I Ended up Raising the Children of the Protagonists

“Where did Mom and Dad go on a trip?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Are you going on a faraway trip and not able to send me a letter?”

 

The skillful chef must have been worried about the children’s health. Liev scoops up the finely chopped carrots and puts it into his mouth. Josef frowned at the carrot in the spoon, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it in one go. Then he empties the glass containing water in one go. Even though he was a picky eater of carrots, I couldn’t say anything. They simply twitch their lips at the children’s questions.

 

“That…”

 

As I speak out with difficulty, the children’s big eyes turn to me. Although they had different colors, their similar eyes made me speechless. The first time Ainz put down the knife he was holding and spoke quietly was when I called out the names of the places like a sigh.

 

“The Hawess…”

 

“Far away, to the end of the continent, didn’t I tell you.”

 

“You didn’t tell me! Marchen told me that I went on a trip!”

 

I turned my attention to a friendly voice I didn’t remember. Ainz was holding a napkin and wiping the corners of her mouth. Liev puffed out his cheeks.

 

“If you’re going on a trip, why don’t you send me a letter? Grandpa said Mom and Dad would send a letter, but I waited, but it didn’t come!”

 

“Liev, don’t be like a child.”

 

Despite Josef’s words, Liev twitched his lips and poured out her upset.

 

“I thought you were here! Ainz said you were staying at Rainswain Manor!”

 

Ainz narrowed his eyebrows at Liev’s words. He seems to have forgotten he said that. Liev’s big eyes filled with tears.

 

“But you weren’t here. If you went on a trip, you should have sent me a letter like your grandfather said…”

 

As the large, tear-filled eyes blink once, something transparent flows down the child’s cheek. Her small shoulders began to shake.

 

“Liev can’t remember his mom and dad’s faces anymore. What if mom and dad don’t remember Liev? What if Liev and Josef forget?”

 

Josef purred his lips and put down his spoon. I couldn’t let out the breath that filled my throat at the words Liev said. I need to comfort the child, I need to wipe away the child’s tears… I can’t stand up or open my mouth.

 

“Liev.”

 

It was Ainz who called the child’s name. She tried to smile faintly, but her face couldn’t hide the pain, so I grabbed the hem of her dress.

 

“Liev Hawes.”

 

Just like I think of the woman I loved and my friend. She calls the name and Ainz smiles. My lips parted slightly at his smile, which was not even in Marchen’s memories. Ainz let out his calm, subdued voice.

 

“There’s no way your parents would forget you.”

 

“Yeah, but…”

 

“I’ll call you tomorrow. So don’t cry.”

 

Liev wiped away his tears with his sleeve after hearing Ainz’s words. Josef, who was next to her, also shed tears, and followed Jiriev’s example and wiped away his tears. He turned his head and let out a small breath that had filled his throat.

 

“Marchen, this is delicious!”

 

“Huh?”

 

I turned my head to see Liev’s voice becoming brighter again, and I saw Liev stuffing his mouth full of salad. Her bright face looked like it was a lie that she was crying. But I tried to smile through my red eyes. Liev said, giving Josef a portion of the salad that he said was delicious.

 

“You have to chew it slowly and thoroughly.”

 

“Huh!”

 

“Yes!”

 

Fortunately, their voices did not tremble and the children answered with bright smiles. At the age of three, my younger siblings asked about their parents even though they had left them at a young age. It’s still the same now. Now that I am five years old, I spend more time with my parents. Why did I forget…? I keep forgetting my face, and I wonder if my parents will forget me too. What I said I wanted to see.

 

* * *

 

It was late at night, and the person who opened my door was not very friendly.

 

“Should I ask you to bring the car?”

 

“No, I’ll be out soon.”

 

This was the first time Ainz came to see me like this since the day he announced the death of Mr. and Mrs. Hawes. Well, it’s been a year since I returned to the mansion, so it’s only natural that it’s my first time. Judging by the way he is dressed, it looks like he is going out. I tilted my head slightly and smiled.

 

“It looks like you have a lot of work to do.”

 

It wasn’t something that meant anything. So, it was surprising that Ainz answered this question.

 

“I’ve been away from the estate for a year and have a lot to deal with.”

 

There is a lot of work to be done, so when the children come looking for Ainz, just tell them that they are busy. I nodded and asked.

 

“What do you have to say?”

 

In response to my question, Ainz took out a letter with a turquoise falcon seal from inside his uniform and held it out to me.

 

“Is this a letter from the Marquis of Haas?”

 

The turquoise falcon was sold by the Marquess of Hawes. Has there been an urgent letter from the children’s grandfather? But the letter was sealed. I squinted at the red eyes, not knowing what they were thinking.

 

“Ainz.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I want you to give me a letter.”

 

My eyes widened at the words that came out after silence. I want you to give me a letter. If it’s from the children’s grandfather, wouldn’t it be okay for him to give it to me? But my righteous indignation was soon replaced by astonishment.

 

“This is a letter from the Marquis of Hawes and his wife.”

 

“Ainz!”

 

I called his name like a scream. At that call, Ainz Rainewayne opened her mouth, her face calmly sunken.

 

“You can’t keep hiding it from your kids, right?”

 

“It’s the death of Mr. and Mrs. Hawes! It’s not this letter!!”

 

She delivers a letter full of lies, and whispers even more lies. Ainz remained silent despite my calls.

 

“I copied the handwriting of Johan and Sirena. They are children, so you won’t be able to tell them apart.”

 

“That’s not what I meant!”

 

She screamed in frustration, but Ainz pushed the letter towards me and said,

 

“Please, ma’am.”

 

“I won’t tell you.”

 

I looked away from the letter and closed my eyes. Ainz paid no heed to my firm refusal. I heard her chair being dragged to her feet. As if his business was now over, Ainz left her room. The sound of the second hand rising loudly in my ears, which have forgotten how to rest. The sound of my heart beating, overpowering even the sound, begins to consume me. The fabric held by my fingertips feels like it’s constricting me.

 

“Young lady, master!”

 

The maid’s urgent voice was heard. I hear small steps from the children running towards my room. As soon as the door opened, I hid the letter Ainz held out to me in my arms.

 

“Marchen!”

 

I smiled brightly and opened my arms towards the child running towards me. The end of the hidden letter feels like it’s stabbing me. Liev opened his arms and embraced me. He picked the child up, sat him on his lap, and whispered.

 

“What if I fall while running?”

 

“Don’t fall!”

 

Liev lets out a bright laugh and rubs his face in my arms. I stroked the child’s hair and hugged him tightly.

 

“Liev, do you like me?”

 

“Yes! I like you!”

 

“Why?”

 

“I just like it! I can dance with candy and… mm.”

 

Liev pursed his lips and tilted his head, as if he had nothing more to say.

 

“I don’t know. But I like it!”

 

I smiled at the bright voice of the child. Biting her lip, she nuzzled her face into her child’s head, suppressing her urge to cry. Before I knew it, Josef was approaching me and holding the hem of my dress. She smiled as she looked into the child’s blue eyes. Her blue eyes, which had reflected my smile, folded.

 

“I like you too.”

 

I smiled as I stroked the child’s silver hair that was tangled in my hand.

 

“I like Liev and Josef too.”

 

Liev asks, bursting into laughter.

 

“Do you think Ainz will like us too?”

 

“I like Ainz too.”

 

I made Josef sit on my lap as well and hugged the children tightly. The cold feeling of the letter filled with lies disappears in the warm warmth of your embrace.

 

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Translator Note: