After Story: A New Family (2)
Celebration was in the air.
Nothing better captured Elia’s mood in the days ahead.
There were smiles blooming on the faces of the Apostles; in the ever-silent temple, endless whispers spread like wildfire; and the Order of Paladins?
The best of the best from each unit convened, each arguing that they would be the ones to join a non-existent division.
Indeed.
All of this was caused by rumors that Renee was expecting a child.
“Twins, oh my. Twins!”
In the garden of the Grand Temple, Theresa spoke those words with a smile brighter than ever.
Renee blushed and nodded.
“Yes, they’re twins.”
Her fair white hand stroked her belly.
Even though her belly wasn’t noticeably round yet, she could already feel the life moving around inside her, keeping a constant smile on her face.
“I wonder what kind of children will they be?”
Her tone was full of anticipation.
In response, Theresa placed her hand over Renee’s belly.
“No matter what kind of children they are, they will be lovely. Hmm, it would be nice if they took after you, Saint.”
The old woman’s eyes were filled with endless love for lives that had yet to bloom, and her wrinkled hands radiated warmth.
Theresa looked up and watched Renee, who was smiling with flushed cheeks.
‘When did she grow up so much…?’
She felt her heart tighten from the fresh wave of emotions.
“You have truly become an adult now. The Saint is going to be a mother.”
“I’m not the Saint anymore.”
“To me, you will always be the Saint.”
Theresa tightly grasped her hand, causing Renee to purse her lips and burst into giggles.
Listening in to their conversation were the twins Krek and Marek, who then spoke up.
“Twins, congratulations.”
“Right. New junior twins.”
The both of them had bright expressions.
“Krek gives them his blessings.”
“Marek gives them his blessings too. Hope the Saint’s children, grow up just like us.”
The instant those two reached out their hands towards Renee’s belly–
Smack–!
Renee’s hand swatted them away.
“…Ah.”
A look of dismay was on her face.
With a twitching head and forced smile, Renee looked at the shocked faces of the twins.
‘Oh no, I reacted without thinking!’
Her body had suddenly moved on its own upon hearing them bless her children to grow up like just them.
“I-I’m sorry! I was just stretching!”
It was a terrible excuse, but the twins fortunately believed her.
Renee was grateful for their… brute-like brain at that moment.
“That’s okay. We like the Saint.”
“Agreed. Different from Vera.”
Nod nod.
As the two nodded in agreement, Renee began to feel guilty.
‘I do like them, but…’
Still, I hope my children don’t grow up like them.
It was a rude thought, but she couldn’t help it.
Caught between her rising guilt and realistic concerns, Renee started rationalizing her current feelings as ‘motherly love’.
…Elia’s garden was peaceful today as well.
*
“So you’re gonna be a father?”
In the flower bed of the Grand Temple, Vargo said that while tending to the flowers as usual.
Vera replied with an embarrassed look, directing his gaze far away.
“It seems so.”
“You?”
He trembled at the sarcastic tone shot at him again.
It wasn’t for any other reason.
Vera himself didn’t think he was particularly well-suited to be a father.
He felt happy.
But he was also overwhelmed.
However, what took hold in Vera’s heart before anything else was anxiety.
Now that the reality of having children was upon him, Vera had become a coward.
His hand clenched into a fist.
“…I don’t know if I’ll be a good father.”
It was an uncharacteristically weak statement coming from him, from Vera, someone who was always brimming with self-confidence.
Still, it wasn’t an unfamiliar sight to Vargo.
“…You ridiculous punk.”
Having watched Vera since the day he first came to Elia, Vargo knew.
The reason the always seemingly self-confident Vera showed such weakness was because he truly considered Vargo his master.
“What’s with this nonsense you’re spouting? It doesn’t fit you.”
His grumbling words were his own form of affection.
Vargo continued, hoping his disciple would simply accept this miracle with joy.
“Do it your own way. The Saint will give them plenty of coddling, so all you need to do is make sure those kids don’t go astray.”
That punk of a disciple who risked his own life on that chivalry of his.
That very same disciple who was level-headed in all matters.
A disciple like that would undoubtedly become an excellent father.
Vera’s eyes widened.
Then with a weak laugh, he replied.
“Are you cheering me up?”
“Like hell I am.”
Tap.
As Vargo’s hand touched a red petal, the withered flower bloomed vibrantly once more.
“…But if you still aren’t assured.”
His gaze was fixed on the red flower.
It was a flower so young and fragile that he couldn’t his eyes off it for even a moment.
“I’ll help out a bit.”
He casually uttered those words.
Vera nodded, feeling a strange tingling in his chest.
“Then, I’ll be in your debt.”
“At least pretend to refuse.”
“I know that would be impolite.”
“Rude punk.”
Vargo said, chuckling.
Vera laughed along with him, then spoke up as he suddenly remembered something.
“Come to think of it…”
“What now?”
“Oben sent a letter addressed to you, Master.”
“Huh?”
A mischievous smile was on his face as he said that.
It was because he thought that Vargo would have the same absurd reaction he did upon hearing the report.
