Side Story ~ 5
“Elsie.”
When he gently called her name, Elsie smiled brightly in his arms, watching her, a smile naturally formed on his own lips. Lexion thought all of these moments felt like magic. How could something be so lovely!
“Mom is still sleeping, so Elsie has to play with Dad. Okay?”
Today, Lexion had been out for a while because the Emperor had summoned him. The Emperor still seemed unwilling to let go of Lexion as the Grand Commander of Carteia.
But Lexion had a perfectly legitimate reason for not being able to take on the role. He told the Emperor that his daughter was still very young and needed him by her side.
[Of course, I may not need you as much as your daughter does, but I, too, need the Duke, so please understand.]
The Emperor had said this begrudgingly, and Lexion had promised. If there was ever an urgent and critical situation, he would be there in a heartbeat, just as he had been before.
While Lexion was away, Elsie stayed with Seriniel. Elsie liked Seriniel just as much as she liked Lexion, both Lexion and Seriniel were very dedicated. Seriniel was fulfilling her role as a mother splendidly.
But Lexion was not at ease. As he often said, Seriniel had already endured great hardships, and he believed the rest of the burden should be his alone.
Anyway, as soon as he returned home, Lexion took care of Elsie, and Seriniel, seemingly exhausted, had fallen asleep early by herself.
“Do you see that?”
When Elsie mumbled with a smiling face as she looked out the window, Lexion hugged her tightly and murmured.
“Yes, it’s snow. It’s piled up everywhere.”
There had been a lot of snow this winter. The garden, visible from the bedroom, was covered in snow. Whatever was so amusing about the pure white snow, Elsie was giggling with delight.
“Did you know, Elsie? When spring comes, the garden will become even more beautiful.”
The cunning butler was doing his part very well. Vain had planted many flowers in the garden. Though it was winter now and covered in snow, it would certainly be a sight to see when spring arrived.
“When the snow melts and it gets warmer, shall we go see the flowers together?”
Lexion murmured.
“Or maybe we could plant new flowers. Mom likes flowers, but I wonder what you will think.”
“Elsie will like them too.”
Startled by Seriniel’s sudden voice, Lexion turned around. There stood Seriniel, smiling at them, having woken up from her nap.
“How could she dislike it when her dad says he’ll plant new ones just for her?”
“Seriniel.”
Lexion walked over to the bed with a smile, sitting next to Seriniel with Elsie in his arms, and Seriniel said.
“I just meant to rest for a bit, but I must have fallen asleep. You’ve had a hard time alone. I’ll take care of her now, so you should….”
“No, no.”
Lexion shook his head.
“I told you, all I gained from wandering the battlefield was muscle.”
“…”
“So you should rest. I’m fine, really.”
Even for someone as muscular as him, childcare was another level of difficulty, Seriniel knew this better than anyone, but she was grateful for his words, so she smiled.
“Then lie down too, with Elsie.”
Taking Elsie gently from him, Seriniel laid the baby on the bed then she lay down next to her.
Lexion watched the mother and daughter for a moment before carefully lying down beside Elsie.
“…”
Elsie, being a good girl, didn’t fuss anymore, and Seriniel silently watched her daughter. Then, propping her chin with one hand, she looked at Lexion.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said before.”
“Which part?”
“The part where you said you weren’t sure if you could be a good dad.”
“…”
“I think that was such a needless worry.”
It’s hard to find a father like him anywhere in the world, Seriniel genuinely thought so.
“…It’s because of you.”
Lexion whispered in a low voice.
“You always make me want to be a better person.”
“…”
“A good husband, a good father, and beyond that… I wanted to become a good person like you and your parents.”
Lexion still remembered clearly the warmth and care he received from them, even without realizing it.
“Vain said that Elsie loves toy swords.”
“…Elsie?”
“So we joked earlier that it would be fun if you taught her swordsmanship.”
Lexion laughed.
“When that day comes, I’ll secretly listen in.”
“Why? You know I promised to protect you forever.”
