Chapter 10

In my past life.

When my daughter was about one and a half years old.

My fatigue had reached its peak.

My eldest daughter, who refused to sit in a stroller, had to be carried all the time. As she grew heavier, my back, which was never very strong, reached its limit.

The pain made it hard to walk.

The house was getting messier and messier.

I need to clean up. But I can't move while holding Ai.

On a Sunday afternoon.

Thinking I had to make lunch, I slowly got up from my heavy seat.

"Ouch..."

While rubbing my back and taking out a pot, my husband asked with concern.

"Are you okay? Should we order in?"

If only we could. In the end, I still had to make Ai's meal, and the effort was the same.

Yu-kun's cooking skills were disastrous, and cooking for a toddler was difficult.

"I'll just boil some noodles quickly."

"Okay... I'll be working, so let me know if you need help."

Bang!

I put more force into placing the pot on the stove than I intended.

What did you just say?

In the living room, where Ai's toys were scattered, laundry piles were stacked, and mail was piling up.

I might have looked at my husband, who was opening his work computer as if he was concerned about me, with a murderous gaze.

Yes. 'Help'—to a wife who wishes to raise children together with her husband, it's nothing but a forbidden word.

I had another dream about my past life.

The husband from when I had my eldest daughter was so incompetent... Is that why I keep having these dreams about Rias?

Even such a husband, by the time we had our third child, had grown into an ideal father, one I wouldn't be ashamed to show off. ——Or maybe I'm exaggerating?

After I got sick, I was so grateful that I might have idealized him a bit.

It's nostalgic.

To be living a second life like this.

Aidan turned one and a half.

We have plans to go out today.

Now that Aidan is one and a half, it's probably lonely for him to be confined to the mansion's garden all the time.

Still, we're afraid of attacks, so we'll only go to the lake and hill next to the mansion. Surprisingly, it's the private property of the Pencilia Duke, even though it's right next to the capital and the royal castle.

If only he had told me earlier. I could have made it a regular walking course for Aidan and me, who had fully recovered.

Since a group of knights following us would be awkward, I decided to only bring Sir Ortenzia. This is because Rias will be joining us.

After about half a year of gradually bridging the gap with the family through mealtime conversations—whether it worked or not, this outing was Rias's idea.

That's a big step forward.

"—Ah, no, I can't catch up... Sir Ortenzia!"

"Ha!"

Not being able to keep up with Aidan's running. How pathetic.

However, where Aidan was heading with shining eyes was the lake. It's too dangerous, so I asked Sir Ortenzia to retrieve him.

The nanny and Maya are following behind with the luggage. Today, it's supposed to be a family-only outing.

When we got close to the lake, Maya spread out a large cloth as a makeshift blanket in a nice shady spot. After walking a bit, I sat down, and she immediately made me some warm tea.

A hands-free picnic. Luxurious.

A pleasant breeze is blowing.

"Rias, would you like to sit down?"

I called out to Rias, who seemed to be looking for a place to sit.

"Is it alright?"

"Of course. I had her bring a blanket big enough for three people."

"Excuse me."

Rias sat down at the corner.

Has he never been on a picnic before? He looks uncomfortable.

"When Aidan comes, let's serve dessert."

"Have you... experienced this before?"

"Picnic? It's my first time."

In this life. I don't remember it.

In my past life, I did countless picnics. It was an inexpensive leisure activity.

"Is that so? Me too."

"Surprising. I thought picnics were a common pastime among the nobility."

"Perhaps they are, generally speaking."

Maybe our family wasn't very close back then.

Now, Rias's father is dead, and his mother lives quietly in the territory.

Aidan was carried over by Sir Ortenzia.

"—No! No!"

He's extremely angry.

"Aidan, the water is still cold. We can only look."

"No!"

There it is, 'no.'

Lately, it's his go-to word.

For changing, dressing, and meals. ——But.

"Look, I have some delicious fruit."

When I showed him a bit of fruit, he hurriedly climbed onto the blanket.

He's still a young child.

"Ah, ah!"

"Here you go."

I gave him a blueberry, and he ate it contentedly.

"Shh, shh!"

Aidan is, surprisingly, asking Rias for fruit.

I'm touched. Rias looks at me, and I nod, urging him to hurry.

Rias skewers a pear with a fork and brings it to Aidan's mouth, but—Aidan turns his head away.

"Rias, use the berries."

I whispered, but Aidan couldn't wait. He grabbed and ate it himself.

"Delicious."

"Delicious!"

Aidan looks so happy, so it's fine.

After eating a few, Aidan went off on another adventure.

We watched him go—no, no.

"Rias."

"Yes."

Huh, why is he spacing out?

I smiled as brightly as possible.

"Please play with Aidan."

"Play..."

"Yes, you should play with him. ——If you find it difficult, I can."

"No! I'll go. You rest."

Rias headed towards Aidan.

I hope they get along a bit better during this picnic...

A few minutes later.

Aidan's loud crying echoed.

It was in a blind spot behind the bushes.

I exchanged glances with Maya and went to check.

After a few steps, we could see.

Aidan was sticking out his little bottom and leaning forward, crying.

"—No! No! Uwaaahh!!"

Cute bottom—no, that's not the point.

"What happened?"

When I called out, Rias looked troubled.

"I don't know..."

"Did he get hurt?"

"No. It's my fault..."

"Huh?"

"I couldn't understand a single word Aidan said—"

I sighed.

"It was so difficult."

"Haha..."

He's taking it so seriously.

I held back my laughter and picked up Aidan.

"Aidan, what's wrong?"

"Uwaaahh..."

Seeing my face, he started crying, his mouth trembling and forming a pout.

He was reaching out, crying.

"It's okay, it's okay. Maybe you're sleepy?"

I picked him up, patted his back, and comforted him, returning to our spot.

While rocking him on the blanket, he finally fell asleep.

"You're quite experienced."

Rias looked at Aidan's sleeping face.

"You and the nanny can understand Aidan's words, but why can't I?"

Rias sighed heavily.

"I was confident in my language skills."

"Well... hahaha."

Huh? I thought it was a joke and laughed, but he looked very serious.

He was serious.

"It's just that the time you spend with him is different. Don't be so discouraged."

And I'm currently raising my fourth child, just the toddlers. I couldn't be with my daughters as they grew up.

The quality and quantity of experience are different.

"It's fine even if you can't understand his words. It's fine even if you don't know what to do. Just being there is enough."

Compared to a year ago when I didn't even do that, it's a big improvement.

I'm quite satisfied.

Spending such a peaceful time. It's so serene...

Aidan is warm and making me sleepy.

I was trying to stifle a yawn when Rias said hesitantly.

"If you'd like, you can rest a bit."

"Huh?"

Here? Is that okay?

That's... no, it would be so comfortable.

I thought it was against noble etiquette and was holding back.

"Is it alright?"

"Yes."

Since he answered immediately, I decided to—lie down.

Rias pulled me closer.

Wow, broad chest... strong arms.

I ended up in a comfortable chair-like position while holding Aidan.

I decided to take him up on his offer.

Rias, from today, you're not just a 'father in training' but a 'father in the making with a good backrest function.'

In a half-dream state, I thought such meaningless things and sighed, closing my eyes.

The wind feels good. His arms and backrest are warm.

"Ah, so happy..."

Healthy, holding a child, and able to love them fully.

There's no greater happiness.