SS ~ 20
It was a slightly late lunch, but the table was bustling with activity.
According to Ernest, even at his house, Elsie had been too worried about Lexion to eat properly.
“It really seems so. Our young lady must have been so hungry to be eating this much…”
When Kina mentioned “this much,” what she meant exactly was this: “How hungry must she have been to be eating so much?”
But Seriniel thought it was hard to tell. Elsie always ate a lot. She was sure she didn’t eat this much at her age.
“She’s going to grow taller.”
Ernest muttered as he personally deboned the meat for Elsie.
“The Rosenvester bloodline is like that, both women and men grow tall. They eat a lot and grow a lot.”
Lexion also thought it was hard to tell. For the same reason, Elsie always ate a lot. Even he, who shared the same Rosenvester blood, didn’t eat that much.
Moreover, Ernest’s reasoning had no real persuasion. He was the type who would praise Elsie even if she ate an entire cow in one sitting.
However, the sight of Elsie chewing the meat and fish that Ernest and Kina had prepared for her was so adorable that they decided to laugh off their doubts. After all, as long as she wasn’t being greedy, it was fine.
“It’s quite a pity you returned after just one day.”
And Vain said this:
“I was a bit relieved that the daily quarrels had stopped, but you regained your memory so quickly.”
“For someone who says that, didn’t the butler also wait for my quarrels?”
“Me? When did I ever say that?”
To the bewildered Vain, Lexion provided a very logical reason.
“Every morning, you start your activities at the same time I wake up. That’s no different from openly asking for my interference.”
It had actually happened. On a day when Lexion had to rush to the palace at the emperor’s call.
That day, Lexion didn’t engage in his usual banter with Vain, who was watering the flowerbed. To be precise, he didn’t have the time.
But when he returned home, Vain initiated the banter instead.
He complained about how he was doing the work that could be done by a gardener himself, yet the master hadn’t once praised such an excellent butler.
Vain had his own share of disappointment. After all, Lexion’s banter was practically their morning greeting.
“I’m sorry, but it seems to me that you two are exactly alike.”
This comment came from Kina, who was listening to the conversation.
“Anyway, it’s a relief that the Master is fine now! But since you’ve been sick once, it’s better to live properly from tomorrow.”
“Properly?”
“Going to bed early, waking up early, eating meals on time, and not overworking. The same goes for you, Madam! I’ll be keeping a close eye on both of you, so you should know.”
“But, Kina… why me…?”
It seemed they were about to receive another round of excessive nagging. That’s what Lexion thought but didn’t say aloud.
He knew it well.
The origin of their seemingly excessive meddling was their affection for him.
“The thing I like most about this ducal house is definitely this cake. Of course, excluding our lovely Elsie.”
Ernest also got his wish to eat Kina’s cake.
Seeing Kina’s cake, which had just the right amount of fruit without being excessive, Seriniel still thought, “Isn’t it tastier with more fruit?” But since everyone’s taste is different, she decided to keep quiet.
After finishing the meal, Ernest left the Rosenvester mansion with the cake Kina had packed for him.
“If you fall and lose your memory again, let me know.”
He said to Lexion before getting into the carriage.
“I’ll make sure to watch your nonsense up close next time. Looking back, there’s nothing quite as entertaining as that.”
Lexion didn’t respond to Ernest. Instead, he whispered softly into Seriniel’s ear.
“I must tell you to never pack cake for that old man again.”
Seriniel laughed alone for a while. Then, hand in hand with Lexion, she returned to the mansion.
***
“Lexion.”
As she walked down the hallway, Seriniel looked around curiously.
“Where are you?”
When Elsie went to bathe with another maid, Kina had said, “I’ll brew some healthy tea for everyone to enjoy together.”
She had come to fetch him, but he was nowhere to be seen after she got momentarily distracted.
“Did he go to the second floor…?”
Holding the banister, Seriniel slowly climbed the stairs. Then she heard movement through the open door ahead.
It was Elsie’s study, which Lexion had been organizing on the day of the accident.
To put it another way, it was the room Lexion had temporarily used when he gave up his bedroom upon joining the Rosenvester family.
“Lexion.”
Hearing her call, Lexion, who was putting away books, finally looked at Seriniel.
“You could take a break, you know. Were you doing this all by yourself?”
“I didn’t finish it that day.”
Seriniel chuckled and slowly approached Lexion, starting to stack Elsie’s fairy tale books with him.
Then, as if she had just remembered, she opened her mouth with an “Ah” sound.
“I sent word to the High Priest and Paul, letting them know you’re recovering well.”
“Did you?”
“They asked if they could drop by for a meal tomorrow, and I said yes.”
“Good job. Johan was more or less fine, but I need to see Paul’s face.”
“Paul? Why?”
“He badmouthed me.”