Elsie was important, but for Lexion, Seriniel was always the most important.
He was always ready, ready to give his life to protect her if she was ever in danger.
“I want to protect you too.”
“…”
“Elsie will learn swordsmanship diligently, and so will I. That way, we can always protect you. What do you think?”
“Well…”
“Well?”
“It’s a story that can only be happy.”
For the first time in his life, Lexion burst into laughter at hearing such words. Then he imagined it: Elsie, who looked exactly like him and Seriniel, and Seriniel, still radiant and beautiful despite her age, fussing over protecting him, just thinking about it brought him immense joy.
“So, it’s okay not to overdo it. If there’s something you’re lacking, Elsie and I can make up for it. Though you’re doing more than enough already.”
“……”
“And isn’t that what family is all about? Complimenting each other’s shortcomings.”
Sometimes, Seriniel worried. She feared that Lexion might overexert himself.
Being a wonderful husband and father was great, but Seriniel never wanted him to feel burdened because of her.
“I used to think I didn’t know what it meant to have a family…”
Then, Lexion slowly spoke.
“But now, I understand, and I see how wonderful and amazing it is.”
“……”
“When we got married, I became your husband… I thought I couldn’t be happier. But there was even a greater happiness. All thanks to you.”
The life Seriniel had given him was full of surprises. Each day was happier than the last. Tomorrow promised even more happiness than today, and even at this moment, he was incredibly happy.
“But it makes sense. What man in the world is protected by such a cute daughter and beautiful wife?”
Even though she couldn’t understand the words, Elsie giggled. So Lexion laughed, and Seriniel laughed too.
“Paul said he’d send a bunch of toys again tomorrow.”
“You didn’t go and badger him, did you?”
“No, I just mentioned once that our daughter really liked the toys he gave her before.”
“That’s exactly what badgering is.”
“Is it?”
Seriniel chuckled.
“Then should we visit Paul tomorrow? We were supposed to have a meal together last time, but it got canceled because his reservation was delayed.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
“I’m really grateful to Paul. He dotes on our Elsie so much.”
“Of course, no one in the world could not love Elsie.”
Seriniel thought it would be hard to find anyone as devoted as Lexion.
“Anyway, Paul will be happy to see us after a while.”
Though Paul often complained when Lexion asked him for something, he was always affectionate towards Elsie. Of course, he’d often joke, “Our little princess won’t be bossing people around like her father, right?” which would earn him a scolding from Lexion.
Nonetheless, tomorrow, Paul would welcome them warmly, serving delicious tea.
Seriniel, smiling softly, gently caressed the cheek of the sleeping Elsie, then lovingly stroked Lexion’s cheek.
“……”
Holding Seriniel’s small, white hand, Lexion kissed it and said,
“I love you even more today too, Seriniel.”
“Me too.”
Exchanging their nightly goodnight ritual, the two smiled brightly at each other, and so, another peaceful day was coming to an end.
***
It was mid-spring.
Today’s weather was incredibly clear. The sun’s rays were dazzling, and the spring breeze carrying the scent of flowers blew in through the open window.
Lexion woke slowly to the whispers of spring.
“……”
Opening his eyes, he started to rise but then stopped, his gaze fell on the white blanket covering his waist, to be precise, on the small body hidden under the blanket.
Lexion quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep again.
“Daddy.”
A cute voice accompanied by chubby fingers poked Lexion’s cheek.
“Daddy, wake up!”
“……”
“Mom is waiting, Kina and Vain too!”
“……”
“They told me to bring you quickly… We have to eat… And we were going out today!”
When there was no response despite the persistent poking, Elsie pouted.
Lexion struggled to suppress his laughter while keeping his eyes closed and then slowly spoke.
“Daddy is too tired…”
“Hmm?”
“I think I can only get up if Elsie gives me a kiss.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a shadow fell over Lexion’s face.
Bending her head slightly, Elsie kissed his cheek, and Lexion’s eyes opened wide. He then hugged Elsie tightly and laughed.
“Did you sleep well? Elsie.”
