By Zephyria Mikael was truly an extraordinary child.
Before long, our family had come to follow the many rules Mikael had created.
Every morning, Mikael would come to greet me and Seiren. Watching him walk with his small legs was endearingly cute, but it was pitiable to see sweat bead on his forehead after just two trips between the main house and the annex. For the child who disliked being carried in others’ arms, Seiren moved into the main house.
Even if they didn’t share a bedroom, the room next to the one kept vacant for the Countess Dowager became Lady Seiren’s primary living space, which always evoked a strange sense of relief and belonging.
Also, the entire family ate every meal together.
Because Mikael wouldn’t eat if Seiren and I weren’t sitting at the same table, we ate together three times a day, without fail. The child often told us that Seiren and I needed to eat our food properly, which, unintentionally, led to an increase in both vegetables and meat on the menu. For me, who couldn’t stand the fishy taste of carrots, it was quite a trial.
But could I, as a father, be worse at eating carrots than my son?
Seiren would make the exact same face as me when eating meat, so sometimes I would give Seiren my carrots and take a piece of Seiren’s meat. Our small, adorable grandfather, who would scold us by hitting the corner of the table whenever we left food, would overlook such minor stratagems.
And then, after meals, we had to take a thirty-minute walk, and for an hour before bed, the entire family had to be in Mikael’s room. He himself would use that time to freely roll around on his bed, yet he sternly insisted that Seiren and I must sit facing each other, share our daily lives, and wrap up the day.
Several months had passed following these few rules.
It was awkward at first, but now, it was good. Things like asking to be served meals on time, or that it would be good to walk a little, were words I found difficult to say to Seiren. But Mikael could say them. Thanks to him, Lady Seiren’s complexion had been regaining its color day by day, so it was all for the best.
Mikael, occupying the center of the large bed with his small body, was engrossed in a fairy tale book about knights today as well. Mika’s eyes would sparkle when reading picture books filled with knights going to slay dragons or monsters. Did he enjoy it that much?
Seiren and I sat side-by-side on the sofa, listening to the rustling sound of pages being turned, watching Mikael.
I preferred sitting beside her like this to sitting across from her. Seiren was too… nobly beautiful a woman to be sitting across from me at the tea table.
Even now, my heart would leap whenever I saw her radiant smile. I’d felt baseless jealousy towards the man she must have liked and cherished, pondered what kind of person she was that she came to me, and then, at other times, wondered what kind of existence I could be to Seiren now.
Still, she must be considering me family.
That much was satisfactory. If I could spend my life protecting this woman just as she was, I felt my life would be quite abundant. This must be why knights so wanted to serve their ladies, I often thought.
Rustle, as Mikael turned another page, Seiren whispered, looking at my cheek.
“Mikael seems like he’ll become someone great later. Look, he’s already reading books with over fifteen lines per page. When he concentrates, he can’t hear anything around him.”
“Indeed. …We should hire a good tutor.”
“Did you have a tutor when you were young too?”
“Yes. I heard that they brought in a young person who had graduated from Shierun Academy and wasn’t looking for immediate employment, and made them a tutor. We still get along well, like brothers.”
“Wow… Really?”
“What about you?”
“My tutor was a dignified middle-aged noblewoman. She was called Marquise Merril. And, my sister-in-law taught me many things as well.”
“Sister-in-law…?”
“Yes, there’s quite an age gap between my brother and me. Since I was young, my sister-in-law took great care of me. While I took etiquette lessons from Marquise Merril, it was my sister-in-law who handled things like choosing pretty dresses or the latest fashionable gems.”
Thinking of Oscar Valencia made my breath catch again.
Come to think of it, the day Mikael was born, Lady Seiren’s family had also visited in a rush and then left. At the time, I was too flustered to remember much, but the expression on Count Valentia’s face, glaring at me with cold eyes, remained vivid.
Does Oscar Valencia know Mikael’s biological father?
Why did he choose me of all people?
“…You seem quite close with the Young Duke.”
“I suppose so? He’s my only blood relative. Of course, I was a little surprised when my brother suddenly handed me a wedding dress, saying he’d found a truly excellent match.”
“…Ah.”
“You said you knew my brother from the same small club?”
Given the age difference between him and me, why would we be in the same club?
However, fearing I might get into trouble by adding unnecessary words, I just nodded.
“What kind of person was my brother in the club? Were you very close?”
