Side Story 3.1 – Happiness

Clip-clop, rattle!

Clip-clop, clip-clop…

The sound of running hooves and the occasional carriage wheel kicking up gravel echoed against the carriage walls. But inside the square walls, it was utterly silent. Even their breathing sank soundlessly to the floor, making the space between their feet feel heavy.

Rattle!

Perhaps the carriage hit a large, unpaved stone, as it jolted violently. The body shook hard, and both the driver and the passengers inside were shaken up. Eric only bumped his head against the ceiling, but Delilah, half lifted into the air, nearly tumbled to the floor.

“……”

“……”

But neither of them spoke. Delilah quickly straightened herself and sat quietly on the seat, while Eric, having instinctively reached out to her, now rubbed his head. Then, silence again. Only deep sighs rolled across the shaking carriage floor.

When the carriage finally stopped, both Delilah and Eric were secretly relieved. It was impossible to be comfortable sitting across from someone you refused to speak or meet eyes with—especially when that person was your beloved spouse.

“Didi!”

Even before the carriage door opened, a lively voice called for Delilah from outside, finally breaking the silence. ‘I told you not to call her that?’ ‘You call her Didi, Mom, so I can!’ While mother and daughter bickered beyond the carriage, the door finally opened. Before Eric could even step out, a small figure ran up and buried herself in his arms.

“Uncle Eric, hello.”

“Hey.”

“What about Didi?”

While Marguerite, clinging to Eric, squirmed, Eric lifted her out of the carriage. Delilah peeked over Eric’s shoulder and waved to the dirty-blonde child.

“Hello, Maggie.”

“It’s been a while, Didi!”

Even while being carried, the child energetically greeted Delilah. She seemed truly happy to see her after so long.

Marguerite Shani, daughter of Odile and Philip, was especially fond of her aunt with sparkling pink hair. Since the only people she saw mostly were the cynical Odile and taciturn Eric, it was natural for her to adore her sweet and loving aunt. Even though they didn’t meet often, whenever they did, Delilah would play and hug her all day, making her a near-angel in Marguerite’s eyes.

So, it was only natural for Marguerite to be so excited to see Delilah after months. Delilah was glad to see Marguerite too. If she hadn’t quarreled with Eric, she would have opened the window and greeted her as soon as the carriage stopped.

“Didi.”

“Long time no see, Odile.”

Before Eric could set Marguerite down and reach out, Delilah hopped out of the carriage. Eric glanced at Delilah, then picked Marguerite up again instead of setting her down. Regardless, Delilah greeted Odile warmly.

“Put me down, Uncle Eric. I want to go to Didi.”

“No.”

“Why not!”

“You’re too heavy for her now.”

Marguerite’s eyes widened in shock. The little girl still remembered being cuddled by Delilah, forgetting that she’d grown a lot in the past six months. Eric thought, with a silent click of his tongue, that this selective memory was just like Odile.

“No, I can hold you. Come here, Maggie.”

When Delilah opened her arms, Marguerite’s shocked eyes sparkled again and she waved her arms. Even though the squirming child seemed hard to handle, Eric didn’t budge, holding her even more firmly.

“I said no.”

“Didi says it’s fine. Why do you get to decide, Uncle Eric?”

“Yeah. Why do you get to decide?”

“……”

Eric kept his lips pressed tight and didn’t hand Marguerite to Delilah. Instead, he strode into the mansion with long, proud steps. Odile raised an eyebrow at his retreating figure. Soon, a loud voice rang out from inside.

“Not here! Go to the backyard! Mom made tea and scones and everything Didi likes!”

Not long after the shout, Eric returned through the door. Odile and Marguerite burst out laughing. Eventually, Delilah joined in, unable to hold back. Even with his usual indifferent face, Eric’s broad shoulders looked sheepish.

On the way to the backyard, Odile and Marguerite teased Eric as if it were second nature. Marguerite, delighted to poke fun at Eric, was in high spirits, especially seeing Delilah laughing alongside Odile.

“Uncle Eric’s a fool.”

“Oh my, Didi. Our child is a genius. It was a secret only you and I knew—how did she figure it out?”

“Maggie’s not a fool!”

“That’s right. Maggie’s smart because she takes after me.”

“Uncle Eric’s still a fool, though.”

After sharing childish banter and bursts of laughter, they arrived at the backyard tea table. Only then did Eric set Marguerite down on a chair. Marguerite, however, was still giggling so hard she could barely breathe. As everyone took their seats, Marguerite finally wiped away her tears, and Delilah laughed again.

“Looks like she’s really happy you came, Didi.”

“I’m glad. I missed you too, Maggie.”

