Side Story ~ 6
“Did you sleep well, Elsie?”
“Yeah!”
“I see. You didn’t miss Mommy and Daddy during the night?”
“Of course, I missed you! I wanted to sleep together!”
Elsie shouted loudly.
“But I held back because, Elsie… Elsie…”
“Because you’re brave?”
“Yeah, that’s it, because I’m brave.”
Lexion chuckled and hugged Elsie tightly.
These days, Elsie started falling asleep alone in her room. Lexion had been worried, but surprisingly, Elsie fell asleep bravely without fussing. And today, just like this, she came to wake up Lexion.
“I heard Kina made a delicious lunch! But we have to have breakfast first. So we have to hurry, Okay?”
“Yeah, okay.”
At Elsie’s urging, Lexion got up slowly from the bed. Then he stopped Elsie, who was about to rush out.
“Wait a moment, Elsie.”
“Why?”
“I’ll tie your hair. It’s bothering you during meals.”
Elsie climbed back onto the bed and sat in front of Lexion, turning her back to him.
With a hair tie and comb in hand, Lexion began combing Elsie’s hair as if he knew exactly what to do. Her long hair, reaching down to her waist, was the same jet-black color as Lexion’s.
Elsie’s hair was as soft as silk, and Lexion often wondered if his hair was as soft.
Looking at Lexion like that, Seriniel burst into laughter and told him that his hair was just as soft as Elsie’s.
“You’re so good at this. You know exactly what to do, Elsie.”
“Is that scary?”
Elsie asked with a mischievous grin, and Lexion once again realized that he had to be careful about what he said in front of the child.
Lexion skillfully braided Elsie’s hair. As soon as he finished, Elsie jumped off the bed and ran to the dressing table. She looked at herself in the mirror with a satisfied expression.
“Now let’s go! Quickly!”
Instead of answering, Lexion got up from his seat and firmly held Elsie’s hand. Then they walked together to the dining room.
—
Seriniel was already seated at the table.
“Good morning, Lexion.”
Sitting down next to her, Lexion kissed her cheek.
“I was going to wake you up, but you were sleeping so soundly.”
“Did you take care of everything?”
“Yes. There’s a merchant who wants to buy a large quantity of moonstones, so I negotiated the price.”
Moonstones were still valuable and in the Carteia Empire, where such expensive moonstones were scarce, Seriniel’s mine was the only one.
Seriniel was quite skilled in business, so her mine was making a huge profit.
“I’m glad. I like seeing you work hard.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, because it makes you happy.”
Even if business hadn’t been as successful as it was now, Lexion would have still been happy, because Seriniel enjoyed working like this.
“Oh, our master is being particularly affectionate today.”
Just then, Kina, who was bringing in the food, smiled at Lexion.
“It must be nice to have an affectionate master, Kina.”
“Now that you’ve started remembering my name, even more so.”
Lexion and Seriniel chuckled at Kina’s words.
“But our Elsie’s hair is so pretty. She looks like a princess.”
“Really?! Daddy did it.”
“Our little princess must eat all her carrots today, as promised. Remember our agreement from yesterday?”
While they were talking, Vain seemed to be busy trying to control Elsie.
“That’s right. If you finish all your carrots, I’ll make a really pretty lunch for you, just like I promised!”
“Really?”
Elsie’s emerald eyes, so much like Seriniel’s, sparkled with excitement.
Elsie gripped the spoon tightly and eagerly started eating the carrot she had pushed to the side. Then she looked at Seriniel and asked,
“But where are we going today?!”
The day before, the couple had promised Elsie that they would go to a nice place for a change.
“Are we going to see Grandpa Ernest again?”
At the sudden mention of Ernest’s name, a very subtle wrinkle appeared on Lexion’s forehead.
“Daddy always makes a weird face whenever Grandpa Ernest’s name comes up!”
Elsie giggled.
…Lexion still didn’t have entirely positive feelings about Ernest. It wasn’t like they had been close from the beginning. If anything, it was quite the opposite but surprisingly, Ernest was very fond of Elsie. He treated her as if she were the apple of his eye.
Every year on Elsie’s birthday, Ernest sent over a few large carriages filled with gifts. He sent them even on days that weren’t her birthday, just because he felt like it.
He sometimes called Elsie “my little Elsie,” and every time, Lexion retorted, “Elsie is my little one, not yours.”
