“Such a beautiful mansion!”

“It’s smaller than I thought.”

Reynard also raised his head to survey the exterior of the mansion, following Valentin. Valentin squeezed Reynard’s hand tightly as if telling him not to make unnecessary comments.

“I don’t want to disparage such a pretty place by calling it small. This kind of beauty can come from being petite.”

In reality, it was the size that would be called a mansion if seen in modern times. Both of them lived in places as wide as palaces with several buildings and gardens like national parks, so Valentin knew they judged it as small.

“It’s truly a lovely place.”

Valentin really liked the mansion. Admiring the exotic and lovely exterior of the mansion, he couldn’t bring himself to go inside and exclaimed while bouncing on his feet. When he was rubbing the texture of the beautifully laid out tiles at the entrance with his feet, Reynard spoke calmly while watching his husband.

“It’s a wedding gift for you, Valentin.”

“What?”

Valentin’s mouth gaped open.

The mansion was already bursting at the seams with treasures received as betrothal gifts, and now even real estate…!

“Do you like it?”

“Like it? I love it!”

I’m originally from a past life that’s enthusiastic about real estate! Indeed, immovable things like land, houses, and buildings overflow with value!

“Let’s come here to rest together whenever you want.”

“Sure!”

Valentin answered while hanging onto Reynard’s arm and bouncing on his heels.

Although he didn’t know when he would come back, just the fact that he could easily travel to such a beautiful place whenever he wanted was satisfying enough. It wasn’t about worrying and preparing in advance if he would have a place to lay his body, but now he had a place where he could spontaneously say, “I’ll go and come back!” anytime. Valentin, who unexpectedly came to own a mansion that was like a villa on Île Saint-Pierre, was delighted.

At the entrance, servants were waiting in a line to greet them. After receiving greetings together, Reynard called a young butler.

“Powell. Show us to our room.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

As they climbed the white stairs with splendid carvings, following the butler, Valentin asked.

“They’re servants of the grand ducal house, right? How long have they been here?”

“About a week. They had to decorate and tidy up the mansion in advance.”

Their bedroom was located on the 3rd floor. As expected of a hot region, there were many large windows. Clean linen curtains were fluttering white, covering the rectangular frames. Seeing Valentin touching the knots of the four-poster bed, which also had white curtains drawn, Reynard suggested,

“It’s already evening and you must be tired, so how about resting for today?”

“Okay. Let’s go outside tomorrow!”

As if waiting for the lord and his spouse to arrive, dinner was immediately prepared.

After fully enjoying a meal in the small and lovely dining room that suited the mansion, and washing up in a white bathtub with four shell-shaped feet, Valentin felt better than ever. It was even more so thanks to Reynard who was with him all day, allowing him to receive plenty of pheromones.

When was the last time he felt so comfortable, excited, and in a good mood? Valentin thought about that as he dried his wet hair and put his arms through a soft and thick bathrobe. 

As he came out of the bathroom, Reynard, who was waiting for Valentin in the bedroom, spoke.

“Done?”

“Yes.”

It was like a large dog waiting at the door for its owner to come out. Of course, that large dog reminded one of a Doberman that was too… too big and fierce yet elegant.

“I told you I’ll wash you.”

“I politely decline, My Lord.”

Valentin spoke as if keeping his distance like a stranger. Putting his hand on his chest and taking a pose of refusal that was as gentlemanly and polite as possible was a bonus. At that theatrical behavior, the angle of Reynard’s eyebrows became slightly steeper.

“Oh my.”

He had already seen everything while nursing Valentin, no, they even made a child together, so what was there to be distant about? Valentin had gone in after rejecting with all his might the offer to wash him together.

It was because he was embarrassed that his body shape was gradually changing.

Valentin tied his robe more tightly like a person facing a thief who would rob him of something.

[The average pregnancy period is 280 days. So male omegas typically give birth about 270 days after the time of conception.]

Valentin recalled the words of Dr. Mason, the royal physician, and did calculations in his head. So if he estimated that conception and implantation occurred around late April… It had been almost 3 months since then.

It was time for the changes in his body to be noticeable.

He wasn’t talking about a slightly bloated belly that was about the thickness of a finger. In fact, the feeling around his waist was something only Valentin could sense, and there wasn’t a big difference visually.

However, there was something clearly visible.

That part he always complimented as having a light pink color…! Although it was no different from a greedy and lewd perverted remark disguised as a compliment, anyway, it was no longer a light pink color. It had become a very deep pink color that anyone could notice! Recalling that fact, Valentin’s cheeks also flushed pink. Phew, it’s hot. I should have washed with cooler water. Valentin fanned himself lightly.

