Side Story 1-1
“Aileen.”
“Yes?”
“You look very excited.”
Aileen, who had already been smiling brightly, beamed even more.
“You too, Richard.”
Startled, Richard brushed a hand over his mouth. The corners of his lips had risen without him realizing it.
Watching him, Aileen let out a small laugh and looked out the window.
“Well, of course I’m excited. It’s my very first trip in my life. And a honeymoon at that—just the two of us, you and me, Richard!”
As Aileen said, the two of them were on their honeymoon. To a seaside estate located at the far edge of the Kainz Empire.
They had rented an entire mansion near a quiet beach and planned to spend some intimate time there, just the two of them.
Although Richard had work to attend to and Adrian was staying behind at the townhouse in the city—so they couldn’t be away for long—simply traveling together like this was enough to make them happy.
“Richard, you said you rented the entire mansion near the beach, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then will we be able to see the ocean well from the mansion?”
“According to the owner, the view is excellent. I think you can look forward to it.”
“Then I will!”
Aileen’s eyes sparkled.
“I can’t wait. I wonder what happy things will be waiting for us there.”
❧ ❧ ❧
Swoooosh—
“…This can’t be.”
Aileen muttered as she looked out the window. Deep despair could be heard in her voice.
Richard, who had just finished speaking with the mansion’s butler, approached her. His face also showed a trace of discomfort.
“They say it will continue raining through tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? We’re only staying here for three days. That means we’ll only have one proper day to really enjoy the trip.”
A deep disappointment settled over Aileen’s face. Seeing her like that made Richard feel uneasy as well.
Just then, the butler, who had been watching the situation carefully, stepped forward and spoke to them.
“Um… although it’s raining, there are still things to enjoy inside the mansion, so you won’t be too bored.”
“That’s right, Aileen. Shall we take a look around together?”
It was clear that both the butler and Richard were trying to lift her spirits somehow.
Only then did a bit of embarrassment wash over Aileen. Richard must be just as disappointed as she was.
So she forced a smile and said to him,
“Shall we?”
“Yes. Let’s have a look.”
When Aileen smiled, Richard felt slightly relieved. The two left the room and began walking around the mansion.
As the butler had said, there was quite a lot to enjoy inside. Various games had been prepared, and there were numerous artworks and records, so neither their eyes nor ears would be bored.
It seemed the owner occasionally came here as a vacation home for rest.
But even as she looked around, the emptiness in Aileen’s heart was not filled.
‘My plan to have tea with Richard while listening to the sound of the waves on the beach… My plan to walk along the shore together and at least dip our feet in the seawater…!’
The rain was so heavy that it felt impossible to go outside, and the sound of the rain drowned out the waves.
At this rate, it was no different from spending time at their house in the city.
A sigh escaped her without her realizing it, and Richard turned back with a worried look. Then, as if something occurred to him, he made a suggestion.
“Aileen, although it’s raining, how about having some tea while looking at the sea?”
“Outside?”
“According to the butler, there’s a room with an excellent view of the ocean. The owner apparently made that entire wall out of glass.”
That piqued her interest a little. Aileen quickly nodded.
“Alright.”
“Yes. Then I’ll ask the butler to prepare tea in that room.”
With a gentle smile, Richard left her side for a moment. In the meantime, Aileen admired the artworks hanging on the walls.
Tap, tap, tap—
At that moment, she heard the sound of small footsteps and turned her head. Her eyes met a pair of eyes that were far below her own.
The child with large eyes blinked once and opened their mouth.
“…Mama?”
“Hm?”
Aileen tilted her head slightly. At the same time, her beautiful golden hair slipped softly over her shoulder.
The child stared blankly at it before breaking into a bright smile.
“Mama!”
Then the child threw themself into the hem of Aileen’s dress.
Startled, she was about to call out to the child when a shocked voice rang out from afar.
“Oh my! Ellie!”
It seemed the child’s name was Ellie. A maid came running over in a fluster and quickly pulled the child away from Aileen.
“I’m so sorry, my lady! The child must have bothered you.”
“No, it’s alright. But… are you her mother?”
They didn’t resemble each other much to be mother and child.
When Aileen asked, the maid smiled awkwardly and shook her head.
“No. Her mother is someone else. I’m only looking after her for the time being.”
“I see.”
“Yes. Once again, I’m sorry, my lady. Now, Ellie, you need to apologize to the lady, alright?”
