Chapter 210: Chapter 211: Wedding Feast in the Wilderness (1)

Daily life continued as usual.The same held true for the class Salome was in charge of.

“It’s quiet without Naru, isn’t it?”“Yeah. Hina used to draw me lots of pretty pictures too.”

The children occasionally felt the absence of the peculiar sisters, but children’s days were inherently like waves crashing in from all directions.The void left by someone’s departure was bound to be quickly submerged in the overflowing days, much like waves.

Cecily was also having her own relatively normal days.Going to school, chatting with friends, and petting Molumolu’s fur.It was a joyful time.But it was inevitable to feel a bit lonely without Naru and Hina.

‘To think this Cecily would be left all alone!’

Cecily felt as if she had become a loner.However, there was a girl who felt even more isolated than Cecily.It was Elizabeth.

Elizabeth had been Naru’s best friend, and she had become the most dejected since Naru disappeared. Additionally, Tywin, who had been at odds with Elizabeth, had vanished somewhere and wasn’t coming to school.

‘Going to school is no fun!’

Elizabeth was gradually losing her desire to attend the boring school. And she had even worked hard learning to make bread during the summer vacation.

Ding— Dong— Deng— Dong—

Before she knew it, it was after school.Cecily spoke to Elizabeth, who was about to go home feeling downcast.

“Elizabeth, want to go see Naru and Hina?”“Really?”

Elizabeth was surprised.The answer was obviously affirmative.

“Okay!”

Cecily and Elizabeth headed to the Junk Mansion.Although summer had passed, this year was a bit warmer, so sweat trickled down as they walked the streets under the warm sunlight.Of course, Elizabeth was excited at the thought of seeing Naru and Hina.

Upon arriving at the mansion.While thinking that the garden looked splendid no matter when you saw it, and looking around, they saw two women resting on a mat under a parasol in the garden.They raised their eyebrows when they saw Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth?”“What’s the matter?”

It was Brigitte and Salome.Soon, Cecily said.

“I brought her to meet Naru and Hina!”

It was exactly as she said.Elizabeth approached Brigitte and Salome and politely greeted them with “Hello.”Then she carefully asked.

“May I say hello to Naru and Hina?”

Brigitte and Salome were both surprised for the same reason.Because they didn’t know how to respond to this.But soon they found themselves nodding.

“Sure.”

When Brigitte nodded, Elizabeth very carefully reached out her hand. The small, delicate hand like a little fern touched Brigitte’s belly.Brigitte, feeling ticklish, asked.

“How is it? What do you think Naru is saying?”“I’m not sure.”

Elizabeth honestly couldn’t read Naru’s intentions.Of course, Naru wasn’t even a one-year-old baby yet!However, Elizabeth could feel Naru’s warmth.Naru was definitely present here.

‘Naru is right next to me, but we can’t talk to each other.’

Elizabeth felt quite sad.But Elizabeth was the girl who had been closest to Naru, observing and learning that peculiar positive energy. Elizabeth decided to think positively.

‘I can be the first one by Naru’s side from the moment she’s born! Then I’ll be Naru’s lifelong best friend!’

It was a wonderful plan.Elizabeth resolved to visit the mansion every day until Naru and Hina were born.

Cecily’s mornings began a little later than other children’s.About 10 minutes later, to be precise.She went to bed early and woke up late.Cecily also took frequent naps throughout the day.

“A true lady is supposed to sleep a lot, you know.”

That’s how it was with Cecily.She slept more than one might expect of a child her age.So what did Cecily do during her waking hours?

While it wasn’t clear how she spent her time at school, at the mansion, Cecily generally led a languid and leisurely life.She would sip tea while delicately cutting desserts with a fork.Or have her hair brushed by her aunt, mother, or occasionally visiting maternal grandmother.As a result, Cecily’s hair always gleamed with a lustrous sheen.

“Cecily, is there anything specific you want for baby supplies?”“You should prepare those things yourself! I, Cecily, am the honorary duchess of Steg Maia! A noble among nobles! Prepare a splendid room for me!”

Cecily had quite particular tastes, indeed.Creating Cecily’s room cost quite a bit, but fortunately, most of the expenses were covered by Cecily’s maternal family, the Regdoll family.

“Cecily, do you really have to go? Stay with auntie. I’ll pat your head every day and braid your hair beautifully! Hm? Let’s stay together!”

Swoosh—Dina suddenly embraced Cecily from behind.Of course, Cecily wasn’t particularly fond of being hugged by others, so she squirmed in protest.

“Let go of me! I’m drinking tea right now! Ah, the teacup is overflowing! Hiiik!”

Cecily had been quite fussy from the moment they first met until now.I had sensed it before, but Cecily truly resembled a cat.She was quiet, leisurely, and lived as she pleased, just like one.

What about Cariote, Cecily’s mother?Cariote was like a slightly larger cat.Perhaps a puma, or a cheetah, or something of that nature.

Cariote’s days lately were also a series of lazy and peaceful moments.She would sit in a chair in the garden, poring over several books about prenatal care and child-rearing.She also frequently learned from Lady Leone, who often visited the mansion, about changing diapers or what to do when a baby falls ill.There seemed to be more to learn than expected, as Cariote’s notebook had already filled more than one volume.

