He had given him the greatest gift in his life so far, and likely for the future as well.

How could this even be possible?

“Assel. How long are you going to cry? What if the baby thinks someone else is her father?”

Ah, right.

He suddenly remembered what he had forgotten.

“Waaah!”

Actually, this little one is the protagonist.

Assel awkwardly held the baby that the head maid handed to him.

The baby had been crying her throat out, but he hadn’t acknowledged her because he was captivated by Levedi who had gone through so much.

The swaddled baby was completely red as if she had been dipped in red dye and pulled out.

And she looked very small and fragile.

Is this tiny wiggling thing really a person?

Her appearance was unfamiliar, and thinking that she had come out of Levedi’s belly made it twice as strange.

He had felt odd earlier, but the moment he faced the child, that strangeness intensified.

“Did you say it’s a girl?”

“Yes, that’s right. A healthy little princess.”

The baby, who had been crying hysterically, quieted down as soon as she was held in Assel’s arms. The first emotion Assel felt as he stared at her face was,

Awkwardness.

She’s unfamiliar.

But thinking about it, this was their first meeting. It would be stranger if he felt familiar and close to her.

He would get used to her as he continued to look at her.

But it wasn’t just awkward feelings either.

Somehow, the moment he saw the baby, it felt like soap bubbles were bubbling up in his chest.

It was clearly affection and at the same time, emotion toward something unfamiliar.

The baby’s features resembled Levedi’s. How could she be so pretty with such delicate features? Seeing that her eyes were red, she seemed to be his daughter…

‘I wonder if Levedi looked exactly like this as a child.’

Somehow his feelings became twice as fluffy.

“You should hold her too. I heard the mother is supposed to hold the baby first…”

Belatedly regretting his mistake, Assel handed over the daughter, and Levedi, upon receiving her, opened her eyes wide as if surprised by the weight.

But that was only for a moment; soon Levedi smiled a sunshine-like beautiful smile as she looked down at the child.

Perhaps due to the long labor, her face looked tired, but her smile sparkled like sunlight.

“Hello, baby.”

“……”

“Welcome to the world.”

Assel momentarily felt that the world surrounding the two—Levedi holding the baby and the baby in Levedi’s arms—became blurry, and only the image of the two became clear.

Just then, with perfect timing, a maid opened the curtains. The sunlight coming through the windows made them realize it was morning.

The baby, who had come into the world after a long period of labor, cried vigorously upon seeing the sunlight for the first time.

The maids offered congratulations, saying that the baby’s voice was loud and that she would grow up healthy, and Assel, standing two steps away capturing the scene, impulsively approached and tightly embraced the two.

“Levedi, thank you. Truly.”

“……For what?”

With his face buried in Levedi’s shoulder, who asked as if bewildered, he shyly answered,

“For everything.”

Even for your existence.

And also to the world that allowed them to breathe together in this space, and to God.

Thank you for everything.

Sincerely.

❀❀❀

“A sister?”

“Yes. You finally have a sibling.”

Elysion, who had been sleeping soundly and didn’t know that his sister had been born, opened his red eyes wide at the sudden news Assel brought.

“Sion has a sibling?”

After being a bit surprised, he seemed to fully accept the fact and shouted “Yay, I’m excited!” as he ran out of the room, with Assel contentedly watching him.

Eventually, Sion ran upstairs to the second floor where the baby was sleeping and, upon encountering the little one, couldn’t hide his surprised expression.

“The little one is ugly. Different from Sion. Sion is pretty.”

“Sion. What kind of manners are those toward your little sister? Apologize.”

“Hmph. I’m sorry.”

When Assel was about to get angry, Levedi, lying on one side of the room, chuckled.

“Well. Unlike Dad, Mom thinks a bit differently. Sion, you have very good eyes.”

“……What?”

That look of disbelief and eyes shaking with shock.

“I don’t think she’s pretty either. But, she’s very lovable.”

“……!”

“Originally, even birds are ugly when they’re just born, without feathers and unable to open their eyes, but they’re truly lovable, aren’t they? Cute, and you want to protect them.”

