Side Story 1–3
After changing clothes and tidying her hair, Ailen came out to the beach in front of the mansion with Rihart.
The sand sank deeply under their feet, making it a bit difficult to walk, but Ailen’s mood had reached its peak.
Whoosh— crash—
“The sound of the waves is so nice. It’s the kind of sound you just end up listening to without thinking.”
Ailen said as she looked out at the horizon beyond the sea. Seeing how happy she looked, Rihart let out a faint smile as well.
“It is.”
“I should’ve brought a video-recording magic device. I’d like to record the sea and the sound of the waves and let Adrian hear it too.”
Ailen made a deliberately regretful face. Even in this situation, she was thinking of her younger brother—truly like Ailen.
Of course, that was one of the reasons he liked her enough to marry her.
Rihart stepped closer beside her and took her hand. When he subtly laced their fingers together, Ailen widened her eyes before smiling.
The two walked along the beach together like that. When they felt they had come a bit far, they turned back, then walked again.
As they walked like this, it felt truly fortunate.
“I’m so glad the weather cleared up. Do you think Elli gave us a blessing?”
“That may be.”
A thoughtful look settled over Rihart’s face as he let out a quiet chuckle. His gaze rested on Ailen, but she didn’t notice, busy looking at the sea.
Then, when Ailen turned her head, her eyes met Rihart’s pensive gaze.
“Rihart?”
“…Ailen.”
After some hesitation, Rihart opened his mouth. At his serious tone, Ailen fixed her gaze on him as well.
Rihart, who had been wavering, began to speak.
“We…”
“Your Grace, My Lady!”
At that moment, someone approached from the direction of the mansion.
Both Ailen and the now-silent Rihart turned their heads, and the approaching maid smiled as she spoke.
“The meal preparations are complete. Shall we set it up outside so you can eat while looking at the sea?”
“Do so.”
“Yes! I’ll prepare it right away!”
After the maid left again, Ailen looked up at him and asked,
“We… what comes next?”
Rihart moved his lips slightly, then drew a smile.
“I’ll tell you in a little while. For now, there’s something more important.”
“Something important?”
Ailen tilted her head. Rihart simply curved his lips silently.
❧ ❧ ❧
As it was their first meal to be enjoyed since arriving on the trip, dinner was laid out lavishly. In particular, the various seafood dishes that could only be eaten near the seaside stood out.
Ailen lifted her utensils with an expectant gaze. She removed the meat from the grilled clams mixed with sauce and put it into her mouth, her eyes lighting up.
“It’s delicious!”
“That’s a relief.”
Rihart smiled faintly as he cut into the butter-grilled lobster meat. From time to time, his gaze turned toward the shore, and Ailen said with a bright smile,
“It really is nice eating while looking at the sea. You think so too, Rihart?”
“Yes. I like it as well.”
Even as he answered, Rihart’s gaze did not meet hers. Sensing something unusual, Ailen turned her head toward the beach.
Several people had gathered there and were doing something. It was too far to see clearly, but it looked like they were setting something up.
“It seems they’re about to begin.”
“Huh? Begin what?”
Ailen asked, but Rihart did not answer. He merely smiled meaningfully.
Her curiosity was soon resolved.
Boom!
With the sound of something exploding, the dark sky flashed brightly. Startled, she looked up to see small sparks spreading outward in a circular shape.
“This is….”
“A small event I prepared.”
“You did, Rihart?”
“Well. More precisely, Hainel prepared it.”
As if to prove it, the next fireworks formed words in the sky.
Congratulations!
Be happy!
It was a message from Hainel to the two of them.
It was amusing and oddly touching, and Ailen couldn’t take her eyes off the fireworks. Then another firework burst, delivering a longer message.
So when’s the baby coming?
Ailen’s face flushed bright red.
“H-Hainel, honestly, what is he saying….”
The emotion that had moved her crumbled away, replaced by embarrassment. She lowered her head and pretended to focus on eating.
Meanwhile, Rihart gazed intently at Ailen.
“Ailen.”
“Y-Yes?”
Startled, Ailen looked up. She was met with Rihart’s face, more serious than ever.
For no reason, Ailen grew serious too. As she quietly waited for his next words, he spoke.
“There is something I started to say earlier.”
