Edith’s eyes shook at Adrian’s unexpected request.
“Little sibling?”
“Yes, I’ve wanted a little sibling for a long time, preferably a little sister.”
The only thing childlike about him was his poor pronunciation. It was surprising that he could smoothly talk about wanting a sibling right after she confidently told him that she would give something in return.
『 Is it because he resembles Walter after all?』
Adrian whispered nonchalantly while Edith stared blankly.
“The Count Bourke’s son, whom I met yesterday, has two little sisters. They seemed to get along very well.”
“…”
“You know how to make a baby, right, Mother?”
Embarrassed by the impatient questioning, Edith got nervous.
『 … Could it be that he also knows?』
Although Edith wondered what her son, who had just begun to write words unevenly, knew, she couldn’t help but feel nervous seeing his unique smile in his eyes, which resembled Walter’s.
If her son resembled her, there was a high probability that Adrian would persist until his curiosity was satisfied.
However, if Edith answered that she didn’t know how to make a baby, she didn’t know what answer Adrian would give.
Edith was so embarrassed that an absurd answer came out of her mouth.
“Um… I, uh, it’s been so long, and I remember it being very difficult, so I forgot about it, but I’ll study it again.”
“But Mother, you’re smart. Are you sure you forgot how to do it?”
It was fortunate that the words “how to make a little sibling” did not come out of her son’s mouth.
Edith gave an appropriate answer, feeling relieved inside.
“I’m sorry. It was such a long time ago… Well, I forgot because it was boring and complicated. Adults sometimes forget things they used to do.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Your Father might have forgotten too and might need to study again. We can talk about it later when we have time.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
Adrian made a small bow with his tiny body. Edith, who had just gotten out of an awkward situation, seemed to relax.
“Okay. Now it’s time for a snack, right? I’ll see you for dinner later.”
Edith gently waved her hand at Adrian, not imagining that he might convey this conversation to someone.
──────────✿◦•
Adrian, walking gracefully towards the Crown Prince’s Palace while thinking about snacks, soon caught sight of someone approaching.
Even when he was wearing a comfortable shirt rather than conquering attire, he was more dashing than anyone else in the Imperial Palace.
The strongest man in the world, who could intimidate others with just his natural aura and move as he pleased.
He was the Crown Prince of the Empire and loved by the people.
“Ah, Father.”
“Little One. Where are you going?”
Walter lightly picked Adrian up with one arm.
The child’s cute face, still retaining some of his baby fat, was a perfect mix of Edith and himself.
『 Judging by how often scholars accompany him, perhaps he is more like his mother.』
If Adrian had resembled him, he would have spent his days begging for pony rides or playing with knights with wooden swords, but Adrian was more eager to learn.
“Are you coming from the library?”
“Yes. It was study time.”
The way he answered clearly as if it was obvious, really reminded him of Edith from his childhood.
Walter chuckled and stroked Adrian’s head.
Although his touch was a bit rough, Adrian didn’t shy away, feeling the love in it.
As Adrian was held in his arms and caressed, he realized why his mother had chosen to spend her life with his father.
『 I wish I could grow as tall as him.』
Adrian thought to himself as he nestled deeper into Walter’s embrace. He was already worried because his mother had forgotten how to make babies, but when he ran into his father, he had something to confirm.
“Father, you see…”
“What are you trying to say that you have to whisper?”
“Do you know how to make a baby?”
“…?”
It was an unexpected question. Walter’s somewhat embarrassed gaze lingered on Adrian’s face for a long time.
『 Why is the Little One suddenly asking such a thing?』
Since he did not know the intention of the question, it was difficult for him to answer immediately.
Adrian was equally puzzled.
『 Has Father forgotten how to make babies too?』
According to what he had read in a book, it said that when a man and a woman meet and have a meal of whipped cream, baguette, and raw eggs, and then hold hands, a baby will be conceived.
However, his mother said she had forgotten the process, and his father was confused as soon as he heard the question.
Feeling like there was a big problem with his ‘plan to have a sibling,’ Adrian became anxious.
“Hmm, Father. Could it be that you’ve forgotten…?”
Forgotten how to make babies?
Walter hadn’t even been able to touch Edith’s body, who had been busy for four days, so he could only think about that in his head.
Walter took a few steps away so he wouldn’t be heard by the scholars following him.
