Side Story – Chapter 6
Harold entered the room and looked down at his sleeping son.
“I really don’t know where he got such a bold idea—to run away with his mother.”
“…Why are you saying that while looking at me, Harold?”
“Seeing our son reminded me of when my wife once tried to run away so boldly.”
“…”
It had already been years since then, but Diana puffed her cheeks in protest.
Harold gave his lovely wife a light kiss and gently stroked his sleeping son’s hair.
Damian, once deeply asleep, didn’t wake easily. He didn’t even notice Harold’s hand stroking his head, only letting out quiet, even breaths.
“If I hadn’t caught him preparing things, he might’ve really tricked me. The way he confused the trail so I wouldn’t find them in Elnas—quite clever. If it were anyone else, they’d think the two of you had already fled abroad.”
“No wonder—he’s definitely a little Harold.”
Diana said it jokingly, but she also meant it.
Aside from the color of his hair, Damian seemed to have inherited nothing but Harold’s traits.
Those who had known Harold since childhood—like Evan—said the same thing:
Except for being a little more cheerful and playful, Damian was exactly like his father as a boy.
Even the way Damian started speaking and walking was faster than other children his age.
It often surprised Diana, who was a new mother back then.
She suddenly felt warm remembering the first time she’d heard him say “Ma—”.
“By the way, are you going to tell him tomorrow that you’re here?”
“Hmm… not sure. Since your divine power fades tomorrow, it might be better to let him know.”
Harold stopped stroking his son’s pink hair and spoke slowly.
“For now, let’s just let them enjoy themselves a bit longer.”
The next morning, Damian woke up feeling amazing.
He was going to spend the whole day with his mother—just the two of them!
To wake up and find his father not there—it felt like freedom itself.
He could snuggle in his mother’s arms, rub his cheek against her, and not get teased for acting like a baby.
He could enjoy being with her without his father constantly interrupting.
‘This is the best!’
Damian dressed himself neatly.
He had secretly paid the innkeeper to buy these clothes in advance.
They weren’t as fine as the ones he usually wore, but that was good—his usual clothes were too fancy for a festival outing.
He and his mother went down to the first floor of the inn for breakfast.
When Damian saw bell peppers in his soup, his eyebrows twitched.
Diana noticed it right away.
“If you don’t like bell peppers, you don’t have to eat them, Damian. Don’t force yourself.”
“…No, I can do it. I’m seven now, so I can bravely eat bell peppers.”
“You don’t have to push yourself… but sure, try it. Maybe your tastes have changed as you’ve grown.”
“Yes.”
With a trembling voice, Damian scooped up a piece of bell pepper.
Just looking at it made him shiver—it looked like a little monster from the underworld.
He shut his eyes tight and popped it into his mouth.
‘Ugh, it’s awful… How do adults eat this and call it food?’
He might be seven now and not a baby anymore, but he still couldn’t understand adults’ taste for bell peppers.
“How is it? Can you eat it? You can stop if you don’t like it.”
“It’s fine! I didn’t know when I was little, but bell peppers are actually delicious! I guess my taste has matured.”
Damian spoke proudly, then quickly drank water.
‘Ugh… the taste won’t go away.’
After breakfast, they stepped outside.
Snow had fallen overnight, covering the branches in soft white layers.
As they got closer to the town square, rows of street stalls appeared.
Steam rose from hot soups, and merchants sold food and trinkets of all kinds.
“Damian, there are lots of people here. Hold Mother’s hand tightly.”
“Yes! I won’t let go.”
When they reached the plaza, dazzling ice sculptures greeted them.
Damian’s eyes widened as he saw a giant dragon made entirely of ice—taller than three of him stacked together.
“Wow…”
He knew the Elnas Festival was famous for its ice sculptures, but seeing them in person was a whole different feeling.
‘So amazing. I want to touch it…’
He flexed his gloved fingers but stopped himself, remembering the “Do Not Touch” sign.
‘I’m seven now. I can’t just give in to impulses like that… But do adults ever feel the same way?’
“Damian, isn’t the ice sculpture amazing? Makes you want to touch it, doesn’t it?”
“You want to touch it too, Mother?”
Diana laughed, wrinkling her nose playfully.
“Yes. It’s so beautiful that it’s tempting—but I won’t.”
“Me too! I feel the same!”
“Then we’re alike. Oh, look over there—there’s a family of rabbits.”
“Wow, you’re right! A rabbit family!”
Excited, Damian bounced in front of the sculptures, pointing one by one.
“This one’s the father, this is the mother, this is the oldest child, and that’s the little one, right?”
“Hmm, I think you’re right. Father, mother, eldest, and youngest.”
“See? They even have a little sibling. So lucky…”
He didn’t realize what he’d just said.
Staring dreamily at the rabbit family, he soon spotted another sculpture and called for Diana again.
The two of them continued to explore every sculpture—one of the Elnas Marquis, some of deer and squirrels, and even a majestic wolf.
Damian was thrilled at every display.
His cheeks turned red from the cold, but he barely noticed, too full of excitement.
After they finished viewing all the sculptures, Diana called softly,
“Aren’t you cold? Mother’s feeling a bit chilly. Shall we go get something warm to eat?”
“Okay!”
Now that she mentioned it, Damian realized he was cold and nodded eagerly.
He grabbed her hand tightly as they walked away, glancing back at the glittering sculptures.
‘That was so fun. It would’ve been even better if Father were here… Wait—what am I thinking?!’
He shook his head quickly. ‘No, no. It’s supposed to be fun with just Mother. If Father came, I couldn’t have her all to myself!’
Determined, Damian squeezed her hand even tighter.
After lunch—which thankfully had no bell peppers—he was happily full when he noticed something odd.
Someone seemed to be following them. He turned his head sharply—
“Pickpocket! That man stole my wallet!”
“Huh? N-no, I didn’t—”
“Catch the thief!”
The accused man, wearing a hat pulled low, cursed and bolted into the crowd.
“There are always pickpockets during festivals,” Diana said calmly. “We should be careful too, Damian.”
“…”
“Damian?”
“Ah.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Mother.”
He glanced in the direction the man had fled.
‘Strange… I’m sure he was following us from the restaurant earlier.’
He decided it was probably his imagination and went back to enjoying the festival with his mother.
They sampled snacks from various stalls and laughed together—until Damian suddenly stopped walking.
“Damian?”
Puzzled, Diana followed his gaze.
Ahead, a young couple and their child were building a snowman together.
Diana knelt down beside him.
“Do you want to make a snowman too?”
“No… I’m fine with the snowman.”
He pressed his lips together, then looked up.
“But… there’s a place I want to go.”
