Side Story 11

“A brave little prince.”

Her prediction was right. A mother’s intuition cannot be ignored.

Dyffrin took the baby in his arms on behalf of Evelyn, who was lying down.

Evelyn quietly smiled as she looked at the small child in Dyffrin’s arms.

“See, I was right… It’s a boy.”

“Indeed. You did well.”

Dyffrin pressed a kiss to Evelyn’s forehead. Ellia, curious about her sibling, stood on tiptoe beside Dyffrin.

“…His hands and feet are all wrinkly.”

“That’s because he’s a newborn. You were like that too, Ellia.”

Ellia seemed a bit shocked by Evelyn’s words.

“I looked like that…?”

“All newborns look like that.”

After watching the baby for a while, Ellia left the room with Merrilyn.

Dyffrin placed the baby next to Evelyn’s pillow.

“Since it’s a boy, we’ll name him Woody.”

“Yes, it’s a fitting name.”

Evelyn reached out and gently touched Woody’s soft cheek.

“Woody’s hair and eye color resemble mine.”

“His personality should too.”

“It will.”

The birthing room was filled with a warm and happy atmosphere for a while.

* * *

Just as they had hoped, Woody grew up with gentle features and a kind personality, fitting his name.

“I made this flower crown to resemble you, Mom.”

Unlike Ellia, Woody was sentimental and would pick flowers from the field to make a clumsy flower crown for Evelyn or write letters in crooked handwriting to give to Evelyn and Dyffrin.

“This one is for Mom, and this one is for Dad.”

At five years old, Woody had curly brown hair and round eyes, looking like a doll.

Although he didn’t have Ellia’s sculpted beauty, his gentle features were endearing enough.

Most importantly, unlike Ellia, Woody didn’t find Dyffrin intimidating, so Dyffrin didn’t have to pretend to get math problems wrong.

Instead, Woody would smile brightly and run into Dyffrin’s arms first.

“Seeing how Woody knows how to handle me, he definitely takes after you.”

“Indeed.”

Evelyn took a sip of coffee and looked at Woody and Ellia playing in the castle grounds.

When a pigeon landed on the ground, Woody backed away in fright.

“I’m not that easily scared…”

Dyffrin seemed to agree, putting down his teacup and letting out a small sigh.

Woody was a sweet and loving perfect son, but to be honest, he wasn’t suited to be the head of the family.

Though it might be too early to judge at just five years old, charisma and the ability to command attention are evident from a young age.

Like Ellia.

“Shoo, shoo!”

Ellia bravely waved her hands to chase away the pigeon, protecting Woody.

This wasn’t the first time.

Once, a weasel appeared in the chicken coop behind the castle, and Ellia had caught it herself.

Recently, she started learning swordsmanship, and her stance was so exceptional that the captain of the knights sincerely said she had talent.

Ellia excelled in all areas, was brave, calm, and quick to judge situations.

“Woody may be the eldest son, but Elia might be better suited as the heir.”

“I think so too, but it’s too early to conclude.”

Evelyn knew why Dyffrin said that.

They wanted to give Ellia a chance without taking away Woody’s opportunity, making a careful decision.

The matter of succession was important.

“But we can’t just wait and see. If we decide on Ellia as the heir, she needs to start her education next year.”

Evelyn was deeply concerned.

Dyffrin didn’t fret over the children’s matters as she did, but Evelyn always thought about how Ellia and Woody could find the happiest paths.

That’s why she felt anxious seeing Ellia about to enter the academy. If they were to educate her as the heir, there was no need to send her to the academy.

But, as Dyffrin said, there was nothing they could decide hastily in the current situation.

‘Hmm…’

Evelyn tried hard to calm her anxious mind.

While Dyffrin was out for estate affairs, Evelyn, now alone, picked up her embroidery needle after a long time.

Her skills had improved so much that she could embroider landscapes instead of objects, and her current project was a garden.

She diligently moved her needle, with a landscape painting of colorful roses and tulips set beside her as a reference.

Then, a knock sounded from outside the door.

“Madam, it’s Merrilyn.”

“Come in.”

Woody trotted in. Behind him stood Merrilyn, who had been looking after him.

“The young master insisted on seeing you, Madam.”

Evelyn hugged Woody and sat him on her lap.

“The weather is nice, why aren’t you playing outside?”

“I prefer being indoors.”

