Chapter 85: Meeting the Parents

What good would it do for him to be anxious?

Shen Xinghui, the one who would be giving birth, must be even more scared and uncertain.

He had thought he’d have more time to prepare, but his body was already changing rapidly, as if forcing the situation.

If he couldn’t support Shen Xinghui now, he wasn’t worthy of being a husband, let alone a father.

When the smell was blocked out, Shen Xinghui’s condition stabilized somewhat.

Still, he looked tired, and Ignatius could tell he still had a slight fever.

Shen Xinghui ate the fruit they had brought cautiously, but his stomach was probably still hungry.

As he continued to eat, Ignatius intervened, worried that eating too much might make him feel sick again.

Sitting back comfortably on the sofa, Ignatius wrapped his arm around Shen Xinghui’s shoulder and leaned in close.

Naturally, his eyes fell on Shen Xinghui’s still-flat abdomen.

Even now, their child was growing inside him.

"Uh... this is fast."

"Yeah, it is."

"Uh... I don’t really feel it yet."

"Yeah, neither do I."

"Right?"

Shen Xinghui, still confused, lacked his usual energy.

He looked uncertain, as if asking what to do next.

Ignatius, too, was unsure at first, but once he calmed down, he realized it was simple.

He may not know yet how to raise a child, but one thing was certain: he could love them.

He could love and protect them with his whole being.

"Well, I’m sure of one thing. The child we have will definitely be loved."

He gently stroked Shen Xinghui’s head, pulling him closer to place a kiss on his temple.

The scent of Shen Xinghui filled the air—not the scent of intense desire, but a calming, warm fragrance.

"I see."

Shen Xinghui’s eyes, once filled with uncertainty, now looked at him with a smile, full of joy.

His cute wife, who had always been loving, now had the face of a mother.

"Of course, I love you too, Xinghui. I know this is difficult, but I don’t want you to feel alone. If you’re worried, please tell me. I know I’m a bit rough around the edges and might not always pick up on things. You’re in a new place, and it’s your first time going through this, so I know you’re feeling anxious. It’s okay to say something. I’ll support you."

"Ignatius..."

Tears welled up in Shen Xinghui’s dark eyes, and Ignatius gently wiped them away with the pad of his finger, placing a kiss on the corner of his eye.

He pulled Shen Xinghui’s slender body closer, applying just a little pressure—never too much.

"Ignatius..."

Shen Xinghui nuzzled his nose into Ignatius’s chest, and he embraced him tightly before pulling back slightly to give him a kiss.

It was a soft touch, filled with affection.

He wanted Shen Xinghui to come closer, especially with the child on the way.

It would feel strange if they maintained such distance.

Shen Xinghui, though still blushing, nodded faintly at Ignatius’s offer.

The next day, Shen Xinghui was truly feeling better.

It was hard to believe that the previous day’s troubles had even happened.

He ate a meal... though Ignatius stopped him, thinking he might be eating too much.

The elder had also advised him against it.

Ignatius had work to do, so he had to spend the day apart from Shen Xinghui.

He had to work diligently to make up for the disturbance he had caused the day before.

However, beside him, he still had the book that had been handed to him: "The Proper Duties of a Husband." It was a guide for husbands, particularly those with pregnant wives, and it had been given to him by the elder.

While he appreciated it, he also found it a bit crude and embarrassing.

As he flipped through the pages, various advice caught his attention.

It mentioned how emotional instability could make a woman anxious, causing her emotions to become erratic.

Such emotions could even be transmitted to the baby, and prolonged stress could lead to preterm labor.

The more he read, the more his anxiety grew.

Shouldn’t he be staying with Shen Xinghui, constantly by his side to observe his condition? Was it really okay to be working right now?

When he read the line, "Over-involvement is also prohibited. If you worry too much, it will cause stress and irritation to your partner," he slumped his shoulders in defeat.

Then, another passage caught his eye: "Do not miss any signs of anxiety. In such moments, embrace your partner and gently ask what is troubling them." That he could do.

