Chapter 41

Since then, Rula and I have hardly seen each other.

I told Rias about the incident, but I couldn't convey well that Eidan might have been hurt.

"There are other celadons, and it doesn't matter if one is broken."

Rias said that, but it's not about that.

"Eidan... what did he think of your mother-in-law?"

"He probably thought she was unpleasant."

"Rias!"

How could you. Eidan wouldn't think that. Rather, he might find her scary.

When treated badly, children tend to think it's their fault.

"Probably, she won't be involved anymore. Mother is indifferent to both children and us."

That's why Rias, as a father, can say to leave it alone, I suppose.

Cynthia couldn't think of a better way to talk, so she ended the conversation.

On the second day, Rias took a leave as promised and took us to the lake.

Eidan was excitedly preparing to swim.

Marivel also looked forward to it, and the two of them were laughing and playing.

Seeing their smiles, I felt relieved.

We headed to the lake by carriage and started playing in the water while having a picnic.

Eidan stepped into the water with Rias and cheered.

"It's cold! It's so cold, Mother!!"

Despite the shock of the cold water, he seemed to be enjoying it and went in further.

Several skilled knights joined them in the lake, and Rias was among them.

—Good.

I couldn't help but smile. His muscles, shining in the sun while being splashed with water... it was like art.

Rias was teaching Eidan how to swim. This trip allowed Rias to teach Eidan various things, which probably raised his level as a father.

I thought it was really a good idea to come on this trip.

"Mi, Miyu...!"

Marivel, who hardly entered the water, was making a fuss on the shore.

Despite being so mischievous, she doesn't seem to like water much. She started crying as if it was the end of the world when her clothes got a little wet.

"Mom, it's wet...!"

"Oh, you got wet? It's okay, it will dry soon."

"No! It's dirty...!"

"It's not dirty. It's clean water."

"No!! Miyu, I don't like it!"

Eidan has always loved water and mud since he was little, but Marivel has a slight obsession with cleanliness. That's why she learned to use the toilet early.

After being changed by Lena, she finally calmed down.

Eidan played in the lake, while Marivel played in the grass.

As the day went on and she got sleepy after lunch, Marivel started to throw a tantrum.

"Let's go home already."

She wouldn't budge.

"Marie, I want to practice swimming a bit more."

"No."

"Your brother is still swimming, so let's play here a little longer."

"No."

"Let's make a flower crown."

"No."

"Let's catch some bugs—"

"No."

There was no way to reason with her.

"I guess I'll go back to the mansion with Marivel first."

"Eh!"

Eidan immediately sounded disappointed.

"It's okay. Mother and Marivel will go back first, so Eidan can stay and play in the lake with Father for a while."

"......Mother, too......"

Yeah, you want her to see, don't you.

However, leaving Marivel with Rias and staying at the lake was a bit too much for Cynthia.

"I'm sorry, Eidan. I'll come again, but is it okay to go back now?"

Eidan nodded, looking bored.

"Are you coming? Eidan. You'll be able to swim by the end of today, right?"

Rias said that, and Eidan went back into the lake.

"Be careful on your way back."

"Yes, Rias too."

With that, she kissed his cheek lightly, and the lake play ended.

During this trip, Eidan's constant attention to Marivel decreased.

Marivel still chased after Eidan, but Eidan, who used to accept her unconditionally, started to avoid her sometimes.

It wasn't obvious, but it was understandable.

The games Eidan wanted to play were often too difficult for Marivel, who is four years younger.

Riding in nature, playing in the water, climbing trees, and sailing were things Marivel couldn't enjoy as much.

Marivel still preferred indoor play. Cynthia adjusted to Marivel's pace, so Eidan had Daria, Tan, and the knights to accompany him.

It was helpful to have so many people.

"Mother, look what I found!"

Eidan came back with a big smile, and Cynthia thought it was a good idea to come on this trip.

The Hootland holiday finally came to an end.

In the end, I only saw Rula a few times, just exchanging formal greetings.

She hardly interacted with the children, but fortunately, the children didn't seem to mind.

They didn't seem particularly scared, which was a relief.

After a proper farewell, we set off for the capital.

The return journey went smoothly.

We were retracing our steps, so we saw familiar scenery.

We stayed overnight in a relay town and had a more relaxed night.

Then, we set off for the capital again.

After a few hours in the carriage,

"Nya, it's wet..."

"Hmm..."

"Nya!"

"Wait a minute, I'm doing this now."

It was probably their usual hero play. Marivel handed Eidan a toy sword. On the other hand, Eidan was engrossed in a complex puzzle he bought in Hootland.

Marivel's face became increasingly unhappy.

Her lips pouted, and her big eyes narrowed, making Cynthia suppress a laugh.

"Marie, do you want to play with Mom?"

"No! I want Nya!"

Ah, Eidan won. —But he's cute.

"Can't you play with Mom? I want to defeat the demon king too."

"—No, Nya!"

Marivel raised her hand from Rias's lap.

"Hey, stop it!"

Marivel's hand came down forcefully, knocking the puzzle out of Eidan's hand.

It rolled and scattered on the carriage floor.

"Ah......"

Eidan froze for a moment.

"Nya, Mar and I are going to play!"

"What are you doing? I was almost done!!"