Woody then showed interest in Evelyn’s embroidery.

“A garden…?”

“Yes. I plan to frame it once it’s finished.”

“I want to try it too!”

Woody jumped up, raising his hand.

“It involves needles, so it’s still dangerous for you, Woody.”

“But I want to try…”

Woody puffed his cheeks in disappointment.

His chubby cheeks puffed up adorably. Sometimes, Woody looked like a fluffy teddy bear.

“Don’t you have any interest in swords like your sister? Look at Sir Ralph, isn’t he cool?”

Ralph was the captain of the knights at the ducal estate. His appearance in shining armor with a longsword was so impressive that Ellia used to follow him around.

“Swords are dangerous. You could get cut while swinging them…”

Woody answered, fidgeting with his fingers.

“Is there nothing you want to learn? Your sister, at ten years old, has almost finished studying history and is now learning philosophy and literature.”

“I like drawing. And writing letters.”

Well… It’s still too early to talk about academics with Woody.

However, Woody showed exceptional talent in the arts.

He was particularly good at drawing and sometimes created difficult pieces that even Evelyn couldn’t understand.

“Don’t you want to manage this vast land like your father when you grow up?”

“Hmm… I think my sister would be better at that. She’s smart and cool.”

Hehe. Woody laughed innocently.

“So you don’t mind if your sister becomes the head of the family in the future?”

“Yes! I just want to live drawing pictures with Mom and Dad like this.”

Evelyn stroked Woody’s curly hair, giving up on further questions as he rubbed his cheek against her arm.

* * *

A month before Ellia was to enter the academy, Evelyn called her to her room.

“You called for me, Mother?”

Ellia entered the room, bowing politely.

Evelyn felt proud yet sometimes found it hard to adapt to her precocious daughter.

‘Nothing less from Dyffrin Junior…’

When Evelyn gestured, Ellia sat across from her.

Though she put on a mature, prim expression, she was still just a ten-year-old, making Evelyn smile inwardly.

“I heard you’ve been increasing your study time lately. Is it too much for you?”

“I’m about to enter the academy. I thought I needed to increase my study load to enter at the top.”

“Do you enjoy studying, Ellia?”

Ellia’s eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Of course. Learning about the world is always enjoyable.”

“Do you want to become like your father?”

“Of course. Father is my goal. I’ll become an excellent person like him and contribute to the estate.”

“That’s admirable.”

Evelyn reached out and stroked Ellia’s white cheek. Ellia, though shy, didn’t pull away.

“Do you know what it means to be the head of the family?”

“The head of the family is the master of the family. They lead the duchy.”

“That’s right. The head of the family manages the family and estate and is responsible for the livelihood of the estate’s people.”

Ellia nodded her small head.

“Do you want to become the head of the family?”

“Ah…”

Ellia’s eyes widened, understanding what Evelyn was implying.

“But usually, the eldest son becomes the head…”

“Usually, yes. But since it’s an important position, it should go to the most capable person. I think you’re the right fit.”

After observing Ellia and Woody for months, Evelyn had come to a conclusion.

Given Woody’s inherent nature, he was too gentle and soft to become the head of the family. A person’s temperament doesn’t change easily, so it was unrealistic to expect him to change as he grew.

On the other hand, Ellia was born with the abilities needed to be the head. It would be a waste to exclude her just because she was a girl.

Dyffrin shared the same thoughts.

“What do you think, Ellia?”

“I…”

Ellia understood the weight of the question. She clasped her hands tightly, hesitating to answer.

But soon, with a serious face, she spoke.

“I want to become the head of the family. I’m confident I can do it well.”

Finally hearing a confident answer, Evelyn nodded.

“Yes, Ellia, you’ll do wonderfully.”

That evening, Evelyn discussed the matter of succession with Dyffrin.

“I talked with Ellia today. She wants to become the head of the family.”

Dyffrin’s hand paused as he unbuttoned his shirt.

“…I see.”

Dyffrin, now wearing a robe, sat on the windowsill. He looked deep in thought.

He was probably considering the challenges Ellia would face in reality.

To secure the position of heir, they needed the support of the vassals and the approval of the nobles and estate residents.

They weren’t worried about the vassals’ support. Isaac, the head of the most powerful vassal family, the Aldres Earldom, would back them.

However, gaining the recognition of the nobles and estate residents would be difficult for Ellia.

That would require different efforts.