Chapter 11: Before the Wedding ⑩ ~Welcome Home~

The day after listening to what the underworld man could share, Edel and Chronos spent most of the day feeling restless.
Chronos’s studies were excused with a “just for today, it can’t be helped.”

Since Edel and Chronos had come here, this was the first stretch of days Aria had been absent.
They had heard she was also leading troops to subjugate bandits, so even though word had come that everything ended safely, worry was still worry.
Until they could confirm her safety with their own eyes, they could not truly relax.

“Is it almost time?”

They had been told she would return near evening, so as that time approached, Edel kept glancing out the window.

His appearance had been polished as usual by the maids.
He had also written songs so that Aria could hear them when she returned.
It was impossible to use the stories he had only just heard yesterday, but he had finished several pieces, including gentle love songs and ones inspired by heroic tales, and wanted her to listen when there was time.

Just as he had declared at the tavern, Edel had no intention of singing or playing music anywhere Aria was not present.
Until now, Edel had sung anywhere, whether on stage or in taverns, as long as someone would listen, but once Aria told him she liked his voice, that alone was enough for him.

When Aria made him her husband and Chronos her son, granting them her protection, Edel desperately wondered what he could do in return.
In the end, he decided on his own that he would devote everything about his talent as a minstrel, which she had praised, to her.

He composed songs so that his praised gift for songwriting would not wither.
He would sing only when Aria was present.

It was a selfish rule he had not told Aria about, but Edel intended to keep it.

Since coming to live in the castle, he had sung before Aria several times after dinner.
Seeing her calm, satisfied expression, he believed he was at least easing her heart a little.

In fact, people like the director of the Finance Bureau had told him that he was having a good influence on Lady Aria, so Edel wanted to do his best for her whenever time allowed.

“Ah, she’s back!”

Spotting Aria’s figure approaching in the distance, Edel hurried out of the room and headed outside.
Picking up Chronos along the way, the two went out together, where others in the castle had already gathered to welcome her.

“Lord Edel, Young Master, please come this way.”

Theodore spotted them quickly and placed the two at the very front.
Behind them, everyone else lined up, fully prepared to welcome the Empress of the Borderlands.

“Chronos, Aria is back safely.
That’s a relief.”

“I feel like Father is the most relieved.”

“Yeah.
I know she’s strong, and the army is elite, so I thought she’d be fine, but you never know what might happen.”

“That’s true.
Before we knew it, Father and I had become the Margrave’s husband and son.”

“Ahaha, that’s true.”

Hearing Chronos say it so lightly, Edel felt relieved about that as well.

It was fine now.
During the few days Aria was gone, Chronos had properly faced his own feelings and come to terms with them.
It seemed he had resolved himself to live as the heir of the Margrave.
Edel did wonder whether it was right to make such a young child shoulder that resolve, but since Chronos had not been born here, Edel believed that even a child needed a certain level of determination to survive in this place, and after many difficult discussions, they had reached this conclusion together.

“Father, I can properly call her Mother now.
Please be Mother’s husband properly too.”

Was his son not a little too perceptive?

“Leave it to me!
I’ll play the role of Aria’s husband perfectly!”

Even if he was just an ornament with no real authority and might not even serve as a deterrent, now that he was married, he would give it his all to play the role of Aria’s husband.

“…I think what I mean and what Father thinks are different.
And what Mother thinks is probably even more different.”

Being their child, Chronos had seen his parents’ private relationship up close.
At first, he thought they had become husband and wife out of mutual interest and taken him in as an adopted child, but lately it felt different.
When he casually asked Professor Rudolf, the professor agreed.
The maids seemed to have sensed something even earlier and were earnestly polishing Edel up.

Lately, Chronos thought his father might be the densest of them all.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be properly useful to Aria.”

Yeah, definitely different.

Professor Rudolf, it looks like it will be a long time before I get a little brother or sister.

Chronos reported this silently in his heart.

“Welcome home, you two.
Did either of you fall ill?”

After dismounting, Aria stepped before Edel and Chronos and smiled.
At a glance, she did not appear injured.

“Welcome back, Aria.
I’m glad you returned safely.
As you can see, we’re fine.”

“Welcome back, Mother.”

Aria was surprised to hear Chronos clearly call her “Mother,” but seeing his refreshed expression, she assumed he had undergone a change of heart and gently patted his head.

“Heh, I ended up buying quite a lot of souvenirs.
I’ll give them to you later.”

“Yes, thank you.
But I’m happiest that you returned safely.”

“Oh, what a nice thing to say.
I’m relieved to see you doing well too.”

Watching Aria hug Chronos, those around them seemed to relax.
Edel also watched the scene with a warm smile.

“And Edel?
Aren’t you coming?”

“…Huh?
Aria?”

After hugging Chronos, Aria extended her hand toward Edel.

…Was this her telling him to come closer?

Ah!
I see.
This must be an appeal to show those in the castle that the couple’s relationship is good.

Interpreting it that way on his own, Edel took Aria’s outstretched hand and pressed it to his cheek.

“Your hand is as warm as ever, Aria.
If it ever gets cold, let me know.
I’ll warm it for you.”

“…I see.
Then I’ll rely on you someday.
That’s all for work today.
After dinner, I want to hear your singing.”

“Yes.
I’ve finished some new songs, and I really wanted you to hear them.”

“Oh?
That sounds like something to look forward to.”

Using the hand pressed to Edel’s cheek, Aria took his hand and pulled him closer.
She placed a kiss on the cheek she had just touched, then immediately released him and turned toward the soldiers.

“Everyone, good work.
We’ll dismiss for today, so submit your reports tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

Facing the soldiers so Edel could not see, Aria’s face looked just a little redder than usual.
But surely that was just his imagination.
Yes, it had to be his imagination.

Telling himself that over and over, the expedition came to an end.

Afterward, some who had been single for a long time suddenly got married, and they were patted on the shoulder by their comrades for some reason.