# 5
Helen tightened her grip on the paper, tearing part of it off.
"mama?"
“…Nothing. Let’s continue eating.”
Helen, who did not want to pass on her negative feelings to her child, smiled.
“Wait.”
As Helen reread the letter, she realized something strange.
No matter how much you searched, you could not find any mention of Shevlin in Revan's letter.
No worry, no inquiry about her condition, not even a single word asking her to take care of Shevlin in his absence...
Nothing was written.
'What's on Revan's mind now?'
“Is it from Daddy?”
“Hmm?”
Somehow, the child's intuition was sharp.
“Oh, how did you know it was from Daddy?”
"I just thought it might be from Papa. Grandma's never sent a letter before."
Shevelin's pronunciation became more and more slurred as she stuffed the crepe into her mouth.
“Cherry misses Daddy so much, but I will be strong.”
said Sheveline, wiping her whipped cream-smeared mouth with a napkin.
“Huh?”
“Cherry is all grown up now!”
Shevelin said, shrugging her shoulders proudly.
“...My little one, have you grown up?”
'Why was she so sad to hear that she had grown up?'
Was it because she felt that she would soon leave her embrace?
"Yes! Cherry's not a kid anymore! She's all grown up!"
Helen found her daughter's arrogant look and hands on her hips adorable, so she kissed her on the cheek.
"She's tickling me! Mama, Cherry's not a baby anymore. You shouldn't do that to an adult!"
“Huh?”
“Cherry is going to be a big girl!”
Shevelina's serious expression as she declared her intention was endearing.
“Really? But only kids can eat strawberry shortcake at snack time.”
“Strawberry...strawberry cake?”
Strawberry cake was Chevelline's favorite snack. She would even wake up from her deep sleep for her sake.
While she was drooling, Sheviline licked her lips.
She quickly kissed Helen's cheek as if she hadn't just declared that she wasn't a child.
“Oh my God, didn't you say you're not a child?”
“Haha, Cherie is the baby.”
“Do you like strawberry cake that much?”
Helen couldn't hold back her laughter at her daughter's sudden change of heart.
“I love strawberries, but I love Mama more! Cherry loves you so much!”
Helen felt her heart overflow with love at her daughter's declaration of love.
An overwhelming feeling of emotion came over her, so she hugged Shivaline tightly.
“Mom... it's okay... Cherry is here.”
She felt Shivalin's small hand patting her back.
The child who used to express herself only with tears has grown up and needs constant care.
“I wish time with you passed more slowly.”
Helen secretly made a wish.
“Shevelin, how about we walk together after breakfast?”
"picnic?"
“Yes. Spring is almost over, so we should go before the flowers completely wither.”
Shevelin jumped out of her chair at Helen's suggestion.
“Cherry has finished eating! Let's go out right away!”
“Okay. Let's go.”
“Haha, Mama’s hand is warm.”
Shivalin suddenly grabbed Helen's hand.
Her baby's warmth was a priceless gift.
“But mom, aren’t you busy today?”
“Huh?”
“If you're not busy, after the outing...could you read a fairy tale and have a snack with Cherry?”
She had to review the books of accounts, but was that more important than her daughter's request for her presence?
“Absolutely, absolutely.”
Helen took a deep breath and scooped Shivalin into her arms.
Her daughter who returned double the love she received, and made her feel loved just by being with her.
She needed to clear up the misunderstanding with Revan as soon as possible and get back to things as they were.
"Cherry is happy! So happy!"
Because she didn't want to spoil her daughter's happiness.
After a good time and two layers of strawberry cake, Shivalin fell into a deep sleep.
After a good time and two layers of strawberry cake, Shivalin fell into a deep sleep.
“Cherry… strawberry cherry… cherry… delicious delicious...”
Helen laughed as she saw Shivalin waving her arms and talking in her sleep.
She put Shivalin on the bed and went up to the desk.
Helen sat at her desk, staring at the notebooks, a headache starting to creep up on her.
“Ah…”
Even after taking the medicine, she did not feel refreshed.
In fact, her mind was troubled by many fears.
If Revan didn't resolve the misunderstanding, she had to make sure for Shivalin's sake.
“Should I take a paternity test?”
Conflicting thoughts ran through her mind, so Helen pressed her skin tightly.
A paternity test requires a valid reason.
