Side Story 2: Chapter 1:
Mistletoe
Aiden, standing on a low folding ladder, turned around and asked,
“Is this good enough, Anje?”
Anje carefully observed the position of the decoration he was placing against the wall. A slight wrinkle formed between her brows, and her lips curved into a crooked line.
Aiden raised one eyebrow. That expression meant she wasn’t quite satisfied.
“Not yet. The left side is tilted a little downward.”
“Like this?”
“You raised it too much. Lower it just a fingernail’s width.”
To be honest, he couldn’t really tell what was off, but he obediently followed his wife’s instructions.
“How about now?”
“It’s still not level.”
“And now?”
“Still not yet.”
Only after several fine adjustments and the decoration in Aiden’s hand finally achieving perfect alignment did Anje gently nod her head.
“Good, right there.”
To someone unaware of the situation, seeing Anje’s serious expression might lead them to believe she was absorbed in displaying some noble ornament—perhaps a portrait by a famous artist or a tapestry made of silk thread.
But in reality, they were just hanging a paper angel garland. A simple handmade craft, made by folding drawing paper in layers into angel shapes and drawing cheerful smiling faces on them.
At the same time, it was a warm decoration that harmonized beautifully with the log house they lived in.
“Now, it’s the tree’s turn.”
Anje gave a signal for Aiden to move by shaking her fist with her thumb extended.
‘Yes, my lady.’
Aiden barely held back the urge to respond playfully like a servant, and walked over to where the tree was.
His beloved wife, Lady Anje Fitzroy, was currently in a very sensitive state. If he joked around carelessly with her now, those plump strawberry-colored lips of hers would pout out.
‘A party? At our farm?’
Of course, there was a good reason for Lady Fitzroy’s sharp demeanor. For the first time since the farm was established, they were going to host a “Christmas party” at this house.
‘We’re just inviting the people we see every day… it feels a bit much to call it a “party.”’**
‘Big or small, a party’s still a party! Ah, there’s only a month left. This is serious.’*
As Aiden said, it was more of a small gathering of familiar faces, but Anje was taking the event seriously.
Aside from the wedding held this past spring, this was the first time they were preparing something that could be called a “party” at this house.
And it was a party timed for the biggest holiday of the year.
‘Back in Londiane, party meant me, and I meant party. Any party I host has to be perfect.’ *
TL/N: THE SENTENCE WITH 2 STARS = AIDEN SAID IT
THE SENTENCE WITH 1 STAR = ANJE SAID IT
Last Christmas, the Fitzroys had spent it quietly, just the two of them. All they had done was make a snowman in the backyard, decorate a small tree, and enjoy delicious food together.
But this year, they needed not only a full-course dinner, but far more decorations—like the paper garland Aiden had just hung on the wall, or the massive wreath made of holly strung together with cord.
The centerpiece among them was the giant fir tree Aiden was now placing a star-shaped ornament on at the very top. Its branches were so large and full that it got stuck halfway through the front door and couldn’t be brought in any further, causing Aiden considerable trouble.
“I picked a tree that’s just like you–.”
“Aiden, didn’t I warn you not to bring up the past?”
“I meant it’s beautiful and dignified, just like you. Unless… there’s something in your past you feel guilty about?”
Though it did evoke a hint of Anje’s embarrassing past, the grand tree now stood just as splendid as any tree found in the noble houses of Londiane.
At the very top, a crystal star ornament they had bought on their honeymoon sparkled, and below it hung white bird and angel ornaments, along with pinecones painted in gold.
Beneath the tree, on a red carpet, lay presents for the guests, creating a truly warm and heartwarming “Christmas” atmosphere.
“While you’re up there, could you fix that pinecone underneath as well?”
But right before the party began, Anje, whose sensitivity had reached its peak, still found things that needed to be adjusted.
“No, not that one—the one next to your right arm.”
She held back a sigh that almost escaped as she asked for a more precise adjustment. Aiden diligently followed her instructions, though it was still less satisfying than if she could have climbed the ladder and done it herself.
‘Since I can’t move freely, it’s naturally a bit frustrating—ah! I didn’t mean to blame you, little one.’
TL/N: OMG! DON’T TELL ME…!
Anje placed her hand on her belly and added a flustered excuse in her mind.
‘Even if I climbed up, I’m too short to reach anyway. I’d just be struggling and in the end, your dad would have done it for me.’
She moved her hand up and down over her belly as if petting a puppy.
