Ch.158Winter Break (2)

Mother gave birth to my eldest brother Dave at 21, and then to me seven years later at 28. Now, after 19 years and some months, she’s exactly 47 years old.

Though she looks like she’s in her early thirties due to good self-care and naturally youthful features, she’s actually approaching 50. And to add to that, Father is 5 years older than her at 51.

By both my previous life’s standards and this world’s common sense, they’re quite old to be having children. Moreover, in this world, contraceptive technology is well-developed, making late children rare.

However, this only applies among nobles—commoners often have children later in life because contraceptive technology has only spread well among the nobility, not among commoners.

But having a child at such an advanced age… she’s practically old enough to be my grandmother rather than my mother. In a world where I could marry Marie and have children without anyone batting an eye, my parents are quite the rare case.

At this point, my soon-to-be-born little sister Lilly could call me “daddy” and others would find it perfectly normal—they’d actually find it strange if she called me “big brother” instead.

“Honestly, we never imagined we’d have Lilly. Given our age, we thought we wouldn’t need to take precautions anymore. But then this happened… hoho. Now that I’m saying it out loud, I feel a bit embarrassed.”

“Isn’t it dangerous? I’ve heard that for humans, pregnancy after 40 carries significant risks.”

“That’s not a concern. If you circulate mana consistently, both the baby and mother remain safe. Of course, it’s still good to invite a cleric as a precaution.”

Mother, Cecilly, and I were currently enjoying refreshments in the reception room while having a pleasant conversation.

The seating arrangement was a bit unusual—Mother and I sat side by side while Cecilly sat alone on the opposite side.

Since Cecilly was the guest, this arrangement made sense in a way, but Mother had already figured out what Cecilly was seeking permission for. If she had fully accepted it, she would have seated Cecilly and me side by side.

But she hadn’t, which meant Mother hadn’t completely given her approval yet. Cecilly seemed to understand this, as she was smiling outwardly but appeared somewhat tense.

“And there’s one more method. It can only be used before entering the stable period, but it’s definitely effective.”

“May I ask what it is?”

“Well… I’ll just say it’s a somewhat barbaric method.”

“…Ah. I think I understand. Well, since the Baron is the Red Lion, it must have been easy.”

“Hoho. My husband is quite strong, indeed.”

“… …”

The exhibition started in June, and today is late January of the new year.

Calculating roughly from the end of the exhibition until now, it’s been at least six months, which means they’ve been putting in tremendous effort every night during that time.

Even while busy with territory matters, Father still devoted energy to Mother. I wonder if even the Red Lion hasn’t had his energy completely drained.

I respect you, Father. I wish I had your stamina.

“Come to think of it, Princess, do you have any siblings? I don’t think I asked last time.”

“I’m an only child. My parents didn’t have any particular plans after having me.”

“I’ve heard that elves consider lovemaking a ritual. Is it similar for demons for a similar reason?”

“No. Demons just have very long menstrual cycles like elves. And they usually overlap with the evil cycle, which makes it difficult for men.”

Hearing that answer, I shifted my gaze upward. Cecilly’s horns were now completely filled with red except for the very tips.

This means her evil cycle will come soon, just like during the previous exhibition. Luminus also told me to make sure to bring contraceptives when going to Helium, so the timing matches perfectly.

If I hadn’t brought medicine, would the first human-demon hybrid have been born? I can only think how fortunate that was.

“Indeed, so little is known about demons that everything is fascinating.”

“If you have more questions, feel free to ask.”

“Really? Then…”

Mother, as if seizing the opportunity, maintained her gentle smile and opened her mouth.

“What do you like about our Issac?”

“… …”

That was a direct fastball with substance. The atmosphere remained the same as before, but the weight behind the question was entirely different.

Cecilly momentarily flinched at Mother’s smiling question, then pressed her lips into a straight line. I could faintly detect tension in her hands hidden beneath the table.

I also tensed slightly as I watched their conversation. This wasn’t an issue I could help resolve by intervening.

Of course, I planned to help if Cecilly seemed to be at a disadvantage. Having already accepted her as my woman, I’d naturally take her side to avoid disappointing her.

“Actually, I had a pretty good idea since the exhibition. No matter how close you are, a princess of a nation wouldn’t just visit someone’s mansion.”

“…So you knew.”

“Yes. And not just that—the way you looked at our Issac, Princess Cecilly. As a woman, I could tell. It was the eyes of a woman in love. Warm affection and love, and… sticky desire as well.”

“… …”

As Mother finished speaking, Cecilly’s face stiffened slightly. She must have found it unfair, considering how difficult it was to maintain her sanity during her evil cycle back then.

