Side Story Part 4
While Hyle was looking elsewhere, Celi and Tia quickly whispered in my ear and patted my shoulder.
I didn’t particularly need encouragement… but with everyone like this, I somehow felt stronger.
I thought they were making a fuss over nothing, but maybe it wasn’t entirely unnecessary?
“Mommy, Auntie Tia gave me this.”
Heilo, who had been firmly holding my hand, suddenly pulled something out from her chest.
Upon closer inspection, it was a small, adorable flower crown made by weaving various blossoms together.
“Wow, how pretty! You received a gift.”
“I said thank you!”
“You even thanked her? Our Heilo is so well-mannered!”
Her soft, peach-colored hair filled my hand. As I stroked her head, her green eyes—just like Hyle’s—curved brightly.
“I got something from Big Sister Celi too!”
Then she began to take out numerous items from her small chest one by one. She must have hidden them all to show me.
But…
“…Heilo. Why is Celi ‘big sister’ but Tia is ‘auntie’?”
“Mmm? Big Sister Celi said she’s eight years old.”
What? Celi, you fraud…! How old are you actually?!
Just as Tia and I stared in disbelief at the shameless Celi, a servant announced that we were ready to depart.
Soon, Hyle looked at the carriage prepared for departure and extended his hand to me.
“Rosiel, let’s be on our way.”
“That seems best. Thank you all, see you next time.”
Celi and Tia saw us off with bright smiles. And Heilo continued to call Celi “big sister” until the end…
“Heilo, come to Daddy.”
“Mmm…”
Perhaps due to the smooth ride of the carriage without jolts, Heilo soon began to nod off.
Seeing Heilo drowsy in my arms, Hyle reached out with warm eyes.
Nestled in Hyle’s arms, Heilo stared blankly for a moment before quickly falling asleep.
“Lady Artine’s taste, I see.”
Gazing quietly at Heilo’s light blue dress, Hyle smiled faintly as he stroked her hair.
“Hmm? How do you know that?”
“That lady likes extravagant things. If it were you, you probably would have adorned her hair with pearl decorations instead of a ribbon.”
Surprisingly, Hyle was right. I likely would have chosen a neat and simple pearl hairpin rather than such a large ribbon.
“You know me well now.”
“Well… I always want to know more about you.”
With Heilo lightly cradled in one arm, Hyle rested his chin by the window and looked at me askance.
“So, Rosiel.”
“Yes?”
After trailing off with a strange tone, he suddenly made a mischievous face and continued in a sly voice.
“For our second child, I’d prefer another daughter.”
“What? Why are you suddenly saying…!”
“Heilo wants a sibling too. Right, Heilo?”
Then Hyle placed his hand over Heilo’s tiny lips and made a sound: “Yes, Daddy.”
…This was the most ridiculous moment since I’d been reborn into this world.
I had no idea my husband was this type of person. Isn’t this a fraudulent marriage?!
* * *
“We’ve almost arrived.”
Despite Hyle’s announcement that we were nearly there, I didn’t feel particularly nervous.
Though this was my first visit to the Feros family home where Eizelle resided, I had already noticed we were getting close from the way Hyle’s expression grew increasingly darker.
“Hyle, lighten up. If you keep that terrifying face, Heilo will cry.”
At the mention of Heilo crying, Hyle immediately brightened his gloomy countenance as if nothing had happened. He was the quintessential doting father.
Eventually, the carriage stopped. As the coachman opened the door announcing our arrival, bright light flooded into the carriage.
Hyle disembarked first, carrying Heilo, and as always, extended his hand to me.
As I took his hand and stretched my foot toward the ground, a scream came from not too far away.
“Just now, what was that sound…?”
Startled by the sudden cheer, Hyle and I turned our heads to see numerous maids in front of the mansion jumping up and down at the sight of Heilo.
“Oh my, she’s so adorable I might faint!”
“She looks just like the Madam—already so beautiful…!”
“Finally, seeing Young Lady Heilo in person after only seeing her in photographs!”
The maids’ unrestrained whispers flew directly to our ears. Hmm, Heilo is indeed quite beautiful already.
Her pink hair and green eyes certainly weren’t common features.
The exceptionally deep pink hair was a symbolic color found only in the Laté bloodline, and the mysterious green eyes were a unique color seen only in pure Feros lineage.
“We’re receiving a warmer welcome than expected.”
“But the master is nowhere to be seen.”
The anxiety I had secretly felt quickly evaporated with the warm welcome from the maids.
When I lightly tapped Hyle’s shoulder and commented, he pointed out Eizelle’s absence with a stiff face.
“He’s elderly, and we made this arrangement suddenly. He must have barely managed to clear his schedule for us, so we should be understanding.”
“…I’m on your side no matter what, Rosiel.”
Hyle seemed to have already decided his father was the villain.
We’re just here to visit family—why are we talking about taking sides?
More importantly, Eizelle is your father…!
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
Having read the original story, I had at least some understanding of Eizelle’s character.
Unlike Mattio, who was ruthlessly cold-hearted, Eizelle was quite a human man.
Hmm, now that I think about it, perhaps Hyle and Eizelle’s personalities somewhat resemble each other?
Hyle was also extremely wary of me at first, but once I got to know him, he turned out to be warm and gentle.
I felt Eizelle wouldn’t be much different.
After all, like father, like son.
“Your Grace, My Lady. Welcome. The master is waiting for you.”
A pleasant-looking maid approached and guided us into the mansion.
Even at a glance, it was clearly a substantial estate, comparable to the Feros mansion.
I heard that the Feros mansion in the capital was their new residence, and this place was originally the main house.
Perhaps that’s why, besides being spacious, it was also quiet and pleasant, located on the outskirts of the capital.
“The master is unable to rise due to his poor physical condition.”
The servant who saw us arrive at the reception room quietly mentioned Eizelle’s condition.
Goodness, was his health so poor that he couldn’t even stand?
Since Eizelle was only a supporting character in the original story, his health wasn’t described in detail, so this was unexpected.
At this surprising news, I glanced at Hyle, whose eyebrows were slightly furrowed—apparently this was unexpected for him too.
“Has his health always been poor?”
“With his age, going on frequent beast hunts inevitably took a toll on his body.”
Hyle’s face darkened momentarily as he calmly deduced the cause.
In fact, it was entirely Eizelle’s wish that Hyle once frequently went on expeditions to hunt beasts.
Eizelle believed that as the Goddess’s servant, House Feros had a duty to protect the empire’s citizens.
So he would go hunting despite the physical strain, and Hyle, unable to watch, went on expeditions in his place.
“But he never mentioned anything about his health when we exchanged letters.”
“With Father’s personality, he wouldn’t mention such things… Wait, Rosiel. You’ve been exchanging letters with Father?”
Just as Hyle urgently tried to continue, asking since when, I pretended not to hear and opened the reception room door.
Because I abruptly opened the door, Hyle naturally closed his mouth. I could see Heilo stirring in his arms while still asleep.
“How have you been, Father?”
“…You’ve come. Come in and sit down.”
Eizelle, who had been sitting on the sofa, lifted his head as the door opened.
Dressed in a neat beige formal attire, he slowly brushed back his partially white hair and removed the monocle he was wearing.
