"You know where Tina's birth mother is? Are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm lying?"
"... No."
There was no reason to lie. Elphisia wasn't the type to deceive about such a sensitive matter.
"But how did you find out? It couldn't have been easy..."
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"It would be half truth, half lie."
Right, this was Elphisia. Rather than spin falsehoods, she'd bluntly refuse to answer.
I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling, but her honest response inspired trust.
"I'll leave the decision to you. I only ntioned it because I think hiding it would be wrong."
"By that logic, it's wrong for to hide it from Tina too."
"That's different. You're Tina's father, aren't you?"
Elphisia steered the conversation in a direction I hadn't considered.
"Respecting a child's freedom is virtuous. Maintaining a peaceful daily life is equally important. But the two can't always coexist. Sotis you have to choose."
"Are you saying Tina eting her birth mother would disrupt her peaceful life?"
"Well, cliffs by the sea aren't the only things worn down by ti."
Elphisia argued that people's hearts erode too.
I didn't know how long Tina had been lost, but she'd lived like a wild animal for years.
How her birth mother's feelings might have changed over that long span was anyone's guess.
"Harte. You have the right to decide. You're Tina's parent now, aren't you?"
"And my dutiful wife is just as much Tina's parent."
"... Are you suggesting we discuss this? Together?"
"Why not? Co, sit here, Elphisia. Let's consider what's best for our child as a couple."
"..."
I patted the spot next to on the bed, inviting her to sit. But Elphisia's reaction was oddly stiff.
"Hmm... I suppose it's not fancy enough for you to sit on? We should replace the bedding soon..."
"No!"
"Whoa, you'll wake the kids."
"No... that's not it..."
After her initial shout, her voice shrank to a whisper.
Head bowed, Elphisia slowly approached and sat demurely beside .
"You must think I'm so noble lady who's only satisfied with luxury, don't you?"
"I know prejudice is bad, but... honestly, yes..."
"You're right. It is prejudice. I don't care if my clothes are patched with cheap fabric. I'd be fine sleeping in a stable full of straw. As long as I have just one thing, nothing else matters."
"Just one thing?"
"Yes. With that one thing, I'd be fine even if it wasn't a bed, but the floor..."
Elphisia's true feelings surprised . Who would have thought a woman of such high standing in the Empire would have such modest ideals?
The more I learned about her, the more she defied expectations.
"Then tell what that one thing is. As your husband, I want to match your efforts. I'll make sure to prepare it."
"P-Prepare? What...?"
"Anything! It's sothing in the orphanage, right?"
"Well, yes, but...! You'll regret it!"
"I'm not particularly materialistic. I'd give you everything I have. If you doubt , I'll swear on my baptismal na."
As a holy knight, I prided myself on embracing a life of poverty.
True, after fleeing the temple, I'd developed a desire for money when on the brink of starvation...
But if basic survival was secured, I could always return to my forr self, devoted to temple life.
"Ha... How can you say such things without batting an eye? Are you so playboy?"
"That's rude. I'll have you know I've taken a vow of chastity."
There might have been a possibility of physical intimacy if I'd fallen in love with soone.
But now I was Elphisia's spouse, and we'd agreed not to seek affection from each other.
Barring any major life changes, I would surely end my days pure.
"So, Elphisia."
I took her hand in mine and bowed my head, pressing my forehead to the back of her hand.
Then I conveyed my sincerity to her through a prayer infused with divine power.
"If you wish it, I'll gladly give you all that I have. For as long as our mutual faith endures."
Brilliant divine energy rippled like gentle waves.
Golden light filled the room. Miracle-working radiance surrounded us, engraving a vow into the bond between us.
I t Elphisia's ruby-like eyes.
Eyes are windows to the soul.
Reflecting her red windows in my own eyes, I concluded my final prayer.
"In the na of God bestowed upon , I etch this eternal promise before the Lord."
A golden ring in a figure-eight shape bound our joined wrists.
The miraculous light fully perated us.
