CHAPTER 38……
After soaking in the hot water and coming out, the outside, which had been noisy earlier, had grown quiet.
“Is everyone asleep?”
“It might be, since it’s late.”
“I need to get Ayla something to eat.”
I was worried because she’d eaten too little at dinner.
I threw on a robe and stepped out of my room, knocking on Ayla’s door.
I was only planning to knock lightly, thinking everyone was asleep, but someone came out from inside.
“You’re here, Master.”
“Flora.”
It was Flora, who had been assigned to Ayla.
What’s Flora doing here?
I went inside the room for now.
As expected, the children were huddled together on the bed, fast asleep.
It seemed Ayla had enjoyed playing with the doll I’d given her earlier—she was clutching the white rabbit doll tightly.
‘Looks like Aslan did a good job of comforting her.’
No wonder—she is his daughter, after all.
But… there was a sweet smell in the room.
I sniffed the air and looked around.
On the table was an empty plate that looked like it had held food.
Flora had just started to clear it away.
“What did you give them to eat?”
“Yes. They said they were hungry, so I made them some simple pancakes and warmed milk.”
Ah, so that’s why it smelled like maple syrup.
I approached the bed and carefully sat down.
Maybe it was because they’d eaten something sweet, but even the children smelled faintly of it.
Pancakes wouldn’t be hard to digest, and warm milk was the best sleeping aid.
“Good job. Thanks, Flora.”
“It’s my duty, after all.”
Flora bowed politely and quietly finished clearing the dishes.
I was truly grateful when I saw her like this.
Born to a noble family, once considered a candidate for the next emperor’s hand, she had become the princess’s lady-in-waiting—only for that princess to be imprisoned. And afterward, she had even taken on the task of caring for children.
And yet she never uttered a word of complaint.
Once the dishes were gone, Flora bowed to me.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“All right. Sleep well. Oh, could you turn off the light before you go?”
“Yes, Master.”
Flora left, and the light illuminating the ceiling went out.
The sudden darkness faded as my eyes adjusted.
I quietly watched the children, listening to their soft breathing.
Aslan, sprawled out and sleeping soundly, and Ayla, curled up fast asleep—calling them angels wouldn’t even do them justice.
I poked Aslan’s cheek with a face full of mock betrayal.
“Always used to sleep next to your mom, huh.”
“Mmm…”
Aslan whimpered.
For a child who usually woke at the slightest sound, not waking up now meant he must have played hard earlier.
I checked the corners of Ayla’s eyes.
Since they weren’t swollen, there was nothing for me to worry about.
I quietly tucked the blanket back over the children.
They smiled faintly in their sleep, enjoying the warmth.
‘Looks like I’ll have to sleep alone tonight.’
Since Aslan started living with me, I hadn’t had a night alone, so the thought of sleeping by myself felt a little lonely.
‘Maybe tomorrow I’ll ask to sleep together again.’
The idea of all of us tangled up on one bed when we had three rooms made me laugh.
Well, as long as we have sweet dreams, it doesn’t matter where or how we sleep.
“Good night, kids.”
I left them with a quiet farewell and closed the door.
Tonight, I’d have to make do with hugging Aslan’s favorite stuffed animal.
The next morning.
Without Aslan beside me, the bed felt empty, so I woke earlier than usual.
I put on my robe and peeked into Ayla’s room.
As expected, the children were still deep in dreamland.
I’d tucked them in properly last night, but somehow Aslan had wriggled out of the blanket and was sprawled out again.
I tiptoed over and whispered,
“Kids, it’s morning.”
The first to react was Aslan.
He slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
“Mmm… Mom…”
“Yaaawn… Good morning, Madam…”
Even with sleepy eyes, Ayla greeted me politely.
I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“All right, did you sleep well? Let’s wash up and have breakfast.”
“Mmm.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The children clambered out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
I joined them for brushing teeth and washing up.
Life with the children went more smoothly than I’d expected.
We’d gather for breakfast, then spend time in the study doing simple play-based learning. After lunch, everyone had personal time.
At first, Ayla would read alone even during her personal time, but seeing us lounging about must have made her restless—she’d quietly come over and read near us.
Watching her constantly with a book made me feel competitive about my own reading, so I started a reading club. Aslan read fairy tales, I read novels, and Ayla read history or etiquette books.
Honestly, to set a good example, I thought I should read something more difficult, but after finishing one book, I gave up.
‘It’s not like I’m going back to the imperial palace—what’s the point?’
Besides, it was all already stored in Minerva’s mind.
Minerva didn’t enjoy novels, so I found them fun to read.
When the children had questions, I’d explain using Minerva’s knowledge in the simplest way possible.
Sometimes we’d all drift off to sleep listening to the soft sound of turning pages.
When our bodies felt stiff, we’d walk in the garden.
Ayla, true to her age, took an interest in the swing Jack had set up.
When she looked like she wanted to try it, I asked,
“Want me to push you?”
“Can I?”
“Of course.”
“Mom, me too, me too!”
Aslan jumped up and down next to us.
Even though he’d already had more than enough turns, seeing someone else ride made him want to as well.
“I’ll push Ayla first. Here you go, Ayla.”
“Yes…!”
Ayla sat on the swing with sparkling eyes.
When she got off, Aslan immediately hopped on.
He could swing by himself, but I gave him a push anyway.
Afterward, we held hands and walked around the garden again.
Near the end of the walk, Ayla’s attention was caught by a particularly small tree.
“Madam, why is this tree so small?”
She was pointing at the fragrant olive tree.
It was the one planted after Aslan broke a flowerpot.
It already felt like something from long ago as I answered,
“Oh, that’s because it was planted when Aslan was born. It’s only five years old.”
“Wow…”
Ayla looked a little envious.
Even though Ede gave her plenty of love, he was often away from home, so she seemed to want more than just her father’s affection.
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just held her hand and kept walking.
There was one thing that had changed since Ayla came…
“Aslan, holding the fork like this and cutting with the knife will be easier.”
“Mmm, like this?”
“Yes, just like that!”
Aslan was getting better at table manners.
The two children had become good teachers and friends to each other.
Ayla laughed more often, and Aslan became more personable.
Watching them warmly, I thought,
‘Taking Ayla in might not have been such a bad thing after all.’
Of course, such a thing should never happen, but if Ede or I were to die and the original story’s events played out, maybe they wouldn’t end up hurting each other like in the original—if things stayed like this.
‘Not that I have any plans to die, even a little!’
If Ede were to die, I even thought it might not be a bad idea to adopt Ayla myself.
It’d be difficult with my situation and Aslan’s true identity, but if things improved, I thought Ayla could handle it.
One afternoon, a week later, during reading time—
Ayla seemed distracted, glancing toward the window far more than usual.
It was unlike her calm demeanor, so I asked,
“Ayla, what’s the matter?”
“Oh, Madam.”
“Is there something outside?”
“What is it, what is it?”
Aslan, who couldn’t stand the thought of missing something fun, jumped up and rushed to the window.
After peering around, he pouted at us.
“Huh? There’s nothing.”
“I didn’t say there was yet, Aslan.”
Who does he get that impatience from?
While Aslan puffed out his cheeks and I rubbed my forehead, Ayla gave a small, hesitant smile before speaking,
“It’s just… I was wondering if Father might have arrived by now.”
