Hilane’s grip tightened on the paper, crumpling a part of it.
“Mama?”
“…It’s nothing. Let’s keep eating.”
Hilane, not wanting to pass on her negative emotions to her child, smiled.
‘Wait.’
As she reread the letter, Hilane realized something strange.
No matter how many times she looked, there was no mention of Chevelyn in Revan’s letter.
No worries, no inquiries about her well-being, not even a word asking her to take care of Chevelyn in his absence…
Nothing was written.
What is Revan thinking right now?
“Is it from Papa?”
“Uh?”
Somehow, the child’s intuition was sharp.
“Ah, how did you know it was from Papa?”
“I just thought it might be from Papa. Grandma’s never sent a letter before.”
Chevelyn’s pronunciation became increasingly slurred as she stuffed a crepe into her mouth.
“Chevy really misses Papa, but I’ll be strong.”
Chevelyn said, wiping her mouth covered in whipped cream with a napkin.
“Uh?”
“Chevy is all grown up now!”
Chevelyn said, shrugging her shoulders proudly.
“…My baby, you’re all grown up?”
Why did hearing that she’s grown up make her feel so sad?
Was it because it felt like she might soon leave her embrace?
“Yes! Chevy is not a baby! I’m all grown up!”
Finding her daughter’s smug look with her hands on her hips adorable, Hilane kissed her cheek.
“It tickles! Mama, Chevy is not a baby anymore. You shouldn’t do that to a grown-up!”
“Uh?”
“Chevy is going to be an older sister!”
Chevelyn’s serious expression as she stated her intention was endearing.
“Really? Only babies can have strawberry cake during snack time, though.”
“Straw… Strawberry cake?”
Strawberry cake was Chevelyn’s favorite snack. She would wake up even from a deep sleep for it.
With her mouth watering already, Chevelyn licked her lips.
Smack.
She quickly kissed Hilane’s cheek as if she hadn’t just claimed she wasn’t a baby.
“Oh my, didn’t you say you weren’t a baby?”
“Hehe, Chevy is a baby.”
“Do you love strawberry cake that much?”
Hilane couldn’t help but laugh at her daughter’s sly change of attitude.
“I love strawberries, but I love Mama more! Chevy loves you a lot!”
Hilane felt her heart swell at her daughter’s declaration of love.
Suddenly feeling emotional, she hugged Chevelyn tightly.
“Mama… It’s okay… Chevy is here.”
She felt Chevelyn’s small hand patting her back.
The baby who once expressed herself only through tears and needed constant care had grown so much.
‘I wish time with you could flow just a little more slowly.’
Hilane made a silent wish.
“Chevelyn, how about we go for a walk together after breakfast?”
“A walk?”
“Yes. Spring is almost over, so we should go before the flowers completely wither.”
Chevelyn jumped off her chair at Hilane’s suggestion.
“Chevy’s all done eating! Let’s go out right away!”
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“Heehee, Mama’s hand is warm.”
Chevelyn suddenly grabbed Hilane’s hand.
The warmth from her child was a gift Hilane wouldn’t trade for anything.
“But Mama, aren’t you busy today?”
“Uh?”
“If you’re not busy, after the walk… can you read a fairy tale and have a snack with Chevy?”
She had account books to review, but was that more important than her daughter’s request for her presence?
“Of course, absolutely.”
Hilane took a deep breath and lifted Chevelyn into her arms.
Her daughter, who gave back twice the love she received and made her feel loved just by being together.
She needed to clear up the misunderstanding with Revan as soon as possible and return to how things were.
“Chevy is happy! So happy!”
Because she didn’t want to break her daughter’s happiness.
* * *
After a fun-filled time and two plates of strawberry cake, Chevelyn had gone off to dreamland.
“Chev… Chevy’s strawberry… Chevy’s… yum yum…”
Hilane chuckled at the sight of Chevelyn waving her arms and talking in her sleep.
She laid Chevelyn on the bed and headed up to the study.
Sitting at her desk, staring at the ledgers, Hilane began to feel a headache coming on.
“Sigh…”
Even after taking medicine, she didn’t feel refreshed. The truth was, her mind was uneasy with various worries.
If Revan didn’t resolve the misunderstanding, she needed to be certain for Chevelyn’s sake.
“Should I do a paternity test?”
Her mind buzzed with chaotic thoughts, and Hilane pressed her skin firmly.
A paternity test required a valid reason.
Whether it came out positive or negative… just having the test done could hurt Chevelyn.