Elysion’s gaze fixed on the little one—no, his little sister—who was sleeping peacefully, breathing softly in the cradle, oblivious to the world.

Listening to Levedi’s words, he realized the newborn baby was like a newborn bird, without hair, with a red body, and a round face.

But the moment the small life form with white skin and plump cheeks moved its arms a little,

“It, it moved.”

Thump.

For some reason, Elysion felt his heart skip a beat.

At the same time, he felt a strong protective instinct, as if he should protect her.

“What’s her, her name?”

At that time, Sion didn’t know. That this would be the beginning of his lifelong sister obsession.

To Sion’s innocent question, Levedi smiled brightly and answered,

“Well. Actually, your dad and I were still contemplating until the birth and couldn’t decide.”

“Call her Little One then. Is that weird? Or how about Kitty? Because she looks like a baby kitten…!”

Levedi chuckled again. Assel was troubled.

‘This kid……’

But he couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the creative imagination.

He’s still a child, right. He can be like that.

‘I was acting too much like an old fogey.’

He reflected.

That’s when Levedi opened her mouth,

“How about letting Sion decide?”

“Huh? Me?”

Sion was flustered. Not only Sion, but Assel was equally flustered.

“Levedi, what are you saying.”

This wasn’t part of the plan.

Toward the flustered Assel, Levedi grinned and said,

“Yesterday, you told me to do as I pleased.”

“……That’s true, but.”

“Sion decides the name?”

“Yes. Oh, of course, you’ll choose from among the names we’ve thought of.”

With Levedi’s added comment, a sense of relief finally circulated in the room.

“Ah.”

“First, Mom liked Kitty too. But since that’s a bit much, how about Kate?”

“It sounds cold.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The little one is cute, so she doesn’t need a name like that.”

“Then, what should we decide on?”

The conversation continued for quite a while. Assel suggested Daphne, the name of a forest fairy, but Levedi opposed, saying Daphne doesn’t suit Elysion’s sister.

Then, when the baby woke up and cried and caused a commotion, in the midst of that chaos, Elysion mumbled hesitantly,

“How about Bella?”

“Bella?”

Assel heard that voice and thought, could it be.

“Yes. I heard the mom who gave birth to Sion was named Isabel.”

At that moment, silence fell over the room. The baby had also found stability in Levedi’s arms.

“It’s the most precious name to Sion.”

“……”

“So, I want to give it to the little one.”

The faces of the two slightly hardened.

Perhaps sensing that awkwardness, Elysion quickly added,

“And Bella means beautiful, they say.”

❀❀❀

“Assel. What do you think?”

Late at night. In the bedroom of the couple, candles that had not yet been extinguished were still lighting up here and there.

Assel’s face hardened a bit before returning to its original light.

“Have you been dwelling on that matter from earlier?”

“What about you?”

“……”

Assel didn’t answer. It meant that he too had been thinking about this matter.

Levedi thought for a moment and then opened her mouth,

“Princess Isabel was important to you, right?”

“……Because she’s Assel’s mother.”

“I also heard that you were very close to her. The timing of your visit to the beach matched up perfectly.”

At that moment, Assel realized what Levedi was saying.

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

“I should have told him to watch his words.”

Now Assel was Levedi’s, and the two were a family. From Levedi’s standpoint, it might be a bit annoying to hear about his past mother.

Of course, Levedi wasn’t that kind of person, but as Assel was thinking, he suddenly felt a question mark appearing in his mind.

At that moment, Levedi cut in. With a voice that was utterly incomprehensible,

“Why are you apologizing?”

“That’s……”

“I lost my mother when I was young too, so I know exactly how that child feels.”

Assel’s eyes widened. He had momentarily forgotten, but even the seemingly bright Levedi had a painful family history.

But why was she suddenly mentioning this…

“Actually, I saw Sion flipping through a dictionary. When I checked it later, he had underlined all the names that could be used for girls.”

“……!”

“He must have said it after much contemplation.”

Assel nodded.

