MCWTV 38

CHAPTER 38….

After soaking in hot water and coming out, the outside, which had been noisy earlier, had grown quiet.

“Is everyone asleep?”

“It’s late, so probably.”

“I should get Ayla something to eat.”

I was worried because she’d eaten too little at dinner earlier.

I put on a robe and stepped out, knocking on Ayla’s door.

I figured everyone would be asleep, so it was just a token knock — but someone came out from inside.

“You’re here, Master.”

“Flora.”

It was Flora, the maid I had assigned to Ayla.

What’s Flora doing here?

I went into the room for now.

As expected, the children were huddled together on the bed, fast asleep.

It seemed Ayla had played well with the doll I gave her earlier; she was clutching the white rabbit plushie tightly in her arms.

‘Looks like Aslan did a good job comforting Ayla.’

Really, just like his parent, I thought proudly.

But… for some reason, the room smelled sweet.

I sniffed and looked around.

On the table was an empty plate, which must have held food earlier.

Flora had just started clearing it away.

“What did you feed them?”

“Yes. They said they were hungry, so I gave them some pancakes and warm milk.”

Ah, no wonder it smelled like maple syrup.

I walked over to the children and carefully sat on the bed.

Maybe because of the sweets, even the kids smelled faintly sweet.

Pancakes wouldn’t be too hard on their digestion, and warm milk is the best sleep aid.

“Good. Well done, Flora.”

“It’s my job, after all.”

Flora bowed politely and quietly continued clearing the dishes.

Seeing her like this always made me grateful.

Born the daughter of a noble house, once considered a candidate for the next empress, she became a maid to that very princess — who then ended up in confinement — and afterward was entrusted with caring for children.

Yet she never uttered a single complaint.

Once the dishes were cleared away, 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 with a click.

My eyes adapted to the darkness after a moment.

I quietly watched the children, listening to their soft breathing.

Aslan sprawled out in a starfish position, sleeping soundly, and Ayla curled up, resting peacefully — they looked so angelic that “angel” didn’t even seem enough to describe them.

I poked Aslan’s cheek lightly, feeling a twinge of betrayal.

“You used to always sleep next to Mommy.”

“Mmm…”

He whimpered in response.

Aslan was a light sleeper who usually woke to the slightest noise, so if he didn’t stir now, he must have played really hard today.

I checked Ayla’s eyes as well.

Seeing no signs of puffiness, I decided I had nothing to worry about.

I got up and gently pulled the blanket over them.

The moment they felt the warmth, smiles appeared on their sleeping faces.

‘Guess I’m sleeping alone tonight.’

Ever since living with Aslan, I’d never had a night alone, so the thought of sleeping by myself tonight felt a little lonely.

‘Maybe tomorrow I’ll ask if I can join them.’

The idea of the three of us tangled together in one bed when there were three perfectly good rooms in the house made me laugh.

Well, no matter where or how we sleep, as long as we dream good dreams, it’s fine.

“Sleep well, kids.”

I whispered a goodnight and quietly left the room, closing the door.

Tonight, I’d have to settle for hugging Aslan’s favorite stuffed animal.

The next morning.

Without Aslan beside me, the bed felt empty, and I woke up earlier than usual.

I slipped on my robe and peeked into Ayla’s room.

As expected, the kids were still in dreamland.

I was sure I’d tucked the blanket in properly last night, but Aslan had somehow wriggled free and was sprawled out without it.

I tiptoed over and whispered,

“Kids, it’s morning.”

The first to stir was Aslan.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

“Mmm, Mommy…”

“Yaaawn… Good morning, Madam…”

Even with sleepy eyes, Ayla still gave me a polite greeting.

It was so adorable I couldn’t help but smile.

“Did you both sleep well? Let’s wash up and have breakfast.”

“Mmm.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The kids crawled off the bed and headed for the bathroom.

I joined them, and we all brushed our teeth and washed our faces together.

Life with the children was going more smoothly than I’d expected.

In the mornings, we ate breakfast together, then spent time in the study room doing light activities that doubled as play and learning. After lunch, they had personal time.

At first, Ayla used that time to read alone, but after watching us lounge around, she seemed restless and eventually came over to read near us.

Seeing Ayla with her book made me realize how little Aslan and I read, so I started a small reading club. Aslan read fairy tales, I chose light novels, and Ayla read history books or etiquette guides.

Honestly, to set a good example, I thought I should read something more serious too — but after finishing one such book, I gave up.

‘It’s not like we’re going back to the palace anyway.’

Besides, all that knowledge was already in Minerva’s head.

Minerva hadn’t enjoyed novels, so reading them was actually fun for me.

When the kids didn’t understand something in their books, I used Minerva’s knowledge to explain it in the simplest way possible.

Listening to the sound of pages turning while we all sprawled out on the sofa, I often drifted into a nap.

When our bodies started feeling stiff, we would walk in the garden.

Like a typical child, Ayla was intrigued by the swing Jack had installed.

Noticing her interest, I asked,

“Want me to push you?”

“Can I ride it?”

“Of course.”

“Mommy, me too, me too!”

Aslan, who had already ridden it countless times, suddenly wanted another turn after seeing someone else on it.

“I’ll push Ayla first. Here, hop on, Ayla.”

“Yes…!”

Ayla’s eyes sparkled as she sat down.

As soon as she got off, Aslan quickly climbed on.

He could swing himself just fine, but I gave him a push anyway.

When he was done, we resumed our walk, hand in hand.

Near the end of our loop around the garden, Ayla showed special interest in a small tree.

“Madam, why is this tree so tiny?”

She was pointing at the golden osmanthus tree — the one we planted after Aslan broke a flowerpot.

It already felt like a distant memory.

“Oh, that? We planted it when Aslan was born. It’s only five years old.”

“Wow…”

Ayla looked faintly envious.

Although Id gave her plenty of love, he was often away, and it seemed a father’s presence alone wasn’t enough for her.

I didn’t know what to say, so I simply held her hand and walked on.

Oh, and one thing had changed since Ayla came…

“Aslan, it’s easier if you hold your fork like this and cut with the knife.”

“Mm… like this?”

“Yes, that’s it!”

Aslan was slowly getting used to proper table manners.

Ayla and Aslan were becoming good teachers and friends to each other.

While they were together, Ayla smiled much more, and Aslan became noticeably more mature.

Watching them, I thought,

‘Maybe taking Ayla in wasn’t such a bad thing after all.’

Of course, I’d never let it happen, but even if Id or I died and the story followed its original tragic course, if the kids kept on like this, they wouldn’t end up tearing each other apart like in the original.

‘Not that I have any intention of dying!’

If Id were the one to die, I even thought adopting Ayla and raising her wouldn’t be so bad.

Given my circumstances and Aslan’s identity, it was probably unrealistic, but… if things were better by then, I thought it could work.

One afternoon a week later, during reading time.

For some reason, Ayla couldn’t focus on her book and kept glancing out the window.

Unusual for calm Ayla, so I asked,

“Ayla, what’s the matter?”

“Ah, Madam.”

“Is there something outside?”

“What is it, what is it?”

Unable to stand being left out of anything fun, Aslan jumped up and ran to the window.

He peered out in all directions, then turned back to us with a disappointed face.