Ch.149149. Rex

Rex’s dream, at the age of twenty-five, was for this happy daily life to continue forever.

The sun was slowly rising beyond the dim sky.

Rex frowned and opened his eyes at the light piercing his eyelids. Cool air seeped through the slightly open window.

“Mmm…”

A rustling sound came from someone stirring in their sleep. Rex carefully raised himself so as not to wake the two. He was always the first to rise in this household. Rex gazed at his wives lying on either side of him with a contented smile. Perhaps due to overexerting themselves physically the night before, both were in a deep sleep.

‘I told you we should take it easy.’

They had been too stubborn. Traces of last night remained vividly on the bedsheets. The sweet scent of their bodies tickled his nose. He clearly remembered washing them just a few days ago, but now they’d need washing again. Rex muttered to himself as he quietly slipped out of the room.

The house was quiet, suggesting the children weren’t awake yet. This was routine. It would be a good hour before they emerged, rubbing their cute faces with the backs of their hands.

That was fine. The household chores would be handled by the servants. In this house, the children only needed to eat well and grow well. Rex smiled as he picked up an axe. Every time he tried to do this, the servants would beg him to leave it to them, but this was one thing he refused to give up.

Crack!

As he brought the axe down lightly, the neatly stacked wood split in half with a satisfying sound. Even with age and his change in status, the satisfaction of chopping firewood remained the same. In truth, the woodshed was already stacked full of firewood. Yet Rex insisted on chopping wood himself.

To remember the past.

To reminisce about the past, and to never forget how precious the present is.

‘At seven years old, you need to earn your keep.’

‘What?’

‘From today, you’ll chop the firewood. If it’s not all done by sunset, don’t expect any dinner.’

Rex gave a bitter smile at the sudden memory. His father had raised his son to be truly strong. What would his father say if he saw him now? He might scold him for being too indulgent. His father’s principle was that children grow into stronger people when raised harshly.

Even so.

Rex wanted to maintain this lifestyle. Of course, someday the children would become proper adults and need to make their own living. Rex had no intention of neglecting their development. He just wanted to give them as much freedom as possible and hoped they would find their own talents.

It was truly difficult. Too much interference reduces a child’s independence, but being too lenient could lead them down a bad path.

“…Parenting is so difficult.”

But Rex wasn’t alone. He had wives who would help him for the rest of his life and live alongside him. He was confident that with the two of them, he could overcome any obstacle.

That was enough.

Having finished his daily quota, Rex stuck the axe into a log and dusted off his hands. After stretching his stiff muscles, he pushed the evenly split firewood to one side.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

Even the rooster’s crow had become familiar now. It was about time for the family to wake up. When Rex entered the house, as expected, his family was gathered at the table with sleepy faces.

“Good morning, Father.”

His eldest son, Kai, stood up from his seat and bowed his head. With red hair and blue eyes, Kai, who had just turned five, was mature for his age. Rex acknowledged his greeting with a gentle smile.

“Good morning to you too.”

“Daddy!”

His daughter Elli grabbed Rex’s hand with a bright smile. Unlike Kai, she had snow-white silver hair, but her eyes were the same blue. Their personalities were different too. Though they were the same age despite being born on different dates, Elli was much more clingy compared to Kai.

“Remember when Uncle Elandir said we should visit Alfheim sometime? When are we going? Oh, and Sister Charlotte also…”

“Elli. You’re making Father uncomfortable.”

“What are you talking about? Not at all, right?”

“Be quiet.”

Rex burst into laughter watching the siblings bicker. It was a scene he never tired of. In truth, neither Rex nor his wives had anticipated the siblings’ personalities. If not for their different appearances, they might have thought the mothers had been switched.

But the siblings’ appearances so strongly resembled their mothers that there was no room for doubt.

“How long are you two going to fight?”

Red hair swayed as Chloe placed dishes on the table and crossed her arms.

“Kai. Didn’t I tell you to get along with Elli? I said siblings should cherish each other, especially in front of your father.”

Kai’s shoulders flinched at those words. Elli wore a triumphant smile, her lips twitching with satisfaction. That smile didn’t last long. Thump. Light footsteps sounded behind Chloe, and a girl with snow-white silver hair entered the living room.

“Elli. Do you want to be scolded?”

Just a brief sentence, much shorter than the previous admonishment. Yet it was enough to quell Elli’s mischief. Elli mumbled with a dejected face.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t scold her too much.”

Chloe said, turning her back.

“Elin.”

