Though the fairies always displayed cheerfulness, today seemed different. After giggling for a while at Stella’s question, the fairies shouted in unison.

“A fairy seed has appeared!”

Rudina trembled with adoration watching the fairies hopping up and down. She wanted to simply pop them into her pocket and carry them around.

“A fairy seed?”

Though she knew about the fairy stone that Uhu had left behind, this marked Stella’s first time hearing of a fairy seed, so curiosity filled her.

“What is that?”

“Oh my! It’s the seed that our fairies are born from!”

Esta spoke naturally, comparing it to chicks hatching from eggs.

“Fairies are born from seeds?”

“Some are born from seeds, some from fruits…, I was born on a very snowy day. I was born inside a snowman that some child made. Pretty cool, right?”

Iver answered with a beaming smile.

Stella’s eyes widened at this new information, having thought that fairies married and had children like others. Though she wanted to ask more questions, right now her curiosity about the fairy seed outweighed everything else.

“That’s really amazing. Where is the fairy seed?”

“In our room! We found it under the Golden Bloom and took it home. We laid it on the best bed and covered it with the softest blanket. Remember my favorite blue blanket? I gave that up for it. You won’t believe how pretty the fairy seed we found is. Want to see it?”

Iver looked adorable, resembling an otter loving its pup as he boasted.

“Shall we?”

Rudina shared Stella’s curiosity, so she nodded vigorously.

Though she had seen all sorts of plants while living in Verdura Castle, she never expected to see a fairy seed. Rudina’s heart pounded with uncontrollable excitement.

After quickly freshening up with Rudina’s help, Stella went to the fairies’ room next to the empress’s chambers, excited like a child going on a picnic.

Kai had specially prepared this room for the fairies who wanted to stay close to Stella, even though they had their own quarters. Stella also welcomed having the fairies nearby.

Only a few people in the imperial palace could enter that room. Besides the empress and emperor, only Rudina, Crot, and Harman – who had finally gained permission after much begging – received access.

Actually, Harman nearly lost entry privileges because he bothered the earth fairies too much, but after tearful efforts like bringing various snacks and fruits, he succeeded in winning the fairies’ hearts.

Iver, who welcomed snacks the most, followed Harman the closest, and sometimes even visited Harman’s room directly. Whenever this happened, Harman would boast about it proudly to Kai.

Though Melissa also received permission, she avoided entering a room with noisy fairies.

Rather, she found the fairies who bothered her during every Stella visit annoying, and sometimes even argued with Oton, requiring Stella to intervene several times.

The room contained not only the fairies’ house but also a small garden, playground, and a snack box that wafted sweet aromas.

Usually, the fairies would head straight for the snack box upon entering the room, but today they rushed directly to their mansion, urging Stella to follow.

“Here, here!”

Stella gasped in surprise when she looked where the fairies pointed.

On an intricately crafted small bed lay a beautiful pink bead, preciously placed like an egg in a bird’s nest.

The sight itself appeared so rare that Stella couldn’t take her eyes off it.

“What do you think? Isn’t it pretty? The color looks so lovely!”

The fairies proudly introduced their discovered fairy seed. The fairies surrounding the bed with the seed looked truly happy.

“May I touch it?”

“It’s okay if it’s Stella.”

The four fairies generously answered while making space for Stella to easily touch it.

Though they wouldn’t let anyone else approach it, Stella differed. In fact, they eagerly wanted Stella to touch it.

More than anything, they wanted Stella’s praise for discovering such a precious and beautiful fairy seed.

“Yes, yes. It’s fine if it’s Stella.”

“Thank you.”

Though Stella expressed her thanks, she couldn’t tear her eyes from the fairy seed. She carefully reached out toward the fairy seed that drew her gaze magnetically.

“Wow, it’s warm.”

Stella, who expected it to feel hard since it was a seed, marveled as she touched the fairy seed that felt alive and warm.

Its surface felt smooth and soft like a baby’s cheek. Stella gently stroked the fairy seed placed in her palm, similar to petting a small animal.

That’s when it happened.

A clear, tinkling laugh echoed. It seemed to come from far away, yet also from right beside her. Stella lifted her head and looked around.

“Didn’t you hear laughter?”

“No, none of us laughed?”

As Oton answered shaking her head, suddenly the fairy seed in Stella’s palm started flickering like a firefly before suddenly lighting up brightly.

“Oh? It’s sparkling more now that it’s in Stella’s hand?”

“You’re right! It’s really twinkling!”

“The pink color seems to have deepened too!”

