When he gently stroked the egg through the pouch, the sudden drain of magic power made his head spin as though the child inside were happily responding.
Just as Raon had explained before, even without direct contact the egg constantly absorbed a small amount of the mother’s magic.
Normally that alone would not have been a problem since Qiong Xing possessed an excessive amount of magic power to begin with.
However, every now and then, almost as though announcing it was alti, the egg would suddenly take a far larger amount at once.
His magic recovered quickly afterward, but recently Iseul had witnessed the exact mont Qiong Xing lost his balance from it.
Iseul had gone completely pale as he rushed over, imdiately carried him to bed, and fussed over him like he was seriously ill.
"Your papa is looking forward to eting you too, you know."
Iseul was trying in his own way to beco a proper father.
That was why a little fatigue was no issue at all.
Qiong Xing wanted them to keep doing their best together.
Part of the reason he hid his condition from Iseul was because he did not want him to worry too much, but more than that, he did not want Iseul to beco afraid of having children or start hesitating because of it.
Qiong Xing himself certainly felt fear and pain about giving birth, but the joy of having children and growing their family outweighed all of that.
He did not want Iseul to hold himself back simply because he feared Qiong Xing getting hurt.
"I wonder which of you they will resemble. You already have dependable papas and kind older brothers waiting for you. A wonderful life is waiting ahead."
Qiong Xing could already picture Iseul awkwardly but happily holding the child in his arms soday.
Raon would probably spoil the child as though it were his own too.
Sotis the sheer amount of love surrounding him beca frightening.
And yet, the mont those warm arms embraced him, all of that fear simply lted away.
"I really am blessed."
"Blessed with what?"
"Fenrir? You ca back."
When Qiong Xing welcod him ho, Fenrisúlfr blinked his eyes in surprise for a mont before smiling softly and replying, "I am back."
"You were gone for quite a long trip. I am relieved to see you are unhard."
Qiong Xing doubted there were many enemies capable of harming him, but he still could not fully relax until Fenrisúlfr safely returned ho.
As though confirming it for himself, he wrapped his arms around the giant fluffy body, soothed by the soft fur brushing against his cheek.
"How is the child?"
"The child is doing well. They ate plenty earlier, and now they seem to be sleeping quietly."
"I see. Still, do not push yourself too hard. You have not told your mates about it, have you?"
Perhaps because of their familiar bond, Fenrisúlfr had noticed that large amounts of Qiong Xing’s magic occasionally vanished all at once.
He had apparently guessed the reason imdiately as well, yet instead of criticizing Qiong Xing for keeping silent from Iseul and the others, he simply worried about him and told him not to overexert himself.
"That is true. But it is only a little dizziness, so I am fine."
"And what if you stumble and drop the egg because of it? You can be surprisingly careless sotis, so be more cautious."
Apparently, even from a Fenrir’s perspective, Qiong Xing seed sowhat absentminded.
It was impressive that Fenrisúlfr understood him so well despite not having known him for that long.
"In that case, I will be relying on you. You are my only hope, Fenrir."
"...Then I shall refrain from going out for a while as well."
Qiong Xing smiled at the fact that Fenrisúlfr did not simply tell him to handle it himself, then happily buried himself in that fluffy fur for the first ti in a while.
...
Iseul had probably fallen asleep while watching over the children.
No matter how many tis Iseul looked at Qiong Xing who is peacefully sleeping against the swing, he never grew tired of the sight.
Just thinking that this beautiful person was his mate filled his chest to overflowing.
Qiong Xing had scolded him many tis before, but nearly all of it had been because of his own actions, so he had never once felt irritated by it.
Even when he failed at sothing, Qiong Xing always thanked him for trying his best, and because of that, Iseul always found himself wanting to do better next ti.
"I will work even harder."
He was not solidly built like Joa and the others.
He was not considerate like Raon.
He was not broad minded enough to accept everything the way Qiong Xing did.
In every way imaginable, he felt inferior to the others.
But at the very least, he believed his feelings for Qiong Xing would never lose to anyone’s.
"Thank you... for letting stay by your side."
Originally, Iseul probably should never even have been allowed near Qiong Xing, much less beco his mate.
If anything, it was more accurate to say that Qiong Xing had finally given in to Iseul’s stubborn persistence and selfish determination.
Even so, now he was able to stay closer to Qiong Xing than anyone else and watch over that sleeping face.
That alone made him truly glad he had kept trying.
"Thank you... for giving birth to our child."
At first, it had been Qiong Xing’s appearance and his ability to bear children that drew Iseul in.
But the more he learned about him, the more he found himself unable to let go.
He wanted Qiong Xing to belong to him alone.
The mont he realized he still did not want to leave even after learning they might never have children together, he finally understood.
He had fallen in love with him.
As long as Qiong Xing existed beside him, that alone was enough.
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