The forest north of the capital’s outskirts. There were no monsters, but predators like bears occasionally appeared.

“Should I try to get some bear hide for Gabriel’s winter coat on this trip?”

He hoped a bear with a nice pelt would show up.

Lavi lit a fire over the stacked firewood and brushed off his hands. His third child, Raphael, was clinging to his back like a barnacle.

“Not sure. That won’t be easy.”

Eric, settled inside the tent, responded halfheartedly. Michael and Gabriel were playing by braiding Eric’s hair into multiple strands, but he didn’t stop them.

“How would you know?”

“Even the sound of your footsteps makes the animals run away.”

Before settling in this place, Eric had climbed up a tall tree to scan the surroundings. The predators that once ruled the forest scattered in all directions the moment they heard Lavi’s laughter.

“Tch. I thought they wouldn’t remember me since it’s been a while.”

“That aside, why did you bring the children into a forest like this?”

“You followed along because you liked it, and now you’re nagging?”

“What if a predator shows up? The children would be in danger.”

“Do you really think that?”

Lavi tilted his head with a faint chuckle. Ah. Eric sighed as if recalling something

“Still, they’re just children. There are walking trails near the capital, aren’t there?”

“You can’t light fires there. And we can’t even sleep in tents because of our noble status.”

“……”

“And besides, this place is safer than the middle of the capital.”

Lavi gestured toward Sel, who was sitting at the edge of the clearing. Sel was inscribing a magical formula onto a round orb.

“A trap, huh.”

A type of magical device that shoots out flames if any animal approaches within a ten-foot radius. If Sel modifies the formula, the radius becomes wider and the effect stronger.

Perhaps because it had been a while since she worked with her hands, Sel looked genuinely happy as she worked.

“Sel and the kids like it here.”

Because the ones he loved liked this place, Lavi wanted to give them everything. If danger ever arose, he was prepared to sacrifice his own body to protect them.

‘If I had it my way, I’d build a cabin in this forest and live peacefully with Sel.’

Had it not been for the emperor and Eric, he might have left the capital already.

While Lavi was lost in thought—

“Godfather, Godfather!”

Michael came running toward Eric.

“What is it, Michael?”

“Hold on a sec.”

Michael spat the cherry candy he’d been sucking on into his palm and held it out to Eric.

“Here, have this!”

“Why?”

Eric frowned deeply as he looked at the candy Michael offered.

“I tried it and it tasted good. I really wanted to eat it all, but I held back so I could give it to you!”

Michael’s eyes sparkled like stars. If it were another child, Eric might have thrown the candy on the ground, but he mustered all his patience.

“…There’s a deer over there, Michael.”

“Where?”

As Michael turned his head, Eric quickly threw the offered candy away and took out a new one from his pocket.

“Looks like it ran off. Thanks for the candy, Michael.”

Eric smiled as he showed the candy now in his mouth.

“Wow! I must’ve used magic again, Godfather!”

“Magic?”

“I gave you a cherry candy, but now there’s a strawberry one in your mouth!”

Michael jumped up and down, laughing. Eric flinched slightly. It was just a brief moment, but—

‘He looked at me like he knew everything.’

It had to be a mistake. There’s no way he noticed such a quick motion.

‘He’s not some kind of beast.’

The candies were both red, so at this distance, it was hard to tell if it was cherry or strawberry.

“Did you… see that, Lavi?”

When Eric looked at Lavi, he casually waved his hand.

“I was like that too when I was young. It’s fine.”

“What?”

“Even pretending to be fooled by adults is exhausting.”

“That may be true, but that reaction speed just now…”

“He’s a swordmaster’s son. What did you expect?”

“How annoying.”

“Was I ever lucky to begin with?”

Lavi smirked arrogantly and stirred Raphael’s baby food quickly to keep it from burning. Watching that, Eric took back what he said about being unlucky. A swordmaster pouring his sharp senses into making the perfect baby food.

A salty emotion lingered on the tip of his tongue, one he couldn’t explain.

***

Evening had arrived before they knew it. A reddish sunset quietly embraced the forest, and then darkness fell.

Sel’s group sat in a circle around the crackling campfire. Michael and Gabriel played by tying up strands of Eric’s hair as he lay on his side.

“Kids, you need to show some respect to Lord Eric.”

Sel tried to scold them, but Eric, sipping beer, waved a hand nonchalantly. It meant he didn’t mind.

‘Was Eric always this easygoing?’

Sel sipped her warmed milk, puzzled. Lavi, leaning against a tree trunk, watched the scene with satisfaction.

‘This is happiness.’

Children laughing and running around a campfire with dear friends, and his beloved wife. The once-quiet forest was now lively with the laughter of those he cherished.

As the campfire began to die down, a tipsy Eric picked up the lute lying in the corner and plucked its strings.