Whether the result is positive or negative...just getting tested could hurt Shivalin.
The only formal procedure that will not provoke gossip is the baptism ceremony.
“By the way, how are the preparations for the princess’s baptism going?”
With this in mind, Helen summoned the priest responsible for Shepheline's baptism.
“Are preparations for Shivalin’s baptism going well?”
“Well, actually... it's...”
When Helen saw the priest's hesitation, she urged him to continue.
The priest finally spoke reluctantly.
“His Highness has ordered the suspension of preparations for the princess’s baptism.”
“...Revan?”
Helen's face turned into one of astonishment.
In Bethestine, where the influence of the gods was strong, everyone underwent baptism.
Moreover, Shivaline, born with golden eyes, a symbol of the royal family, and holding the title of princess, was a legitimate member of the royal family.
Therefore, Shevelin had to be baptized before anyone else.
In addition, the baptism ceremony was a very important event that occurred only once in a lifetime.
‘How dare he make such a unilateral decision to postpone it! '
Helen clenched her hands tightly.
“Resume preparations for baptism immediately.”
" but…"
Although the high priest's approval was required because it involved formally registering the name in the family tree, Helen responded sharply to the hesitant priest.
"I'll take responsibility. Just focus on making sure everything goes smoothly."
She indicated that she would not tolerate any further objections, then said emotionally:
“...Do you understand?”
The priest made the sign of the cross and left, looking at her with wary eyes.
Helen immediately began writing a reply to Revan.
Revan postponed Shevelin's baptism.
When he received the letter indicating this, Revan returned the next day.
He arrived at dawn, exhausted, asleep on the sofa in the guest room.
“…Helen?”
Revan heard her footsteps, and opened his eyes with difficulty.
“…ha.”
Revan sighed seeing her staring at him angrily.
“About you deceiving me about Mrs. Reisen and not telling me anything. None of that matters now. Just tell me this first.”
"…What?"
“Did you really order that Shevelin's baptism be postponed?”
“….”
Revan turned his head away at Helen's reproachful words.
“Because you think that Sheveline might not really be your daughter?”
“…”
“You...you're the worst person. Ha…”
Helen realized that she was starting to get emotional, so she suppressed her rising emotions.
“You know what it means to not go through the baptism ceremony.”
But the more she spoke, the more intense her feelings became.
“You won't be able to appear in society. Maybe even the Senate will start talking about the title of princess for Shevelin.”
“…It was just a postponement. “That doesn’t mean I will never perform the ceremony.”
“The problem is postponement. Do you really think this will remain a secret?”
Revan's excuse was ridiculous. Totally irresponsible.
The baptism ceremony of a member of the royal family is an event that everyone follows.
Any disruption to this ceremony will spread quickly.
“Revan, if you were going to suspect me of betrayal… you should have done so the day Chevlin was born.”
“…”
“You had so little trust in me that you hurt me based on another woman’s words.”
She never betrayed the vow she made at their wedding.
“What do you want me to do? I tried to get over it calmly. I tried to ignore it! I intended to raise her as my own daughter!”
Revan grabbed Helen's shoulders tightly.
“If the paternity test shows that she is not my daughter, then what? There is no going back then! So, I just…”
Helen felt as if all her strength had evaporated.
He was sure. He wasn't ready to hear anything she had to say.
To Revan, Chevlin was indeed a stranger to him.
“…”
“…”
His eyes said it all.
“Leave me.”
“Stay away from me”
Helen could not accept this fact, so she shook Revan's hand and opened the door wide.
“…Shivlin?”
A familiar rabbit doll was lying on the floor.
“Mom, Dad... Are you fighting over Cherry?”
Shivalin stood at the door, on the verge of tears.
“Lin, it’s not like that...”
“Mom... you're going to hate Cherry now, aren't you?”
“Shivlin, it's a misunderstanding.”
Shivalin took a step back, closed her eyes tightly, and hurried down the corridor.
“Shivlin!”
As Helen ran after her and caught her, there was a bright flash accompanied by thunder.
"Shivlin! It's dangerous!"
She was startled by the sound, stumbled down the stairs, and Helen instinctively hugged her.
Helen fell down the stairs, clinging tightly to Shevlin.
“Helen!”
Revan, who had followed them, shouted when he saw Helen unconscious at the bottom of the stairs.