Sidestory – 6

On the way north to meet the person who might become Kayla’s husband, I kept chuckling as my daughters, bundled up tightly in their clothes to keep from shivering in the cold, looked so cute.

Vivian was right next to me, crossing her arms, while Adelaide chattered nonstop in front of me.

She kept talking about how she was happy to visit family after such a long time, how she was excited to see her aunts and uncles, how she missed her grandfather…

She also mentioned how much she liked the snow, how she felt it was getting a bit chilly and wanted some warm tea, and, by the way, how she already really liked Kayla’s soon-to-be husband, who might also become her uncle.

“What?”

I interrupted Adelaide’s chatter and asked.

“…Do you not know who the person who will become Aunt Kayla’s husband is?”

“Don’t you know? He’s super famous.”

She replied.

I looked at Vivian, and she shrugged.

“He has definitely made quite a name for himself.”

I felt a bit embarrassed to hear that my daughter knew someone I didn’t.

It must have shown on my face, because Vivian gently stroked my cheek to comfort me.

“…I know because I need to keep up with politics, and Adelaide heard it because of the fairy-tale-like stories. Men usually don’t pay much attention to this kind of thing, so don’t worry too much.”

When I heard something I didn’t know, Adelaide flashed a smug smile, then continued talking.

The man’s name was Mikaela Rickson, but he was more often called the “Knight of the Snow.”

On snowy days, he was said to never lose.

It was a funny story to me, but it seemed like a great tale and a rumor that would certainly capture the hearts of young girls like Adelaide.

As Vivian had said, a lot of fairy-tale-like stories had been spun around him.

I imagined it was probably exaggerated to make it more appealing to kids.

“Wow… but the Knight of the Snow could become my uncle…!”

As Adelaide’s compliments continued, I began to feel a bit annoyed.

This was the first time I’d heard her say things like that about a man other than me.

Without thinking, I said.

“…Really? But don’t you think it’s all a bit like a fairy tale? If your expectations are too high, you might end up disappointed.”

Adelaide gave me a rare, dismissive snort.

That little action shocked me.

Had Vivian really fought with this person all these years?

“Dad doesn’t know anything. Every girl likes that kind of knight.”

Then, as if she was dreaming, she whispered with her hands clasped together,

“…What if he’s even a little more handsome than you, Dad…?”

I didn’t show it, but I felt a slight sting.

I froze, unable to laugh or respond, and Vivian, who had been watching me, giggled.

She then whispered in my ear,

“…So, even if Adelaide loves him, I won’t betray you. I’ll always love you.”

Was she still jealous of my daughter?

Did I really need to repeat that she was my first and only love?

As I was left only with that thought, Vivian suddenly asked Adelaide.

“Adelaide, though, your favorite knight wasn’t the Knight of the Snow, right?”

I furrowed my brow.

“…Who else is there?”

Another shock.

My beloved daughter…

But Adelaide answered matter-of-factly,

“Mom, but the Fool Knight isn’t real! The Knight of the Snow is real.”

“Still, didn’t you say the Fool Knight was your favorite?”

“…In the story, the Fool Knight is the best. But now I’ll go with the Knight of the Snow. He’s going to be my uncle!”

…Your uncle might not become that.

I just decided that.

…But…

“…What’s the Fool Knight?”

I asked, trying to subtly get some more information from Vivian.
Vivian chuckled.

She then whispered,

“…It’s you.”

“Huh?”

“You. The story you made is about the Fool Knight.”

I paused, trying to make sense of it, and then asked,

“…You’re saying I’m called the Fool Knight?”

“Only in the story.”

“?”

“Because what you did doesn’t make any sense.”

“…But why is the Knight of the Snow real and I’m considered fake?”

“I already told you. It’s because what you did doesn’t make any sense.”

Now that I thought about it, it seemed like Vivian had told me these stories to ease my jealousy of the Knight of the Snow.

Maybe she was trying to tell me that, in reality, Adelaide’s favorite knight was me.

Once again, Vivian comforted me this way.

I smiled at her and then immediately shared this story with Adelaide.

“Adele, the fool knight, it’s a story about your father.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

The child’s unique firm tone.

Vivian and I chuckled and shook our heads.

By the way, I was being called a fool.

…Well, at least Adele’s favorite person is me, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?

“Come here!”

I grabbed Adele, who was sitting across from me, and pulled her onto my lap.