Just as he was pondering these things, his aide, Ronble, arrived with a letter.

It was from his parents.

"I heard from the elder that you are expecting a child. I am told that they are a very well-behaved child. We would like to meet them, but we can only arrange to do so tomorrow. Would that be possible?"

It was a short, concise letter—very much like his father.

Ignatius smiled; it had been a long time since he had received a letter from his father that wasn’t related to work.

He quickly wrote back, reassured by the fact that his parents seemed to accept Shen Xinghui.

However, soon after sending the reply, he realized how careless he had been.

When Shen Xinghui heard that his parents were coming, his face paled and he started shaking as he stood up.

"Shen Xinghui!"

Ignatius rushed over to him, holding his trembling body and gently rubbing his back.

Shen Xinghui continued to shake in his arms.

Anxiety.

Of course, Shen Xinghui didn’t know Ignatius’s parents.

"I’ll protect you no matter what. And I’m sure my mother and father will like you."

"But... I have nothing to offer."

Those words pierced Ignatius deeply.

Was he really worried about that? Nothing to offer?

He had given Ignatius so much happiness and joy, and yet he still thought he had nothing?

He understood now.

Shen Xinghui was thinking about his position—he was concerned about the title of "prince."

Was that why?

Was he suffering because of the difference in their status or their different races?

Did he think he would be rejected because of it?

"It’s okay. I chose you. And if they oppose us, I’ll leave this country with you."

"Eh?"

"I am Rank A Adventurer. I can easily support you and the child."

"But..."

"It’s fine. So, you can rest easy. I swear I will never leave you."

That was Ignatius’s answer.

He didn’t care about being a prince anymore, even though he had sought out a child for the sake of that title.

At this point, it meant nothing to him.

He could even throw away his responsibilities if it meant Shen Xinghui’s peace and well-being.

That was the most important thing.

And if, by chance, his parents rejected Shen Xinghui, Ignatius would undoubtedly follow through with his resolve.

Even if they didn’t accept Shen Xinghui now, he, the prince, was the only child they had.

Eventually, his parents would have to reconcile with that fact.

Shen Xinghui, looking into his eyes, was clearly in his arms.

But Ignatius couldn’t grasp what was truly in his heart, and the uncertainty he felt didn’t fade.

The next day, Shen Xinghui’s stomach had visibly grown.

Ignatius was startled when he heard Shen Xinghui’s cute voice call out as he woke up.

However, just touching the slight roundness of his belly filled him with warmth and tenderness.

In that state, there was no way he could have Shen Xinghui wear trousers.

Though Shen Xinghui resisted, Ignatius decided to have him wear a robe over a one-piece undergarment.

It couldn’t be helped, as the belly would continue to grow visibly in a matter of hours.

Shen Xinghui was likely feeling guilty about meeting Ignatius’s parents in that condition.

He seemed down, and Ignatius feared that his anxiety might affect their child.

Concerned after reading the book, he was afraid of making Shen Xinghui even more tense, so he asked the elder to stay nearby just in case.

When facing Ignatius’s parents, Shen Xinghui trembled with nervousness.

However, Ignatius could tell that his parents were smiling.

They clearly had no intention of rejecting him from the start.

Shen Xinghui must have sensed that too.

His mother took his hand and spoke to him kindly, and he seemed to relax.

His mother, too, looked extremely happy.

In fact, it seemed like she was already starting to dote on Shen Xinghui more than Ignatius himself.

Their personalities were probably similar—his mother, though gentle and soft in nature, had a strong core and was a bit stubborn.

She was the kind of person who didn’t let anyone dictate things to her.

When their eyes met, Ignatius and his father shared a rueful smile.

It was clear that his father was already planning to spoil Shen Xinghui like a beloved daughter.

That was the reason for the smile.

Watching the heartwarming scene of Shen Xinghui and his mother, Ignatius felt a deep sense of relief.

He no longer worried about what the future would hold.

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