Theodore had never heard such a suffocating question in his entire life. He should have expected it, yet he hadn’t prepared an answer for such a question.

He closed his eyes tightly and then opened them. Without having prepared a pleasant answer, all Theodore could give his daughter was the truth.

“There isn’t one.”

He spoke each word as if chewing them.

“Your mother… doesn’t exist.”

He couldn’t even begin to imagine how much pain his precious Elodie would feel if she understood the true meaning of these words. Theodore swallowed dryly and continued. It was something he wanted to tell Elodie.

“You… are my daughter whom I’ve raised with my own hands since you were born. Don’t doubt that.”

“I see.”

Theodore blinked. Elodie didn’t seem sad or disappointed at all. Rather, she seemed… relieved.

“So, there’s no mom, right? It means she won’t appear one day and try to take me away, right?”

“…”

The hidden meaning in those words choked Theodore. In the end, he couldn’t voice his answer and just nodded slightly.

Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Elodie smiled brightly and ran towards Aria without looking back. Theodore looked up at the empty sky.

He had thought the world, which had appeared only in shades of gray since he lost Elodie, had regained its color, but now he felt a hollowness in his chest.

***

The picnic ended in a cheerful mood. Perhaps it was even more enjoyable because the Duke tactfully left midway through. Even while doing the dishes, I shook my head thinking about the Duke’s absurd behavior.

‘…Still, he’s good to Elodie.’

After all, there are limits to what I can do for Elodie. She might be satisfied with eating delicious food and wearing warm clothes now, but who knows what dreams she’ll have in the future. And when that time comes, the Duke’s wealth and power will strongly support Elodie.

‘Oh my, it’s so late.’

Time flew by as I was cleaning up. I tiptoed to the bedroom so as not to wake Elodie, who would be already asleep.

“…wish Aria was Elodie’s mom.”

Suddenly, my body froze. Elodie was mumbling something in a sleepy voice.

“Saint, if you exist, please grant my wish. Please make Aria become Elodie’s mom…”

People in this country revered a saint who had greatly contributed to the founding of the nation. It wasn’t the state religion, so quite a few people didn’t believe in it, and in fact, Elodie had never mentioned anything about the saint. But now, Elodie’s voice praying to the saint sounded more desperate than anyone in the temple.

“I’ll be a really, really good child. I won’t do anything bad. So please, make Aria say she’s Elodie’s mom…”

I withdrew my hand that was reaching for the doorknob. I couldn’t bring myself to enter the bedroom at this moment. Above all, thinking about the pain Elodie would feel made it difficult for my feet to move properly.

‘I can’t give Elodie what she wants.’

Of course, I wanted to do as Elodie wished. Officially submit adoption papers, tell her to call me mom, introduce Elodie as my daughter in front of others…

I didn’t have any plans to get married anyway. It might be better to have a child of my own than to live a lonely life forever.

But is adoption really that easy? If Elodie were truly an orphan with no family, the situation might have been different. At least it would be a problem that could be solved once I was mentally prepared. But Elodie…

‘She’s the daughter of Duke Baniche.’

I closed my eyes. The daughter of none other than Theodore Baniche. The child whom Theodore Baniche in the novel loved so much that he was willing to annihilate an entire city to save her. The child who would one day become the owner of the Baniche Duchy.

‘…’

Regardless of my personal likes or dislikes towards Theodore Baniche, I wasn’t unaware of the fact that he was showing us quite a bit of goodwill. If he wanted, he could have forcibly taken Elodie away from me at any time.

He wouldn’t even need to use force. If he just filed a paternity lawsuit in court, Elodie would immediately have to go to the Duke’s family. They looked so much alike, after all.

The reason Duke Baniche didn’t take such action was only one. Because Elodie liked me so much that she would be unhappy if separated from me.

By now, Elodie’s prayer had stopped, and only the sound of her deep breathing could be heard. I quietly entered the bedroom. Fortunately, Elodie seemed to be in such a deep sleep that she didn’t even notice I had come in.

“Mmm… delicious…”

Even sleep-talking. Judging by the sound of her smacking her lips, she seemed to be eating something delicious in her dream.

I looked at Elodie’s innocent face illuminated by moonlight. A long-standing concern swirled deep in my chest. What would be the best for Elodie?

Elodie’s wish was simple. For Theodore Baniche to completely disappear, and for only Elodie and me to live happily together.

‘That’s not possible.’

I smiled bitterly. Even putting aside the issue of Theodore Baniche being a Duke, he was Elodie’s biological father who genuinely loved her. Someday, Elodie would surely understand those feelings. Perhaps in the distant future, she might need her real father more than me.

‘Only until that time comes.’

I lay down next to Elodie and quietly stroked her silver hair. It had become quite soft now, to the point where I couldn’t even imagine its previous rough texture.

‘I promise you, Elodie.’

I vowed while looking at Elodie.

‘I’ll make you happy somehow.’

***

The next day. The monthly holiday vanished in an instant like summer snow, and a day of work dawned. I started my usual routine after going to the cafe with Elodie. In the morning, I dealt with customers starting with the old lady, and in the afternoon, I handled the influx of customers beginning with Duke Baniche. The only thing different from usual that day was one small thing. When I brought the waffle to the Duke, I slipped in a small note.

As a result, when Elodie and I returned home after closing the cafe, the Duke was waiting.

“What’s the matter? Do you need my help? If you just say the word…”

“Let’s talk inside.”

I cut off the Duke’s words. Indeed, the late autumn night after sunset was quite chilly. I made hot cocoa for Elodie and a cup of warm tea each for the Duke and myself before speaking.

“It’s not that I need anything… I called you because I have something to say. Elodie, you need to hear this too.”

“Wh-what is it?”

Elodie looked up at me with anxious eyes. I was also a bit nervous, my mouth feeling dry. Elodie probably wouldn’t like what I was about to say very much. I looked straight at Duke Baniche.

“Your Grace, you want to meet Elodie, don’t you? Not just watching from afar, but having time together as father and daughter.”

Duke Baniche was silent for a moment.

“…I don’t think I have the right to ask for such a thing.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. I thought he would eagerly agree, but instead, he said something close to a refusal.

“Whether I or Elodie like it or not, you are Elodie’s dad, Your Grace. Unless you’re going to cut ties completely…”

I stopped abruptly. Duke Baniche didn’t say anything, but I could feel a murderous intent from his slightly changed posture. Not wanting to receive death threats again, I quickly waved my hands.

“I was just giving an example. Don’t take it seriously… Anyway, as long as Your Grace acknowledges Elodie as your daughter, I think Elodie needs you too, you know?”

“What are you trying to say?”

Duke Baniche asked in an icy voice. I took a deep breath. It didn’t seem like the right proposal to make when Duke Baniche’s mood seemed so bad, but it felt like now or never.

“I’d like Your Grace to spend time with Elodie once a week. Of course, on the condition that I’m present too.”

“…!”