Thirty minutes later.

“Who dies from a cold, seriously?!”

Edel the physician came running with two massive medical bags.

Sel, who had been lying on the library couch reading a book, sat up halfway.

“Who said someone’s dying from a cold?”

“You. I got a rushed message from Choro. Where is he?”

“Oh, let’s look together, Edel.”

Sel shut the book and got up from her seat.

Then, from the first to the fourth floor of the mercenary headquarters, they searched for the cold-stricken patient.

But no matter how hard they looked, there was no sign of anyone on the brink of death.

The members of the Cavalry Mercenary Guild were all in abnormally good health.

“I don’t think anyone’s sick, Edel. Cough cough.”

Just then, Sel began to cough lightly.

Edel, exhausted from climbing stairs, narrowed her eyes and stared at Sel.

“……”

“What is it, Edel?”

“Did you catch a cold?”

“Oh. I got hit with a bucket of water earlier and felt a little chilled. It’s just a bit of a cough.”

“……”

“Edel? Your face looks scary.”

‘Did I cough wrong?’ 

Sel covered her mouth and glanced up nervously.

“I thought someone was actually dying… I even prepped for surgery.”

“Eh?”

Sel tilted her head in confusion, when they heard heavy footsteps rushing up the stairs.

They didn’t even have to look—it was obviously Choro.

“Hey, Edel! Did you find the patient? I’ve searched everywhere and nobody looks sick. Huh?”

Why does Edel look so pissed?

Choro, flustered, walked over and took one of the large medical bags from Edel’s hand.

“You said someone was dying.”

“Huh?”

“You told me someone was dying, Choro.”

“I’m sure! The Commander said so!”

“His whole body is trembling with coughs and he has a severe fever. Get Physician Edel right away!”

Choro scratched his head, recalling Lavi’s words.

Of course, Lavi didn’t know.

That the reason Sel’s touch had felt so hot wasn’t because she had a fever—but because he had imagined it.

As Choro made a bewildered face, Sel coughed again.

Edel sighed and pulled a thin white cloth from her medical bag.

She wrapped it around Sel’s neck like a scarf.

“Let’s go to your room first, Sel. I’ll examine you.”

“Wait… was the sick mercenary the Commander mentioned… me?”

Sel blinked in disbelief and scratched her cheek.

“Uh, me? I just have a bit of a cough.”

“Ha. So that’s why Philip’s hanging upside down right now.”

Choro pointed out the window.

Philip was seen doing sit-ups while tied upside down to a pull-up bar. Next to the panting Philip was Lavi. In contrast to Philip, who wore a scowl, Lavi looked impressive in a neat white shirt, black trousers, and glasses.

He was sitting cross-legged on a wooden chair, reading a book. His appearance was elegant, but seeing Philip struggling beside him made him seem more like a devil.

“Philip, what color are my eyeballs right now?”

“Pant, pant… Your dazzling eyes capture the vividness of lush greenery….”

“No, Philip. I said ‘eyeballs.’”

“Aaah! I was wrong, Commander!”

“Again.”

Lavi ordered softly. Frightened by his tone, Philip began counting from one again, lifting his torso. Each time, the lines of Philip’s defined abs stood out clearly.

“Looking good, you punk! I told you not to overdo it.”

Braeden and the other mercenaries snickered and teased Philip.

Thanks to the eyeball incident, they quickly forgot about Sel getting drenched earlier.

‘Philip’s muscles are going to be screaming tomorrow.’

Sel shook her head with a sympathetic smile.

“Sel, let’s go to the clinic now.”

Edel shrugged her shoulders, nudging Sel. Sel, who had been blankly staring out the window, snapped out of it and went upstairs.

That was the end of the dream Lavi had, recalling a day from the past.

****

Today, the Penhac mansion was bustling with people. They were visitors who had come to see Michael Penhac. Philip was one of them.

“I’m here, Sister Sel. Are you feeling better? Here, a gift.” 

Philip exaggerated as he handed over a present for the newborn. He used to casually refer to her as his sister. After marrying Karin, Philip had adopted a more mature tone. Sel chuckled softly and opened the gift box.

A pure gold baby bracelet with intricate engravings. Sel’s eyes sparkled like the gold itself.

“This is truly the best gift.”

“Karin picked it out.”

Karin. Just the name made her throat tighten. She was endlessly grateful to her dear friend who had taken such good care of her during her hardest times. Sel swallowed the lump rising in her throat and silently nodded.

“If you get a chance, write her a letter too. She’s curious about your thoughts.”

“Of course. That’s something I’m good at.”

There was a time in the village of Rapiche when she wrote reviews in exchange for free food. Sometimes with Philip. On hot summer days, they’d dodge the blazing sun, suck on cold popsicles, and scribble away. Sel reminisced for a moment about those warm memories.

“By the way, where are Choro and Braeden?”

“They just arrived. This way, Philip.”

Tucking the memories away, Sel led Philip to the drawing room.

“Our little Michael has been doing well… Aagh! Commander, what was that for?!”

As soon as Philip stepped into the drawing room, Lavi’s knee flew at him. Philip quickly dodged and entered the room.