But Cecilly knew well that bringing it up now would only sound like an excuse. For now, she needed to sit quietly and listen to what Mother had to say.

“Princess, you know that Issac is already engaged to Marie, don’t you?”

“Yes. I’m aware.”

“Have you spoken with her?”

“We resolved it amicably.”

“Hmm. ‘Resolved it amicably’…”

Mother elegantly set down her teacup and gently stroked her belly where Lilly was growing robustly.

Then, as if pondering something, she looked up at the ceiling, blinking her eyes, before looking back at Cecilly.

“May I ask how you resolved it? I’m a bit curious.”

“Yes. Actually…”

Cecilly told Mother exactly what she had told Marie. Her true feelings that came out during their argument at the exhibition and her plans for the future.

I already knew all this, but unlike before, Cecilly was extremely nervous now.

It was almost like she was in a job interview, or perhaps being evaluated by Mother.

Fortunately, Mother’s expression brightened more and more as she listened to Cecilly’s story. She clearly approved.

“That’s… touching. To disregard the difference in lifespan and protect Issac… and even his descendants.”

“Rather than living a life full of regret for abandoning love, I’ll live a life of longing. It’s a line from the Biography of Xenon.”

“Yes, I know. Thanks to that line, interspecies relationships have increased.”

“But Lady Baroness, did you know? That line—Issac said it to me before the book was published.”

“What?”

At Cecilly’s shocking confession, Mother turned to me with wide eyes. There seemed to be some misunderstanding, but what she said was true, so I couldn’t help but be flustered.

Mother looked at me with a subtle expression for a while, then smiled gently and softly stroked my head. It was like she was comforting a child, which made me feel strangely embarrassed.

Indeed, no matter how much a child grows, they always remain a beloved son or daughter in their mother’s eyes.

“Hoho. This boy. Now I understand clearly why the Princess fell for you. What woman wouldn’t fall for someone who says such things? That one line alone led to a surge in interspecies relationships.”

“When I first heard it, I was truly moved. Being able to decide whether life with that person will become a painful regret or a cherished memory.”

“Ahem…”

Why am I the one feeling embarrassed? I could only clear my throat awkwardly.

Meanwhile, Mother continued stroking my head without stopping.

“I understand Princess Cecilly’s feelings well. Actually, since Marie gave her permission, it’s out of my hands.”

“Then…”

“But before that.”

Just as Cecilly was about to rejoice thinking she had received approval, Mother cut her off. She stopped stroking my head and swiftly moved her hand down to pinch my cheek firmly.

It wasn’t just a light pinch—she applied pressure, causing a stinging pain.

“Ouch! M-Mother?”

“Our Issac needs a bit of scolding. I was worried this kind of situation might happen because of his considerate and kind personality. But not just the Duke’s daughter, but also the Princess of Helium…”

“I-I’m sorry! It was absolutely not intentional!”

“That’s what worries this mother more. You’ll properly marry Marie, but what about Princess Cecilly? You need to consider her position too. Don’t tell me you’re planning to make her a concubine?”

“Um… Lady Baroness. I’m really fine—”

As Cecilly rarely fumbled, trying to calm Mother down.

“It’s not fine at all. Although unlike Marie, you fell for Issac after realizing he was Xenon, I would have done the same if I were a princess. After all, Xenon is practically salvation sent by God to demons. Perhaps you even had the will to offer your body and soul. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-yes… that’s… accurate.”

“That’s even more problematic. With such determination, you only care about Marie? Issac, you’ll truly receive divine punishment from Mora. You need to make sure Princess Cecilly doesn’t feel lonely. Understand?”

“Y-yes! I understand!”

“Sigh…”

Mother sighed and released my stretched cheek. The stinging, burning sensation made it difficult to regain my composure.

“Then… Princess, you won’t formally engage with my son?”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. When I return to Helium, I’ll speak with my parents. Once they know Issac is Xenon, everything will proceed smoothly.”

“That’s a relief. If you ever regret this decision, please let me know. I will humbly accept it.”

“My heart will never change. Even if Issac returns to Mora’s side, I’ll live remembering him.”

“I like that.”

Mother smiled warmly, pleased with Cecilly’s resolute determination. No matter how youthful she looked, smiles typically create fine wrinkles, but Mother showed no such signs.

Then, stroking her belly with one hand and elegantly taking a sip of tea, she spoke in a more relaxed tone.

“From now on, I should call you Cecilly instead of Princess. I call Marie ‘child,’ but that would be difficult with you.”

“Ah! Thank you so much. May I call you Mother-in-law?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you, Mother-in-law. As I said earlier, I will protect this territory and the descendants of the Mayshall family for life.”