The maid lowered herself to the child’s eye level as she spoke. But Ellie pouted and cried out,
“Mama!”
“This person isn’t your mama. Mama is right now…”
The maid’s eyes grew dim for a moment. After hesitating, she continued,
“Anyway, let’s stop being stubborn and go, okay?”
“Mama!”
At that moment, Ellie ran back into Aileen’s arms again. The maid, thoroughly flustered, grabbed the child’s shoulders to pull her away.
“Ellie! You mustn’t do this!”
“It’s alright.”
Seeing the maid at a loss, Aileen smiled softly and bent down to meet Ellie’s eyes.
“Do I look a lot like your mama?”
“Mama.”
Ellie gently grasped a handful of Aileen’s long hair. The maid standing beside them explained,
“Her mother is blonde as well. I think that’s why she feels a sense of familiarity with you, my lady.”
“I see. But where is Ellie’s mama?”
“Well…”
The maid glanced down at Ellie. It seemed difficult to speak in front of the child.
As Aileen straightened up, the maid leaned close and whispered in her ear.
“Ellie’s mama isn’t well right now and is in the hospital. There’s no one to look after the child, so we’ve been taking turns caring for her.”
“And her father?”
“Ellie’s father ran away before she was even born…”
A flicker of anger flashed through Aileen’s eyes. But when her gaze met Ellie’s, she quickly forced a bright smile.
“I see.”
“Yes. Then I’ll take the child and be on my way. I’m sorry for disturbing your trip—”
“Wait a moment.”
“Yes?”
Aileen stopped the maid as she was about to leave with Ellie. When they turned back, Aileen bent down and asked the child,
“Ellie, would you like to play with me until your mama comes back?”
“M-My lady! You really don’t have to…”
The maid flustered helplessly, but Aileen smiled gently at her.
“But you have work to do, don’t you? It’s fine for a little while. And…”
As she stroked Ellie’s golden hair, she murmured almost to herself,
“This somehow reminds me of when I was little.”
“Pardon?”
“Mm, it’s nothing. Anyway, is it alright if I keep her with me?”
The maid looked back and forth between Ellie and Aileen before asking hesitantly,
“…Then may I leave her with you just for a short while?”
“Of course.”
With that settled, Aileen effortlessly lifted Ellie into her arms—a display of the experience she had gained raising Adrian.
In her embrace, the child burst into giggles and shouted,
“Mama!”
❧ ❧ ❧
“Mm. This should do.”
Richard smiled in satisfaction as he looked at the tea table before him.
It was decorated not only with various sweets but also with a beautiful tea set and red roses.
With this much effort, Aileen’s mood would surely improve.
With an excited heart, Richard was about to go call Aileen when the door opened and she entered.
“Aileen, perfect timing. The tea is ready—”
He stopped mid-sentence and asked,
“But who is that child?”
Aileen had not come alone. Beside her stood a tiny child who barely reached his knees.
She hesitated before answering.
“Well… I think she’s the daughter of one of the maids here. That maid isn’t feeling well and is in the hospital right now. I felt sorry for her, so I decided to look after the child for a while.”
“What? You, Aileen?”
“Yes. …Is that not alright?”
Aileen asked carefully, watching Richard’s reaction.
Although they hadn’t been able to enjoy themselves properly because of the weather, they were still on their honeymoon. They should have been spending time alone together, yet now a child had entered the picture.
“Well…”
Richard hesitated, looking troubled. To be honest, he wanted to refuse.
After a moment’s hesitation, he was just about to say that it would be difficult.
“Aba?”
“Hm?”
Tilting her head, Ellie suddenly toddled over to Richard. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward Aileen.
Now standing together again, the child looked at them with a proud expression.
“Mama!”
“Mama?”
As Ellie pointed at Aileen and shouted, Aileen echoed the word that came to mind.
Ellie nodded up and down, then looked at Richard and exclaimed,
“Aba!”
“…Papa?”
Richard muttered blankly.
When both of them understood, Ellie beamed and shouted,
“Good!”
Then she burst into giggles and clung tightly to Richard’s leg.
Staring at the scene in a daze, Richard heard Aileen speak in a voice full of laughter.
“She’s calling us Mama and Papa.”
“…Aileen.”
“Yes, Richard.”
He lifted Ellie into his arms and said with a resolute expression,
“Let’s take care of this child for a while.”
