Unlike Emma's voluptuousness, fair skin, and strength, Ruth's figure was more lithe and slender, delicate and graceful. Equally reserved were her personality and desires, so much so that even as Lübeck held her in his arms, he didn't know if she was satisfied with what he had given her.
"Want more?" Lübeck whispered in her ear.
"It's already dawn. Do you still want more?" Ruth replied softly.
"Whenever you want, I'm available," Lübeck said, then, remembering that he spent almost half his time away from his family, he felt no guilt and added, "As long as I'm with you, I'll always meet your needs." Ruth turned slightly and smiled, her eyes so deep and captivating. She said nothing, only gently stroking Lübeck's arms that were around her.
Looking at the faintly reddish-purple morning light streaming through the window, Ruth turned slightly and asked,
"When you went back, did you visit the place where we grew up?"
"No, why do you ask?" "I'm a little homesick, or rather, I just miss the feeling of home, maybe it's just the feeling I had when I lived there,"
"I'm here with you," Lübeck said, putting one arm around her waist and stroking her shoulder with the other to comfort her.
"There's no religious persecution here, no infectious diseases, no war or oppression, isn't that good?" Lübeck asked casually.
"Yes, I wish my hometown could be like this," Ruth said, a smile playing on her lips, snuggling closer to Lübeck.
Just then, the sound of a service wagon arriving came from the path outside the courtyard.
"Wait for me, I'll be right back," Lübeck said to Ruth, putting on his coat, leaving the house and courtyard, and stepping onto the road. He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and said to the orderly,
"Give this to Trudy. It's a crew list. We have an upcoming voyage. Please have Trudy inform everyone on this list to take leave and go home, ready to participate in the voyage at any time."
"Yes, sir," the orderly took the paper, kept it safe, saluted, and was about to leave in his carriage when
"Oh, right, tell Trudy to inform everyone on the list that if they have family matters preventing them from leaving, they can request leave. I can arrange for someone else. Also, send a carriage to pick me up for Joachim's funeral."
"Yes, sir," Turning back into the house, Lübeck found that the previous warmth was over. Ruth, whom he had been longing for, was already preparing food with Emma. Seeing Lübeck return, she merely glanced at him, a smile playing on her lips, and went into the kitchen, as if mocking him? Emma, less reserved, greeted Lübeck with a big hug upon seeing him that morning. Infected by her enthusiasm, Lübeck pulled her close, lifting her legs off the ground, and even playfully pinched her chubby bottom as he put her down. Emma seemed to enjoy it.
"You're all busy, I'll go see the baby," Lübeck said.
"Go ahead, actually, it's not necessary. He's sleeping. Go see him," Emma said, shaking Lübeck for a while before letting go.
Lübeck went into Emma's room and saw his son sleeping in his cradle. His tiny hands and cheeks were as smooth and translucent as white jade. Looking at this new life, Lübeck couldn't help but think of the hardships he had endured. To make a living, he had worked as a laborer, a businessman, then in a shipyard, and later, with the war, he joined the navy.
Life had been full of ups and downs, and only now did he have his own child. Lübeck didn't want his child to suffer as much as he had, but looking at this boy, he knew that to grow into a true man, he was destined to face trials.
Seeing the child still sound asleep, Lübeck leaned back on the edge of the bed, his hands supporting him on the mattress. It seemed the blankets still held the lingering warmth of Emma's presence, her image and voice flickering before his eyes. Lübeck hesitated for a moment, looking at the child, then left the room.
In the kitchen, Ruth and Emma had already heated the food in a pot, chatting idly around the stove. Lübeck walked behind them, standing between them, his arms around their waists, looking at them with a pleased expression, even gently shaking them.
"What, aren't you going to watch the baby? I'll go then," Emma's voice was clear and bright.
Ruth, already unsteady from the shaking, her slender frame barely able to stand, said,
"I'll go," she said, laughing as she walked away. It was unclear whether she was laughing at her own frailty or at Lübeck's advances towards Emma after his earlier flirtation with her that morning.
Watching Ruth's departing figure, Lübeck turned his gaze back to the vibrant Emma before him. Emma was 19, almost his daughter's age, a privilege he enjoyed as the leader of this sanctuary. Otherwise, why would a young woman be so fond of him?
Since the war situation deteriorated, Lübeck had obeyed military orders and begun this work. Clearly, in this trans-temporal dimension, the outcome of that war was no longer important, but the organization that had been issuing him orders remained, and the plan was still underway. He simply didn't know where the orders came from or who was giving them to him; all he could do was obey.
Just then, the child seemed to wake up, crying slightly in the room. Ruth was carrying him out, looking for his mother. She looked down as the child passed through the doorway, then looked up into the living room, glancing towards the kitchen. Lübeck and Emma were there.
Hearing the sound, Lübeck turned his head slightly and saw Ruth carrying the child, walking towards him. She grinned, turned, and walked back, coaxing the child,
"Little Lübeck, don't worry, Mommy will come and feed you in a little while, okay?" she said as she walked back to Emma's room.
Emma smiled and gently pushed Lübeck away as she walked back.
Lübeck didn't follow, realizing he didn't have much time to spend with the mother and child. Watching Emma's retreating figure, he decided to do what he could for them. He then turned off the stove, placed the breakfast dishes on the table one by one, arranged them neatly, and covered the bowls so that the temperature would be just right when Emma finished feeding the child and came out to eat breakfast.
ns216.73.217.22da2
and then Add to home screen.