Ailen remembered how he had hesitated while they were walking along the beach.
As she looked at him, recalling that moment, Rihart said,
“We….”
Suppressing her sudden nervousness, Ailen tried not to break eye contact. Rihart continued.
“We… how would you feel about having a child?”
Clang—
In her surprise, Ailen unconsciously let go of the utensils in her hand. They fell to the ground, defeated by gravity.
Even as a maid approached and replaced them with new utensils, Ailen could not come to her senses.
“Um… so, did I hear that correctly? A child… our child?”
“Yes.”
Rihart answered firmly.
Only then did Ailen’s face turn red as if it would burst.
“It’s so sudden… I mean, I….”
“In truth, I had no intention of having a child for the time being.”
Rihart said abruptly. Ailen looked at him, puzzled as to why his thoughts had suddenly changed, and he continued.
“But after spending time with Elli today, I changed my mind. I found myself wanting to see a child who resembles us.”
“A child who resembles us….”
“Just thinking about it makes me very happy.”
As if proving his sincerity, a happy smile spread across Rihart’s face. Ailen stared at him blankly.
And so she thought about it too.
‘A life with our child….’
In truth, Ailen had also greatly enjoyed spending time with Elli. She had even wondered if this was what it would feel like if a child were born between her and Rihart.
‘Our child….’
After imagining it for a moment, Ailen thought,
‘What should I do?’
The corners of her lips rose out of control.
‘I love the idea.’
Especially when she imagined a son who resembled Rihart, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“As you said, Rihart… I think it would be very nice.”
“I am not saying we should have one immediately. The young count is still young.”
Worried she might feel burdened, Rihart added that. Feeling his consideration, Ailen nodded.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Yes. That is enough.”
Smiling faintly, Rihart picked up the utensils he had set down earlier.
“Shall we finish our meal? The food will get cold.”
“Yes.”
Ailen also picked up her new utensils and refocused on eating. Even so, Rihart’s words kept circling in her mind.
❧ ❧ ❧
‘What should I do?’
Ailen sat on the bed, her back straight.
‘I’m so nervous!’
Rihart had said they should think about it slowly, but when it came time to sleep together, his words resurfaced and she began to feel tense.
Even though they had always shared a bed.
As Ailen tried to calm her pounding heart, Rihart approached.
“Ailen? Is something wrong?”
“N-No, nothing.”
Ailen smiled awkwardly and studied his expression. He seemed the same as usual.
At that, her excitement cooled, wondering if she had been the only one worked up.
‘Well. Rihart must be considering me too.’
She knew that. She did. But still, she felt a little jealous.
The lights went out, and the two climbed into bed as they always did. Rihart embraced her and whispered by her ear.
“Good night, Ailen.”
“Good night to you too, Rihart.”
Soon, night settled in. But unlike Rihart, who had closed his eyes, Ailen lay awake in his arms, blinking.
She subtly lifted her head to look at his face.
“…You.”
He really is just going to sleep like this.
At that thought, Ailen pouted. When he suggested having a child, he made her heart flutter—yet here he was, sleeping alone.
Letting out a small sigh, Ailen hugged him tightly and muttered,
“A child….”
In truth, Ailen already had experience with childcare. Adrian was proof of that.
Of course, he was not yet fully grown, so she still had to look after him. That sense of responsibility remained in one corner of her heart.
But even so.
“…I want one, Rihart’s child.”
After voicing the words, Ailen smiled softly.
At that moment, her view suddenly changed.
“Did you mean that?”
“…Huh?”
Rihart, whom she thought had been asleep, was above her.
As the startled Ailen stammered, Rihart asked again in a voice that sounded as if he were restraining something.
“Ailen, what you just said—did you mean it?”
“What I just said….”
Ailen’s face turned bright red.
Did he hear it?
Unable to answer, she could only stare at him. Through the strands of hair falling down, his golden eyes shone as he spoke.
“Ailen, I respect your wishes. So….”
As he slowly lowered himself toward her, he continued,
“If you don’t want this, push me away.”
He said that, but Ailen could not do such a thing.
“As if I wouldn’t want it.”
Ailen wrapped her arms around his neck. As if it were a signal, Rihart embraced her.
Honeymoon. True to its name, it was a sweet night.
