Chapter 151
Ian had never thought about having children before. He liked children, but he wasn't obsessed with having his own, and he was so immersed in his newlywed life with Laura that he hadn't given it much thought.
But now that he thought about it, it didn't sound bad. Their child, born from Laura's body. A child who resembled both Laura and himself. A child who would chirp like a chick and call him Father.
'Someone who will bind us together more tightly...'
At that moment, a flash of lightning struck Ian's mind.
That's right. Children are beings that bind wives and husbands more tightly together. There are many people who can't break up because of their children even if they hate their partner, and there are many couples who live with hope for their children even if they lose hope in their marriage.
It shouldn't happen, but even if Laura wanted to leave him, the child would hold her back. As the child's father, the husband would be a difficult presence for her to separate from.
The possibility of Laura disappearing and his happiness being shattered would be reduced that much.
'My angel will live in Whitefield for the rest of her life. With the child we have together...'
"What are you thinking about that makes you smile so slyly?"
He realized he was smiling and quickly erased the expression.
"Nothing."
"Really? I thought you were having some gloomy thoughts like, 'If I have a child, I won't have to worry about Laura running away.' Anyway, I just thought of something, Ian. Have you thought about seeing a doctor?"
"You mean, get a Seed pouch examination?"
"Yes."
"I'll say it again, there's nothing wrong with me. And it would only be meaningful if both husband and wife attended the examination, but I don't want to worry Laura with something like this."
"...Well, the issue of conception does make women very sensitive."
"Sister, let me tell you, if we don't have a child, it's entirely my problem. Refrain from badgering Laura like you do me."
Mrs. Fairfax chuckled.
"Do you think I would dare to act rudely towards the mistress of Whitefield? Especially to the person who saved you, who might have died an old bachelor?"
"Then that's a relief."
Ian thought for a moment, then took out his silver cigar case from his jacket pocket. It was his treasure, given to him by his father when he was fifteen. He opened the case and scanned the cigars wrapped in brown paper, lined up inside.
"What are you doing?"
"Saying goodbye to an old friend."
Mrs. Fairfax's expression brightened. Ian looked down at the case for a moment, then handed it to his sister.
"Hold onto this until we have a child."
* * *
"Really?"
The next day. Inside the carriage. Laura, who was leaning her head on her husband's shoulder and fiddling with the watch chain on his vest, looked up at Ian.
"Really, you've decided to quit smoking?"
"Yes."
Her husband, who was holding her waist as if embracing her, was looking down at his clean fingernails as if it were nothing.
Laura felt a little uneasy.
"Is there something wrong with your health?"
"There's absolutely nothing wrong. I'm just quitting because it's a useless habit."
Laura was still puzzled. For Ian, smoking was as natural a habit as breathing. He refrained in front of her, but he always had a cigar in his mouth when he stood by the window or went for a walk outside, and he became noticeably anxious if he didn't have his cigar case in his pocket. And now he was suddenly deciding to quit smoking?
"I never thought the day would come when you would quit smoking."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's a habit filled with memories of your late father. It's addictive, and if it's also filled with meaning, it's even harder to quit."
He noticed that his wife was curious about why he had decided to quit smoking. Ian thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.
"My sister told me yesterday that if I keep up with these trashy habits, I'll be dead before I'm fifty. She said that if I die first, she'll personally introduce you to a gentleman to remarry. You'll live to be a hundred, so she can't let you live as a widow for half a century."
Laura laughed out loud.
"Hearing that made me snap to attention. I promised to share my fate with you, but I can't break that promise because of a mere habit."
She was somewhat convinced. Of course, the story he told was probably a joke they usually shared. There were always playful jokes between Mrs. Fairfax and her husband. Usually, Mrs. Fairfax would tease him, and her husband would get angry and make a fuss, only to end up glaring at her without getting his way.
That was how the siblings shared affection and strengthened their bond.
'Ian must have read the worry in his sister's nagging. He always grumbles, but he loves his sister dearly. He couldn't bear to have his sick sister worry about him.'
