Chapter 51

"Done! Amazing, Mimosa, you're really good at teaching!"

Three days later, my mother-in-law, who had become accustomed to embroidering on large pieces of fabric, began working on my father-in-law's cloak.

However, embroidering the entire surface was too difficult.

She placed a frame in the center of the back, not creating a perfect circle but rather a pattern that extended tendrils outward from the center, with leaves spreading and swirling within the frame.

"I wonder if he'll be happy with such amateurish embroidery..."

As I watched my mother-in-law, who was beaming with a sense of accomplishment, she looked down slightly, appearing a bit anxious, and whispered softly.

"...I read in a book I borrowed the other day that vine patterns symbolize life and prosperity."

"Oh... Did you really dive into it?"

"Yes, it was so interesting. ...The reason is that vines stretch and spread endlessly... When the cloak, which carries your wishes, returns safely, how about gradually expanding the pattern? Little by little, as my father-in-law... I know he goes to dangerous places. But each time he returns safely, we can extend the tendrils and spread the leaves a little more. It will surely bring good luck."

My mother-in-law's eyes widened at my words, and she smiled gently. She was looking at me, but her gaze seemed to be on my father-in-law.

"Yes, every time he returns safely, we'll gradually expand the pattern. I should practice a little bit whenever I have a break from work."

"You're already very good! ...I, too, am putting my wishes for Sir Percival into this cloak. So, I must make sure he receives it."

I believe in winning, but there's also a part of me that secretly hopes to lose a little.

I can't tell Sir Percival, but just thinking about him being in even more dangerous situations so soon after our marriage makes my chest tighten.

I know he's strong. Or rather, I think I do. Even though he's so strong, he pushes his body and mind to the limit, practicing from early morning until late at night.

I was surprised when I heard about the consolation prize, but when I heard about the main prize, my heart felt constricted.

Two ranks of advancement. He would become a captain. I heard it would be during a probationary period, but Sir Percival would also be responsible for the lives of many comrades.

(For the tournament that will decide this, Sir Percival is pushing himself both physically and mentally... I hope, I hope, he can take a moment to calmly look at himself and his surroundings again.)

It might be presumptuous. From the beginning, Sir Percival has been pure and observant. He didn't seem to harbor any resentment towards the prince. He had accepted it as something that couldn't be helped.

He got angry and protected me when it came to me.

But, you with your sword, and I with my needle.

Sir Percival and I were supposed to fight together.

I embroidered the 'Flower of Life' in hard gold thread on the invisible four corners of the green lining of the cloak, then turned the thick, padded cloak and used a glossy dark green thread to embroider vine patterns on the lower two corners of the outer surface.

I want him to stand firmly on the ground, to look at his feet and be grounded. That's my wish for Sir Percival, my request.

The pattern on the outside is the same as for my father-in-law. But it's on the bottom to help Sir Percival grow and move forward, to keep him healthy and strong.

I want to mend this cloak and add more vines if it ever comes back tattered, as long as Sir Percival is safe.

But I'm sure, before the cloak is filled, Sir Percival will advance even further.

"...Alright."

While lost in thought, I had completed the embroidery on the two corners.

The tournament is about to begin.