# 72
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“Just a moment.”
Matthias handed the map to Logan and began to approach Elinor.
Elinor felt embarrassed that she had been caught secretly staring at him.
'Why does he come to me?'
I tried to escape, but it was too late.
Matthias approached her quickly and asked cautiously.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No no."
Elinor lowered her eyes.
I felt ashamed to meet his eyes.
Mathias assumed her reaction meant she was hiding something uncomfortable.
"If you're tired, don't stand, sit in a chair. Are you cold? Should I get a heater?"
“No, I'm really fine-”
“August, get a heater here! And a blanket to cover her knees!”
The knights rushed over, carrying a heater and a blanket.
They were not on an outdoor picnic.
Things were piled up around Elinor in a strange sight.
“Here, drink some tea. It will warm your body.”
“Thank you…”
Eleanor missed the opportunity to refuse, so she took what was offered to her.
She didn't know, but maybe she was really cold, because drinking tea made her feel a bit comfortable.
Matthias saw her expression calm down and asked:
“How does the tea taste? Do you like it?”
“Yes, it is delicious and convenient.”
“I'm glad you liked it.”
Matthias smiled contentedly, raising the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly, Elinor's heart beat gently.
'What should I do...'
Letting your guard down for someone seems to bring a big change.
Before, she was always worried about the future when she was with Matthias.
She was afraid he would hurt the baby, and even when they got closer, she couldn't completely let her guard down.
But now, I felt calm. Rather, having him by her side made her feel safe.
At this moment, she believed that even if something happened, he would save her.
As he did at the end of the border when he caught her and did not let go while she was fascinated by black magic.
'Strange.'
She never expected to trust the evil Duke from the original story so much.
Since moving into this world, she has always been vigilant, even towards Elinor's real parents.
In fact, Matthias was the first person she trusted.
'This means that he opened his heart to me as well.'
In the beginning, their collaboration was only to find Charlotte, so how did things change so much?
Elinor wondered if he too was aware of this change.
But asking him about that made her feel embarrassed.
She looked at him warily from the corner of her eyes.
Matthias smiled gently.
“If you want to say something, you can say it.”
“…The tea is just delicious.”
impossible.
She couldn't admit that she had been wary of him all this time, so how could she ask him about that?
Elinor restrained her curiosity with effort.
Instead, she changed the subject and asked:
“Regarding clearing the border, how long will it take?”
“We'll know after trying a few days.”
Matthias looked at the golden bird flying among the knights in the distance.
The knights, astonished by the miracle of the little bird, followed him enthusiastically.
“If the Holy Beast’s abilities aren’t limited, I think we can finish it within three months.”
“Three months…”
Three months means it could come back before the baby turns one.
Elinor fidgeted with her warm cup of tea.
“Your Highness, I have something I want to do.”
"What is it? If I can help you, I'll do anything."
“When we finish clearing the border and return to Castle Hilliard… I want to name the child.”
Matthias's eyes widened and he looked at Elinor.
He knew how adamant she was about letting Charlotte name the baby, so his reaction was predictable.
"You said you'd wait for Charlotte to name him. Oh, I'm not opposed to you naming him, of course."
Matthias looked at Elinor warily and asked:
“Can I ask why you suddenly changed your mind?”
“Because I realized I was being too harsh on the child.”
She was silent for a moment, then suddenly said.
“When I was little, I had a little deficiency.”
"loss?"
“Yes. He usually doesn’t appear, but he suddenly appears at crucial moments, which makes me hesitate...”
In Boundary Valley, this imperfection was the reason why Charlotte's voice enchanted her.
Her desire to be loved by her only family...
If there is a shortage, it can be filled again. But Elinor had not learned how to fill it.
"So I became obsessed with the baby. I saw myf in him. But now I realize that I didn't love the baby properly as a family."
“Eleanor, if you were hurt by my previous words, I’m sorry.”
Matthias remembered his mistake and apologized, lowering his eyes.
Elinor shook her head.
“No, Your Highness. If you had not pointed it out, it might have taken me longer to realize my mistake. I am rather grateful.”
“But...”
“I'm speaking honestly, not just sweet talk. So don't feel guilty.”
Matthias smiled awkwardly.
She looked embarrassed and worried about her condition at the same time.
Elinor smiled reassuringly.
“When we get back, I'll choose a great name for the baby.”
"…Good."
“And I want to tell him that I celebrate his birth into this world.”
You will choose a very beautiful name.
A name with good meanings carefully chosen for the child to live a happy and blessed life.
There was no hesitation in Elinor's eyes.
The weak heart that has been bewitched by black magic has hardened like a healed wound.
Matthias notices this change in Elinor.
Relax and smile.
“Okay. Then we should have a birthday party.”
“Will you set him up, Your Highness?”
“Of course. If the child’s mother wants to celebrate his birthday, I have to cooperate. How can a father ignore his son’s birthday?”
The words “mother of the child” and “father of the child” appeared after a while.
But Elinor, instead of objecting as before, laughed lightly.
“I rate it highly. A baby's first birthday is a very special day in my hometown.”
"What?"
What is this? Eleanor didn't object when I said I was the baby's father...?
“Ah, it looks like Sir Logan is calling for you. Go quickly.”
Elinor got up and walked briskly.
Matthias, who was momentarily stunned, followed behind her.
An early spring breeze blew through the cold winter valley.
* * *
Tidian Hilliard. Two months later, in April, he will turn fourteen.
Recently, he had a lot of worries.
“How do I get rid of competitors...”
muttered the old servant, twirling his moustache.
For what reason? At that moment, he remembered the deceased former duke.
When he was infatuated with the Grand Duchess, who was a knight in the palace, he said something similar to him.
“There are a lot of men around Isadora.”
“Maybe because she is a knight, and even the leader of the knights.”
“I'm worried. What if an inappropriate person approaches her without knowing his status? But I don't want her to stop carrying the sword. How do I get rid of all these men...”