Chapter 62
“…Who suddenly cries all of a sudden? Uncle doesn’t do things like that.”
“Ellie knows everything. You miss Mom and Dad too, don’t you, Uncle?”
Who were “Mom and Dad” referring to? Whichever way, it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“No, Uncle’s okay.”
“Why do adults always say that? Why can’t you just say you miss someone you want to see?”
“Well….”
“I miss Mom and Dad. I wish they came to me in my dreams every day.”
“…You do?”
Since taking care of Eleonora, Thermion had never had a conversation like this with her. Not just he, but the entire Letis family had tacitly treated any talk of the late grand duke and duchess as taboo.
Thermion carefully lifted Eleonora into his arms and stood up. He tried to find a spot with as few people as possible and walked slowly.
“Was it hard missing Mom and Dad?”
“Hmm… a little? But not so sad that I want to cry.”
“Why not?”
“If Ellie cried every day, it would make everyone else sad. Mom and Dad too.”
“I see.”
“Mom said she’s the happiest in the world when Ellie smiles. So Ellie likes to smile.”
Thermion looked down at his niece, cradled in his arms, with a newfound sense of admiration. It was also a reflection on himself.
She was small enough to fit entirely in his arms, yet her heart already exceeded that of many adults.
But me…
An uncle forced to act grown-up for his niece, and a niece forced to grow up too soon—who had it harder?
Eleonora continued steadily forward, unlike himself, still clinging to the past.
“I like it when you smile too, Uncle. But….”
Thermion let his words trail off, unable to reveal the full weight of his thoughts.
He wanted her to cry freely whenever she needed, and call for him. Only then could he feel reassured that he truly mattered to her.
…Pathetic, really.
Even knowing the future he would eventually face, thinking about it still sent an inexplicable fear through his whole body.
To the outside world, it might look like he was protecting Eleonora—but in truth, it was the opposite.
It was he who clung to her. His title as duke, his identity as part of the Letis family, all depended on Eleonora.
If one day she no longer needed a protector, where would he find meaning in life?
“Don’t worry, Uncle.”
“Huh?”
“Ellie wants to be with you forever. I’ll never leave you alone like Mom and Dad did, never.”
Thermion had to doubt his own ears. Even if Eleonora was mature for her age, those were not words a normal child should say.
“Did Teacher say that? That I can do anything I want, and it’s okay?”
“…And what is it you want to do?”
“I want to be super strong like Teacher! So I can protect you, Uncle, and protect Letis too!”
Eleonora’s eyes sparkled before he knew it. She hugged his neck tightly and whispered in his ear.
“So Uncle, don’t go anywhere else. Don’t go anywhere at all, and play with me, okay?”
“Where would I even go?”
“Anyway! Don’t leave me alone anywhere! Promise me?”
“Okay, I’ll always be with you.”
“With Teacher too!”
“…With Teacher too?”
Before he could wonder why Ailesia had suddenly come up, Thermion nearly dropped Eleonora in his arms.
“If Uncle and Teacher get married, I’ll have a little sibling!”
Pffft! Cough!
What kind of sudden statement was that? Eleonora, who had just dropped the bombshell, tilted her head innocently as if nothing was wrong.
“Why? Don’t you like Teacher, Uncle?”
“I-it’s not that!”
“Teacher said she likes you! You just have to like Teacher back, right?”
He didn’t know when she’d heard that, but it probably wasn’t in that context.
That mischievous girl who kept teasing him as “boy, boy” couldn’t possibly see him romantically.
“…Even so, you shouldn’t throw around words like ‘marriage’ so casually.”
“Uncle’s handsome and Teacher’s pretty, so my little sibling will be cute too! Right?”
“…Haa…”
He had no idea where to even begin explaining. Only a long sigh escaped his mouth.
Of course, from Eleonora’s perspective, who adored Ailesia, imagining that was completely reasonable.
…Still, it was a little too far ahead.
At times like this, she’s undeniably a five-year-old.
He’d had the same thought earlier when he and Ailesia had stood side by side with Eleonora in between.
Would it feel like this when someone eventually married and had children? he wondered.
But it was purely an innocent thought arising naturally from the situation, not specifically about Ailesia.
“You really like Teacher that much?”
“Yes! Teacher knows everything Ellie likes and dislikes. And she always tells Ellie she loves me!”
“Really…?”
“Teacher said she’ll do anything I ask! She’ll protect me, Uncle, and everyone! And… um…”
Blushing slightly, Eleonora twisted her small body as she spoke.
“When I call her ‘Teacher’ and hug her, my chest feels all warm and tingly. I think I love Teacher, hehe.”
“…More than Uncle?”
Even though it was nice that Eleonora had someone else to rely on, his silly jealousy couldn’t help but make him speak sharply.
Yet Eleonora gave an answer beyond his expectations.
“I like Uncle, Teacher, and Grandma too! So I hope Uncle and Teacher get married and live together with me and Grandma forever!”
“…Marriage is fine, and I’ll try to live together for now.”
“Ehh, what kind of answer is that? They say a brave man wins a beauty!”
Of course, everyone agreed Ailesia was beautiful.
But did that mean he had no courage…? No—more than that, he was just bewildered that Eleonora was saying these things.
Feeling completely drained, Thermion asked in a hollow voice,
“Where did you learn to say things like that?”
“From books?”
Even if she read books, they were children’s stories. What kind of book could teach such things? Perhaps one with an overly ambitious, dream-filled protagonist.
“Don’t say that in front of Teacher.”
“Why? Does Teacher dislike it?”
“…Anyway, if it’s not allowed, then it’s not allowed.”
“Tch, Uncle’s mean.”
Better to be a mean uncle, then. Even a child has words they shouldn’t say.
Especially Ailesia, who had saved both him and his niece—he had to maintain at least a minimum boundary.
Even ignoring that, talking freely about marriage and siblings to a young woman was extremely rude.
…Is she really young?
He realized he’d never asked Ailesia her age, only assumed from her appearance that she was in her early to mid-20s.
By mannerisms and behavior, she seemed much older, but sometimes she could be surprisingly childish.
Even if it was just a joke, it was remarkable.
Hopefully she’s not really a witch hundreds of years old, as she claims.
Ridiculous. Humans don’t live for hundreds of years.
Even if they did, would they waste their life tutoring a child?
Thermion let out a light laugh and dismissed the unnecessary thoughts.
While the citizens enjoyed the Holy Night Festival, Thermion and Ailesia were busy.
Thermion, with Ailesia’s help, made frequent trips to the forward base, reinforcing fortifications in preparation for the heavy snowfall in early January.
Ailesia attended prayers and charity events at the cathedral within the grand duke’s castle, occasionally taking short outings with Eleonora.
Why am I the only one idle?
For the past few days, aside from accompanying Eleonora outdoors, she had little else to do.
Thanks to this, she had time to reflect on the original story again.
The heavy snow lasts about a week starting early January, and the New Year’s banquet at the palace is mid-January, right?
As if borrowing directly from Korean works, the original story described festivals almost like Korean holidays.
The “Holy Night Festival” was essentially Christmas and New Year combined, and the New Year’s banquet from January 14th to 16th evoked the traditional first full moon celebration.
In the original story, only the Grand Dowager attended the New Year’s banquet.
She merely made a brief appearance to save face for the emperor who had sent the invitation.
As expected, during the first dinner gathering of the Letis family in a long time, Ailesia finally spoke.
“The invitation to the palace’s New Year’s banquet has arrived.”
