The glass embedded between wheat-colored stone buildings shot sunlight toward the guests. As the clock embedded in the middle of the horizontally long building that seemed to be at least five stories high struck ten in the morning, the crowd of people standing together rushed into the building all at once.

Izer watched the scene with a pale face while pressing down his black hat. Jade poked his side with the head of his cane.

“What are you doing, Duke? We should hurry too.”

“You want me to go into that chaos?”

“No effort, no reward. Stop complaining and follow me.”

As Jade dragged him along by his sleeve, Izer poured out his complaints.

“If we need something, we can just call merchants to the house. Why come all the way here and waste effort? Jade, just what are you planning to buy that you brought me here?”

“A wife’s love, you fool.”

Captain Schwenn, who had become terribly loving toward his wife since returning from the battlefield, mentioned ‘wife’ and ‘Wendy’ and ‘love’ at every opportunity. After Celian’s return, the frequency increased exactly a hundredfold.

The inside was even more of a sight. Some delicate ladies stumbled, swept up in the crowd. The clerks targeted wealthy-looking customers with eagle eyes in an impressive manner. Izer muttered while adjusting his grip on his cane.

“Most seem to be ladies.”

“Right. Be careful not to step on their dresses.”

This was Izer’s first time entering a department store. When he was a commoner, he couldn’t even look at it due to lack of money, and after being adopted into the Chesterfield family, he could purchase far better products without any effort.

In contrast, Jade, from a count’s family, was familiar with department stores, fitting someone somewhere between the middle and upper class. He easily penetrated through the crowd of ladies using his tall height.

“This is Wendy’s request. Don’t resent me too much.”

“If your wife’s love is for me, I’d rather decline.”

“You might think differently when you see it. Ah, here it is. Ellen!”

Jade cheerfully greeted a clerk. A female clerk who had been showing a catalog to a young couple in the middle of the store came running with sparkling eyes.

“Captain, you’re here! Finally some good news?”

“Unfortunately not yet. I’ll try harder. Ellen, today’s guest is this way. This is Duke Chesterfield.”

“Hello, Duke. I’ve heard so much about you. The Captain has been singing your praises endlessly.”

“……”

Izer’s expression was stiff. Jade waved his cane to clear the atmosphere.

“Ellen, we’ll look around for a bit. Please attend to the customers who came first.”

“Yes, Captain. Please call if you need anything.”

The female clerk returned to the middle of the store. Izer grabbed Jade’s arm and dragged him to a corner while growling.

“Jade, why are we here?”

The main customers of the store specializing in baby items were young couples or women. Curious glances fell and lifted from the two dark-clothed men standing in the middle of cute items.

Jade crossed his arms.

“Izer, do you think women have babies alone?”

“……”

“You said the due date isn’t far off. Wendy is worried sick that Celian doesn’t seem comfortable around you. Still haven’t made up?”

Izer’s eyes grew cold at his brazen attitude.

“……Have you forgotten who made me do that foolish thing?”

“Ahem, I’m sorry about that…… But everything worked out well in the end. You need to clear up misunderstandings and dissolve hard feelings. The baby will be born soon, how long will you stay cold?”

“……”

“I hear you’re pretending to be super busy. You don’t stay home even on days off? Have you had any conversations with Celian?”

“Stay out of couple matters. And tell Wendy to stop meddling before I ban her visits.”

“If even Wendy disappears, Celian will waste away more.”

Jade pointed out sharply. Izer pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket with an annoyed look and wiped his hands.

“Enough, shop by yourself. I have nothing to buy.”

“You need to fix that rotten attitude first. How is this someone who’s about to become a father? At this point, you know, it wouldn’t be strange to say ‘I’ll take everything from here to there’ for the items here.”

Jade swept the display with his brown cane, then pointed at one spot emphatically.

“From here!”

From the newborn underwear his wife was working hard to make,

“To there!”

To the infant dress suitable for a three-year-old child. Looking at his smirking friend’s face, Izer rolled his eyes.

