As soon as she returned to her bedroom, she called the maid and told her to burn the letter. Liev dozed off while hugging his teddy bear tightly, and Josef was leaning on the bed and reading a storybook. As I sipped the tea poured by the maid, I quietly observed the peace in her eyes. And I prayed that this peace would flow slowly.
The sun sets and the sunset comes.
Liev, who had fallen asleep, woke up, rubbing his sleepy eyes, and closed the last page of the children’s book that Josef had been reading. The belly clock that woke Liev up was accurate today as well.
“Ma’am, dinner is ready.”
Liev jumped out of bed at the sound of the maid’s voice.
“I’m hungry!”
“Liev, it seems like you only eat and sleep.”
“They said that’s how you grow up well!”
Liev sticks out his tongue at Josef’s teasing. I smiled and got up from my seat. After receiving the doll from Liev and setting it down on the bed, I gave strength to Josef’s hand as he tried to open the box. As soon as the door was opened, Liev tried to run out and grabbed the child’s shoulder tightly.
“Liev, I said you shouldn’t run.”
“Hehe, what will come out today?”
“What do you want Liev to come out with?”
The child was very smart. How can you change the subject like this? Liev smiled brightly at my question.
“Meat!”
“Liev will grow sideways because she eats meat all the time.”
“Hey!”
Josef stuck out his tongue at Liev and hid behind me. Liev huffs as he looks at Josef hiding behind me. I smiled slightly and stroked Liev’s head.
“Liev, it’s okay to just eat meat.”
“Really?”
“Huh.”
I nodded. I hope she eats to her heart’s content. It’s okay, just do whatever she wanted. As much as she couldn’t eat, as much as I couldn’t do for her, I held back the swelling and pinched Josef’s cheek so that it wouldn’t hurt.
“Josef, you can’t speak meanly to Liev.”
“But the book said that if you only eat meat, you will grow laterally.”
Oh, did he read a boring book other than a children’s book? Didn’t he just read children’s books? I guess I should take a look at the books my child is reading.
I lightly tapped Josef on the forehead and said,
“But Liev eats vegetables well, so it’s okay. Right, Liev?”
“Uh… yes.”
Liev nods her head with a shocked expression. That being said, Liev did eat vegetables, albeit very little.
If it weren’t for the children, I saw someone I wouldn’t have seen face to face not far away.
“Ainz!”
Liev called Ainz loudly. Ainz, who was walking towards the dining hall first, stopped in the place. Liev runs to Ainz. I wondered what would happen if she fell, but the child moved her short legs very hard.
“Come with me.”
When Liev stretched out her small hand, Ainz took it. Liev smiled brightly and held Ainz’s hand, shaking it back and forth. Then she smiled brightly as she saw me walking slowly.
“Marchen! Come quickly!!”
“Huh.”
I answered that, but my steps were still slow. Maybe it’s just me who thinks that way. Josef’s steps are the same now as they were when he left the bedroom. Ainz stopped holding Liev’s hand until I came closer. As I walked next to him, Ainz held Liev’s hand and walked away. The chattering sound was Liev’s voice. To that voice, Ainz responded in a somewhat insincere voice, “Yes,” “I see.” I wondered what would happen if she was disappointed in that voice, but Liev seemed good anyway. Josef, who was holding my hand tightly, also joined in the conversation, helping Liev. The strange conversation that seemed out of sync ended when we arrived at the restaurant. Liev was muttering about meat, and he seemed to remember the conversation we had, so he picked up a thinly sliced carrot salad and stuffed it into his mouth. The way he made eye contact with me and smiled, made me laugh because it seemed like he was asking me to compliment him. Our meals were always quiet.
“I will stand up first.”
And it always ended with three. The children who had held on to Ainz at first now let him go with big smiles.
“It’s because I’m very busy.”
Was it because I understood the story that has been told countless times? The children no longer held him. Our meal ended with Liev picking up the last piece of chocolate cake for dessert.
* * *
“Mary’s garden was full of flowers.”
“Okay?”
I don’t know who the ‘Mary’ Liev was talking about is. However, the child seemed to have become quite friendly with the employees of the mansion. She seemed to like it when children came in and wandered around Raines Wayne Manor, which was often dreary even for her employees.
“And if it’s not now, Rainswain territory will get cold right away!”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t know what those purple eyes full of anticipation wanted to say. However, when those eyes were directed at me, there were times when I felt like playing around and pretended not to notice. That was exactly the case now. Liev hugged the teddy bear tightly and puffed out her cheeks.
“Let’s play in the garden tomorrow!”
Since I didn’t say anything, Liev eventually got up from her seat and clung to me. I burst out laughing as I saw her eyes filled with the will to never back down.
“Is that so?”
With a nod of her head she insisted.
* * *
Ainz Rainswain usually conveys a positive meaning. The first time he said ‘no’ was when I said I would take the children out of the mansion. I said I wouldn’t mind if Lussian knights joined us, but Ainz shook his head. Seeing this stubborn expression of intention for the first time, I asked if it would be okay to have tea time in the garden, and Ainz nodded his head. I wanted to ask him why he was doing that, but contradictory enough, I didn’t want to talk to him.
“Joseph, what flower is this?”
“How do I know?”
“You don’t even know this?”
“You don’t know either.”
Even if you left the mansion, the garden was only a few steps away, but the children loved it. The flower the children were looking at had both dark blue and dark purple petals. They were like children’s eyes.
“Marchen!”
“What is this flower?”
Looks like he decided to ask me. I smiled awkwardly and tilted my head slightly.
“I’m not sure.”
Marchen Tiye was not interested in flowers. And it was the same for me. I didn’t have time to memorize and know the name of a single flower, and I didn’t even think about it because it was a waste of time. There is disappointment in the children’s eyes. But soon the two started butting heads. I was curious whether the children would be able to find out the name of that flower.
“I…”
The person who solved the children’s concerns was unexpectedly the young maid who dropped off the car for me.
“Do you mind if I tell you the flower’s name?”
“Really? Do you know Hannah?”
Ah, I thought your face looked vaguely familiar…
As the attention of the kind-hearted children who were handing me colored pencils caught Hannah’s lips, she pursed her lips in embarrassment.
“Yes, my parents run a flower shop.”
Liev and Josef widened their eyes at the shy voice. In particular, Josef, who couldn’t hold back his curiosity, was already pulling on the hem of Hannah’s dress. He looked at me as Hannah could not do this or that with the child’s hand.
“Joseph”
When Josef heard my call, he let go of his hand and came to my side. Hannah scratched her freckled cheek.
“It’s cineraria.”
“Cineraria! It’s pretty!”
Liev smiled brightly at Hannah’s words and looked at the flower, and Josef muttered the name several times as if he would remember it. I smiled as I watched what the children were doing. It was enough for the children to remember the name of that flower. A late spring wind blew past me and past the children. What Liev said is correct. After spring, Rainswain will get cold. Its doors will close, and Ainz will begin moving with his knights to subdue the monsters.
“Lady.”
Therefore, the wind of late spring was not as warm as it should have been.
I turned my head to the voice calling me. Rainswain’s old butler bowed his head.
“Count Tiye has come to visit.”
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on April, 6.
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