If You Wish to Have Me - Chapter 146

Kya-ha-ha, she woke up to the sound of cheerful laughter.

When she heard Mana’s nagging that followed, telling them not to make noise lest they wake Bella, her consciousness became fully alert.

The sun outside the window was already high in the sky. Kisa hurriedly got up from bed and was about to open the door and go out when she froze, startled.

Remembering the man who had arrived here yesterday and stayed in the guest room, she couldn’t casually leave her room in pajamas as she usually would.

She washed her face with the cold water she had prepared in a basin the night before, then quickly changed her clothes with nimble movements.

After roughly combing her hair, she headed outside her room and first encountered Mana, who had an apologetic expression.

“I’m so sorry about this. Did the commotion from Daisy wake you up?”

Kisa quickly shook her head.

“No. I’m the one who should apologize. Waking up in broad daylight… I’m truly ashamed.”

“Oh, why are you like that! Living life, there are days when you get to rest leisurely like this. Moreover, yesterday must have been tiring with a guest to attend to.”

As she said, attending to Gale hadn’t been particularly difficult, but his influence had something to do with her oversleeping.

The story he had told her last night had weighed heavily on her heart, so Kisa had tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep at dawn.

Of course, the fundamental cause wasn’t Gale but a certain man who appeared in his story.

The reddish-brown gaze that had once made her heart flutter now tormented her even in her dreams.

‘But still, to sleep until lunchtime…’

This was the first time since coming to this place, and it had been rare even when she lived as the young lady of Vansfelt.

She was just resolving to definitely get an alarm clock when it happened.

“Sister Bella, are you awake? Listen, you should hear what Mister Gale has to say!”

Daisy, who had run from the direction of the living room, grabbed Kisa’s hand and pulled her along.

“It was such a funny story, but go ask mister to tell it again! It’s about something that happened when he went to work in a distant country where the desert stretched endlessly!”

Whenever Gale visited this place, he would open his bag of stories for the curious Daisy, and it seemed he was in the middle of telling today’s story.

“That’s enough, that’s enough.”

Mana, who had separated her daughter from Kisa, scolded sternly.

“Mister must be tired too, so stop it.”

“Mom! There are still many stories I haven’t heard. Sister Bella hasn’t heard any of them.”

Gale, who had appeared following the child, defended Daisy as she looked at her mother with dissatisfaction.

“I’m fine. It’s just moving my lips and tongue.”

“See? Mister says he’s fine.”

“My goodness, both Bella and Mr. Gale are too indulgent with this child.”

With Mana clicking her tongue between them, Gale and Kisa’s eyes met.

Kisa unconsciously averted her gaze, embarrassed about having overslept, but the man, with a completely unconcerned attitude, suggested to everyone:

“It’s a bit early, but shall we have lunch? We can continue the story while eating.”

Then Mana agreed with his words.

“Oh, that’s right. Come to think of it, Bella skipped breakfast so she must be very hungry. Sorry, Bella. You were sleeping so soundly that we ate without you. Mr. Gale also said it would be better not to wake you.”

“It’s fine. You did well. This time I’ll definitely help prepare the meal.”

“No. I just need to reheat what we had for breakfast.”

“If it’s something like that, please rest, Mana. I’ll quickly set it up and then call you.”

“I can do it by myself.”

“Please leave this much to me. That way I’ll feel better.”

Having said this, Kisa headed to the kitchen with quick steps before Mana could stop her further.

But the moment she smelled the savory aroma filling the kitchen, Kisa’s steps came to an abrupt halt.

“…….”

It’s okay, something like this is nothing.

Muttering quietly to herself, Kisa managed to calm her churning stomach and approached the hearth where some embers remained.

There sat a soup pot that the three people seemed to have eaten from for breakfast.

All she had to do was serve this one bowl at a time, then prepare bread and vegetables picked from the garden.

But the moment she took out bowls from the cupboard, put on gloves, and opened the pot, something intense surged up from within.

The smell of the soup that hit her nose felt unbearably terrible.

This couldn’t be calmed down. In that brief moment, reaching that conclusion, Kisa hastily put down the pot lid and hurriedly fled the kitchen.

“Bella?”

“Is it ready already?”

