Epilogue 

The wedding was over, and they returned to the capital. Elena revealed her identity and began working at the Bellote Trading Company as Elena Christian, not Elena Bellote.  

Everyone seemed surprised to learn that she was from the Bellote family, but they soon welcomed her warmly once again.  

She had been worried about their reactions, but their unchanged attitude brought tears to her eyes. It was strange. She wasn’t usually so emotional, but even something as small as this made her cry.  

One peaceful day, while she was working…  

“Elena?”  

Emma’s voice called out, and someone shook her shoulder. Startled awake from her nap, Elena quickly apologized.  

“Yes, yes? Oh, I’m sorry!”  

Her raised voice seemed to fluster Emma, who waved her hands in reassurance.  

“It’s okay. I wasn’t going to scold you. I just wanted to suggest that you leave early today since you look tired.”  

“I’m fine. I can keep going, yawn, really.”  

Contrary to her words, a yawn escaped her lips. Emma chuckled softly and asked, 

“Did you not sleep well last night?”  

“No, I slept fine. I’ve just been feeling a bit tired lately.”  

“Maybe it’s spring fatigue. A lot of people say they feel tired when spring comes.”  

“Really?”  

“Yes, so don’t hesitate. Head home early today.”  

“Thank you.”  

Thanks to Emma’s thoughtfulness, Elena left work early and headed home.  

She dozed off in the carriage on her way back, and as soon as she entered her room, she collapsed on the bed without even changing her clothes.  

“Elly.”  

While she was sleeping soundly in bed, Felix came in and woke her up. Stretching her arms without opening her eyes, she asked, 

“What time is it?”  

“Eight o’clock.”  

“You’re late.”  

“Yeah, there was an urgent situation, so I got held up.”  

Lying beside her, Felix hugged her tightly.  

“You didn’t eat dinner, did you? I heard you were sleeping so deeply that no one wanted to wake you.”  

Burying her face in his chest, she shook her head.  

“I don’t want to eat.”  

“Are you sure? You’ve barely been eating lately. You hardly ate breakfast this morning too.”  

“I don’t have an appetite.”  

Felix seemed to hesitate for a moment before patting her back, deciding that sleep was more important than food for now.  

“All right, sleep some more.”  

Elena woke up again around midnight.  

“Ugh.”  

She hadn’t noticed earlier, but her clothes felt uncomfortable. Turning her head, she saw Felix reading a book beside her.  

“Why aren’t you sleeping?”  

“Change your clothes first.”  

Getting out of bed to change, she found herself so drowsy that she could barely keep her eyes open.  

In the end, Felix had to step in, helping her out of her clothes and into her pajamas. He then carried her back to bed.  

“You’ve been acting strange lately.”  

“Me? Yawn. Why?” 

“You seem more tired, and your stamina’s weaker. Maybe we should call a physician.”  

“There’s no need.”  

But Felix didn’t listen. He immediately went out to bring a physician.  

“It’s just spring fatigue. My husband is worrying too much.” 

Elena said sheepishly to the physician, who had been called in a hurry.  

The young female physician, who looked only a few years older than Elena, smiled understandingly and took her wrist.  

“You seem like newlyweds. It’s understandable. Besides feeling tired, are there any other symptoms?”  

“Well, I’ve lost my appetite. Eating makes my stomach feel heavy. Oh, and I’ve had some headaches too…”  

As she listed her symptoms, Elena felt a bit embarrassed. Perhaps Felix had a reason to worry after all.  

Quickly, she added, 

“But it’s not serious. I’ve just been busy with work lately…”  

“I’ll take a look.” 

The physician said, holding Elena’s wrist in silence.  

As the physician’s serious expression lingered, Elena swallowed nervously.  

Was it really just fatigue? Why wasn’t the physician saying anything?  

Her worries grew until she couldn’t hold back anymore. Just as she opened her mouth to ask, the physician smiled and spoke first.  

“You should call your husband.”  

“Felix? Why?”  

“I think he should hear this too.”  

What could it be that required Felix’s presence? 

Though puzzled, Elena called for him.  

Felix, who had been summoned unexpectedly, appeared with a worried expression and held Elena’s hand.  

The physician looked at them both and announced brightly, 

“Congratulations. You’re pregnant.”  

“What?”  

“When was your last period?”  