Eidan, unusually, shouted at Marivel.

Cynthia picked up the puzzle pieces.

"Eidan, it doesn't seem to be broken? —Marie, say sorry to your brother."

"No!"

Seeing Marivel pout, Eidan's patience snapped.

"Marie, you idiot!!"

Marivel was shocked and froze.

"You're always in the way. I hate you!!"

Eidan glared at Marivel.

"Eidan"

Rias called out, scolding him, but Eidan clenched his fists, his face turning red.

"I've been putting up with it for so long! Even when we played in the water, when I learned to swim, Mother didn't see it! When I rode a horse alone, when I climbed a tree, Mother was always with Marie. Marie is always doing as she pleases. She breaks important things and doesn't listen at all. Because of that, even Grandma didn't like me! She was always crying. I... I don't want to be a big brother anymore!"

Eidan shouted, crying towards the end.

"Marie, I hate you so much!!"

"Eidan!"

Rias called out, scolding him. Eidan gasped and then burst into tears.

Marivel also started crying loudly.

The carriage was filled with the cries of the two children.

Cynthia pulled Eidan into her arms.

Eidan climbed onto Cynthia's lap, clinging tightly to her neck and crying.

Ah, he's grown so much, and he's so strong now.

In the midst of the chaos, she found herself thinking such things.

"Sir, should we stop the carriage?"

A knight outside called out, barely audible.

"Yes."

Rias was holding Marivel, who was trying to go to Cynthia while crying.

The carriage eventually stopped.

"Mommy... Nya..."

Marivel cried, looking at Eidan.

"...Eidan, Marie is crying."

"I don't care! I hate Marie!"

Eidan clung to Cynthia, refusing to let go.

Rias looked troubled, unsure of what to do.

"Comfort Marie."

Rias took Marivel outside.

The crying gradually faded away.

"Eidan"

Cynthia patted Eidan's back as gently as possible.

"I'm sorry. I should have spent more time with you."

This was a reflection. She often spent more time indoors and left outdoor play to the nurse and attendants.

Eidan shook his head.

"It's not Mother. I just don't like Marie!"

"Right... And, you know, Grandma doesn't dislike you."

Eidan must have been bothered by this for a long time. She felt a tightness in her chest.

Should she have set up another meeting with Rula? —No, even if they met more often, her attitude probably wouldn't have changed.

"I won't talk to Marie anymore."

"Oh... That's a problem."

During the trip, Eidan and Marivel spent more time together than usual.

Marivel, at two years old, said "no" to everything and always tried to monopolize her mother.

Eidan's pent-up frustration finally exploded.

Cynthia felt relieved, in a way.

Eidan always did what Marivel wanted because he found her cute. Seeing them have a sibling fight was a relief.

This was their first sibling fight.

In her previous life, her daughters fought almost every hour.

During summer vacation, it was even worse. Watching them, she couldn't even tell what they were fighting about. It was trivial to the observer. Even a touch could start a fight. Age and size didn't matter, and they used every means to win.

It was incredibly troublesome.

But, she thought, this is how children learn to assert themselves and interact with others.

However, what to do with this trembling, angry Eidan.

Eidan, who takes everything seriously and is relatively calm, rarely starts fights and usually gives in when things are taken from him.

But Eidan has his stubborn side. This might take a while.

"Marie loves you, but... I understand. It must have been hard to see your puzzle broken."

"I won't forgive her, no matter how many times she says sorry!"

Oh, he's really angry.

Cynthia smiled.

"I understand."

Maybe he's more attached to it because he loved it so much.

For now, she would let him calm down. With the underlying love, Eidan would eventually forgive her. Forcing him wouldn't be good.

When they got out of the carriage, Eidan glared at Marivel and turned away. Marivel started crying again.

There was no choice but to have Marivel ride in the rear carriage with Lena.

Cynthia thought about accompanying her, but Eidan wouldn't let go.

Considering how much Eidan had endured in Hootland, Cynthia decided to ride with him. Rias seemed to want to go with Marivel, but he had become the bad guy by separating them.

"Papa, go away!"

He was being chased away.

The crying couldn't be heard, so Lena must have comforted her well. She might have fallen asleep crying.

In the moving carriage, with Eidan on her lap, Cynthia sighed and looked at Rias.

Rias looked serious.

"Rias. Don't make such a scary face."

"—But... It's a serious matter."

"Huh?"

"Eidan, shouting at Marie like that—"

"Rias"

What are you trying to say?

Rias seemed shaken by the first sibling fight. It was just a normal fight, but he looked very serious.

As if it was a crisis in the family.

She couldn't let him say anything unnecessary.

Marivel, at two years old, only thought about the present, but Eidan, at six, had a lot of pent-up feelings.

Looking at just the current scene, Eidan might seem to be overreacting, but considering everything that led up to this, it would be unreasonable to tell Eidan to calm down immediately.

Rias, sensing Cynthia's silent message, fell silent.

Cynthia stroked Eidan's head.

"Eidan, when you stop crying, do you want to play with the puzzle with Mother?"

"......"

"It's been a while since I've held you, so it's okay to stay like this for a while."

Saying that, Cynthia hugged him tightly, and Eidan finally showed a slight smile.

To all the fathers and mothers who finished their summer vacation,

Thank you for your hard work!!