Side Story 3
Seriniel’s question was met with silence from Lexion but even if he didn’t answer, Seriniel knew exactly what he was thinking. She looked at him, exasperated, then burst into a laugh of disbelief.
“Oh, Lexion.”
“…”
“Really… I don’t even know what to say…”
“It’s probably best if I don’t say anything.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because I’ll sound like an insecure, crazy man with a jealous wife syndrome.”
Lexion’s cheeks were flushed in a way Seriniel had never seen before, and she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Anyway…”
Lexion seemed to be mumbling to himself as if he couldn’t find the right words, staring down at Seriniel’s belly with a dazed expression, his eyes were filled with countless emotions.
Could he be a good father? A good parent like Seriniel, like her parents who had always looked out for him? Could he follow even half of their example?
Lexion had no idea what an ideal parent, especially a father, should be like. It was inevitable—his own father had never once treated him as a son, quite the opposite, in fact.
Claiming he could be a good father would be a lie. He would undoubtedly be clumsy and make many mistakes.
“I will always be lacking…”
But there was one thing he was sure of.
“Still, I will love you and our child…”
“…”
“With all my strength.”
“That’s enough.”
Seriniel smiled brightly.
“And that’s all our child needs most.”
It wouldn’t just be Lexion who would be clumsy. Seriniel knew very well that becoming a parent was incredibly difficult. They would argue, scold, and be scolded in turn, living noisily.
But Seriniel also knew that there was nothing more ordinary and happy than that.
“…”
Lexion, watching her silently, slowly extended his arms and gently embraced her.
“I’m sorry, Seriniel.”
“…”
“I’m always so inadequate… and that’s why I’m even more grateful that you stay with me.”
Seriniel gently patted Lexion’s back, who had likely been through his own hell and heaven alone.
“There’s no one in the world more necessary to me and our child than you.”
And she spoke in a warm voice.
“Never forget that, anywhere, anytime.”
…Okay.
Lexion nodded slowly, burying his face in Seriniel’s embrace, which always seemed so vast despite her smaller body.
And he thought, when the child is born, I will make sure they are the happiest in the world, even if I have to give my life.
This day would be a source of teasing for Lexion for a very long time But that was still far in the future, so Lexion had no way of knowing it yet.
…And so, the eventful day came to an end.
***
Autumn passed, winter passed, and spring returned. In the late spring, just before the onset of summer, Seriniel was full-term in her pregnancy.
Before her movements became too difficult, she had made all the necessary preparations for the birth. Endless mining of the magic stones continued, and she had found someone to manage the workers during her absence.
As the baby’s arrival neared, Paul became extremely busy, mainly due to Lexion. He didn’t intend to allow a single thing to be lacking. He spent the entire day tending to Seriniel and, when she slept, rushed to Paul.
He ordered numerous pieces of furniture that, at a glance, looked like they required a lot of work, daily.
Paul complained that he was losing hair rapidly due to the stress caused by the Duke, but Lexion retorted that technically it was his father’s fault, not his.
Still, he gave Paul a large sum of money and didn’t forget to advise him that a hair-growth tonic using magic ore was under development, suggesting he try it later.
“Lexion.”
Today, Seriniel awoke a bit earlier than Lexion returned home.
“Have you been bothering Paul again?”
“Torment? I merely paid the fair price and reserved the items.” Lexion entered the bedroom with a low chuckle, sitting next to Seriniel. He then gently stroked Seriniel’s round, apple-like belly. “I wanted to come back before you woke up…”
“I’m not a child, it’s fine.”
“I was worried about you.”
He wasn’t just saying it to make her feel better; he meant it. Lexion had no idea how hard pregnancy could be, movement was difficult, and she had to be picky with food. She couldn’t take medicine easily when in pain, so she had to take extra care of her health. Her feet swelled, her hands swelled, watching it all made his heart ache, and he wanted to do anything he could to help.
Even while Seriniel slept, Lexion was busy. He secretly massaged her feet and meticulously covered her with blankets. Then he would rush to Kina, discussing what Seriniel should eat when she woke up.
“I’m feeling better than before. Don’t worry.”
By “before,” Seriniel meant the time when her morning sickness was at its worst. She had realized that humans could even smell fishiness in water. It felt like the whole world was telling her to die with its odors. She was dizzy and nauseous.
Watching Seriniel go through that, Lexion…
He experienced morning sickness too.
‘I’ve heard this can happen occasionally… but I never thought it would be you, my lord.’
‘But it’s somewhat better than our lady suffering alone…’
Kina and Vain were bewildered, and Seriniel felt sorry for her husband while she went off to vomit again. The two of them went through a time that felt like a war.
Anyway, things were better now but Lexion’s mind was still not at ease.
“Lexion, could you get me some water…”
“Sure.”
Before Seriniel could finish speaking, Lexion jumped up, poured some lukewarm water, and handed it to her.
“Anything else?”
“Hmm…”
“Fruit? Warm tea? Or something more filling…”
“No, no, I’m not hungry.”
“Then…”
“Just sit with me. I’ll tell you if I need anything else.”
“Okay.”
Lexion was like an obedient dog. Today, Seriniel found that endearing and laughed.
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“What?”
“Tending to me like this all the time.”
“I’ve told you before. I don’t mind you accepting my help. In fact, I like it.”
Suddenly, Lexion’s words from long ago flashed through her mind.
“If these things keep repeating, don’t you think you’ll realize someday? That I’m quite a useful man. Then there will come a day when you’ll use me without hesitation, as if it’s only natural.”
“I like it. It feels like I’ve become quite a useful man.”
“…”
“I wouldn’t mind if you ordered me around forever. Though I plan to help even without being asked.”
Seriniel smiled brightly.
“Kina and Vain said I was a very demanding baby.”
“Demanding? What do you mean?”
“I would cry constantly unless I was held even when sleeping. What if our child is like that?”
“So what? They’ll have the perfect father for it.”
“What?”
“All I gained from endlessly wandering battlefields are muscles.”
Lexion shrugged.
“So I can hold them until they’re sick of it. Until they beg me to put them down.”
“Oh my.”
“That’s not all, to keep my wise and kind wife, the chatty maid, and the swindling butler, I would do anything.”
He had found out about Vain’s remark after that ridiculous incident. Lexion had subtly changed since then, casually making these possessive comments. Some might find it childish, but Seriniel loved it. It was cute, and she enjoyed that Lexion could express his feelings so openly.
“…”
Lexion chuckled quietly and looked at Seriniel’s belly.
“I hope they take after you.”
Then, with a gentle touch, he stroked the round belly and spoke.
“Then… they’ll be very lovely.”
“If that’s the reason, they should take after you. They’ll be even more lovely.”
At Seriniel’s words, Lexion stared blankly for a moment before smiling softly.
“Yes.”
“…”
“They will be, no matter who they resemble.”
Whether they took after Seriniel or himself, the child would be adorable. After all, whose child were they? Lexion thought to himself.
“When the baby is born…”
He continued slowly.
“I’ll make sure to tell them how amazing and brave their mother is.”
“And I’ll tell them how kind and warm their father is.”
Seriniel replied with a smile.
“We’ll struggle a lot since it’s our first time being parents, but we’ll ask them to be understanding because we’ll love them with all our might.”
Yes, we will. Lexion mumbled softly, kissing Seriniel’s belly. He vowed to love their child with all his strength, as Seriniel had just said.
And he imagined it. The image of a lovely baby smiling brightly. And he and Seriniel, smiling together, holding that baby.
On the night just before the baby was born, Lexion dreamt of a happy future with his family, unaware of the emotional trials he would face.