“I was taking a nap yesterday, and you appeared in my dream. I just got excited, that’s all.”

Lavi smiled gently and crossed his arms.

“See, that’s exactly what makes him scarier.”

Philip shuddered as he approached Michael.

Large men were already crowding around the small baby crib. Philip squeezed in to join them. Lavi, looking exhausted, crossed his arms.

“Why did everyone show up, anyway?”

“It’s not exactly because I missed Michael.”

Eric, who had arrived first, answered while staring intently at Michael.

“Isn’t it the duty of the Knight Commander to ensure the safety of the royal family?”

Graham also couldn’t take his eyes off Michael.

“It’s a relief that Michael takes after Sel, Commander.”

“No matter how many times I look, he still looks like a doll. Are you sure he’s a boy?”

“Ha ha, he’s really adorable, Commander.”

Philip, Braeden, and Choro also crowded in to see Michael.

“Seeing Michael reminds me of when Sister Sel was still with the mercenaries.”

“Right. Michael’s probably going to break a lot of hearts when he grows up.”

“Assuming he doesn’t inherit Duke Penhac’s personality.”

“His face takes after Her Highness, but what if his body takes after the Commander?”

Muscles bulging. Braeden gestured excitedly, using both hands to indicate a broad chest and sturdy lower half. He said that would be the ultimate cheat code.

“Tone it down, you punk.”

Choro smacked Braeden on the back and gave him a look.

“What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking!”

Braeden insisted that it was every man’s dream.

“Ugh. I wish I could smack that mouth with a mace.”

Choro rubbed his lower back. Apparently, he’d left the mace at the mansion.

“His cuteness just makes me babble, okay?”

Braeden pointed at Michael, who was wiggling both hands.

“Kyau—”

Michael rolled his round eyes and burst into a wide smile as he looked at the guests.

“Gasp, Michael smiled at me!”

“No, he smiled at me!”

“Seems Michael recognizes the Knight Commander already.”

Graham flared his nostrils as if nothing had happened, while Philip and Braeden collapsed, clutching their hearts.

“Exactly. It’s a blessing that Michael is so adorable that he doesn’t look like Lavi.”

Eric smiled and gently touched Michael’s cheek.

The boisterous atmosphere suddenly turned quiet.

“Did the Vice-Commander just say ‘adorable,’ Braeden?”

“Insane. Is the world ending tomorrow?”

Braeden flailed dramatically, looking out the window.

“By the way, Vice-Commander, I heard you became Michael’s godfather?”

Philip asked, eyes sparkling, and Eric gave a nonchalant nod.

“That’s right.”

“I thought you’d find something like that bothersome. I’m surprised!”

Becoming a godfather required going through tedious procedures at the temple. Recalling the high priest’s nagging, Eric let out a sigh.

“I need to make sure Michael doesn’t grow up like Lavi.”

“That sounded weird just now.”

Lavi, standing askew, flashed his eyes.

“Looks like the Commander is angry.”

The mercenaries flinched, but Eric looked completely unbothered.

Just then, Jude Emmet, who had arrived late following Eric, entered the parlor.

“Pant, pant… Hello, haah, Duchess of Penhac.”

Ignoring the noisy men, Jude bowed politely to Sel. He had only climbed a few steps, but he looked like he had just run laps around the training ground.

“It’s been a while, Jude.”

Having come from the Principality of Sevica, Jude had fully regained his health thanks to Eric’s dedicated support. Though he still looked pale as if he might collapse any day, he was in much better shape compared to when he’d resembled a corpse.

“How are you feeling these days, Princess?”

“Thanks to the medicine you gave me, I’m full of energy.”

“That’s a relief. If you keep taking it regularly, you’ll feel even better.”

He handed her a small vial. It was an elixir, a rare medicine only alchemists could craft—Jude Emmet’s creation, now a skilled alchemist. Thanks to that, Sel recovered swiftly after childbirth without falling ill.

“You look healthier by the day, Jude.”

“It’s all thanks to my perfect master.”

Jude pointed politely to Eric with both hands and bowed deeply. He was completely devoted to the man who had taken him in. He currently considered himself Eric’s assistant and followed him around everywhere.

“Master said I should go find a purpose in life once I’m ready, but there’s no way I’d leave.”

For now, his duties included feeding the crows, but…

“Once I grow a bit more, I’ll be able to manage Master’s notebook too.”

Becoming the most loyal servant and supporting his master—that was Jude’s life goal. Years later, when he would rise to fame as a genius alchemist in the Empire, that modest dream would still remain.

“Isn’t that hat hot though? The weather’s been pretty warm lately.”

Sel stared at Jude’s hat. The young man, nearly an adult, wore a knitted cap with cat ears.

“I’m never taking this off for the rest of my life.”

Jude gently patted the poorly made hat.

‘Master gave it to me. I’ll never take it off.’

To Jude Emmet, the hat given to him by his master was like a trophy he wore with pride.

“Alright now, if you’re done visiting, everyone out. Too many people will tire Michael.”