“He… was a man of character, a good person. We weren’t very close, just… we passed each other by… It seems he thought highly of me.”
“Hmm, I think I understand.”
“…Yes?”
“My brother, like me, is quite taken with appearances.”
“…Ah.”
I see, he’s taken with appearances…
Then why did he choose me? I couldn’t understand it at all. It felt awkward to keep lying, and I couldn’t tell the truth either, so I was distressed. Desperately racking my brain to avoid this topic, Seiren playfully asked again.
“Does my brother drink well?”
“Ah, well… I haven’t had drinks with him, so I don’t really know…”
“Oh, really? Why? My brother always said he makes people drink first when he meets them.”
“I have a very low tolerance for alcohol, that’s probably why.”
Does that person know I’m weak to alcohol? He wouldn’t.
But Lady Seiren giggled and grabbed my forearm. This kind of casual contact always made my insides churn; it was like a curse. Taking a sharp breath, I tried to maintain my composure. Seeing the round, baby-like Mikael finish one picture book and reach for the next, I was able to regain a more peaceful state of mind.
“That’s right. He really does. Do you remember the day we drank together?”
“Ah… Right after the wedding. I, that is… I was very rude.”
“Oh, it wasn’t rude.”
“My habit is to fall asleep immediately after drinking, so I apologize for the delay.”
“Yes?”
“…And, that day, my clothes too…”
“You fell asleep right away?”
“…Yes?”
“No, that’s not right.”
“…Yes?”
Seiren’s grip on my forearm tightened. Startled, I turned to see her leaning in so close our noses were almost touching. Even though I couldn’t swallow my breath properly in surprise, a fragrant scent wafted from her nose.
And Seiren said.
“We made Mika, didn’t we…?”
What?
My head snapped towards Mikael without my conscious thought. I had never once thought that child resembled me. I had been a timid, dark, and skinny child my whole life, and Mikael… Mikael was beautiful. He was the spitting image of Seiren, and as befitting a descendant of a Duke, very intelligent and sharp.
That child is my biological son?
Why?
My cheeks felt hot. Then, I, Seiren, no, the child’s biological father… Was it me? Me? Was it me? While I was half-dazed, Seiren’s sharp voice brushed past my ear.
“Then… what did you think Mika came from?”
If I make a mistake, I die.
Without even wetting my lips, I answered immediately.
“Of course, I thought a bluebird brought him.”
“…What?”
“I heard that babies are brought by bluebirds… I just assumed that since I was married, he appeared when the time came.”
“My goodness! You, did you not receive any sex education at all? Ah, that explains it!”
As Seiren’s voice rose, Mikael glanced at Ikyun. Seiren quickly lowered her voice and continued to chuckle. Seeing the bright smile spread across her face, my head felt as if it had been struck by a hammer. Now, I’d rather drown myself in dishwater and disappear from this world.
It explains it?
It explains it? No, how could I have been so incompetent to hear such a thing?
But for now, it was better to be considered an uneducated person. Covering my face, which kept flushing with embarrassment, with one hand, I lowered my gaze. My voice, which I painstakingly tried to form, trembled so much it sounded strange even to my own ears.
“Yes, well… I suppose I’ve never met anyone with the intention of a romantic relationship… Is it very strange?”
“Ah, no. Yes, just… Ah, I see.”
“…Why are you happy?”
“No, that. Oh my. Oh my… But, he wasn’t brought by a bluebird.”
…Of course. He wouldn’t have been!
I remained silent. Seiren, thinking who knows what, smiled, then giggled, then slapped my forearm, then stared intently at my face…
She buried her forehead on my shoulder and shook with laughter.
It was natural for her to find it funny. If I, a married man with a child, had said, “Don’t babies come from bluebirds?”, I would have surely been called a lunatic and caused a scene. But that lunatic was me. I…
“Didn’t you even have any female friends?”
“…Yes. I…”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I’ve often been told I’m rather shy…”
“Oh my. Oh my, what to do… What to do? It’s so cute.”
Indeed, what to do.
I’m Mikael’s biological father. I… was Seiren’s man. Me? With Lady Seiren? Did I… have that kind of relationship? This… I found out after all these years…? My breath truly felt choked. Oscar Valencia’s face flashed before my eyes again and then faded.
Why did that man drag me along in that manner back then? I’m truly grateful, but, grateful…
For some reason, my eyes welled up. I just wanted to cry.