The Story of a Modest Young Lady Who Formed a New Engagement the Day After Her Engagement Was Annulled - Chapter 39

Four years had passed since my marriage to Lord Fels.

I had grown quite accustomed to the viscountcy estate inherited from my father-in-law, and the territory was running smoothly. When we announced that our first child had been born and was growing healthily, everyone in the capital city of our domain was overjoyed.

Though the heart-pounding excitement from our engagement days had somewhat faded, I often felt our connection had deepened in more profound ways. He understood my preferences remarkably well. Conversely, I knew his tastes in detail too. Knowing each other’s preferences meant we also understood what the other disliked or struggled with.

While many nobles built marriages of convenience, we were fortunate to spend our days filled with love. Feeling truly blessed, I returned my teacup to its saucer in the garden gazebo when Ria, my attendant, peered at me from behind.

“My Lady, shall I brew fresh tea?”

I had grown quite used to her calling me “My Lady,” with any awkwardness long since vanished.

“No, it’s fine. Thank you, Ria.”

As I turned to smile at her, our three-year-old son came running toward me. His round, wide-open silver-gray eyes fixed on me as he pointed toward where the roses were planted.

These three years since our son’s birth had been full of challenges for a first-time mother like me. But with help from my birth mother, mother-in-law, and everyone at the estate, our son was growing up healthy and strong.

Lord Fels seemed to enjoy watching our son grow too, often playing with him. Just recently, they went riding together, and it became a running joke how our son, who had been walking fine, stumbled while on his pony, Boro. When the three of us returned to the estate, everyone made a big fuss, but our son found the commotion amusing and giggled happily.

Childrearing brought unexpected moments, but there were new discoveries and things our son taught me too. Even now, he looked up at me with an excited expression, as if he’d found something new.

“Mother! There’s something on the rose leaf! Mother, Ria! Come look with me!”

Our son spoke in one breath, taking my right hand to help me rise from the chair. Though he clearly wanted to hurry to his destination, he waited until I stood. Remarkable emotional control for a three-year-old, likely thanks to Lord Fels. Ria watched us with an expression that seemed to say, “The young master still adores you, doesn’t he?” I took our son’s hand and bent down.

“I wonder what’s there?”

“That’s the surprise for when we get there!”

When our eyes met, he narrowed his with a smile, pointed again toward his destination, and began walking slowly. Ria joined us at his request. As we walked leisurely, he kept looking ahead then back at us until we reached the roses, where he tilted his head and said, “Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

When I spoke from behind him, he turned slowly and looked up at me.

“I can’t remember where it is. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize.”

Our son drooped, facing the ground with deep disappointment. I reached out, touched his cheek, and stroked it with my thumb.

“I wanted you and Ria to see it.”

He looked at me with narrowed eyes, tears gathering at their corners. He’d really wanted to show us. I glanced back at Ria, then returned my attention to our son.

“Then shall we search together? It probably hasn’t gone far.”

“Really?!”

“Of course.”

His near-tearful expression vanished instantly. His face shining, he spun around to stand before the roses. He probably wanted to show us some insect on the roses, but would Ria be alright? Worried, I glanced at her and saw she looked rather uneasy. Since many women dislike insects, I silently signaled she didn’t need to force herself.

I turned forward and stood beside our son. Kneeling to examine the rose leaves, I found nothing. The gardener’s care was too thorough. Suddenly, I remembered searching with my younger brother in the Narcissus estate garden when he found a large caterpillar. Boys often seem interested in insects and creatures.

I wondered what Lord Fels was like as a child.

Maybe I could ask him about his childhood during bedtime stories, I thought, when our son looked at me curiously. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

“I was wondering if your father used to search for things like you do.”

“Father did?”

Hearing my words, he seemed to ponder but struggled to imagine Lord Fels as a child, furrowing his brow. Smiling at his troubled expression, I lifted a rose leaf.

If our son or I got injured, everyone at the estate would fuss over even minor wounds. I could always use healing magic on our son.

I once lamented that magic was only useful in war, but healing magic could treat injuries and illnesses. While one person couldn’t heal many at once, helping within my reach was worthwhile. Realizing this was thanks to Lord Fels and the Lotus March family allowing me to open a clinic at the territory’s church.

“Found it! Mother, Ria! It’s a big bug!”

Our son exclaimed excitedly, pointing at a large green caterpillar crawling on a rose leaf. Glancing back, I saw Ria pale, gritting her teeth as if to say, “Do I have to look too?!” I smiled wryly and turned forward to find our son staring intently. When I tilted my head, he blinked and spoke.

“Mother, can I catch it and keep it?”

“Since it lives in nature, let’s not? Wouldn’t you hate being caught and taken to a confined space?”

Catching the caterpillar to observe its growth could be educational, but if not cared for properly, it would likely die. I wanted to nurture his curiosity but preferred not to take lives unnecessarily. Our son made a thoughtful face, seemingly torn between his desire to keep it and my advice.

“……Okay.”

After some deliberation, he seemed to give up on catching it.

“Let’s come again tomorrow. It probably won’t go far, so we can watch it grow together.”

“Yes!”

When I suggested returning tomorrow, his expression brightened instantly. Relieved by his cheerful response, I sensed someone approaching from behind. Rising slowly, I saw Ria bowing formally. There stood Lord Fels, having finished his duties and come to the garden.

“You two. What are you looking at, crouched down?”

Lord Fels, with the same eye color as our son, smiled and tilted his head slightly. The moment our son saw him, his face lit up with joy, and he ran over.

“Father! I found a big bug and was looking at it with Mother and Ria!”

Our son grabbed Lord Fels’s clothes and explained. Meeting his gaze, Lord Fels advised gently, “Since some people dislike insects, ask if it’s okay before showing them.”

When his large hand rested on our son’s head, they both smiled warmly. I noticed I felt envious of our son being petted by Lord Fels. Shaking my head at my own jealousy, I watched as Lord Fels and our son approached slowly.

“Eleanora. It’s fine to come to the garden, but don’t stay too long. It’s not good for you.”

Saying this, Lord Fels removed his coat and draped it over my shoulders. His faint scent made me narrow my eyes, and I held the coat to keep it from slipping.

“Thank you. We’ll head back soon.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It’s not just your body anymore.”

When I thanked him, he looked back with slight concern. A new life was growing inside me. The morning sickness period had passed, and I’d entered a stable phase. Our son watched our exchange with a puzzled tilt of his head. We discussed telling him soon about the new sibling. When I told him, “We’ll go ahead back,” he replied energetically, “Yes!”

Lord Fels suggested, “Shall we practice swordsmanship?” and our son answered brightly, “I want to be strong like you, Father!” Waving to them both, I thought how adding to our family would make things livelier again, then returned to the estate with Ria.

—May these ordinary days continue. Please let there be peace…