Adele giggled and twisted her body around.

Seeing this, Meryl and Mariel began crawling toward me, whining.

Vivian let out a sigh as she was pushed aside by my daughters.

When we arrived, the first ones to greet us were neither my father, who loved his granddaughters, nor my shy younger brothers toward Vivian.

“Brother!!”

Kayla, who was said to have found a partner, ran toward me first and greeted me.

“Brother, how have you been?”

“…You look a bit rushed today?”

“N-No, not at all. By the way, you haven’t changed at all! No wrinkles. You really don’t age.”

We were certainly on good terms, but this time, I could sense an intent behind her words, which made it amusing.

“You don’t need to say that. I wouldn’t oppose your husband anyway.”

I narrowed my eyes and looked at her, and Kayla awkwardly loosened her neck, then first showed courtesy to Vivian.

“It’s been a while.”

Vivian smiled back.

“Yes.”

Then, Kayla turned toward my daughters.

“Adele! How have you gotten even cuter!”

“Ehehe!”

Adele, shy, spun around Kayla while acting playful.

In the meantime, I took Meryl and Mariel out of the carriage.

The twins furrowed their brows at the cold they were feeling for the first time.

My father slowly walked toward us from a distance.

“Father.”

After my father avoided the curse with Vivian’s prediction, he regained his health.

His once thin body had now been filled with muscles, and his wrinkled face had smoothed out.

Middle age clearly marked his features, but he no longer looked like the man who was once on the verge of death.

The honest side he had shown before facing death was now hidden, and he had become the stoic and strong man again.

“…Thank you for going through the trouble of having twins. I heard it was very hard…”

My father spoke first to Vivian.

This was the first time he had come back to his hometown after the birth of the twins.

“…It’s nothing, Father. I only regret that it wasn’t a son.”

“You’ll have one soon enough. Take care of your health first.”

For my father, Vivian was an unexpected benefactor.

They had resolved their long-standing grudge and reconciled.

There was an exchange of feelings that were difficult to describe.

Then, my father turned toward me and asked.

“…Which one is Meryl, and which one is Mariel?”

Looking at the babies sucking on their fingers and looking up at their grandfather, my father asked.

“I didn’t expect you to remember their names.”

“What are you talking about? They’re my granddaughters, of course I have to remember them.”

It was an obvious statement, but I didn’t think he’d say it like that.

After I explained the names of each child, he silently reached out his arms.

Whether the children recognized him or not, they weren’t scared and reached out to him, embracing him.

“…”

My father embraced both granddaughters, and in a low voice, he muttered his thoughts.

Unlike his usual stoic remarks, a subtle satisfaction was visible on his lips.

Finally, my father looked down at Adele and smiled.

“Adele, have you been well?”

“Yes! Grandfather, I missed you!”

“…Mm.”

This time, my father’s eyes brightened as well.

Indeed, the more I saw it, the more I felt that having grandchildren was the best filial duty.

“Do you like snacks, Adele? Grandpa has prepared lots of treats.”

“I do!”

Right after that, my father turned his body as if it didn’t matter.

He was taking all my daughters away.

I felt a momentary emptiness.

Why?

As I scratched my nose, my other younger siblings came closer.

Eleanor wasn’t here.

She had married and left.

Kayla had inherited the head of the family position, and I felt sorry that Kayla’s marriage was delayed because of it.

After my father fled to the south, Kayla became the head of the family.

Reginald came closer.

He had grown bigger, and now we were eye to eye.

“Brother. You’ve come. The kids are really cute.”

“Where are your kids?”

“They’re still sleeping.”

“You’ve taken a concubine, right?”

“…I have to have a son. My first wife seems unable to bear one…”

At those words, Vivian flinched.

Reginald, rarely flustered, hastily added,

“Ah, I just meant that’s the situation…”

Still, Vivian looked uneasy and briefly looked up at me.

Between the breaths that broke through the cold air, her red eyes looked especially red today.

I couldn’t tell if her eyes had actually become red or not.

I had no words to say.

The issue of a son was still a complicated one in my mind.

I still hadn’t reached a conclusion on that matter.

So, without a word, I held Vivian’s hand.

I thought I might reach a conclusion soon.

Ragon also approached.

“Brother. I missed you.”

He, too, now looked quite grown-up.

I ruffled his hair and nodded.

“Let’s go inside. It’s too cold.”