Suddenly, a thought struck me as curious.I realized that despite my university education, I hadn’t particularly learned how to care for babies.I knew almost nothing about handling infants. I was clueless about adjusting formula temperature, putting them to sleep, making them burp, or what to do when they’re sick.

How does everyone become parents?Do they attend some kind of academy to become good mothers and fathers?

As I pondered this, the afternoon was already fading away.Lady Leone, who had been instructing Salome, Brigitte, and Cariote on motherhood, suddenly approached me and said.

“When a woman is pregnant, the husband’s role is crucial. Women can become sensitive in many ways during pregnancy, so you need to be considerate.”

Her voice was soft.But its meaning was crystal clear.It implied that the coming year until the baby’s birth would be a period so crucial that it could shape the course of my entire life.

I recalled a story about when my father married my mother and she became pregnant with me. My mother once said, “I want to eat grapes.”But my father, having almost estranged himself from my grandfather to marry my mother, had no money and had to work until dawn every day.Exhausted, my father said, “I’ll buy them for you tomorrow,” and then forgot to bring the grapes. I had to hear this story from my mother every year on my birthday.

In other words.If you do something to upset them during pregnancy, it won’t be forgotten, and you’ll hear about it for the rest of your life.Did I have to become a slave to the expectant mothers for about a year, resigning myself as if I were dead?But I had three expectant mothers.How could I alone manage the moods of three people?

# # #

Someone roused me from my sleep.It was Cecily.

“What is it?”

I wondered what time it was.It was 1 AM.Why on earth had Cecily, who always fell asleep at 10 PM, woken me at this hour?

“What’s the matter?”“……”

Cecily didn’t answer and averted her gaze with puffed cheeks. Her prideful demeanor was somehow familiar.

I inquired.

“Did you draw a map on your blanket again? Do I need to clean it up discreetly?”

After Naru and Hina disappeared, Cecily had drawn a map while sleeping at night. She had asked me to clean it up secretly, which I did.Handling various matters discreetly was my specialty, after all.However, Cecily became indignant.

“No! And last time, it was Molumolu who spilled a water bottle on my bed!”“Alright. Then why are you up at this hour?”

1 AM.It was a time when Cecily should have been fast asleep.Beauty sleep is crucial for a beauty, after all.While I was needlessly worrying if Cecily might lose some of her beauty by being awake at this hour, she, who had been hesitating, finally said.

“…I had a scary dream! I can’t sleep!”

I see.So she had a nightmare.It happens from time to time.I used to have nightmares often when I was young, too.

Swoosh—I got up from my place and gently laid Cecily down on my bed.Then I recounted the nightmares I often had in my childhood.

“When I was young, I frequently dreamed of a scary man standing in front of the door with a knife. In the dream, he would knock on the door—*Thump— Thump— Thump— Thump—*and finally break into the house and harm our family.”

I wonder why I had such dreams.When I was 6 years old, our family was quite poor.My father had just started to get on his feet, but my grandfather’s subordinates would come to our house and make our lives miserable.

“Until recently, I sometimes still had such scary dreams.”“…You mean you still dream of a bad man standing in front of the door even as an adult?”“Yes. But now in the dream, I’m the man standing in front of the door. I dream of going to other people’s houses and making their lives miserable. This is scary in its own way, you know.”

Of course, after defeating Nocturne, I stopped having such nightmares.These days, I sleep quite peacefully.

Swoosh—Cecily pulled the blanket over her head on my bed.Was she scared?I asked Cecily.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“What kind of dream did you have?”“…I don’t remember.”

I see.Dreams tend to become hazy after waking up.

Swoosh—Then Cecily lowered the blanket and revealed her face.

“Do Mom and Dad love each other?”

It was an unexpected question.I felt quite embarrassed and scratched the bridge of my nose.

“Yes, at least I believe so.”“Can this Cecily be born again?”

I see.I could understand what Cecily was afraid of.It was natural for a small child to be scared of the future, which seemed too vast and uncertain.

“What if the newly born Cecily forgets everything that has happened until today like a dream? Can the newly born Cecily really be considered the current Cecily?”

I had thought Cecily only took leisurely naps, but it seems she had been pondering a lot unexpectedly.What Cecily was curious about was actually what we were all wondering.Would the newly born children really be the same children we knew?Even if they have the same face and voice, even if they have the same experiences and grow up the same way, would they truly be the same children in essence?Perhaps we were actually bidding a final farewell to the Naru, Hina, and Cecily we knew.We were all curious about that too.

Shiver— Shiver—Cecily’s trembling appearance was quite pitiful.I said to Cecily.

“Alright, then shall we make a promise?”

After picking up Cecily who was lying on the bed, I headed towards the garden where the moonlight was beautifully shining.Molumolu was basking in the moonlight in the garden, but when I appeared, it quietly moved aside.

Meow—

It was a spot where the moonlight shone particularly nicely.I dug into that soft soil with my hand.And I took out a small scroll from the shadows and buried it there.

“This is a treasure map I was going to give you when you turned 7 years old. I haven’t told anyone yet, but there’s a one-of-a-kind treasure in the world. I’ll bury it here and won’t tell anyone from now on.”“……”“Cecily, if you remember this, I hope you, Naru, and Hina will find it together.”“…What if I don’t remember?”“No, you will remember. I’m certain of it.”

I wondered when that day would come.The day when the children would go together to find the treasure written on the treasure map.