Finding a reasonable explanation made her feel at ease. And soon, happiness came. She had often been anxious about her husband's harmful habit.
He didn't have any habits like drinking or overeating. His life was regular, and he exercised regularly, such as riding horses. But he smoked a lot, very often, as if that was the reason he maintained his healthy habits.
'Honey, how about cutting down on smoking?'
It was a phrase that was always stuck in Laura's throat. But Laura swallowed the words every time. And she would pack his cigar case so he wouldn't forget it when he went out, and when he took out a cigar, she would put an ashtray down and leave so he could smoke comfortably.
While praying that he would have a reason to quit smoking on his own.
And suddenly, Laura's prayer had been answered.
Laura loved her husband, who had made such a commendable decision, even more than usual. Affection for him welled up in her heart.
Laura's love had a calm and quiet nature, but sometimes it became impulsive and intense. That was the nature of love.
Laura suddenly grabbed his face and kissed her husband on the cheek.
Ian looked at his wife in surprise. Laura's eyes were shining, and her face was full of smiles.
"Thank you, really, thank you."
He blinked.
"What are you thanking me for, Laura?"
"For taking away my worries."
"...Smoking was your worry?"
Laura nodded slightly. He looked quite surprised.
"I thought you didn't have any complaints. You always packed my cigar case for me."
"How could I not have complaints? It's ruining your health."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Laura lowered her eyes and began to caress Ian's hand. His hand, wrapped in a black leather glove, was so large that Laura's small hands couldn't even grasp it completely.
"I felt like you were reminded of your beloved father every time you smoked. The memories of the man who raised you into a wonderful man and passed on the beautiful Whitefield to you. I knew you couldn't be unaware of the dangers of smoking, so I just decided to wait for you to quit on your own."
"Even so, you should have said what was on your mind. I've given you worries without even knowing it."
"I didn't want to interfere with your happiness. Even if a shadow occasionally fell on my heart, I didn't want to take away the happiness of you tracing the memories of the person you loved."
He pulled his hand away and took Laura's two hands. His one hand covered Laura's two hands as if swallowing them.
"Laura, look at me."
Laura looked up and met his eyes.
"I gave you all the rights to me. My property, my time, even my life. Everything I have is yours. Did you forget?"
Laura shook her head.
"You have the right to order me to stop any habit that feels useless. I am your man, belonging to you. If you had just said one word to quit smoking, I would have thrown the cigars in the house into the fireplace, box and all."
Laura smiled. Yes, Ian would definitely have done that. Laura believed in his love.
But.
"That's not my job."
"Didn't you say you were worried about my health?"
"That's my emotion that I have to deal with. My duty as a wife is to respect your choices and help you on your way."
Laura smiled warmly.
"The most important goal in my life is to make you happy. To strive to be a good wife every day, and to let you enjoy freedom instead of restraint. Compared to your happiness, my worries are trivial."
Ian's eyes became hazy as he looked at Laura.
"Ian, don't praise me as a benevolent person for that. You are already giving me more than I can offer you. You always give me freedom and respect my wishes. You love me so much, but you don't expect that much in return. The love you give far surpasses what I can provide."
"Don't say that. You are the best luck a man can have."
Laura's cheeks flushed slightly. He murmured softly.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die because of you. I can't breathe because I'm so happy. My heart feels like it's going to explode because I'm so excited. How can you manipulate people like this without lifting a finger? Tell me your secret. I want to do the same to you and make you worship me. Just like I worship you."
"...I don't know, anything like that."
Laura's cheeks became even redder. He smiled at Laura's blush and then became serious.
"I'm going to kiss you."
At her husband's announcement, Laura gently closed her eyes. His lips overlapped with Laura's, and soon he burrowed inside and began to mingle fiercely.
As Ian's hand supported Laura's head, she hugged her husband's neck.
Whenever Laura kissed Ian, she could feel how high the temperature of his love was. Passion like coal in a fireplace. A love that felt like it would burn, like being devoured by flames.
No wife could feel such strong love for her husband.