I smiled, half-expecting praise from Elphisia.
What I got instead was a scolding about losing my mind.
"Harte, are you insane?! Do you know what it ans to swear on your baptismal na?!"
"What does it an?"
"It's...!"
How would Elphisia know the details?
At most, she might know it's an absolute oath.
Fortunately, my concerns about her knowing specifics seed unfounded.
Elphisia just lowered her gaze with a guilty expression.
"Getting such concern from my wife, it seems this wasn't a vain oath after all. How could I have ill intentions when you make a face like that?"
"What's wrong with my face?!"
"It's as pretty as always?"
"Wha- Wh-What..."
"Haha."
I know it's wrong, but Elphisia does have subtle similarities to Yulian.
She always strives for perfection, yet occasionally shows amusing reactions when teased.
I'm truly fortunate that Elphisia is my partner.
Not only is she capable in everything, but she even has modest living habits.
To show such a tender expression at a baptismal na vow.
I doubt even a woman I t through love would be as good a match as Elphisia.
Certainly, I was lucky.
"So, can you tell now? What that one thing you need is."
"... Never mind. It's close by anyway."
"Don't tell ...!"
"Wh-What? Don't tell you what...?"
I was the fool.
The answer was obvious.
If she didn't care whether she slept on straw or the floor, then clearly!
"A pillow!"
"It's not!!!"
Was I wrong?
Elphisia finally broke into informal speech. How far off the mark must I have been for her to abandon her usual manner of speaking?
"I heard everyone has a favorite pillow..."
"It's important! But how have you gone so far in the wrong direction!"
"Ah, so it is important?"
Though I got the answer wrong, we should go pillow shopping together soon.
anwhile, Elphisia slumped against my shoulder, seemingly drained of energy.
"Forget it... Let's get back to our original conversation."
"Okay, let's do that."
As Elphisia's posture collapsed, her auburn hair flowed smoothly over the back of my hand.
It was so soft and fine that the tickling sensation felt strange.
At the sa ti, a subtle scent of roses settled around us.
It felt as if the whole world was filled with Elphisia.
'How odd...'
This sensation that should feel unfamiliar sohow felt familiar.
Strangely, I beca aware of my heart's previously calm pulsing.
The sense of discomfort I felt when I first saw Elphisia resurfaced.
---
---
My in-depth conversation with Elphisia continued until dawn.
It was a difficult issue to decide on easily.
Nevertheless, our agreent leaned towards respecting Tina's opinion.
After finishing breakfast, I quietly asked to speak with Tina in her room.
"Tina."
"Yes, Dad. What's the occasion?"
"What do you an? Don't tell you think we never talk."
"It's been a while since we've talked just the two of us like this, since we're always all together lately!"
Tina said that, then hastily corrected herself.
"Ah, but I don't dislike being with Yulian and Glen. It's just been a while since it was just us... Hehe."
"What about with Mom?"
"I've spent a lot of ti with Mom. She reads books to , which I love, but her voice is so pretty that I end up just listening to it instead of the story."
"That's good to hear."
"It is. At first I was scared because she seed cold, but it turns out she's really kind, right?"
"You're right, Tina. Elphisia is a kind person. Truly."
Last night's conversation revealed her character clearly.
Elphisia had considered Tina's future more deeply than I expected, and I was deeply moved by it.
So, I resolved to completely abandon any preconceptions about her being the villain from the original story or whatnot.
Elphisia is a good family mber.
Having gained that firm conviction, I carefully posed a question to Tina.
"Tina."
"Yes?"
"This is just... a hypothetical question."
"Okay, Dad."
"If you could go back to your real mother, what would you want to do? I an... not Elphisia, but the mother who actually gave birth to you."
Tina's expression hardened.
Her round blue eyes were hidden by drooping eyelids, and her open palms had clenched into fists.
I waited for Tina's answer.
"I..."
After that, Tina reconsidered her response three or four tis before conveying her feelings in a cracked voice.
"I... want to see her..."
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