Gaiden 1

“Great. Doing well. Keep your posture.”

Peeing.

The taut bowstring was pulled. The arrow that flew hit. Astina's posture was undisturbed. Astina, as it were, only rolled her eyes and looked at Lucerne.

“Well.”

Lucerne said.

“You are quick to learn anything.”

“It's because he resembles his father.”

“I didn't know humility when I was your age.”

“It's because I resemble my mother.”

When Lucerne and Astina were alone, the atmosphere was different from when they were with other families. They knew that each other was of the same kind, so they did not try to be kind to each other. It was the habit of Ires and Elisha to be relieved knowing that there was love between their families.

“You look so much like me. It's good that you have at least some resemblance to your mother.”

Thirteen-year-old Astina this year is terribly like Lucerne. Her dark hair and red eyes were unmistakably her family traits.

When Astina and Lucerne, a beautiful girl with androgynous charm, entered the imperial palace together, people would stare at them in awe.

'But when I'm a little older, my mother will start to look a lot like me.'

It is said that children's faces change many times as they grow up.

Astina knew that her face would resemble her mother as she approached her manhood, but when she was of manhood she would again miss her father.

'Because I did that in my previous life.'

Astina had memories of her past life.

*​ *​ *​

But he couldn't explain it to Lucerne one by one. Astina only answered briefly.

“There's nothing wrong with being like her mother,” She said. They say that she got the golden flower because her mother is the most beautiful woman in the empire, right?”

It was a figurative expression.

At the duke's house, a colony of golden hydrangeas was located at the end of the territory. The hydrangea was the kind that Lucerne had bought a variety of. It was a flower that only Elisha could have.

Lucerne was going to name the flower Elisha, but then changed his mind. It is because of jealousy that others say Elisha's name when calling flowers.

'It's not even beautiful. This is the flower you've only heard about!'

The guests who visited the duchy were thrilled when they received the flowers. This is because the golden flower was an object of longing for noble ladies. That admiration was the envy of Elisha, who had the love of the richest family in the world and the head of that family. She was also in awe of her beautiful children.

So Elisha's reputation grew day by day, and naturally, her reputation as the most beautiful woman in the Empire followed.

Even if Elisha and Lucerne lived their lives, Lucerne's innocence and love story entangled in flowers would remain for a long time.

'Her father's affection for her mother is always impressive.'

Astina had never seen a man of hers who could emulate her emotions as well as Lucerne. They were born beasts, and did not know how to express their feelings.

But over the years, Lucerne has tenderly expressed her love for her wife in various ways.

Not long ago, Astina went into Elisha's library to borrow her book.

Then she found a romance novel on her desk. Her mother was a kind person, but she was not sentimental enough to enjoy poetry or private novels.

It was a romance novel that was popular a few years before Astina was born. It was a fairly famous book, so Astina knew the title.

'My mother reads this?'

Astina opened the book. And in it came a crudely drawn portrait of Lucerne when he was a little younger than now. It was a crappy portrait painted and sold by street vendors.

Astina's father is the favorite of the era and the most loved general. In the capital, there were people who made and sold products related to Lucerne.

What drew Astina's attention was the back page of the portrait. The back page was full of thick letters. In her father's handwriting, these comments were written on the top line.

[It doesn't look alike.]

And on the next line, in her mother's handwriting, were these words:

[Your eyes look alike.]

Then again Lucerne's handwriting…….

[It doesn't look this bad.]

[Right. You are sometimes cute.]

[You say cute things, are you prepared for tonight?]

Beneath the words were erased marks. And I shook the book.

Patter.

There were numerous notes exchanged between Lucerne and Elisha.

There was even a story about Elisha teasing Lucerne in a romance novel. Judging by the fact that some papers have faded, this non-military conversation has been exchanged with each other for a very long time over many years.

Astina quietly closed the book.

'They're on good terms.'

Okay. It was a pretty impressive memory.

'This must also be a method in my father's way.'