Bella wasn’t too obvious, so from the child’s perspective, it must have been quite a brain-wracking task.

“And actually, since a name is something you’re called for your entire life, not only is the meaning important but also how it sounds, and the name Bella is pretty. It’s also like being told you’re beautiful every time you’re called.”

“……”

“Also, as Elysion grows older, he might feel the difference between himself and the child born between us, but if it’s a name he gave, it will help him feel more like we’re one family.”

Assel finally realized what Levedi was trying to say.

And also why she had asked Sion to name his sister.

“I like the name Bella. What about you?”

“I……”

Assel momentarily felt indescribable emotions boiling up from within.

Only after a long while did he manage to open his mouth,

“Then, let’s go with Bella. If you won’t regret it.”

“Yes. Let’s go with Bella.”

Thus, under the amicable agreement of both parents, the baby’s name was decided as Bella.

And in the midst of a conversation that didn’t include the subject’s intention at all, the child was sleeping soundly.

The baby’s feet slightly poked out beyond the swaddle in the cradle. Still looking as if he couldn’t believe the birth of a new life, Assel eventually approached and kissed her feet, whispering,

“Bella.”

“……”

“Bella.”

How many times did he call her?

Suddenly, Levedi embraced Assel’s waist.

“It’s interesting.”

“……”

“Loving someone, losing them, then meeting a new connection, loving again, forming a family.”

“……”

“This is why life is interesting, I guess.”

Surprised by the sudden contact and Levedi’s meaningful words, Assel stopped fiddling with the baby’s feet and turned around.

Levedi’s purple eyes were somehow subdued.

“Since her first name is Bella, let’s make the child’s middle name Simore.”

“That’s your father’s name.”

Assel wrapped his arms around Levedi’s waist.

“That’s right. We love what we’ve lost. Because we know it can’t come back, even more so.”

“……Levedi.”

Though she didn’t show it, over the past year, while enjoying a happy honeymoon with him, she must have had a hard time.

But apart from the occasional tears that showed, she hardly revealed her emotions about losing her father.

Assel now understood.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t sad; she was too sad to reveal it.

Her face, crying in places he couldn’t see, seemed vividly before his eyes.

“She’ll be a comfort to both Sion and me. A child who will connect all of us as one.”

“……”

“Bella Simore Esteban.”

Levedi’s face, as she recited this, looked peaceful.

She was someone who knew how to mourn the past. At the same time, she was someone who knew how to live in the present.

“You know what? The piece of my father that I lost has been completely filled by you and this child’s existence.”

Assel somehow felt his Adam’s apple bobbing. At the same time, his heart pounded. That he was such a being to her. That the child born between them was also precious to her.

It felt as if he was finally realizing that he had formed a family with her.

Then it was his turn to confess.

“I feel the same.”

Assel spoke words he had never been able to utter until now.

Curiosity arose in Levedi’s eyes.

“What?”

“Thank you for saving me when I was trying to die.”

“Ah.”

“So that I could live and be with you, Elysion, and our Bella.”

Assel’s hand caressed the wooden cradle.

“To be able to live among these precious connections.”

“……”

“If I had died then, it would have been a terrible thing, wouldn’t it?”

Levedi laughed awkwardly and then, embracing him, whispered,

This person. How hard it must have been.

“I love you, Assel.”

She wanted to comfort him. Now she wanted to make him happy.

It was the same for Assel.

He might not be able to completely fill her gaps, but at least he could be a reason for her to live her current life. With that pledge, he whispered,

“I too, more than my own life.”

“……”

“Levedi, I love you.”

Eventually, the candles in the bedroom were extinguished.

It was time to sleep.

The distance between the two grew as they had to hold Bella, who was whimpering, in their arms, and it grew even more when Elysion joined them, saying he was scared to sleep alone.

But Assel didn’t mind. Neither did Levedi. The two, secretly holding hands away from the children’s eyes, looked at each other and burst into laughter.

As much as the distance between the two had grown, the warmth of the bedroom was cozier than ever before.

It was, indeed, the birth of a family.

<End of Side Story>