As Delilah reached out and stroked Marguerite’s hair, the girl’s grown-up face smiled shyly. After a few more strokes of her soft, dirty-blonde hair, Delilah let go. The child, who had been laughing so hard, now lifted her tea cup with a sudden grown-up air.

“What kind of tea would you like?”

“Hmm…”

“Black tea!”

“You can’t drink black tea, though.”

Marguerite, who had snatched the question meant for Delilah, pouted and then composed herself, wanting to impress her aunt. It was obvious from head to toe that she wanted to look good for Delilah. When Delilah whispered, “Should I make you milk tea?” Marguerite nodded happily and answered with a bright “Yes!” Her voice rang through the sunny backyard.

While the tea was brewing, Delilah kept whispering to Marguerite, and Odile watched them with a pleased smile. Eric sat quietly, brewing tea.

Eric poured a little tea into Marguerite’s cup. Before the child could notice, Delilah poured milk over it and handed her a pale milk tea that was almost all milk.

“What about sugar?”

“If you eat too much sugar, you’ll get heavier and Didi really won’t be able to hold you.”

“Just one cube, okay?”

As Odile teased, Delilah picked up a sugar cube and Marguerite nodded after some hesitation. As Delilah dropped the cube in, Marguerite watched intently. Delilah wondered if not being able to hold her was really that important, then picked up her own teacup.

“She listens to you, Didi. I was worried because she loves sweets so much.”

“When you’re a kid, sweets are the best thing in the world.”

As they chatted and sipped tea, Delilah felt her heart relax. It had been a while since she’d felt so at ease. She decided to enjoy it. As for Eric—he could do as he pleased. Ignoring Eric’s poking gaze, Delilah took another sip.

“Didi, Didi.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you like strawberries or grapes?”

“Hmm, I can’t decide. Maggie, will you choose for me?”

As Marguerite pondered over her scone, her soft hair swirled on her crown. Is this a Briar family trait? Every time she tilted her head, her fine hair swayed gently. The Briar family’s hair was soft, but hard to manage without oil.

“Then, Didi, do you put cream first or jam first?”

Hearing Marguerite ask such an unexpected question, Delilah burst out laughing again.

Children are amazing. In just a few months, they grow so much. They speak their minds clearly and imitate adults perfectly. Even their once childish pronunciation had matured.

People think children are wild, inarticulate, and cry easily, but in truth, children are much sharper and more grown-up than adults imagine. The busy, intense thoughts inside those little heads are something grown-ups can never fully grasp. Delilah always thought that as she watched Marguerite.

So it was only natural that Delilah wanted to raise a child just like Eric. How lovely would it be to see a child with soft brown hair tilting their head and pondering hard?

“Didi!”

“Hmm?”

“Ah, open up!”

When Marguerite opened her mouth wide, Delilah popped a small piece of scone inside. The heavy taste of cream spread in her mouth first, then the sweet jam filled her jaw. It tasted more like jam than scone.

Looking down at Marguerite with her mouth full, Delilah noticed jam smeared on the child’s hand.

“Strawberry jam and grape jam are both good, so I put both. Isn’t it tasty?”

Delilah couldn’t tell her it was too sweet. Smiling, she wiped Marguerite’s fingers with a napkin.

A large hand suddenly wiped Delilah’s lips as she picked up her teacup.

“Cream.”

“Uh…”

“It was on your lips.”

He wiped the cream from her lips with his finger, licked it off, then wiped his hand with the napkin. Though it was a casual gesture, Delilah’s cheeks flushed red.

“…”

But instead of saying anything to Eric, Delilah just sipped her tea, letting the bitter tea wash away the sweetness.

After that, the mood at the tea table stayed the same. Delilah ignored Eric, Marguerite chattered excitedly to Delilah, and Odile watched the silent exchanges with a pleased or interested expression.

When Marguerite finished her milk tea and led Delilah away to show her something, Odile turned to Eric and said,

“Did you fight?”

“…”

“You fought.”

Odile drank the half-full tea in her cup in one gulp and set it down on the table with a bang. At that sharp sound, the teapot and plates lined up on the table trembled.

“Whatever it is, it’s probably your fault.”

“…It’s not.”

“Yeah, right.”

Odile poured out the remaining tea from the pot and drank it down, glancing at Eric’s face. He always had a cool look like her, but only in front of Delilah did his face soften into a foolish smile. Now, his face was wrinkled and tense. Odile snorted.

“Tell me. Why did you fight?”

“…”

“If you don’t want to talk, live like that forever.”

Whenever Odile said that, her foolish younger brother always ended up spilling the reason for their fight. He was the kind of guy who, for Delilah, had once tried to overturn the entire political scene of the kingdom. How long did he think he could last being ignored by Delilah?

Sure enough, Eric, with a wrinkled voice to match his wrinkled face, told the story of their marital quarrel.