Gale and Mana, who were still standing in the hallway and spotted Kisa, called out to her, but unfortunately she had no time to answer.

Kisa rushed past them straight into the bathroom.

—-

How much time had passed? When she finished her business, rinsed her mouth, and came out of the bathroom, Kisa had to face the awkward expressions of the two people.

The soundproofing of this house wasn’t very good, and both people seemed to have heard her retching through the bathroom door.

“Sister Bella, did you get indigestion?”

Only Daisy worried about Kisa and asked an innocent question.

Kisa looked at the child for a moment, then gave an affirmative answer in a weak voice.

“Yes, I think I got a little indigestion. The food served for dinner yesterday was so delicious that I probably overate.”

It was an obvious lie. Kisa had been eating very little for the past few days, and yesterday had been the same.

But Daisy, who didn’t pay attention to every detail of what others ate, was convinced by Kisa’s words, saying that her mother’s cooking was indeed delicious.

Looking down at her daughter, Mana said:

“Daisy, can you go to Aunt Sara’s house next door and get some lettuce?”

“Huh, why? Weren’t we going to have lunch now?”

“I thought about it and we seem to be short on vegetables. Let’s eat when you come back.”

Daisy grumbled because she was hungry, but soon put on her shoes properly and headed toward the door.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll go and come back quickly.”

“Be careful. Don’t forget to thank the aunt too.”

“Don’t worry! Mom, really, she’s not even a child.”

After Daisy left the house for the errand, Mana approached Kisa with a cautious expression.

“Um, Bella. I’m asking just in case, so even if I’m completely wrong, please don’t take it too badly.”

“…….”

“Looking back, Bella has been sleeping more lately and picking at her food. But she’s been eating fruit, especially sour fruit, with particular relish… I went through similar symptoms when I was carrying Daisy, so I’m saying this, but in my opinion, this is—”

Kisa nodded before she could finish speaking.

“You’re right. Mana’s guess is correct.”

“My goodness, that means…”

“I haven’t been accurately diagnosed by a doctor yet, so it’s hard to say for certain, but—”

She gently stroked her abdomen with a trembling yet tender touch.

“I can feel it. There’s another life here.”

At that moment, silence fell over the house.

Not long after, it was Mana who broke the silence, putting her hand to her mouth with a surprised face.

“Oh my, oh my. I knew it. But when exactly? Why didn’t you say anything all this time? It doesn’t show much from the outside, so I had no idea.”

She who had been chattering excitedly suddenly stopped talking.

She seemed to have noticed that Kisa’s expression wasn’t entirely pleasant. And the same was true for Gale, who was quietly watching Kisa.

Mana looked back and forth between the silent Kisa and Gale, swallowing dryly.

“Is it okay to congratulate you? This…”

She was probably currently trying to figure out whether Gale was indeed the father of the child Kisa was carrying.

Mana, who had been assuming the two were in a romantic relationship without making it obvious, naturally thought this way.

However, there was no one to satisfy her curiosity immediately in this situation.

“Wait, let me speak with you for a moment.”

Gale, with a serious expression, opened his mouth, and only then did Kisa meet his gaze directly.

Was he angry about this unexpectedly awkward situation, or was he disappointed in her?

It was uncertain what words she would hear from him, who had gone rigid, but she couldn’t avoid it.

“Yes. I also have something important to tell you about this matter, Mr. Gale.”

“Then this way.”

Saying this, Gale moved toward the back door, apparently heading to the backyard.

“What, what’s wrong? Why are you both like this? Is this such a bad thing?”

Kisa was about to follow him when she reassured Mana, who was fidgeting anxiously as she watched the two.

“It’s okay. It’s not a big deal, so when Daisy comes back, you two eat first. Mr. Gale and I will probably have a long conversation.”

“No, how can I do that? I’m worried…”

“Oh, it’s really nothing much. Don’t worry too much and have your meal.”

Kisa almost forcibly got a “yes” response from her before belatedly following Gale.

Gale, who had led the way to the backyard, turned to look at Kisa and asked:

“How did this happen?”

Following yesterday, this place had once again become the location for a secret conversation between the two.

Kisa opened her mouth while keeping her gaze on the gray brick wall.

“…I’m sorry for not telling you from my side. But my suspicion only became certainty just a few days ago.”