…Oh.
Seriniel made a face that said she understood.
“But didn’t you conclude that he actually likes you quite a lot, really?”
“No, that’s not the point.”
Then what is?
Seriniel perked up her ears.
“He disrespected my taste.”
[Actually, I don’t know much about tea. What would a merchant of commoner origin know?]
“Both tea and clothes.”
[He even gave a commoner like me unusual clothes I’d never have the chance to wear.]
“I don’t mind him badmouthing me, but I can’t accept that.”
“….”
“I won’t let it slide.”
“Okay… I see…”
“Where’s Elsie?”
“She’s bathing and will be out soon. Kina said she’d quickly prepare the tea, so I came to fetch you. If we do this together, we’ll finish quickly and can head over.”
On the day of the accident, everything else had already been neatly arranged. The new bookshelf for children, the cute table and chairs, and even the blue curtains and carpet that perfectly matched Elsie’s taste.
All that was left was to put the books on the shelf to complete the organization.
“I actually liked reading books.”
Lexion mumbled as he placed Elsie’s fairy tale books on the shelf.
“Back then, I had to secretly sneak books to read, but not anymore. So, it’s fun. I enjoy reading to Elsie.”
“Then it seems our Elsie takes after you. She loves books this much.”
“But you also like books.”
Seriniel smiled.
“Right now, it’s all fairy tales, but eventually, there will be quite a few difficult books, right? As time goes on, more and more. Yes, as Elsie grows up.”
Seriniel paused from shelving the books and looked at Lexion.
“By then, she’ll go through adolescence, and she won’t seek comfort in my arms as much as she does now, right? She’ll probably argue with me too.”
“Are you already feeling sad about that?”
Lexion was silent for a moment. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something, then shook his head and continued.
“No, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s all part of Elsie growing up. She might distance herself a bit during adolescence, but being able to watch her grow through that process makes me excited and happy.”
“You won’t be lonely, though. Elsie will grow up and leave our nest someday, but I’ll always be by your side.”
Lexion stopped putting books away and looked at Seriniel.
“I’m looking forward to it too, growing old together with you.”
“….”
“There will be many challenges ahead, but we will always be there for each other.”
Lexion didn’t reply. He just watched as the setting sun streamed through the window, beautifully illuminating Seriniel’s face.
Even after all this time, she still looked incredibly beautiful to him.
Even with white hair, a bent back, and wrinkles spreading across her face like paint, she would still be as beautiful as she was now. So beautiful that she would shine forever. And that light would always warmly illuminate him.
“You are a wonderful person.”
“….”
“I’m the happiest woman in the world because I get to spend my life with you.”
Lexion slowly put the book down.
Then, he held Seriniel tightly in his arms and said,
“…I feel the same way.”
“Then we will be the happiest couple in the world.”
A smile spread across Lexion’s face at Seriniel’s words.
As he gently pulled away from her, he leaned in to kiss her, but it was not to be.
“What are you two doing here!”
It was Elsie, who suddenly interrupted them.
“How could you do this without me… It’s unfair!”
“Goodness. Where did you learn the word ‘unfair’?”
Seriniel burst out laughing and asked.
“Every time Mom says she’s too busy to play with me, Dad always says it’s ‘unfair.'”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
“I asked what it meant before, and you said, ‘When you love someone very, very much, you feel it’s unfair.'”
“…”
“I love Mom and Dad so much, so it’s unfair. Besides, I’m good at organizing books too. Why are you doing it alone?”
“Hmm… Then should we organize together tomorrow? Kina is waiting with delicious tea prepared for us.”
“Okay! We shouldn’t keep Kina waiting, or she’ll feel unfair too.”
Yes, yes. Seriniel muttered as she kissed Elsie’s cute little forehead.
“Let’s go, Lexion.”
Two identical, white, delicate hands grabbed Lexion’s hands.
“…”
Looking down at the hands of the mother and daughter who were pulling him along, Lexion suddenly recalled a question from the past.
[Are you happy, Seriniel Verdellete?]
It was a question he had asked Seriniel long ago.
…Back then, he had thought that for her happiness, it didn’t matter what happened to him.
But not anymore.
Now Lexion knew well.
For Seriniel’s happiness, for Elsie’s happiness, for the happiness of Kina, Vain, Johan, Paul, and Ernest, he too needed to be happy.
Yes, for myself. For us, for everyone.
So I will be happy today and tomorrow.
The dark shadow of the lonely and isolated boy, who could grasp nothing and be loved by no one… no longer existed.
Lexion, smiling brightly like the sun, firmly held the hands of the mother and daughter.
“Let’s go.”
The family, in perfect unison, left the study to join the other family members, the chatty maid, and the fussy butler, to enjoy the fragrant tea.
And so, as always, another peaceful, happy day came to an end.
