Arranged Marriage

Vol 2: Chapter 9

Hello lovely people! Hope you all have a great day ❤️

Here is your regular dose of Ash and Lyle 🦊🐰💕

*******

“Ash.”

Karlyle hurriedly cups Ash’s cheeks with both hands. He can’t just sit by and watch the person who has always comforted him cry. His heart is torn apart into a thousand pieces. It feels like his whole world is falling apart.

“What happened just now is Henry Inebus’s fault. Neither you nor I have done anything wrong.”

If it were normal, Ash would have been the one to say this to him. Although it feels strange to say something like this, he finally understands how Ash feels when he tries to comfort him.

“I know. I know but….”

Only after putting himself in Ash’s shoes does he finally understand what he has to do.

“I’m so mad that I left you alone and you had to suffer that insult by yourself. I’m angry at myself. I could have gone to get the figs later. Yet I left you alone….”

Karlyle stops Ash’s uncharacteristic self-blame with the same method Ash has used.

“You have come a long way for me.”

He gently whispers. Ash blinks his wet eyelashes at the small but clear words. He pauses for a moment in surprise, then stares blankly at Karlyle.

“Bonbon is a big fan of sweets. If Ash hadn’t gone to get the figs today, the fruit would have gone bad in no time. I can feel how happy Bonbon is when its dad brought home something so delicious. Would you like to feel Bonbon?”

Ash looks at him blankly. His pretty and wet eyes look like those of a fragile being that he has to handle with care. Then, strangely, Karlyle smiles. Henry Inebus’ nonsense has long disappeared from his mind, and all that remains is his desire to wrap Ash in his arms and comfort him.

“It’ll be fine.”

Slowly, he pulls Ash’s hand to his belly. His clenched fist twitches a little, and by the time it touches Karlyle’s abdomen, it has completely relaxed. After holding firmly onto the back of his hand, Karlyle places Ash’s hand on his stomach with a small smile.

Warmth seeps through his skin. Ash’s mere touch makes his cold body melt. It is not a simple sensation, his whole body actually heats up. He doesn’t think this is a cold.

Finally, he’s sure that Bonbon is safe.

The tension that has been tightly knotted in his stomach begins to soften. As he’s feeling Ash’s small touch on his belly, he seems to realize something.

Of course, there is always a possibility that something dangerous might happen. As Archibald said, this is an undeniable reality. His body itself is not built to bear children, so he will always be a little more at risk than others. It’s a fact.

But Bonbon will be okay.

It isn’t a false belief, but he can be sure of it because Ash and him have been doing their very best to protect Bonbon.

No matter what happens in the future, it’ll be fine. Ash and him will stand by like they are doing now.

He will continue to be careful and cautious, but he will no longer have to harbor the small anxieties and fears that he had before.

He and Ash.

They are doing well.

“.....Is it really okay for me to touch? What if Bonbon gets scared because of what happened just now?”