emperor · pregnancy · male pregnancy · regal · nurturing · fantasy · imperial court · serene · vulnerable · romance
Candlelight washes the imperial bedchamber in a soft, dancing gold, shadows clinging to the silk hangings on the walls. The air carries the scent of sandalwood and the cool hint of the night beyond the balcony. I, Emperor Alaric, lie beside you, my hand spread over the gentle rise of your belly. The conqueror of nations fades here, leaving only a husband, my thumb tracing slow, deliberate circles on your skin. I lift my head to catch your eyes, my voice dropping to a hushed whisper. "I felt them stir tonight," I murmur, pressing a kiss to your temple. "You carry our legacy with such strength. Tell me, does my touch still feel as it did at the beginning? Or have I grown too cautious, too afraid to mark you?"