#23

“Haa, I’m so happy.”

After a good laugh, Varia carefully wiped Leonia’s damp face with the shawl she had draped over her shoulders.

“Here, blow.”

“Hngh!”

And she helped her blow her nose, too.

Once Leonia had calmed down, she returned the remaining unread entries of the parenting journal to the bookshelf.

“Not going to read more?”

Varia asked.

“If I read any more, I think I’ll cry again.”

Leonia didn’t particularly like crying. She wanted to live happily and joyfully, laughing every day.

Of course, she knew not every day would be like that.

“I’ll read it when I really want to cry.”

Maybe she would read it when something happened to Ferio or Varia.

Leonia sincerely hoped that day would come a very, very long time from now.

“Well... still...”

As she finished putting the journal away, Leonia mumbled,

“I’m kind of glad I got to talk about this with you, Mom.”

“I’m glad too.”

Varia smiled gently. Leonia, still shy, averted her eyes and looked around.

“Or maybe when Lea gets a little older, we can all read it together?”

At Varia’s suggestion, Leonia nodded. She thought it might be nice to sit together as a family and laugh over the journal someday.

“Do you think Dad knows we’re having this kind of conversation?”

Leonia held out her hand to Varia, who gladly took it and helped her up.

“He probably has a rough idea.”

“That’s annoying.”

Leonia frowned. The fact that he could read her like a book was rather irritating.

It was time for bed now.

The mother and daughter left the study holding hands. Leonia took the lamp Varia had brought.

The warm glow of the light stretched their shadows across the dim hallway.

“I don’t want to be treated like a kid forever.”

“You’ll always be a child to us, Leo.”

“Even when I’m an adult?”

“Of course.”

“Even if I have a kid?”

“Please, whatever you do, don’t say that in front of Ferio.”

Varia pleaded sincerely.

“Your father is incredibly sensitive about that.”

“Is he going through menopause?”

Leonia wondered aloud, completely serious.

“He said he won’t allow you to get married until you’re fifty.”

“But I’ll be thirty by then!”

Varia’s confession didn’t sound like a joke, leaving Leonia visibly shocked.

“No, I meant when you’re fifty.”

Varia corrected.

“...By then one of us might not be around anymore.”

Leonia replied somberly.

***

The next morning.

“......”

“......”

Ferio looked down at Leonia with wide eyes, taking in her swollen, puffy eyes. Leonia, in turn, looked up at him, barely able to open her own.

‘They’re both so awkward.’

Watching from a short distance away, Varia stifled a laugh.

‘Seriously, these two are hopelessly shy.’

Right, Lea?

Varia looked down at the bassinet beside her. Inside, Belleani blinked up at her with wide, intelligent black eyes.

The baby flailed her arms as if responding to her father and sister’s voices.

“......From early morning.”

Ferio was the first to speak.

“What an impressively ugly sight.”

With his gentle jab, the little beast-in-training twisted her face into ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) a fierce scowl.

Leonia’s fleeting resolve to be filial and let things slide because of yesterday evaporated immediately.

“This is why I can’t stand you, Dad.”

“And ungrateful, too.”

Ferio clicked his tongue.

“You seriously have no tact!”

Leonia flared up, glaring daggers at him.

“I felt a tiny bit bad about something and was going to show some rare filial piety—and you ruin it like this?!”

“Then you should’ve showed a bit more of it.”

“I really hate you, Dad!”

“You’re just embarrassed because you’re happy.”

“I said I hate you!”

Varia just smiled quietly as the morning chaos unfolded.

This is our family.

Even a minute of sentiment didn’t last before these two clashed again like wild animals.

Even Belleani hadn’t fussed once in all this noise. Her even breathing was the only sound, and she even smiled occasionally.

...Is it because she grew up hearing it from the womb?

Maybe this was the result of prenatal influence. Varia tilted her head curiously.

In any case, Belleani looked utterly content.

Meanwhile—

“I’ll get revenge! I swear I’m going to stick a sign on Dad’s back that says ‘Idiot’!”

“Go ahead. Do your best.”

“Ughhh, you’re so annoying!”

The beastly father and daughter were still bickering.

“Both of you, that’s enough.”

Varia finally stepped in.

“Keep yelling like that and you’ll hurt your throats.”

“Mooom!”

Seizing the opportunity, Leonia rushed over, gently plopping herself on the sofa beside Belleani and trembling her chin as she pouted.

“Dad called me ugly. He said I was an ungrateful daughter.”

“Ferio’s just embarrassed, that’s all.”

Varia understood Ferio’s feelings well.

He was worried about Leonia’s puffy eyes from crying. He didn’t want her to feel guilty about the journal.

He knew Leonia—how emotional she was, how shy, and how vulnerable she was when it came to her parents’ affection.

He just wanted her to go about her day as usual, like nothing had happened.

His only flaw was his inability to express that sincerity properly.

They’re really just the same.

Varia couldn’t help but laugh.

It wasn’t even worth pointing out anymore how much Leonia took after Ferio, especially when she got flustered by heartfelt praise.

