Chapter 5

Aidan's baptism was held when he was eleven months old.

It was just before he turned one.

The novel did not explain why it was so late.

Usually, baptisms are held around a hundred days after birth.

Was Cynthia waiting for her health to recover, or did she hesitate to go?

In any case, as soon as Aidan's baptism was over, Cynthia left the temple and returned home first.

Rias, who was left behind, tried to take Aidan back to the mansion.

Because Aidan wouldn't stop crying, Rias didn't even board the carriage.

He rode a horse to avoid it and returned separately after a while.

At that moment, the carriage was attacked by those who coveted the power of light. The bandits, disappointed by Aidan's brown eyes, killed the nurse in a fit of anger.

Aidan, who was not yet one year old, would vividly remember this.

Just as he was about to be thrown away, a knight finally arrived to protect him, but the psychological trauma must have been significant.

—The oldest memory was of a person he thought was his mother, lying in a pool of blood.

This is how the story begins.

No, it's so dark.

Why did that child lend me such a dark story?

Anyway.

The attribute of light is extremely rare and possesses a recovery power that far surpasses that of a healer. There are only one or two in a generation.

That's why the Pencilia Duke's mansion is guarded by knights in multiple layers.

Embarrassingly, Cynthia has never even been to the town, let alone outside the temple.

She was taught from a young age that there were many who would target her life outside, and she felt no need to go out as she was satisfied with everything.

"Baptism..."

Maya whispered, gently holding her hand in comfort.

"Little master is only nine months old. We still have three months."

What was she worried about?

She knows I dote on Aidan.

Was she worried about my physical strength?

Or was it because the baptism would be a public event, and the world would know if Aidan had the attribute of earth instead of light?

Or was she worried about going out with Rias?

"Maya, what are you worried about?"

"Maya is only concerned about your health, my lady."

Her firm response made me laugh involuntarily.

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Really? After meeting Lord Rias, you always..."

Indeed. After meeting Rias, Cynthia was always in a terrible state. Every time Rias came to her room, everything in the room was destroyed and thrown away.

I don't have that much energy now, and I don't feel particularly repulsed by his face.

I felt anger, though.

Such a useless husband, of course.

But... I can't change my husband. He has a good face.

Such a handsome man exists in this world...

—No, no, no. What am I saying?

Shaking my head, Maya looked at me with concern.

Why did Cynthia reject Rias so much?

Did she just need someone to vent her anger on?

When her younger brother was born, Cynthia's mother died. She was five years old at the time.

So, Maya is like a mother to her.

"I'm fine, Maya. —I need to recover enough to attend the baptism."

"Yes."

If I could use the power of light on myself, it would be great.

But using the power of light to heal myself would drain my physical strength. It's not impossible, but it's very inefficient. In the end, the recovery would be the same.

It's not usually done.

"Should I try that suspicious medicine?"

There's a medicine that's supposed to be good for nourishment and strength, which comes with every meal.

It's a color like mud with moss on it. It doesn't look like something a human should drink, and the taste was so bad that I writhed in agony after just one taste, so I haven't taken it since.

But they wouldn't put poison in the medicine for a duchess who is so strictly guarded.

"That would be good. That medicine is a mysterious one that even the king has trouble obtaining."

The more I hear about it, the more suspicious it sounds.

"Let's start with being able to sit all day. The baptism is a long ceremony."

"Yes."

It's difficult to come up with a plan if I'm not in good health.

From that day on, my month of physical recovery and strengthening began.

In the end, Aidan turned eleven months old while waiting for the doctor's permission.

I wanted to change the schedule as soon as possible, but there was no choice.

Thanks to the suspicious medicine, I recovered enough to take walks in the garden during the day.

I still get exhausted and sometimes have a fever at night, but it's a big improvement.

I don't hurt anywhere.

Health is the best. Youth is wonderful.

"Aidan, come here."

When I called from the garden, Aidan, who was playing with the soil, turned around.

Aidan could actually walk. Well, more like a little run.

I thought, "Walking before he's one?" But apparently, the Pencilia family has a history of rapid skeletal muscle growth.

Indeed, Aidan, who is still chubby, seems to have developed muscles recently.

It's sad that he grows so fast.

Once Aidan started walking, no one could stop him. He runs around everywhere, much faster than I expected.

"Um! —Um"

Aidan showed me his fist. When I opened his palm, there was a flower, a stone, and —a bug.

"—Ah, —thank you."

Aidan bowed deeply.

He always bows deeply when he says thank you. It's cute.

I taught him that. It was a habit, while we were playing a game of passing things.

Maya turned pale. A duchess and her son bowing, she thought.

He's so cute.

I stroked Aidan's satisfied face.

"Aidan, we're going out with Mommy tomorrow."

"Bu, bu"

"Is it 'Bu-bu'? Yes, in a carriage. Gata-gata, maybe."

"No!"

"It's not 'no.' We're going."

I twirled the flower and made a ring.

"No!"

"Let's go together. Here, a ring."

I put it on his chubby finger.

The white flower fit his finger, and Aidan became absorbed in it. I took the opportunity to quickly discard the bug.

"Daddy is coming too."

I stroked his head, and his soft baby hair touched my hand.

A peaceful moment — but in the distance, I saw unfamiliar carriages and people.

Rias's party had returned to the mansion today, preparing for tomorrow.

It had been three months since their last return.

Even when he came back, his room was far away, and we hardly saw each other.

Most of all, he never came to see Aidan.

It's a complete separation.

A divorce case.

I sighed deeply.

"Haa"

Aidan mimicked my sigh.