“Uh, last month… no, two months ago.”  

“Then you’re about eight weeks along.”  

The physician gave them advice on what to be cautious about before leaving. Even after she was gone, Elena remained in a daze.  

Felix seemed equally stunned, sitting silently beside her.  

Finally snapping out of it, Elena placed a hand on her still-flat stomach.  

“Pregnant…”  

Inside her was a baby, hers and Felix’s. It didn’t feel real yet.  

Felix suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace.  

“Thank you, Elly.”  

“…”  

“I’ll do my best to be even better.”  

At his words, the reality began to sink in, and tears streamed down her face.  

Crying, she wrapped her arms around Felix’s neck.  

“I’ll do my best too.”  

“I love you, Elly.”  

“I love you too.”  

It was the most overwhelming moment of her life.  

* * *

After that, they continued living in the capital.  

When her due date approached, they returned to their estate in the Bellote territory. Felix had arranged this for her comfort, believing it would be best for her to give birth in a familiar place.  

He even took leave to accompany her to Bellote.  

To help her through the delivery, Madam Jane also came to the Bellote estate.  

Elena was deeply grateful for everyone’s support. She even worried about how she could ever repay them, but Madam Jane playfully tugged her nose and told her no repayment was necessary.  

Thanks to their care, Elena was able to relax and spend her days peacefully at the Bellote estate.  

One day, as she sat on the terrace sipping rooibos tea, labor pains suddenly began.  

“Madam, push!”  

Through the excruciating pain, Elena followed the midwife’s instructions.  

Even as her body felt like it was being torn apart, one person came to mind—her mother.  

Had my late mother endured this same pain to bring me into the world?

On the day she became a mother herself, Elena missed her own mother more than ever.  

“Miss, just a little more!”  

“That’s it, Elly. You’re almost there!”  

Hearing the voices of her nanny and Madam Jane, Elena mustered her fading strength. Using every ounce of energy she had left…  

“Waaah!”  

The loud cry of a newborn filled the room. Tears streaming down her face, Elena instinctively asked about her baby.  

“How is the baby? Are they healthy?”  

“Look at this. A very healthy and beautiful boy.”  

The nanny showed her the baby wrapped in a cloth. His skin was reddish, his swollen eyes tightly shut, and tufts of bright golden hair stuck out here and there.  

Even though it was their first meeting, Elena instantly recognized the baby. It was as if fate itself had whispered his identity to her.  

“My Little One…”  

Her Little One, her Philly, her Felix Junior.  

Though she couldn’t explain why, she was certain this baby was their Little One.  

As she choked back tears, the nanny placed the baby in her arms. Holding him, she felt the same warmth as when she had held their Little One before.  

It was a miracle—a miracle they had created together.  

The door opened, and Felix entered. Seeing Elena crying, he rushed over, only to freeze at the sight of the baby in her arms.  

Felix must have been thinking the same thing as her. Smiling through her tears, she said, 

“It’s our Little One.”  

In a choked voice, Felix replied, 

“…Yes.”  

Elena whispered to the baby, 

“Welcome back, Little One. It’s been a while.”  

As if in response, the baby yawned and made an incomprehensible sound.  

Swallowing her tears, Elena continued, 

“Your name is Felix Junior. But for now, we’ll call you Philly. That’s your baby name.”  

Pressing her forehead against the baby’s, she smiled. Felix rested his forehead against hers, completing the circle.  

A deep sense of happiness welled up from within.  

“Thank you for coming back to us.”  

The future had already changed. The bleak and grim fate that once loomed over them was no more. In its place was a radiant and hopeful future.  

The Little One in her arms was both the same and different from the child who had come to them before. This baby wouldn’t remember their past together—the Saint Esna’s Festival, their trip to the capital, the academy festival, or the time they defeated Professor Deros together.  

But that was okay. This child was still their Little One.  

Philly, it’s okay if you don’t remember us.  

We remember you, and that’s enough.  

So, welcome back.  

“Mommy loves you so, so much.”  

Let’s be happy together from now on.  

Forever, all of us together.  

As sunlight streamed faintly through the curtains, a new morning full of hope began.  

Like the dawn of a bright new day, their Little One, ‘Philly’ Felix Junior Christian, had returned to their arms.  

<Please Take Care of the Baby!> The End