The only official proceeding that wouldn’t stir gossip was a baptism ceremony.
“Speaking of which, how are the preparations for the baptism going?”
With that in mind, Hilane called for the priest in charge of Chevelyn’s baptism.
“Are the preparations for Chevelyn’s baptism going well?”
“Well, actually… it’s…”
Seeing the priest hesitate, Hilane urged him to continue.
Reluctantly, the priest finally spoke.
“His Excellency has ordered the preparations for the princess’s baptism to be put on hold.”
“…Revan?”
Hilane’s face turned to one of astonishment.
In Peztein, where the influence of the gods was strong, everyone underwent a baptism.
Moreover, Chevelyn, born with golden eyes, the symbol of the royal family, and granted the title of princess, was a legitimate royal member.
Therefore, Chevelyn had to be baptized before anyone else.
Additionally, the baptism ceremony was a once-in-a-lifetime important event.
‘How dare he make such a unilateral decision to put it on hold!’
Hilane clenched her fists tightly.
“Resume the preparations for the baptism immediately.”
“But…”
Although the head’s approval was required as it involved officially registering a name in the genealogy, Hilane sharply responded to the hesitant priest.
“I will take responsibility. Just focus on ensuring everything proceeds without a hitch.”
Indicating she would tolerate no further objections, she snapped.
“…I will obey.”
The priest made a sign of the cross and left, casting cautious glances her way.
Hilane immediately began to write a reply to Revan.
***
Revan postponed Chevelyn’s baptism ceremony.
Upon receiving the letter mentioning this, Revan returned the very next day.
Having arrived at dawn, he was crumpled up, sleeping on the sofa in the guest room.
“…Hilane?”
Hearing her footsteps, Revan opened his eyes with difficulty.
“…Ha.”
Revan sighed at the sight of her glaring at him fiercely.
“About deceiving me regarding Lady Rezen and not telling me anything. None of that matters right now. Just tell me this first.”
“…What?”
“Did you really order Chevelyn’s baptism to be postponed?”
“….”
Revan turned his head away at Hilane’s reproachful words.
“Because you think Chevelyn might not really be your daughter?”
“….”
“You… you’re really the worst. Ha….”
Realizing she was getting emotional, Hilane suppressed her rising feelings.
“You know what it means not to proceed with the baptism ceremony.”
However, the more she spoke, the more her emotions flared up.
“She can’t debut in society. Maybe even the Senate will start talking about Chevelyn’s princess title.”
“…It was just a postponement. It didn’t mean I wasn’t going to proceed at all.”
“The fact that it’s postponed is the problem. Do you really think this will stay a secret?”
Revan’s excuse was laughable. Utterly irresponsible.
The baptism ceremony for a royal was an event that everyone paid attention to.
Any disturbance in the process would quickly spread.
“Revan. If you were going to suspect me of infidelity… you should have done it the day Chevelyn was born.”
“….”
“You had absolutely no trust in me to the point where you’d hurt me based on another woman’s words.”
She had never betrayed the vow she made at their wedding.
“What do you want me to do? I tried to let it go quietly. Somehow, I tried to ignore it! I intended to raise her as my daughter!”
Revan roughly grabbed Hilane’s shoulders.
“If the paternity test shows she’s not my daughter, then what? There’s no turning back then! So, I just….”
Hilane felt all the strength drain from her body.
He was certain. He wasn’t willing to listen to anything she said.
To Revan, Chevelyn was already a stranger.
“….”
“….”
His eyes said it all.
“Let go.”
Unable to accept this truth, Hilane shook off Revan’s hand and flung the door open.
“…Chevelyn?”
A familiar rabbit doll lay on the floor.
“Mama, Papa… Are you fighting because of Chevy?”
Chevelyn stood at the door, on the verge of tears.
“Lyn, it’s not that….”
“Mama… You’re going to hate Chevy now, aren’t you?”
“Chevelyn, it’s a misunderstanding.”
Chevelyn, stepping back, shut her eyes tightly and bolted down the hallway.
“Chevelyn!”
As Hilane hurried after her and caught her, a blinding flash of light accompanied by thunder crashed down.
“Chevelyn! It’s dangerous!”
Startled by the noise, Chevelyn missed a step on the stairs, and Hilane instinctively wrapped her arms around her.
Hilane tumbled down the stairs, holding Chevelyn tightly.
“Hilane!”
Revan, who had followed them out, shouted upon seeing Hilane unconscious at the bottom of the stairs.
♡♡♡
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