"No, no. Happiness will fly away. Breathe in, breathe in!"

"Su—"

Aidan's imitation of breathing in was so cute that I hugged him tightly.

The next day.

Cynthia, Aidan, and the nurse boarded the carriage.

Maya stayed behind today. I put a knight next to the nurse because the carriage can only seat four.

Also, if something happens, Maya probably can't move. She's been complaining about her back pain recently. But I'm not sure if I can run either.

Rias should have been in this carriage, but he was already on horseback when we were about to leave.

He's early. Is he eager? Like a child excited for a field trip?

"Hah"

A dry laugh escaped me. Our eyes met for a moment, but he quickly looked away.

Rias. A man with no good qualities except his face.

After cursing him in my mind, I regained my composure and boarded the carriage.

I had carefully planned the knights' formation for today.

"Please take care of us today, Lord Aurencia."

"Hah, I will protect you with my life."

He put his hand on his chest, and I thought it was exaggerated, but maybe it wasn't.

I told Lord Aurencia to carry Aidan and run if anything happens.

I chose him not for his sword skills but for his legs. I've seen him run through the training ground carrying heavy weights. Well, his sword skills are probably good too, given that he's part of the Pencilia Knights, which is known for its strict entry requirements.

Also, Aidan is relatively fond of him.

For this reason, I had him guard us closely and play with Aidan for about a month.

"Ma, ma"

"Yes, come here. It's dangerous, so let's sit down."

I placed Aidan on my lap, and the carriage started.

It was quite bumpy. I almost bit my tongue.

"How much longer?"

"My lady, it's only been five minutes. It will take nearly an hour to reach the temple."

An hour. —My bottom is going to be in trouble.

An hour later.

When we arrived at the temple, we were greeted by a line of priests.

Rias walked, I followed, and the nurse carried Aidan behind us.

Aidan cries when Rias holds him, and I don't have the strength to carry him.

It's a significant event, like a first visit to the shrine, but I'm sorry, Aidan.

Inside the marble temple, it was like a church with stained glass and a statue of a goddess.

The high priest was waiting on the pulpit.

"Welcome, the Pencilia Duke's family. It is my pleasure to celebrate the birth of your son on this auspicious day."

The high priest's calm voice echoed.

We could sit throughout the ceremony. It was long, but I managed to endure it.

Aidan, held by the nurse, was well-behaved.

After the ceremony, there would usually be a grand celebration and a public debut party, but of course, that was impossible, so we returned home directly.

On the way from the temple's exit to the carriage, I met the eyes of the nobles visiting the temple.

I recognized a few. Before I married, I used to attend social events.

"—Red."

"His eyes...? Ah, I see, brown."

"Wasn't it supposed to be light...?"

Such voices brushed past my ears.

I was surprised.

I didn't realize my son was attracting so much attention.

Well, let them say what they want.

"The nurse is holding him."

"Of course, what would the princess think of the duke, you know."

"Especially if he looks like the duke... It must be hard to be at peace."

I stopped and looked in the direction of the voices.

I couldn't tell who said it because they were in a group.

Are they really talking so loudly?

"What's wrong?"

Rias, who had walked a few steps ahead, turned back.

"Didn't you hear?"

"Perhaps it's best to ignore such idle talk."

He said it as if it was a common occurrence.

But such rumors can reach a child's ears someday.

Hearing that the parents' relationship is bad or that he wasn't a wanted child can deeply hurt him.

"I found it unpleasant. Don't you?"

"Should I punish the ones who spoke?"

His tone suggested that he would do it if I ordered him to.

It made him seem like just a subordinate.

When I looked at the nobles, they all averted their eyes.

But I could tell they were staring at me when I looked away.

There are many things to think about, but arguing here would only give them more gossip.

Feeling dizzy from fatigue, I pressed my head, and Rias took a step closer.

"You look pale. —Should I call a knight?"

"Why a knight?"

"To carry you."

Rias's slightly tense face. The inquisitive gazes of the surrounding nobles.

"Wouldn't it be better if you supported me?"

"H—"

Rias looked flustered, which was rare.

"Can I... touch you?"

"Is it necessary to ask for permission to touch my wife?"

As I said this, I recalled the words I had thrown at Rias in the past.

—Don't touch me, it's filthy. If you touch me, I'll bite my tongue!

"Right. I'm sorry. I said those things."

Originally, noble couples walk together, with the wife's hand on the husband's arm. Without it, it's not normal. There was no sign of a good relationship.

I had a part in it too.

"I take back what I said before. Can you please help me? I can hardly walk."

Rias froze for a moment.

He must have thought it was too late.

Because he had been rejected.

Finally, Rias approached, and I reached out my hand— but he didn't take it.

Instead, he gently picked me up.

"—Kyaa!?"

I let out a strange sound in surprise.

I was carried, normally in a side hold.

"A, ano..."

"You said it was okay to touch."

"A, ah, this..."

"Your face looks like you're about to fall. I'll carry you to the carriage."

Being carried and hearing him say that, his face was close. His low voice resonated through my body.

Moreover, he carried me so easily.

Embarrassed, I covered my face.

"You must be heavy. Just supporting you would be enough..."

"No, you're as light as a feather."

Indeed, he was walking steadily.

But he's not a feather.

"Is it unbearable for you to hide your face? —We're almost there."

Unbearable...? It's embarrassing, but not unbearable.

Glancing up, I saw... a handsome face.

Will Aidan grow up to be like this man?

Will he say "Mother" with this face...?

It's good.

I'm looking forward to it.

Thinking about it, I relaxed, and leaning against his broad chest was more comfortable than I expected.