Elin gave Elli a stern look before nodding. Rex, who had been laughing awkwardly, joined the conversation.

“It’s a pleasant morning. Let’s stop and eat breakfast.”

“You’re part of the problem, dear. When something’s wrong, you should point it out and try to fix it, not just overlook it.”

Chloe retorted in a sulky tone as she sat down. As Rex scratched his cheek awkwardly, Elin added with a chuckle.

“Rex has never been good at being stern. But… I like that about him.”

“…That’s true.”

Chloe responded, her face reddening. Suddenly, a strange atmosphere descended, and both women stared at Rex. Rex returned their gaze with a serious expression. Gradually, the three faces drew closer. Only the siblings remained detached from this atmosphere. Kai and Elli looked at each other and shrugged. It wasn’t anything unusual. Their parents always displayed their affection whenever they had the chance…

“Ahem. The children are watching…”

Rex swallowed and came to his senses. While displays of marital affection were desirable, sometimes they could negatively impact the children’s emotional development. Chloe and Elin also cleared their throats and turned away.

The heated atmosphere quickly cooled, and breakfast began.

“I heard Harald and Eira are getting married.”

“Really? Well, they’ve always gotten along well, so it’s not surprising. Still, if they were going to marry, they could have done it sooner.”

“Berger’s birthday is coming up soon. What would make a good gift?”

“The master doesn’t particularly favor anything specific, so a bottle of wine should suffice.”

“Even so, isn’t alcohol a bit inappropriate?”

“Then I’ll ask Vivien to procure a fine sword.”

Most of the conversation was led by Chloe and Rex. Elin silently listened to the conversation, bringing whatever was needed when necessary. Even now, she handed Rex a handkerchief as he tried to wipe crumbs from his mouth. Watching this, Chloe continued.

“By the way, Lady Charlotte asked us to bring the children to Edenhart sometime. We’re going, right?”

“The children? Didn’t we just see her recently? Besides, she stepped down from her position as head of the family, so she has plenty of time.”

Rex replied with a puzzled voice. A year ago, Charlotte had passed the title of Marquess of Edenhart to her younger brother. Something about wanting freedom. Despite Rex’s private speculation that she might wander the world, Charlotte had moved to an area near where Rex lived. She had purchased a large mansion with cash and still visited their home three or four times a week.

If she wanted to see the children, she could just visit as usual, so why ask them to bring the children? As Rex tilted his head in confusion, Chloe sighed and snapped.

“Really… You haven’t changed at all, still completely clueless.”

“Huh?”

“Do you really not understand why Lady Charlotte moved so close to our house and keeps visiting? Seriously, you don’t get it at all?”

“…Because the kids are cute?”

Even from Rex’s perspective, not just as a parent, Kai and Elli were incredibly adorable. Honestly, Rex felt the urge to nibble on them several times a day. He barely restrained himself for fear of being disliked.

“Chloe. Rex is an idiot. Let’s understand that.”

Elin shook her head. What is it? Am I the only one who doesn’t know? Rex blinked and shifted his gaze. At that moment, his eyes met Kai’s. Kai spoke in a serious voice.

“Father. I would be fine with having a new mother.”

“What?”

“Yeah! Charlotte is kind and gentle, so I like her too!”

Elli shouted with a grin.

Rex thought of Charlotte’s face. How do I feel about Charlotte? Certainly not dislike. Romantic attraction? Honestly… I do feel it. Charlotte had helped him a lot, and they had maintained frequent contact even after his wedding. Still, having his wives and children talk about it so openly left him somewhat dazed.

‘This isn’t easy.’

Rex stared blankly at the ceiling made of fine wood.

‘Not easy at all.’

But he didn’t feel particularly bad about it.

He had always envisioned a hopeful future, and now Rex was living that hopeful future as reality.

At fifteen, Rex had constantly referred to his home as a “wretched hovel.” In truth, that home wasn’t wretched at all. He understood that now. Home was the world’s only sanctuary, a place he would eventually return to.

Though the location had changed, the fact that home was a space he needed to protect and a nest where precious people lived remained unchanged. This place was by no means a wretched hovel.

Why did I suddenly think of this?

Ah, right.

A happy home. Adding one more person wouldn’t change much. If anything, it would just add one more person’s worth of happiness.

“…Maybe we should go to the beach with Lady Charlotte?”

Rex scratched his cheek.

If there was one thing he wished for, it was that tomorrow would be even better than today.

And surely it would be.

The End.