“My household matters are my……”

“Ah ah, I can see my friend’s future. Declared to use separate rooms by his wife, drinking alcohol while depressed……”

“……”

“And not just alcohol, you’ll pick up smoking again. Then Celian will draw an even firmer line, saying she doesn’t need a baby’s father who smells of tobacco.”

“……Damn it.”

Jade led the deflated Izer triumphantly to right in front of the underwear display that corresponded to ‘here.’ Soon, underwear that would barely reach the length of an adult man’s forearm was spread before Izer.

Jade asked with a bright smile.

“What do you think?”

“It’s small.”

“Newborns are naturally small. Didn’t you see Percy when he was little?”

“……”

He hadn’t. Izer’s silence was answer enough, and Jade shook his head while putting down the underwear. A nearby clerk instantly folded the clothes and returned them to their original state.

“Alright, shouldn’t have asked. Don’t just stand there blankly, take an active look around. Even if you don’t buy anything now, knowing the types will surely be a big help. Now, how about this?”

“It’s cute.”

“And this?”

“Pretty.”

Izer responded halfheartedly. Of course, every item was cute and pretty. To avoid being captivated by them, Izer kept thinking about other things.

Finally, Jade gave up. The small mobile that he had been trying to catch Izer’s attention with returned to the display case.

Jade turned toward Izer, who was already looking elsewhere, while staring at the glass case with lingering regret. His face, devoid of playfulness, was serious.

“Izer, do you perhaps not want the baby?”

“What nonsense.”

“I’m asking because you’re too cold about it. If becoming a father feels burdensome, at least tell me honestly. I might be able to help convey your opinion to Celian in a way that hurts her as little as possible.”

“Not want the baby?”

Izer let out a hollow laugh at the absurd question.

He wanted the baby more than anyone. He could confidently say he wished for their baby’s birth several times more than Celian did. The nights he smiled to himself imagining a daughter who resembled Celian reaching out with chubby arms calling him dad, while behind her, Celian walked holding their son who looked exactly like him, were countless.

Just as much, he had to cry silently through many nights. Izer growled.

“I’m a man too. Of course I want a baby.”

“Then why……”

A question mark appeared on Jade’s face. Izer turned away from his friend.

“Since we’re here, go buy a gift for Wendy or something. I’ve seen enough.” 

 * * *

 Celian blinked.

“What’s this?”

“Jade asked me to help choose a gift for Wendy at the department store. The clerk looked at me with pleading eyes to buy something, so I weakened and bought it.”

“……”

A blue brooch the size of a baby’s fist emitted a mysterious light. Celian sat on the bed fiddling with the brooch. Izer, who had been watching her intently, took the box from her hands.

“It wasn’t expensive. Just… because you like blue.”

He couldn’t confess that he had searched the entire department store to find the one most similar to the brooch Doctor Owen had given her and he had broken. Reflecting on his petty past self, Izer closed the box.

“Even though I tell you to buy whatever you want, you don’t spend money. I thought maybe you’d wear it if I bought it……”

“……”

“You don’t have to wear it if you don’t like it. I admit I don’t know your taste well. I know you hardly wear any of the jewels I’ve bought you.”

Every time he saw the small cross necklace, Izer was overwhelmed with complex emotions. While he was grateful that his wife treasured the things he gave her, whenever he thought about how the person she had loved was the fresh young man from seven years ago, he became confused and didn’t know what to do.

Celian silently reached out toward him. The palm-sized box in Izer’s hands returned to its owner.

She opened the box and gave a small thank you.

“Thank you. I like it.”

“……”

“I think I’ll wear it often. Really.”

There seemed to be a faint smile. As he changed clothes, relieved by her rare positive response, Celian’s voice came from behind.

“Have you thought about baby names?”

Since the day he had shown an indifferent reaction asking why she would make something like baby clothes, this was the first time Celian had brought up the baby to him. With his back still turned to her, Izer asked.

“Have you?”

“Estelle if it’s a girl, Leon if it’s a boy.”

“……Those are pretty names.”

That was all the response he could manage. Soon the loud sound of running water filled the bathroom. 

 * * *