“Uuuugh!”

Just then—

Belleani began to fuss. Her chubby baby face scrunched up, and she gurgled in a way that clearly expressed her displeasure.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

Varia picked her up and stood.

“She ate and had her diaper changed...”

But even in Varia’s arms, Belleani kept fussing.

“Maybe she’s upset because Dad’s too loud.”

Leonia muttered seriously, as if it were too cruel a sound for a nine-week-old baby.

“Or maybe she’s just shocked her sister turned out so ugly.”

Ferio countered without missing a beat. Leonia instantly swung her foot toward his shin. But Ferio deftly sidestepped it without letting her land a hit.

Still, Belleani wouldn’t settle. Even when passed between Ferio and Leonia, the baby wouldn’t stop squirming.

“What’s going on?”

All three were at a loss.

Leonia placed Belleani down on the blanket-covered floor.

Once the baby was lying on her back, she immediately calmed down. The family all gathered around her and watched quietly.

“Uuuhh.”

Feeling the attention, Belleani squirmed slightly.

Then—

With her eyes buried deep into her cheeks, she let out a beaming smile.

“......Waaaah!”

Leonia’s eyes went wide.

“She... she smiled!”

“Oh my goodness, oh my goodness!”

Varia clamped her hands over her mouth in shock.

Belleani’s emotional expressions were usually subtle. Even when hungry or wet, she rarely cried loudly.

This was the first time the family had seen her smile so brightly.

Seeing their reaction, Belleani smiled even more.

“Did you want to join in, Lea?”

Varia laughed.

“Maybe she got jealous because Daddy and Sissy are too close.”

“Hmph, I like you more than Dad, Lea!”

Leonia puckered her lips and pretended to kiss her baby sister. Belleani giggled out loud.

“Daddy probably loves you most too, Lea.”

Leonia said as she tickled Belleani’s belly.

“Nonsense.”

Ferio snorted.

“Dad!”

Leonia glanced at Varia, startled—worried that she might feel hurt. But Varia simply nodded, as if agreeing with Ferio.

“You’re both precious.”

Both Leo and Lea.

To Ferio, both of his daughters were treasures—no one more, no one less.

Leonia couldn’t say anything.

She hadn’t really meant anything serious—Belleani had just been so cute, she’d said it offhandedly. But Ferio’s sincere answer caught her off guard.

Though really... it wasn’t anything to be surprised about.

Because it was the most natural truth of all.

“...Dad.”

So Leonia suppressed her shy smile. There was no need to get flustered over something so obvious.

“Your ears are really red.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Ferio ruffled her hair a bit roughly.

“Seriously, who did you get that clever mouth from?”

“Are you really asking?”

Leonia grinned.

“Obviously from you and Mom!”

That, too, was the most natural thing in the world.

***

“......”

As she read the letter, Scandia couldn’t stop smiling.

She and Leonia exchanged letters to stay in touch. Scandia especially loved Leonia’s letters.

They were like little paintings—each word painted a picture of how joyful and happy Leonia was.

“Your smile’s about to reach your ears.”

Scandia, lost in the letter, looked up.

“Father.”

She blinked as the sunlight behind Ibex made her squint.

“May I sit?”

“Of course.”

Ibex glanced at the letter in her hands as he sat down beside her.

“A letter from the young lady of House Voreoti?”

If his daughter was smiling this brightly during daylight, it could only be because of a letter from the North.

Scandia didn’t deny it. In fact, she quickly tucked the letter into her clothes before he could ask to read it.

She gave him a brief summary instead.

“She said her little sister smiled beautifully, and it made her so happy.”

“How could she not be beautiful?”

With his elbow propped on the table and his chin in hand, Ibex smiled.

“I hope you and your little sister become close.”

His thoughts naturally drifted to his youngest daughter.

Hesperi had been overjoyed recently after the birth of her third child a month ago.

Especially the former Marquis of Hesperi—now retired—was the happiest of all. The baby looked just like him.

“My older brother writes nonstop about how much he wants to see Felidea.”

“We’ll have to head to the capital soon once she grows a bit more.”

Ibex smiled wistfully as he imagined his eldest son alone at the Imperial Palace.

“That’s why I’m planning to go to the capital.”

Scandia said.

“I want to stay by my brother’s side for a while and help him with work.”

“Let’s be honest here.”

Ibex chuckled.

“You’re just going because the Voreoti girl is enrolling in the Academy next year.”

“Well, while I’m at it, I can help my brother too.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

Ibex shook his head with a smile.

“You’re just as stubborn as I am.”

Scandia only gave a quiet smile. He had thought so himself from time to time—he’d inherited his father’s persistence.

But what else could he do?

Once she enters the Academy, how many fools will start drooling over her?

Anyone who saw someone that strong and beautiful even once would undoubtedly fall for her.

So someone had to stay close and drive those pests away.

...Ah.

Scandia suddenly looked up at the sky. His hand drifted to where the letter was tucked into his coat.

I want to see her soon.

The sky was bright blue.

I want to see her, too.

And his heart only grew deeper.