Once Sel had finished her elixir, Lavi waved the guests away. Ever since he married Sel, there hadn’t been a quiet day at the mansion.

Grumbling, the guests filed out.

“Kyauu—”

Michael wiggled his hands and reached both arms toward Lavi.

“Our little Michael, you’re tired, huh?”

Lavi picked up the baby and gently rocked him. Pressed against his father’s chest, Michael slowly closed his eyelids to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Haam—his tiny mouth opened as wide as a cherry.

“Lavi, I’ll put him to sleep.”

“I’d like to do it, if you don’t mind.”

He’d heard that pregnancy and childbirth twist bones and organs. He didn’t even want Sel to lift a sheet of paper less than a year after giving birth.

‘But I can’t keep the baby away from his mother either.’

Seeing his face full of concern, Sel burst into laughter.

“I just want to hold him.”

Lavi reluctantly handed over Michael.

“You see me as too delicate.”

Sel pouted slightly, and Lavi silently bowed his head. Sel, who once ran through forests with a rifle, was stronger than anyone, but holding a baby made her look as fragile as fine glasswork.

“Don’t worry. Michael is way lighter than a bazooka.”

A bazooka? How could even a metaphor sound so adorable? Lavi nodded.

“That’s right. I forgot how brave my wife is.”

Then he scooped Sel up like a princess.

“L-Lavi!”

“Please allow this, Sel. I want to hold my precious one too.”

To carry his partner and child together in his arms—he couldn’t express how happy it made him. If happiness could be seen, every step he took would make flowers bloom.

With those tender steps, Lavi arrived at the nursery. Michael was fast asleep, breathing softly. He kissed the baby lightly and gently laid him in the crib.

Sel was still in Lavi’s arms.

“Where are we going now, Lavi?”

“To the bathroom.”

Lavi glanced at her, gauging her reaction, then added,

“…It seemed like you’d been sweating a lot because of the heat.”

“Ah. Do I smell?”

She recalled doing stretches in the back garden after a heavy meal.

‘I didn’t even get to wash because guests arrived…’

Was it noticeable? Sel sniffed herself.

“What smell?”

Lavi smiled, his eyebrows lowering gently.

“You still don’t know?”

“?”

“To me, everything you give off is fragrant.”

Lavi lowered his head, gently nipped Sel’s shoulder, and headed to the bathroom.

‘When did he prepare this?’

Strangely, the bathtub was already filled with steaming water. Lavi carefully placed Sel beside it. Then, standing behind her, he began to undo the buttons of her dress.

“Tonight, allow me to attend to your bath.”

A few buttons came off neatly, but the rest snapped. Buttons tumbled around their feet in a messy scatter.

Then, her indoor dress dropped to the floor, and the man’s firm arms wrapped completely around Sel’s body. Thanks to his body heat, she no longer felt the cold. Lavi entered the bath while still holding Sel in his arms.

His large hands gently lathered up soft bubbles of soap and began to carefully wash her hair. His firm fingers worked through her strands. Each time they passed over her scalp and around her ears, Sel let out a delighted laugh.

“It feels refreshing.”

“May I do this for you every day?”

Lavi asked as he applied pressure to Sel’s scalp and nape with his fingertips. It was a technique he had learned from the empire’s most renowned masseur when Sel was pregnant.

“You used to do it every day before Michael was born.”

“But after Michael was born, you wouldn’t let me touch you.”

Lavi pouted as he pressed his lips gently against the nape of her neck.

Perhaps it was because the bathroom was fully enclosed. Each time he marked her skin, the sound echoed more lewdly than usual.

“B-But Edel warned me to be careful.”

“Careful?”

“She said if we don’t abstain for three months, I could get pregnant easily…”

Sel spoke hesitantly, lowering her head. Her ears, peeking through her wet hair, were already flushed bright red.

“My dear, you test my patience every time.”

He swore he had no indecent intentions. He had only wanted to serve his exhausted wife.

Lavi gently bit the tip of her ear and exhaled a long breath. The heat of his sigh tickled her, making Sel shiver and lean back into him.

His desire, already grown to its full extent, was undeniable.

“L-Lavi?”

Even at her call, Lavi didn’t answer. He turned Sel around and embraced her. Sel, now straddling him, found herself face-to-face with him.

Lavi held her tightly and relieved his boiling heat on his own. Sel tried to avert her gaze but couldn’t escape. Trapped in his arms, all she could do was face him.

Soaked in water, her beautiful husband desired only her. A strange heat swirled in her belly, and Sel clung to his neck. The feelings she had barely held back overflowed like the water in the tub.

“All of this… is your fault.”

“What do you mean?”

“You look the way you do.”

Sel blamed him as she shifted her body. Tch! Lavi’s straight eyebrows furrowed.

“You keep making me want a child that looks like you, Lavi.”

The more she squirmed, the more Lavi clenched his teeth, tilting his head back. The blue veins bulging from his thick neck throbbed visibly.

“So… take responsibility.”

Sel bit his neck hard. A sweet pain spread throughout his body. Soon, the bathwater began to splash, surging like a sea caught in a storm. More than half the water in the large tub spilled over, revealing the floor.