“Adrian, did you happen to forget how to run?”
Adrian, who likes to run when he finds something he likes, immediately refuted it.
“No! That’s what you do when you’re as big as I am. Mother says I’m good at running.”
“Making babies is like that too. When you grow up, you’ll naturally know how to do it, just like me.”
“You mean you didn’t forget?”
“I can’t forget something like that. Besides, our Crown Princess said that I am also naturally gifted in that area.”
“Mother did? Really?”
“Of course. I can prove it at any time as long as Edith allows it. I haven’t forgotten, and I’m a natural at it.”
Walter even added an explanation that would have made Edith slap his forearm in astonishment if she had heard it.
Whether it was educationally appropriate or not, he thought he’d gotten past the awkward question and headed back to the library.
But something Adrian said offhandedly made him stop dead in his tracks.
“Phew, I’m glad you remember, Father. Mother said she forgot.”
“Wait.”
Walter picked up Adrian, whom he had set down on the ground, and then, pushing the scholars aside, he inquired.
“Adrian, what did you just say?”
Edith forgot how to make babies?! What does this mean?
His dark green eyes began to burn brightly, but Adrian was too young to understand why.
“Mother said she forgot how to make babies because it was so boring and complicated.”
“That can’t be true.”
“She also said she forgot because it was so long ago.”
“It wasn’t a long time ago. Just a few days ago… Never mind.”
The fact that he had gently cajoled his busy wife a few days ago didn’t seem like the right thing to say as he held back his son who was going to get a snack.
“Anyway, it wasn’t that long ago. Considering how often she reviews it, my wife shouldn’t have forgotten.”
Walter was confident in his skills. He spent hundreds of nights looking at Edith’s shiny, sweaty body.
Although he had a firm belief that his Little One got caught in the middle of the communication process and there was some kind of misunderstanding, his mouth tasted bitter.
Could it be that Edith had been subtly pushing me away for the past four days because she was no longer interested? Surely, that can’t be possible.
Of course, there was no way Adrian, who was still young, would be considerate of Walter’s suddenly complicated feelings.
“Then I guess she forgot because it was so boring. Mother is very smart, right? If it was fun and important, she would definitely remember it.”
“… Go get some snacks, kid.”
Walter placed Adrian, who was mocking his abilities with an innocent expression, on the floor.
──────────✿◦•
On the second floor of the Imperial Library, there was a conference room that only members of the Imperial Family could enter, and Edith was pacing back and forth.
When she finished skimming through today’s assignments, she stretched and recalled her conversation with Adrian.
『 A second child.』
Her first pregnancy had been so eventful that Edith never thought about a second child.
Even after giving birth to Adrian safely, she was busy using what she learned at the Academy as the Crown Princess.
However, once the teachings of the scholars concluded, she would have ample time and leisure to add something new to her daily life.
Above all, Edith had heard something important from Theos, who had visited the Imperial Palace with the Duke of Lexion the previous week.
⋙“This is the result of the research on the magic power of His Majesty and the Crown Prince, as well as the magicites.”⋘
The thesis authored by Theos detailed how to completely solve the problem of magic outbursts that is unique to Lexion using magicites.
Theos was appointed as the official mage of HouseLexion for his contributions to improving the family’s weaknesses and was even given a large manor as a reward.
In other words, it meant that now, even if she were to have a child with Lexion’s blood, there was no need to worry about the child turning out wrong.
It was a significant improvement from the time when she used to worry when Walter had to infuse magic into the baby in her womb.
Now that Theos had taken care of my biggest worry, why not give Adrian a little sibling?
『 I wonder what Walter would think.』
As she tried to focus on her studies again, her thoughts kept wandering off to the side.
Edith put down her pen and stretched for a moment.
She went through a lot of hardships herself to give birth to Adrian healthily, but Walter had truly risked his life.
Perhaps that’s why he never casually brought up the topic of having a second child, not even jokingly.
『 He almost lost all of his memories trying to reach his awakening to share his magic with Adrian.』
If she casually brought up the topic of having a second child and saw Walter’s stiffened expression, it would undoubtedly upset her.
『 First, I’ll have to think about it after taking the graduation exam. Adrian will take quite a while to write the long letter.』
Edith decided to trust Adrian’s writing skills, which were currently at an adorable level.
Just as she was trying to focus again, someone knocked on the door.
