Jealousy Knows No Bounds
Jealousy knows no bounds. Even Edgar had not seen Ariel’s sudden declaration coming. It was a small mercy that the Bilhark couple, who had heard every word with perfect clarity, did not simply topple over backward in shock. They left the servants to unpack their luggage and explain the circumstances, then gathered in the drawing room. As a heavy silence descended, Edgar found himself swallowing hard without realizing it.
“So… what you’re saying is that you and Lady Ariel have become lovers?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Of all the thunderbolts to drop on our heads…”
Lancel pressed a hand to his forehead, smiling in bewilderment as he shook his head. Of course he understood that the match was far beyond what his son deserved. The real problem was that it was so far beyond him that he could not accept it at face value. Had they still been children under ten, he might have laughed it off as childish playacting, but now that they were both adults, the matter carried entirely different weight.
“Does His Grace know about this?”
“Not only Father—Mother knows as well.”
“I… I see.”
The question had been aimed at Edgar, yet the answer came from Ariel. Lancel gave an odd little laugh, his expression complicated. This is tricky.
From the beginning, the relationship between the Bilhark couple and Ariel had always been strangely ambiguous. While the families were bound by a lord-and-servant hierarchy, Helene’s goodwill had allowed Ariel and Edgar to become friends who spoke without formalities. But that freedom had only been possible because they were innocent children who could ignore the weight of their stations. To the Bilharks, Ariel had never been merely their son’s childhood playmate; she had always been the future mistress they would one day serve.
They had assumed that the ability to interact as ordinary friends without awareness of that gap could last at most until the age of fifteen. Yet after Edgar left for the Robeheim household, their bond had refused to break. And now he had returned with her as his lover. The Bilharks truly did not know whether to laugh or cry at the impossible situation.
“Forgive my forwardness, but… when you say you have formed a relationship with our son, does that mean you are also considering marriage?”
“Of course. And from now on, please call me by my name, Mother. There’s no need to be formal.”
“……”
The title “Mother” was still so foreign to Catría that she could only force her stiff face into an awkward smile. Unlike her completely unprepared husband, she had faintly suspected this might happen one day, however remote the chance. She had heard from Helene that Ariel had little contact with outsiders, and she knew how easily affection could bloom between a young man and woman who saw each other constantly in such a closed environment.
What truly surprised her was that Ariel herself—not Edgar—had delivered the news of their relationship. The fact that she was the one boldly declaring it felt strangely refreshing.
“Is this why you insisted on coming along?”
“Yes. I had to make it clear that you’re mine.”
“…You really are something else.”
Edgar gave a tired laugh and shook his head lightly. Just how strong was her possessive streak? He had thought her unusually determined when the trip to Ardenum was first scheduled, but now it made sense. They could have visited later when there was more time, or even after his new sibling had grown a little. Yet she had thrown a fit, absolutely refusing to be left behind.
It almost feels like our roles have reversed.
At the same time, the realization that she took their relationship so seriously filled him with quiet joy. He had always known they would have to come together eventually, but he had kept putting off the conversation because it was difficult to begin.
“Mother, we can talk about this later. Please let me see my sibling first. Your son’s neck is about to snap from waiting.”
“Ah… yes, of course. I completely forgot.”
At Edgar’s petulant complaint, the dazed look left Catría’s eyes and life returned to them. After all, the real reason the two had come today was not to announce their new relationship, but to meet the newborn sibling.
Realizing this belatedly, Catría rose and personally led them to the baby’s room. Meanwhile, Lancel stepped outside for some fresh air to settle his swirling thoughts.
The three who left the drawing room arrived at the chamber where Edgar’s sibling was sleeping soundly. They moved with hushed steps, careful not to wake the infant, and slipped inside. There, in the cradle, lay a doll-like child breathing in gentle, even puffs.
“She’s so adorable… Mother, what is her name?”
“Sonia.”
“Sonia… It suits her perfectly.”
Deciding there was no point in maintaining formal speech, Catría had unconsciously begun speaking to Ariel more casually. Ariel accepted the change without comment and continued staring intently at the sleeping baby.
Unlike Edgar, Sonia seemed to have inherited Catría’s features strongly; her hair was a lovely shade of brown. Her plump, rounded cheeks in particular awakened an irresistible urge to pinch and squish them between both hands.
“Well, son? What do you think now that you’ve seen your sister?”
“It feels strangely moving. I’m happy, but I’m also amazed at how small she is.”
Because of their age difference she felt more like a daughter than a sister, yet the surge of protective affection was the same.
The three of them spoke in hushed voices around the sleeping Sonia, exchanging quiet words, when the baby’s large, round eyes suddenly fluttered open.
“Oh? She’s awake.”
“Goodness.”
“She won’t cry, will she?”
With two unfamiliar faces present, even Catría could not be certain the baby would stay calm. Sonia’s bright eyes darted curiously from side to side. The three adults watched her with bated breath, swallowing nervously.
Only when a sunny smile bloomed on Sonia’s face did they finally exhale in relief.
“Kyaa…! Paa!”
