Side Story – Part 6

Nife led me to the bedroom where Louis was waiting. It seemed Nife had boasted about bringing me along as Louis greeted me apologetically. The table in the bedroom was set with cookies and tea, making me chuckle.

After recounting that part, I glanced at Julian. Though he said nothing, he stared straight at me, barely blinking, as if he hadn’t missed a single word of my story. My heart still fluttered for him, even after all this time.

I lowered my gaze slightly and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. Then, biting my lower lip gently, I hesitated before speaking.

“It’s about not having a second child.”

The moment I said it, Julian’s eyes darkened immediately. Surprised, I placed my hand over his, feeling the coldness of his skin. Julian hated it when I worried or blamed myself for not having more children.

Just as he was about to say something with a firm expression, I pressed my fingers gently against his lips.

“I’m not bringing this up for that reason. You mentioned before that it wouldn’t matter if the heir came from the Winsley family, right? So, I talked about it with the young Winsley couple.”

“…I see.”

I could feel Julian’s relieved sigh through my fingertips, and I pulled my hand away, tucking it behind my back, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“Louis wondered why I was worrying about an heir so soon and said I should wait at least five more years. He also said the doctor found nothing wrong and wondered why I was so anxious. To be honest, Julian, he was a hundred times harsher than you ever were. I felt like covering my ears and running away.”

At my grumbling, a small smile crept across Julian’s lips. He liked Louis quite a lot, partly because of this. No one else in the world could scold me like Louis did. After a deep sigh, I continued.

“But, if five years pass and we still don’t have another child, I told them we could consider something else. If any of their children show the qualities of a future grandduke, and if that child wishes to take on the role, we can train them as the heir. Of course, I clarified that the title would only be passed down after they’ve come of age. Can you imagine if you and I just ran off somewhere? It would be a disaster, wouldn’t it?“

“The young master of the Winsley family is quite clever.”

“Are you agreeing with Louis now? Do you want to run away?”

I teased Julian with a side-eye, and before I knew it, he had pulled me into his arms and fallen backward, taking me down with him. I let out a small shriek as we both tumbled onto the bed. We lay on the soft blankets, facing each other—me with wide eyes and Julian with a smile, clearly amused by the situation.

“I’ve always wanted to run away with you. Somewhere, it’s just the two of us.”

I often spoke to Julian about living a life surrounded by others. Over time, he’d gradually accepted it—engaging in small talk with the servants and eventually taking an interest in the people of Zan’s lands. But he always said that nothing else mattered as long as I was with him. It wasn’t until Silian’s birth that his circle of concern grew just a little wider.

I playfully nibbled at Julian’s handsome nose, thinking he’d scold me.

Instead, Julian’s red eyes gleamed, and he leaned over me. His long fingers traced the curve of my ear slowly, and I swallowed nervously, looking up at him.

“Julian…”

Anyone could tell what this atmosphere was leading to…

Knock knock.

Of all times, who could possibly be knocking at such a critical moment? I straightened my clothes, which were still perfectly in place, and cleared my throat while Julian watched me before asking who it was.

“Apologies for the late hour. It’s the young master’s nanny. He wishes to speak with you.”

Our Silian? Julian and I exchanged glances before I hurried to open the door. There stood Silian, holding the nanny’s hand, looking drowsy.

I took Silian’s hand and crouched down to his eye level. With a glance, I motioned for the nanny to step back. She bowed and retreated to the end of the hallway.

“Silian, what’s wrong? Were you scared sleeping by yourself?“

“Mom, Silian isn’t a baby,“ he said, enunciating each word as if to remind me how ridiculous my question was. I realized how fast he was growing up every time he did this.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Sometimes I get scared sleeping alone.“

“Is that why you always sleep with Dad?”

That was… a little different, but he was still young enough not to know the truth.

“Yes, that’s why. So, why did you come here, darling?”

Silian, struggling to keep his eyes open, finally answered.

“There’s a tree fairy nearby.”

A wood fairy? I held Silian’s little hands in mine and asked carefully.

“How do you know that?“

“It appeared in my dream. It’s shown up before. It keeps telling me it wants to meet.”

While wood fairies weren’t harmful, they were still a type of magical creature. I didn’t want him meeting it repeatedly. I was unsure what to do, so I turned to Julian, hoping he’d help me discourage the idea. Instead, Silian began to stomp his feet, pleading.

“It’s such a beautiful fairy. I want to show it to you and Dad.”

Surprisingly, it was Julian who responded.

“Let’s go.“

“Julian.”

I called his name reproachfully, but Julian shook his head, signaling not to stop him.

“Come to think of it, we’ve traveled so far, and I haven’t spent much time playing with Silian. With you and me here, there’s no reason to fear any creature,“ Julian said, lifting Silian into his arms. He looked at me, urging us to head out, while Silian’s eyes sparkled with excitement. I couldn’t possibly resist the two people I loved most.

***

It didn’t take long for us to realize that the tree fairy Silian spoke of wasn’t a wood fairy after all.

Silian led us to a small lake on the Heira estate grounds. I had never heard of a wood fairy appearing there, so I walked forward with growing curiosity. Something stirred as Julian, carrying Silian, approached the water’s edge.

Ripple.

The lake’s surface shimmered, creating soft waves that collided with one another, producing a clear, ringing sound.

Ripple. Ripple.

I looked up at the sound, and my breath caught in my throat. A beautiful white horse with a flowing mane stood in the center of the lake, slowly approaching us. The creature’s back bore a fin, shimmering like the deep blue of the night lake.

“…A kelpie!”

My voice came out sharp, and the kelpie halted, wary. This wasn’t a tree fairy; it was a water spirit. Unlike a wood fairy, this creature didn’t live among trees—it dwelled in water.

However, because kelpies were known to enjoy moist, damp areas, Silian must have confused it with a wood fairy. That slight misunderstanding had placed Silian in danger, and the realization sent a chill down my spine. I moved closer to Julian, positioning myself to shield Silian with my arm.

“We need to leave quietly. Kelpies are dangerous creatures,“ I whispered urgently.

Julian, seeing the seriousness on my face, nodded in agreement. But Silian, looking distressed, shook his head vigorously.

“No! That fairy is kind! It talks to me in my dreams every night. It said it wanted to meet me.“

“Kelpies may look beautiful, but they’re not good creatures,“ I said firmly. Just as I finished speaking, the kelpie gave a high-pitched whinny and took two more steps forward. My heart raced, and I began casting a magic circle at my feet, preparing to strike if the kelpie charged. My magic would terrify it into fleeing, especially since kelpies were no ordinary beasts.

But the kelpie didn’t run. It hesitated momentarily, then uttered another plaintive cry, stepping forward three more paces. Silian, on the verge of tears, pointed at the creature.

“It really is a good fairy. Please believe me. Don’t attack it,“ he pleaded, sensing the sharp rise in my magic. His words tugged at me, but I couldn’t lower my guard. I was ready to strike the moment the kelpie made a move.

Yet, instead of attacking, the kelpie continued its slow approach. It lowered its body as if trying to show it meant no harm. It knelt at the water’s edge when it reached us, bowing its head low. Silian gently tapped Julian’s arm, asking to be let down.

I was so astonished by the kelpie’s gentle, submissive behavior that I couldn’t even stop Silian. Julian lowered him to the ground, and Silian carefully approached the kelpie, softly stroking its mane.

Nothing happened. The kelpie’s soft mane flowed back into place, swaying gently with Silian’s touch.

The kelpie then gazed up at Silian with its deep, blue eyes, and Silian met its gaze. At that moment, I could feel an unexplainable connection between them—something more profound than magic, an energy between two living beings.