Chapter 149: Second Pregnancy
Gara’s eyes fluttered open. Sunlight slipped through the cracks of the window, stabbing into his vision. Along with it came the pounding ache in his head and the tearing pain in his stomach.
Still half-conscious, he turned his head toward where he usually found his babies’ crib.
But instead of tiny cradles, he was greeted by the bare chest of a man.
The memories of last night crashed into him all at once. Reflexively, Gara slapped a hand over his mouth, screaming only inside his heart. He had really let himself be carried away by desire.
Carefully, he inched backward, putting distance between himself and the warm body beside him. The same body whose arm had served as his pillow.
"Congratulations! You’ve now unlocked Max Charm as a permanent active skill."
The voice of Goddess Freya rang in his head, arriving at the worst possible moment.
I don’t want to talk to you right now! Gara’s face burned with shame.
Not only had he lost control, but the goddess had witnessed it!!!
"Hmph! And here I thought you’d be happy with the good news." With a sulking tone, Freya’s voice faded away.
Only then did Gara fully register her words. Max Charm... permanent? But wasn’t the condition that I had to get pregnant within a month...?
Right on cue, a translucent blue panel appeared before his eyes,
[Second pregnancy confirmed. Charm +1, Lottery Ticket ×1]
Once again, Gara screamed inside. His eyes and mouth both widened into perfect circles. He was utterly stunned.
His Divine Fertility had worked flawlessly. One attempt, and it succeeded.
This time, though shocked, he didn’t resist the truth in his heart. Maybe because this was his second pregnancy. He already had experience.
He also had nearly everything he needed: niskara tea to stave off morning sickness, anesthetics to ease childbirth, money to raise his babies, supportive people around him, and most importantly, this baby would have a father who would take responsibility.
Warmth bloomed in Gara’s chest. He turned to the side, studying Madha’s sleeping face. Even his profile was breathtakingly handsome.
Propping his head with his hand, Gara quietly watched him.
Will Madha be happy when he learns I’m carrying his child? He probably won’t let me out of his sight for even a second if he knew.
A giggle slipped out of Gara as his imagination ran wild.
Madha stirred, his eyes opening, as if he’d heard that small sound. Gara stiffened in panic.
But when their eyes met, Madha smiled. And that smile was contagious. Gara found himself smiling back.
Madha’s hand reached up, brushing against Gara’s cheek. The touch was so warm, so steady.
Then, with a sudden pull, Madha drew Gara down onto him. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world fell silent.
The cold morning quickly turned into something far hotter.
Last night, Gara had been driven by raw passion. But now, he was fully aware, feeling every sensation, every touch with sharpened senses.
Madha wasn’t gentle. And Gara loved that.
For now, Gara kept his pregnancy to himself. He wanted to ask his mother first when it was a normal time for people to find out about a pregnancy.
...
The sun was no longer leaning from the east, it was nearly overhead by the time Gara finally stepped out of his room, Madha following close behind.
Both young men were damp with sweat, yet they looked surprisingly fresh, as though they had just returned from training instead of... well, the truth.
Gara prayed they wouldn’t run into anyone in the front room. Tugging at his collar, he tried to hide the faint red marks blooming around his collarbone.
Chit-chit!
Too late. They were caught... by Rea.
Thankfully, it was only Rea. Gara let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The little creature squeaked again, pointing toward Wina’s room.
"What?" Gara blinked, startled. "The triplets’ milk is almost gone?"
At once, he and Madha hurried into Wina’s room.
Honestly, Gara had assumed there were enough people in the house that things would be fine without him. For once, he had wanted a little extra rest.
Madha, too, hadn’t forgotten the triplets. He simply believed there wouldn’t be a problem.
After all, if the milk really had run out, surely Gara’s mother would have knocked on his door. But no one had come all morning.
Inside, Wina was gently feeding Aldwin.
"Is the triplets’ milk really gone, Mom?" Gara asked.
"This is the last bottle," Wina said, lifting the one she’d just pulled from Aldwin’s mouth. "Luckily, you came out in time."
Her gaze shifted toward Madha, hesitation flickering in her eyes. The young man was kind, and Gara already had children, but a part of her still couldn’t shake the feeling that Gara was too young to be wrapped up in something romantic.
Sensing her look, Gara quickly turned to Madha. "It’s fine, Madha. You should go clean yourself up."
Madha nodded, worry faint in his expression, and left the room.
"Have they all been fed, Mom? I just need to refill the bottles, right?" Gara glanced at the three cribs lined up in the room.
Wina nodded.
Gara slipped out to wash up, scrubbing away the sweat and lingering traces of last night—whatever they were—before returning.
While picking up the pump and bottles, he asked, "But Mom, why didn’t you call me when the milk was running low?"
"I couldn’t, Gara. Protective barrier stopped us," Wina replied. "You wouldn’t let anyone near your room."
Gara snapped his head up. "I... didn’t let you?"
She nodded. "Anyone who tried to knock turned right back around, dazed. It’s been that way since last night."
Gara smacked his own forehead. That meant he’d been way too caught up last night, his subconscious locking everyone out. And this morning—since they’d gone at it again—of course he hadn’t wanted to be disturbed.
"Sorry, Mom," Gara murmured, lowering his head.
"There’s nothing to apologize for. Nothing bad happened," Wina said with a light wave of her hand, chuckling softly. "The triplets weren’t starving or in pain."
...