Their clan is a race that is accustomed to possession rather than love. Apparently, Lucerne thought she was acting like that to have Elisha.

Bassrock. Astina stepped on a tree branch. The two of them were walking slowly through the forest with their bows on their backs.

“You're really good at mimicking, Dad.”

“What do you mean?”

“Seeing my father choose a gift for our wedding anniversary, it seemed like he was really sincere. I know you really love her, but that's just not our way.”

“Sounds stupid.”

He stopped. Astina also stopped.

“You only know one and you don't know the other. Your mother is a woman who can change everything. I am sincere to your mother in every moment.”

Lucerne bowed to Astina.

“And don't hurt your mother. If you need acting, do it.”

“Well, in my own way, when I was little, I asked to buy a doll too.”

Astina was well aware of her own destiny. She was a terrible genius to be born with.

Besides, she had Ramun…….

In the future, this power will gradually grow stronger and one day surpass even the strongest and most intelligent monster in the world, my father. As the power of Ramun within her grows, one day Ramun will awaken.

After that, he will live with a fever that cannot be cured even by the power of priests for the rest of his life. It was a disease that occurred when the body could not handle excessive magical power.

'Perhaps by then her mother will be heartbroken. She has to act like a little more immature child to please her.'

Elisha was often worried about her Astina's precocity. She just wants to see her happy like a child. So, Astina has long played her meek sheep in front of Elisha.

Even though she was a sensible adult like Elisha, she always had a human heart when it came to her children.

“Okay. She was good at that Please ask me to buy something else next time.”

“Why don't you give me more time to spend with her mother when you're talking about that? All I want is time to be with her mother, not a dress or doll she buys me.”

“It doesn't matter. You won't be spending more time with your mother than the allotted time. All her time is mine.”

Astina looked at Lucerne in amazement.

“…… Don't do that to Ires.”

Her older brother, Ires, was also different from Astina. She was sentimental, kind, and had a good sense of humor.

“Sure.”

Lucerne answered silently. At the same time, it was Lucerne where he spent time alone with Astina.

Whatever the case, her father and daughter, who looked so much like her, got along well. They had something in common. It was that I loved my mother madly and terribly, and my wife.

And she wants to protect her mother. This was what Astina thought her father and daughter had in common. The Elisha Astina knew was an elegant and clever woman, but she was sensitive.

'I'm sure my father will take care of it.'

Thanks to her mother's strong affection for Ires and Astina, Lucerne sometimes went on a long journey alone to occupy her Elisha.

“You look at your father with strange eyes.”

Lucerne started walking again. Astina walked side by side. Surprised by their movement, a turtledove flew up a tree.

“Sometimes, I can't believe my father loves us. People believed that my father's heart was made of ice.”

“It is natural for parents to love their children. But even if I said that, you wouldn't believe it.”

“Maybe.”

“Astina, the first priority in my life is your mother. That won't change But aside from Elisha, the only people I love are probably you and Ires. I love your mother so much that she does, not that I love you any less.”

Lucerne said silently.

“Why? Because I am my mother's child?”

“You really look like your mother at times like this.”

Lucerne frowned.

“Are you making such a useless assumption that if you were born to another woman, you wouldn't have been loved?”

“…….”

“It is a meaningless assumption. If I hadn't been your mother, she wouldn't have children.”

“…… So?”

“You were meant to be loved by me as soon as you were born. You have no idea how long your mother waited for you.”

Astina flinched. Lucerne's big hand caressed Astina's head.

“Go and have some tea.”

The duke's forest is over. And a well-kept garden appeared.

“Astina!”

Ires, having tea with her mother in the garden, waved her hand. Ires was a beautiful boy with blond hair and blue eyes who looked terrifyingly like Elisha.

The boy who had been in charge of being friendly and charming to her family instead of his blunt sister was now quite mature.

Astina was always impressed by the existence of her Ires. Ires was an older brother who was not born in the previous life.