‘You know how your mom tends to get a bit overenthusiastic. So I was a little frustrated for a moment, but I’m really grateful you’re here.’
Within her noticeably swollen belly, a life that had settled in several months ago was gently stirring. Still very tiny, but already a being that brought immense joy to the couple.
TL/N: YAYYYYY! THEY DID IT! WE DID IT!
Of course, pregnancy wasn’t all rosy as she had once vaguely imagined. Besides her limited mobility, she had also suffered from severe morning sickness and physical changes.
But despite the hardships, this treasure was too precious to Anje. So much so that she often found herself talking to it like a friend.
‘Since we couldn’t decorate much this year, we’ll just work even harder next year. Oh, and yes! Once you’re a bit bigger, let’s decorate the tree together, okay?’
There were things she could no longer do because of the child, but on the other hand, the child allowed her to dream of new things. As she watched Aiden focused on arranging the tree, Anje fell into a brief daydream.
The little one, arms full of decorations, would probably have fluttery curly hair—just like hers. The way they waddled toward the tree would resemble a duck, and the way they hopped up, eager to hang decorations, would be just like a rabbit.
When their chubby cheeks puffed up in a sulky pout, Aiden wouldn’t miss the signal—he’d scoop the child up in his arms with a beaming smile and act as their ladder. As for Anje, she would be right beside them, handing new ornaments whenever those tiny hands reached out—
“Anje, are you very tired?”
“Huh? Oh, no, I’m fine.”
She had been so deeply lost in her imagination that she hadn’t even noticed Aiden approaching after finishing up. Aiden looked at her with concern.
“You look exhausted from all the party prep. Maybe we should just—”
Anje cut him off mid-sentence.
“It’s too late to cancel now, silly! The party’s about to start!. And I really am fine. I actually slept like a log until almost sunrise today, you know?”
“You’re sure? If you’re tired, you need to tell me right away.”
“I’m sure. I was just spacing out, thinking about something else.”
Aiden asked her again and again, then gently wrapped one arm around her shoulder. As she fit snugly into his embrace, he couldn’t help but notice that the weight she had lost from the morning sickness hadn’t quite returned to the area around her collarbone.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have insisted on having this party.’
The reason he had chosen to host the party at the farm was because he felt that Anje, unable to do much now that her belly was growing, seemed to be getting a little bored.
She was like a diligent squirrel, a woman whose eyes sparkled with joy whenever she had something to do.
However, he didn’t wish for her to overwork herself with something new either. He furrowed his brows for a moment, questioning whether his choice had been the right one.
“Aiden, could you lower your head for a moment?”
“Yes?”
She, who had been staring intently—more precisely, at the decoration above his head—suddenly tugged on his tie and asked. It was a red tie that matched today’s party theme, and Anje was wearing a loose dress of a similar color.
“Hurry, hurry.”
Though puzzled, he matched her eye level.
Anje cupped both sides of his face with her hands and briefly pressed her lips to his, then pulled back. To hide her shy expression, she bit her lips nervously and stepped away.
“It just so happened you were standing under the mistletoe. They say if you kiss under it, you’ll be protected from the devils’ threats for a whole year.”
She used an old superstition as an excuse, but in truth, she had wanted to reward him—for doing everything she asked without once showing displeasure.
And since she knew that he didn’t particularly enjoy social gatherings, yet had prepared this party for her, she also wanted to express her gratitude.
Aiden immediately forgot the worries he had just a moment ago, directing all his attention toward Anje. He then strode toward her, who had taken a few steps back.
“Is that so? Ah, if only I’d known sooner, I would’ve asked for a blessing earlier.”
“Oh my, are there really devils threatening you?”
“Of course. Every time I go to the barn, I get attacked by devils with worm-like tails and spiny whiskers, along with an eight-legged, big-eyed devil that spews sticky threads.”
TL/N: MISSED ME? I CAN SAY I’M FINALLY BACK MORE LIKE BACK FROM THE DEAD LOL🤕, SO SORRY FOR THE LENGTHY BREAK, IK Y’ALL HAVE BEING WAITING A TON AND I’M TERRIBLY SORRY THAT I’VE KEPT Y’ALL WAITING THIS MUCH, THANK YOU SM GUYS FOR SUPPORTING AND READING THE NOVEL AND PATIENTLY WAITING, I’M SO GRATEFUL TBH🥹
MY VERY REACTION AFTER FINISHING THIS CHAPTER(LITERALLY):
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