His hair, tied in multiple tufts by the kids, looked ridiculous, but Eric didn’t seem to care much.

“You can play the lute too, Eric?”

“Learned from Gion.”

Despite his confident expression, his pitch and rhythm were a mess. A strange melody, tangled with the sounds of forest insects.

“The lute is making weird sounds, Godfather.”

Michael peered at the instrument with wide eyes, and Lavi burst into laughter.

“Alright, kids. It’s late—time for bed.”

As Sel gathered the children, they ran over and lay down with their heads on her lap

Sel quietly closed her eyes and counted the beat. Then she sang along in rhythm.

A lullaby Creta used to sing to a young Sel. Now Sel sang it while patting her own children’s backs.

The kids soon drifted off to sleep, unable to resist their heavy eyelids.

Sel gently stroked their foreheads and whispered into their little ears. 

“Thank you for coming to your mother. I love you.”

Words she always said like a spell whenever they fell asleep. Eric, watching quietly, tilted his head.

“They’re already asleep. Why say that to them now?”

“I want them to have sweet dreams.”

“They probably can’t hear it anyway.”

“No, they can hear it.”

“? “

“When I was very little, my mother used to do that for me.”

Back then, even when sharp ringing sounds filled the air, she could endure it because she unconsciously knew the truth—that her mother loved her.

That’s why she did the same for her children.

So that one day, when hardships briefly brush against their lives, her voice might be able to support their backs, even just once.

“My mother’s voice was what helped me endure during my hardest times.”

“Hmm, a sentimental thing to say… I don’t know. I don’t quite get it.”

Eric gave a faint smile and stepped into the tent.

Watching him go, Sel and Lavi exchanged glances.

***

Eric frowned.

He was likely dreaming.

“I’m always thankful for you, Eric.”

A ticklish voice, like a gentle spring breeze, circled around him and drifted away.

He felt a pang of longing.

Just as Eric reached his hand toward the breeze…

A massive beast lunged at him.

A boar?!

He struggled with all his might, but he couldn’t avoid it.

It pinned him down, making it impossible to move.

“Well… I’m kind of thankful, I guess.”

A hot breath puffed against his ear.

‘Sh*t, that’s disgusting!’

Eric’s eyes snapped open.

‘A dream again.’

Why were all his dreams like this?

He ripped off his sleep mask and rubbed his forehead.

The sleeping bag he’d kicked away was crumpled in the corner, and his bedding was a mess.

‘No way I’m getting back to sleep now.’

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Eric stepped out of the tent.

The hour before dawn—darkest of the night.

The forest was wrapped in deep silence.

“You stayed up all night?”

Eric brushed himself off as he approached Lavi, who was sitting at the base of a tree.

Completely still and silent, Lavi looked like a ghost.

Anyone else might’ve screamed at the sight.

“It’s not a problem for me. I can go without sleep for a few days.”

Just then, a soft murmur broke the stillness.

It seemed Raphael had woken, asking for milk.

Lavi swiftly comforted him and held out a warm bottle that had been heating by the fire.

Even as he did that, he checked to see if Sel had woken—his actions surprisingly gentle.

“So you stayed up all night not to guard this place, but to feed Raphael?”

“Both.”

“You’re a more devoted father than I expected.”

“I’ve been diligent since the day I was born.”

Lavi smiled crookedly, eyes fixed on Raphael.

His puckered lips and chubby cheeks made him want to bite them out of affection.

“It’s amazing all three have black hair like you.”

“I wish they’d taken after Sel. That’s one regret.”

“Must be that your dumb blood comes with stupid strength.”

Despite his words, Eric gazed down at Raphael fondly.

“You grump.”

Lavi held Raphael upright and gently patted his back after finishing the bottle.

Perhaps because he was already raising two kids, his handling of the baby was utterly natural.

“Are you happy, Lavi?”

“Me? Extremely.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because sometimes… it scares me.”

“?”

“I’m afraid of losing it.”

Lavi smiled bitterly, gazing up at the sky.

If only he could feel certain that Sel would remain by his side forever, like the pale moon of dawn above.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“That’s what happiness is like. You have to protect it for it to stay.”

Leave it unattended, and it vanishes like fog.

~~End of Side Story~~

“That’s why you have to work at it every day. Like building a good habit.”

Respect the rules you’re meant to follow. Don’t push yourself into burnout. Don’t delay—express your love and gratitude right now.

Lavi briefly recalled the time he crossed the river of death and gave a bitter laugh.

“What a bother.”

“Not at all.”

Heave.

Lavi slowly got to his feet.

“If there’s something you’re afraid to lose, never run away from it, Eric. That might be your happiness.”

Lavi flashed a big grin, holding Raphael as he walked back toward the tent.

Lost in thought, Eric stared up at the brightening sky and quietly smiled.

Then, in a soft whisper, he said,

“I’m thankful too.”