The earth fairies each added their observations while watching the glowing fairy seed. The fairies spoke truthfully. The fairy seed had indeed begun to shine the moment Stella touched it.

“Your Majesty, it looks so beautiful.”

Rudina spoke with a dazed expression. She had never witnessed such a beautiful sight in her life.

Though only as big as a quail’s egg, its mysterious energy and light shone so brilliantly it seemed otherworldly. Rudina unknowingly teared up from the overwhelming emotion.

Stella also shed tears. Like meeting a long-lost family member, a tender and yearning emotion surged like a wave, making her chest ache.

Oton, who carefully observed this, stroked her chin and said with a serious expression:

“I think this fairy seed appeared because of Stella.”

“Why?”

“How come?”

“But we found it?”

The excited fairies asked with disappointed expressions at Oton’s words.

They felt confident they could care for the fairy seed better than anyone else, and were also sure they could become excellent guardians and teachers for the fairy that would be born.

“Is this a coin? Does the finder become the owner?”

When Oton scolded them, the other earth fairies nodded while wearing gloomy expressions. Though they felt uncontrollable greed momentarily, they thought they could give it up for Stella.

Their disappointment quickly faded. That’s how precious Stella was to the earth fairies.

“It appeared because of me?”

Stella asked with a blank expression before unconsciously placing her hand on her stomach. Watching this, Oton’s eyes grew wide as she fluttered over to Stella and asked:

“Stella, do you perhaps have a baby in your belly?”

“…Yes.”

When Stella answered with a shy smile, Iver backed away in shock. The warm light that had filled his round eyes moments ago instantly disappeared, replaced with bewilderment.

“Why did you eat a baby, Stella! You shouldn’t do that!”

When Iver cried out, Oton bit her lower lip with an expression that seemed to say ‘what should we do with this one?’

“Stella, why did you do that!”

“Hey, you idiot!”

Unable to hold back, Oton smacked Iver’s forehead. The other two fairies also looked at him with exasperation.

“He must be crazy. How could Stella eat a baby? Dried plums maybe, but not a baby.”

“Right. Iver is stupid. But hey, did you eat those dried plums alone?”

“No, they’re in the snack box over there.”

“Really? That’s good.”

“But how did a baby get into Stella’s belly?”

“Shh! Be quiet. If we show we don’t know, Oton will nag us again. Quick, pretend you know.”

Esta and Ark whispered quietly, but when they caught Oton’s eye, they grinned confidently pretending nothing had happened.

They didn’t forget to click their tongues and point fingers at Iver. They clearly drew their lines.

Though Iver wore an expression of extreme indignation, nobody in the room would take his side.

“Oh dear, oh dear! What am I going to do with these ones?”

Ignoring her friends who showed no signs of improvement, Oton hopped onto Stella’s lap as she sat in front of the dollhouse. Then she gently rested her head against Stella’s still-flat belly.

“This fairy seed probably appeared for Stella’s baby. I can feel Terra Goddess’s blessings overflowing. It seems your baby receives lots of love and blessings from Terra Goddess, Stella. I think I already love your baby too.”

“Me too!”

“I love it too, I love it too!”

“I like Stella’s baby more than dried plums!”

Not to be outdone by Oton’s declaration of love, the other fairies hopped onto Stella’s lap. Seeing this, Rudina finally couldn’t control her emotions and burst into tears.

* * *

“Is it really alright to train with werewolves?”

The knights murmured seeing James and his father Kurt appear in the Imperial Knights. Even with their closeness to the empress, beast-folk had never before joined the knights.

Moreover, behind the two stood about ten beast-folk who had followed Kurt. They all stood a head taller than the knights, and James, who had grown considerably recently, stood out even among the group.

Kurt gazed at James with pride. His son, once so weak, had grown up splendidly, successfully completed his second growth, and even completed imprinting.

Of course, the human woman who became the imprinting target didn’t yet see James as her mate, but Kurt believed that when the full moon rises soon, she would have no choice but to accept James.

This belief stemmed from the blessed power that dwells in the first full moon that a werewolf faces after becoming an adult. The clever James would make full use of that opportunity.

Even to Kurt’s eyes, James looked quite handsome and possessed excellent charm as a male. If so, seeing grandchildren would only be a matter of time.

Kurt had no interest whatsoever in joining the Imperial Knights.

He simply stayed with his son who wanted to remain near his loved one. The one his son wanted to protect would also become someone Kurt needed to protect.

A satisfied smile spread across Kurt’s lips as he stood behind James, who was looking at the knights.