term of endearment, made his heart soar. He was about to kiss her again, more deeply this time, when she pulled back with a thoughtful look on her face.

"Are you tired?" he asked, concerned. "Should we go to our room so you can rest?"

"I want to eat first," she replied, a small, adorable pout forming on her lips. "I’m suddenly very hungry." She looked up at him from under her lashes. "I miss your cooking."

The simple request was the most beautiful thing he had ever heard. It was a request for a normal life, for a simple, happy evening. "What should I make for you?" he asked, his heart full. "Porridge? A pie? Beef stew?"

Delia’s eyes lit up like a child in a candy shop. "I want beef stew," she declared. "And freshly baked pastries. And tea." She paused, her finger tapping her chin as if she had just remembered the most important thing of all. "Oh, and let’s not forget a large bowl of fruits."

Eric smiled, a deep, rumbling laugh of pure joy coming from his chest. He felt like the king of the world, a man who had just been given everything he had ever wanted. He leaned in and captured her pouting lips in a sweet, promising kiss.

"As you wish, my duchess."