“In half a year, Oben will be holding a muscle beauty contest. They said that they wanted to invite Your Holiness as the judge.”
That was the muscle beauty contest that had once been concocted as an excuse for Renee’s coming-of-age ceremony.
Former Sovereign Lord Kalderan had become enamored with it and finally made it a reality.
Vargo’s expression stiffened.
If one had to describe the look on his face, it would be distaste and refusal.
“…You think I’ll go?”
“You won’t?”
“Don’t spout such nonsense. No, don’t even let such ridiculous words reach my ears in the first place.”
He had a grim expression on his face, but Vera’s smile only deepened.
“I will bear that in mind.”
“What a lost cause.”
Vera didn’t know that his own appearance as he delightfully teased his master closely resembled Aisha’s.
Just who had Aisha grown up watching to be like that?
*
At the cabin north of the Grand Temple.
Vera had returned after finishing his duties and abruptly halted in his steps.
“Ah, are you finally home?”
It was because Renee was staring at him with a lovely smile, and their children were growing in her belly.
Their children, whom he would have to protect for the rest of his life.
The weight of it suddenly hit him.
A heavy pressure weighed down his entire body, but he didn’t dislike it. It made him smile.
So, he took a step forward.
“I’m home.”
He embraced her tightly.
The house was filled with laughter along with a warm, cozy feeling.
“Did you go to see Lady Theresa today?”
“Yes. Krek and Marek were there as well.”
Their conversation was something that could be found in plenty of households, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t special.
Telling each other about their day was a precious moment in their lives.
“They want our children to be like them.”
“Seems like they’re cursing us.”
“They meant well, but I couldn’t help my heart from skipping a beat.”
“It’s a natural reaction.”
The two began to laugh, and their steps naturally led them to the dining table.
“Lady Marie prepared some food to congratulate us. I was waiting to eat with Vera.”
However, those words completely shattered his sentiments.
The light faded from his eyes.
“…I should convey my gratitude to her.”
His tone was devoid of any appreciation.
However, Renee didn’t notice.
The joy of being pregnant and her happiness today, as well as her excitement for Marie’s meal, left no room to pay attention to his expression.
At the table where their two contrasting emotions intersected, Vera was suffering through dietary torture that would continue until the end of his life.
*
Expecting a child was truly a joyous occasion.
However, the accompanying reality was not so romantic.
“Vera!”
It was late at night, when everyone was asleep.
Vera abruptly sat up in bed and looked at Renee.
“…Yes!”
In response to his sleepy but energetic voice, Renee replied with a tearful face.
“I want something refreshing.”
Her face looked like it would burst into tears at any moment.
With a plea that seemed like she had suffered through all the world’s injustices, Vera laughed shakily.
“Just… just a moment… I’ll be right back.”
He got out of bed unsteadily and put on his coat.
Meanwhile, Renee was still hugging a pillow and sniffling.
“Hurry…”
Vera kissed her forehead and left the cabin.
Then, wrapping divinity around his entire body, he began to sprint.
It had already been a full month.
At this point, Renee’s pregnancy was well past two months, and this happened every other day.
As Vera dashed down the street with dark circles under his eyes, he thought.
‘Just when…?’
When will this suffering end?
When can I sleep in peace?
There were limits even when it came to his superhuman body.
Pushed to his limits after nearly a month of bad sleep, Vera felt like crying like a child as he reached the neighboring village.
Something refreshing.
Something Renee would like.
With only those thoughts in mind, he arrived at the place where the fruit merchant, whom he was now close enough to share personal stories with, was located.
Entering the still brightly store in the village where all the lights were off, a middle-aged man emerged from inside.
“Welcome.”
Vera silently held out gold coins to the fruit merchant who had a kind smile on his face.
“…The usual, please..”
“I prepared it in advance, knowing you’d come.”
A well-packaged box of strawberries was presented before his eyes.
Vera accepted it with a miserable face.
“…Thank you.”
“I’m just doing business. Your Holiness is the one having a hard time.”
The fruit merchant looked at him with sympathy, but Vera only let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
“It’s only natural.”
“Even so, it’s not something everyone can do.”
Their talk was short.
The middle-aged fruit merchant was well aware that Vera was in no condition to talk for a long period of time and shortened his words with a broad smile.
“I wonder if they’ll be healthy children, seeing how lively they are even at this hour.”
Healthy children.
Vera thought those words were truly fitting, and smiled weakly.
“I think they’ll be troublemakers.”
“That’s good. They say an energetic child brings liveliness to the household.”
Hearing his hearty laugh, Vera felt his fatigue slightly fade away.
“…I should get going. Take care.”
“Yes, I suppose I’ll see you again tomorrow or the day after.”
The thought that he’d rather not see him crossed Vera’s mind.
However, even with such thoughts, he knew.
“Indeed.”
He wouldn’t last two days without seeing him again.
Vera turned around.
Then, the light in the fruit merchant’s store finally went out.
After running for a while longer, Vera returned to the cabin.
…What greeted Vera upon his return was Renee, fast asleep.