Then, with what could only be described as enthusiasm, she waved her tiny hands—each no larger than Edgar’s thumb—and reached out as if demanding to be held. Catría bent down and lifted her daughter’s small body. Ariel, who had been fighting the urge for some time, stepped closer.
“Um… Mother, may I touch her?”
“Of course. She’s such a good-natured child; she hardly ever cries.”
Catría held the baby out toward Ariel. Ariel cautiously extended her little finger, intending to gently poke the soft cheek.
Grab.
“Did she catch you?”
Sonia’s swift reaction left no room for mischief. With her miniature hand now firmly clutching Ariel’s pinky, Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Edgar, stomping her feet in delight as if to say look at this, beaming with pure joy. At this rate, it was hard to tell whose sister Sonia really was.
“Here, Edgar. You hold her too.”
“Me? What if she cries?”
“She’ll recognize her own brother. Go on.”
At his mother’s gentle push, Edgar carefully took his sister into his arms. Even through the swaddling cloth, he could feel the warmth of her tiny body.
“Paa…! Paa!”
“See? She’s thrilled to meet her big brother.”
“She really is. This is fascinating.”
The moment she was in Edgar’s embrace, Sonia stretched out her hands with all her might, patting his face and shoulders. Ariel flinched at the sight, though the other two did not notice.
“She never acts this cute with me, yet the moment she sees her brother she’s overjoyed.”
“I guess she isn’t usually like this.”
“She can be rather aloof. She doesn’t mind being touched, but she rarely initiates contact herself.”
“Haha, is that so?”
Edgar was delighted that Sonia seemed to recognize him despite it being their first meeting. In return, he bounced gently in place, giving her the thrilling sensation of riding an amusement attraction.
“Ariel, look at my sister smiling. Isn’t she adorable?”
“…Yes. She is.”
When he spun around eagerly to show Ariel, her response was unexpectedly curt. Normally Edgar would have noticed at once, but today his excitement was running so high that he missed it entirely. His attention remained fixed on playing with his sister.
“Weren’t you the one who said you’d be indifferent even after a sibling was born? What happened to that?”
“I didn’t expect to react this way either. It’s just that Sonia is too cute.”
Recalling old memories, Catría teased him. Edgar smiled sheepishly and gently pinched Sonia’s cheek with a finger. Simply knowing she was his sister had created an instant bond. Just watching her filled him with boundless affection; he wondered if this was how it would feel to have a daughter someday.
“…Mother, may I borrow Edgar for a moment?”
Just as Edgar was completely lost in his sister’s charms, Ariel spoke in a low, subdued voice and caught the back of his sleeve. A chill seemed to brush down his spine. Catría, sensing nothing unusual, simply nodded.
“Of course. Do you have something to discuss?”
“Yes. There was an important matter I forgot to mention earlier.”
“Then Edgar, give Sonia to me and go with her.”
“Y-yes… I will.”
Pulled along by Ariel’s hand, Edgar followed without knowing their destination, walking in silence. They arrived at the guest room Ariel always used when visiting. She shoved him inside like so much baggage, then immediately threw herself into his arms.
“What’s wrong? Did your mood suddenly sour?”
Despite her inexplicable behavior, Edgar asked gently, stroking her hair without reproach. Ariel buried her face against his chest and gave a tiny shake of her head. She was in a bad mood, but admitting the reason out loud was too embarrassing.
“Tell me. What happened?”
“…It’s because of Sonia.”
“Sonia?”
At the unexpected answer, Edgar tilted his head. What possible connection could there be between his sister and Ariel’s mood? Even he, who knew her better than anyone, could not fathom it.
“…Can I be completely honest?”
“I’d prefer it if you were.”
There was no point in trying to cover it up with lies. Edgar brushed her slightly disheveled bangs aside and, just as he had done with Sonia earlier, gave her cheek a light, playful pinch—an unspoken command to speak.
“You were only paying attention to Sonia… and I didn’t like it.”
“You were jealous?”
“…Maybe.”
Embarrassed at having felt jealous of a newborn who was not even a year old, Ariel’s cheeks flushed and she averted her eyes.
Having heard the reason, Edgar stared at her with a blank face for a moment. Then he wrapped both arms around her and gently patted her back.
“What are we going to do with our lady who gets jealous so easily? You won’t be jealous of our own daughter when we have one later, will you?”
“I… I don’t think so. Probably.”
Even she could not say it with certainty. Edgar gave a wry smile, released her, and gazed at her tenderly before pressing a light kiss to her forehead.
“Sonia is only my sister. You are my lover. Besides, once we return to Hespania it will be just the two of us again, so please endure it until then.”
Though her discontent had not fully vanished, Ariel nodded as if she had no choice. Finding her increasingly childlike behavior utterly endearing, Edgar cupped both her cheeks and rubbed them playfully, as though kneading rice cakes.
“Mmmph…! Mmphhh…!”
“It’s because you’re so cute.”
He had always known she was adorable, but he never imagined her jealous side would be this charming. Convinced that he was thoroughly lovestruck, Edgar continued to hold her for a long, long time.