But of course, Ernest didn’t even acknowledge Lexion’s words.
“Sometimes… You two seem surprisingly alike.”
It was a day like any other. While listening to their usual banter, Seriniel couldn’t hold back her laughter and said these words, causing both of them to shut their mouths as if they had been hit.
Watching the two of them like that, Seriniel thought to herself, “Look at that, they really are alike.”
“Unfortunately, let’s visit Grandpa Ernest another time. Today, we’ll go somewhere else,” Seriniel said, stroking Elsie’s hair.
“Yeah! I don’t mind going anywhere as long as I’m with Mommy and Daddy,” Elsie replied.
The slight frown on Lexion’s face, which had appeared at the mention of Ernest’s name, quickly disappeared. He smiled at Elsie, who was diligently finishing the rest of her carrots. Seriniel, meanwhile, gazed at her daughter with an affectionate look until the end of the meal.
—
The family left the mansion immediately after finishing their meal.
Kina packed a beautiful lunch as promised, and Vain accompanied them to bid farewell.
They arrived at Seriniel’s villa, where she had spent time with her parents when she was young, and where she had found hidden Magic stone and document left by Belles.
As it was Elsie’s first time visiting, Seriniel worried whether she would like it, but it seemed her worry was unnecessary.
“Mom, this place is so beautiful! And cute.”
It was pretty, but Seriniel wasn’t sure if “cute” was the right word to describe the house. She guessed Elsie meant it was quaint? Lexion smiled along with Seriniel.
“Elsie, come here for a moment,” Seriniel said, tapping Elsie’s shoulder.
Elsie widened her eyes and leaned against the wall as instructed by Seriniel.
“Do I need to stay still?”
“Yeah.”
Just staying still seemed difficult for Elsie, who made a determined expression, which made Seriniel chuckle softly.
With a pen in hand, Seriniel measured Elsie’s height and made a mark on the wall, along with today’s date.
“Looks like our Elsie is much taller than Mommy was at her age.”
“Why?”
“Look here. When Mommy was Elsie’s age, she was shorter than Elsie.”
“Wow!”
Elsie’s eyes sparkled as she discovered the marks made behind her.
“Is Elsie half an inch taller than Mommy?”
“Maybe it’s because of Daddy! Daddy is really tall.”
Elsie exclaimed with excitement.
“There are many advantages to being tall.”
Rexion, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between mother and daughter, smiled and nodded.
“But the best advantage of all is being able to spot your Mommy anywhere,” Seriniel added with a smile.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
To be honest, Seriniel believed that even if Rexion were half a head taller than he is now, he would still be able to spot her anywhere. But she didn’t say it out loud.
“Do you want to explore more of the villa? Maybe you’ll find something you like, Elsie.”
Seriniel said, patting Elsie’s cheek.
“Can I?”
“Of course. This is Elsie’s villa, too.”
Without wasting a moment, Elsie began exploring the villa like an untethered calf.
Rexion watched his daughter with a smiling face, then took out the package prepared by Kina.
Carefully, Kina had packed not only lunch but also various snacks. Cookies that could be eaten quickly, teas for Rexion and Seriniel, and cold milk for Elsie.
“Here. Don’t drink it too quickly.”
After handing the milk to Elsie, Rexion returned to his seat and approached Seriniel. He lightly kissed her cheek before pouring tea into a small cup for her.
“I didn’t expect her to like it so much. I’m so happy,” Seriniel said.
“I knew she would,” Rexion shrugged.
“Even though it’s been a long time, since it’s filled with things that your grandparents decorated, of course she’ll like it.”
“And also, I like it too. It gives me a warm feeling.”
The space, where traces of the previous earl and countess were still present, was also a very enjoyable place for Rexion.
The jewel-like sunlight, the books faded by the sun, the bronze-colored wooden floors, and the soft white rugs—all of it was wonderful. Especially when he thought of young Seriniel running around here, it was even more so.
“Our parents will love it too.”
“Elsie is here too, right?”
“With you and Elsie.”
Rexion chuckled at Seriniel’s correction. Then he thought to himself, “Yes, they would have surely welcomed us with smiles.”
It was a moment when Rexion and Seriniel smiled affectionately at each other.
“Eek!”
Their attention turned to Elsie’s short scream.