“You don’t have to do that. You need to find your own happiness too.”

“This is my happiness. Doing my best for the benefactor who saved the demon race. If it weren’t for Issac, I wouldn’t be sitting here, and moreover, I would have had to spend my entire life in Helium.”

Mother gave a bitter smile at her response, which resembled that of a fervent devotee. Then she looked at me, and I could only shrug my shoulders, knowing Cecilly couldn’t be dissuaded when she was like this.

Well, thanks to this, Mother clearly understood how much Cecilly loved me, so there was no major issue.

“Do all demons think similarly to you?”

“Yes. In the past, demons would have been treated as devils, but as you know, things are completely different now. Moreover, with the rediscovery of Jin and Lilly’s romance, a saying has emerged.”

“What saying?”

“‘Love is difficult for demons, but deciding to love means gaining the courage to dedicate everything to that person. Even if one turns into a devil, the sincerity toward that person will never change.'”

“… …”

I’ve seen that in a newspaper before. It was written by a critic after the 12th volume of the Biography of Xenon was published.

But I thought it had been buried due to the mixed-blood issue at the time, yet Cecilly had managed to find it. Perhaps when Lilith’s past is revealed, that saying will gain attention again.

Philosophically speaking, it’s profound; cynically speaking, it’s cheesy. But given the era, it would likely leave a deep impression on people.

“In reality, demons turn into devils when they lose a loved one or experience comparable despair.”

“…Then you too, Cecilly?”

“If Issac dies naturally, that’s fine. But if something unexpected happens… I’m prepared to become a devil, Mother.”

“If that’s your choice, I won’t interfere… but I’m still worried. Should we assign bodyguards to Issac just in case?”

Mother looked at me with concerned eyes. I might not need bodyguards right now, but after I reveal that I’m Xenon, she’ll probably assign one or two.

Cyris is both an errand boy and Arwen’s knight, so that would be difficult. The most likely possibility is having Gartz assigned from Helium, but other countries might take issue with that.

Since I’m a citizen of the Empire of Minerva, it’s most likely that the Empire will assign bodyguards. The Kingdom of Teres will also try to assign their own guards as a check, but the Empire will probably block them.

‘Ah, right. Sabre.’

Come to think of it, Sabre also sent a Cardinal on a pilgrimage to find me. They’re making a fuss about treating me as a saint, so they’ll definitely interfere too.

The moment I reveal my identity, this world will likely be thrown into chaos. Thanks to Luminus’s trolling, I have no choice but to keep my identity completely hidden.

“Bodyguards… For now, until Issac reveals his identity, Helium will provide guards. Sir Gartz Balack—you probably know him well, Mother.”

“You mean that knight with the ram horns? Does he also know that Issac is Xenon?”

“Yes, he does. He’s a demon with few words and strong self-control, so he’s trustworthy.”

“That’s a relief then. So when are you planning to go to Helium?”

I answered that question instead of Cecilly.

“We’re planning to leave three days from today. I need to finish organizing volume 14. Cecilly also agreed to return then.”

“I see. How long do you plan to stay in Helium?”

“Probably…”

“Probably the entire vacation in Helium. Marie gave her permission too.”

Cecilly quickly intercepted before I could finish speaking. I couldn’t help but be surprised because this wasn’t part of the plan at all.

While it’s true that Marie gave permission, staying in Helium for the entire vacation wasn’t in the schedule.

“Oh my. Then… could it be?”

“Yes. I’ve already made my decision. So has Issac.”

“Hoho. Issac?”

“Yes, yes?”

Why do I feel so tense when Mother calls me? As I responded with a start, Mother carefully stroked her belly and spoke.

“Make sure to bring medicine to avoid complications. Understand?”

“…Yes.”

“My son is quite popular. I’m worried he might attract even more women.”

Two days after Mother said those words.

“Say hello. This is Adelia, who will be training under me from today.”

“Oh, hello? It’s been a while.”

“…Sister Adel?”

Adelia visited our mansion. And not in casual clothes, but in neat black formal attire like Nicole’s.

While I was staring blankly at Adelia, Father spoke in his characteristically solemn voice.

“Nicole asked me to teach this child. She would make a suitable guard when you inherit the family headship.”

“That’s… nice to meet you?”

“Um… yeah.”

I shook hands with Adelia, my expression dumbfounded. I noticed her face turning slightly red.

Moreover, she wasn’t just gripping my hand firmly—she was subtly massaging it, as if reluctant to let go.

“Our son is quite popular. Don’t you think so too, Lilly?”

“… …”

Mother stroked her belly where Lilly was sleeping, wearing an inscrutable smile.