As if he couldn’t bear to see Valentin walk even a little, Reynard quickly approached and carefully picked up the white body.

“I’m worried you might slip in the bathroom.”

“Oh gosh, really. I started walking after 2 years old.”

Valentin slapped Reynard’s shoulders. Yet the sight of him not struggling or trying to get down was quite familiar now. Rather, he even clung to his shoulders to be held more stably and comfortably. Indeed, there was no business in the face of constant repetition.

As Reynard slowly moved his steps toward the bed, he brought up something Valentin couldn’t refuse.

“I’ll give you a belly massage.”

“Isn’t it too early for that?”

Isn’t that something pregnant women do when their bellies are very swollen? Valentin tilted his head.

“It’s still good to do. How about it? Rubbing your belly and kneading the lumpy parts will surely relieve fatigue and feel nice.”

Reynard whispered slowly and sweetly in a low voice.

Upon hearing those words, the rabbit’s ears perked up. At the tempting suggestion, Valentin, who usually liked massages, hurriedly untied his robe. After all, don’t all modern people who have suffered from the constant threat of a stiff neck like massages? I should tell him to work on my trapezius at the end. He had an excited face at the thought of getting a massage after a long time.

Seeing that, Reynard raised the corners of his mouth meaningfully.

Valentin quickly sat up stably on the bed. He tore at his clothes while leaning his body between the thick cushions he had gathered.

Quietly looking down at that action and waiting, Reynard carefully asked,

“…Doesn’t it seem a bit strange?”

“Why?”

Valentin asked innocently at Reynard’s words as he slightly raised an eyebrow. His eyes were fixed on the spot revealing his belly.

Exactly just the belly. Only the belly was exposed there.

Wearing just underwear and a bathrobe, Valentin thought he couldn’t show his chest, so he had only torn open the middle to let his belly stick out.

That round and small thing rising between the thick white cloth. Somehow it looked like a bird’s nest, and the cutely recessed belly button and slightly rounded shape looked like a pear viewed from above… Or like flesh bulging out roundly from a hole in white socks… It was also similar to the feeling of slightly lowering clothing worn for getting an injection to show only the bottom. It was quite funny and… cute but… Reynard was flustered between cuteness and absurdity.

“What the…”

“Yes?”

“May I ask why you’re doing this?”

At those words, Valentin’s ears turned red. He was just full of embarrassment, not knowing how to explain.

“It’s a bit… embarrassing.”

Avoiding his gaze, he could only say those words.

Reynard nodded as if realizing something and suggested,

“Then I’ll make it very dark and give you a massage from behind. How’s that?”

“I think that would be okay.”

It was a good way to avoid showing that deep pink part.

Reynard immediately moved his steps to turn off and adjust several lights and candles, then returned to the bed. It became dim enough to only see each other’s silhouettes.

‘With this much, he probably can’t distinguish colors.’

Valentin smiled satisfactorily. Even though there was no conclusion or assurance that Reynard wouldn’t get excited or smug if he didn’t notice the changed color, he had somehow ended up thinking that way. Short thoughts and assurance only to himself… They were quite consistent.

Reynard took off the clothes he was wearing and sat behind the assured rabbit. Then he pulled down Valentin’s robe.

“The oil will get all over the clothes.”

Reynard spoke briefly while looking at Valentin’s eyes that were staring at him as if asking why both of them had to take off their upper bodies.

Is he sensitive about laundry…? Well, Valentin, who painted with oils, also knew well that oil was difficult to remove. The soft one who discovered an unexpected homemaker-like side to his husband nodded in agreement.

He thought it was quite a convincing reason.

‘Yeah. It’s better to take off clothes.’

There was fragrant oil and cream for massage in his large hands. Valentin’s face turned rosy at the sight of them. It was this unique excited expression of anticipation. Reynard looked at his husband’s cute face with satisfaction and carefully pulled him in to lean against his chest. A stable posture just for the two of them was created.

Reynard mixed the oil and cream appropriately and rubbed them with both hands. He had a strangely skilled appearance as if he had learned it from somewhere, making Valentin giggle. A subtle lavender scent wafted from the melting and mixing substances. The thoughtfulness of making it the same temperature as body heat so Valentin wouldn’t be startled stood out.

“Ah…”

Finally, as hands rubbed his slightly swollen belly, a satisfied moan escaped his small mouth. The large hands moved softly at a slow pace over the smooth skin.

“It’s sticking out a bit.”

“Yes. My belly has bloated a little these days. I guess the baby is growing well.”

“That’s a relief.”