But when I saw the gaze fixed on me, I couldn’t resist.
“Come here.”
Eventually, I reached out my arms, and Vardian jumped back into them.
I picked him up. He’s almost three years old now, and he felt really heavy.
Vardian clung to my neck as if he was afraid of falling. His baby scent was much stronger now.
“Shall we look at the lake until Daddy comes?”
“Yes.”
Originally, I had planned to go on a picnic with Vardian today. But he had started complaining of stomach pain yesterday afternoon, so I gave him some medicine and put him to bed.
Today, fearing he might still be in pain, we didn’t go far and just took a short trip to the lake within the palace grounds. He had been fussing all morning about not being able to go on the picnic, but his face lit up at the sight of the lake.
“Pretty.”
“Pretty?”
Vardian muttered to himself while looking at the sunlight reflected on the water, then stared at the lake as if mesmerized.
“Jewel.”
It’s sparkling.
I gently stroked his cheek with my finger. It felt soft and warm, like pudding.
“Next time, we’ll definitely go on a picnic, okay? We’ll go back to the villa we visited last time, and let’s also visit Shiseta.”
“Yes.”
Vardian answered obediently, and I stroked his cheek again. His cheeks were so squishy it felt like I could keep touching them all day. I couldn’t help but kiss his cheek again.
“Bella.”
I must have lost myself in the lake view, following Vardian.
Unaware of his approach, I turned around quickly when I heard his soft voice right behind me. It seemed like Valery had finished his commitments sooner than expected.
“Is everything finished?”
“Yes, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Not at all. Vardian said the lake looked like jewels, so we were just enjoying the view. It really does seem like that.”
Valery reached out and took Vardian from me. Suddenly, the heavyweight was gone, and I felt surprisingly light.
“Vardian must have grown again. He’s gotten heavier.”
Valerie laughed softly as he squeezed and released my hand.
“It’s getting hard now, so let’s just hug him little by little. And if we keep holding him, he’ll get spoiled. He’s already whining just to be with his mom.”
“…Valery. It’s strange to hear you say that while you’re still holding him so tightly.”
“Hmm.”
Valery laughed softly, holding the child securely as always. It was truly absurd.
“Weren’t you tired of handling him alone? Maybe you should sit down.”
“Not at all. I just held him a while ago, and Vardian walks well on his own now. Plus, there are servants right there if needed.”
About a year after Vardian was born, my body became noticeably stronger. I wasn’t particularly frail, but I often felt overwhelmed working late into the night, yet, strangely, after giving birth, I became much healthier. I felt less tired, and even during flu season, I managed to stay well. Valery, known for his robust health, joked that perhaps Vardian had prayed not to trouble me as much as he had during childbirth.
Once Valery arrived, we sat on the pre-laid mat, and I snacked on the treats Vardian had brought. After munching on some juice and snacks, Vardian seemed re-energized and started exploring the area again.
“Don’t go near the lakeshore alone.”
“Yes.”
The place where Vardian headed toward was a patch of blooming wildflowers.
“Doesn’t Vardian seem very obedient? He’s never caused trouble.”
As I watched the back of his head, Valery chuckled softly. I didn’t understand the meaning of his laughter, so I tilted my head as I put a cookie in my mouth that Vardian had left behind.
“He’s a gentle sheep in front of his mother.”
“Hmm?”
“He doesn’t act like that with me.”
Valery talked as if revealing secrets about the child, mentioning how Vardian pulled on his hair and threw tantrums to go to his mother, claiming he wasn’t as quiet as he seemed. However, I couldn’t believe him, so I scoffed.
“He’s only two years old.”
“Vardian is quite smart.”
“His personality is like yours, so it’s like you’re talking about yourself. He looks just like you. Juri said that too. He looks like a mini-size of the emperor.”
Valery raised his eyebrows. “But his eyes and nose are more like Bella’s.”
“I think those parts resemble you more.”
“They’re exactly like yours when you sleep.” And then he added that maybe even the chin was like mine.
It was obvious to anyone that he was a carbon copy of his father.
We bickered over such trivial matters while watching Vardian.
* * *
A week passed since our brief outing to the lakeside, and we were able to keep our promise. I thought the weather had turned cooler recently, but after a week, it became unusually warm, so we decided to make a quick trip before it got colder.
Vardian has a good memory, remembering even passing remarks, so a promise made to him had to be kept.
“Wow!” As soon as we arrived at a place with colorful autumn leaves, Vardian exclaimed in excitement.
Shortly after his birth, we started building a small park next to the villa for walking because I liked visiting the villa, and Valery wanted to create a larger space for me. The densely planted trees along the path were now welcoming us with their vibrant autumn colors.
“Don’t run too much.”
If there had been many people around, I would have restrained him. But since it was just the three of us, I could let him explore a little more freely.
Watching him run, Valery quietly took my hand. “He seems a bit taller.”
“Maybe. He seems to grow a bit every night after sleeping. He might end up as tall as you.”
“Being tall is good.”
“Maybe it’s time to get him a sibling…” I muttered without thinking and then clamped my mouth shut when I felt Valery pause. “Um, just saying!”
I shouldn’t have brought it up like that.
Valery had expressed that he was content with just Vardian and didn’t want to see me in pain again after the first year of his birth. He felt like he had the world with Vardian and me and that he feared that being greedier might bring misfortune. However, I knew Valery had once wished for a child who resembled me. Maybe now was the time for his wish to come true.
I had planned to discuss it tonight just between us…
“Valery, actually, I have something to tell you.”
As I started to speak, I felt like Valery was already moved by anticipation.
In fact, a precious second life had already found its way to us.
The End.
