The weekday tea time was quiet without commotion, as always. The late summer afternoon garden filled with pleasantly warm breezes. From afar, the wind carrying flower fragrances brushed past Ludwig’s long hair as he sat in a teak chair under the shaded porch.

“Ah, here.”

Florencia, sitting on the outdoor sofa right beside him, picked a grape from the table and fed it to him as he held the baby. He received it with quiet movements so as not to wake the sleeping baby.

“Come to think of it, you’ve never told me about your childhood, Ludwig. What were you like as a child?”

Florencia whispered as she brushed away the fine hair that had fallen over the baby’s forehead. Well, I don’t think there was anything special, Ludwig said, gazing intently at the soft, light white-blonde hair identical to his own.

“Surely you weren’t a terrible troublemaker? Damaging gardens or playing pranks in fountains……”

“Of course not. I was the same as a child as I am now. A well-behaved child who never caused any trouble.”

“Really? I’ll ask Her Holiness Pope Elisabeth when she visits next time.”

“Hmm, her vacation is over, so she’ll probably be too busy to visit for a while.”

Ludwig laughed softly, subtly avoiding Florencia’s suspicious gaze.

Just then, the baby woke up and whimpered with a furrowed brow. He held her with now-skilled movements, and amazingly, the baby quickly stopped crying.

“Buu, bu-“

The baby made incomprehensible sounds and firmly gripped one of his fingers with her tiny hand. Clear eyes, the exact same color as his beloved wife’s, stared up at him.

In that moment, Ludwig felt both a warm, cozy air surrounding him and bewilderment. An irresistible, tremendous emotion rushed in all at once, like standing under a waterfall with water pouring mercilessly. No, in truth, he just hadn’t noticed that this tender, beautiful feeling had already taken root naturally within him long ago. Love for the young life before him, a very fragile, absolute, and precious being with the power to control his entire existence…… Perhaps an emotion that had emerged from the very moment he first met this small baby…….

Suddenly, a gentle voice rang in his ear.

“Ludwig, our baby really seems to like her daddy. Look how tightly she’s holding your hand?”

After being frozen for a moment, he looked to the side and saw Florencia smiling, meeting his gaze with her gentle violet eyes.

Ah. Ludwig suddenly felt that this utterly ordinary moment in daily life was as precious and special as God’s blessing. He felt like he might cry from happiness. Offering a sincere prayer of gratitude and appreciation in his heart, he slowly opened his mouth.

“……Beatrice.”

Florencia, not immediately understanding, opened her eyes wide and said, “Pardon?”

“That’s what we’ll name her, Laura.”

“Ah……”

“Your and my…… our baby’s name.”

“Our baby’s name…… it means ‘blessing’! I like it too.”

Do you like that name? Florencia soon smiled brightly and repeated, “Beatrice.”

“Then, shall we call her Beth as a nickname?”

She said affectionately while gently tapping the baby’s chubby cheeks.

“Oh, Ludwig. I received a letter from Michael. He said he’s coming to the capital in two months for an exchange training with another knight school and asked if we could see him then.”

“Hmm, by then Beth should be able to travel by carriage. Let’s go together, the three of us.”

“I’m so excited! Ludwig and me, and our baby too…… it’ll be our first trip as a whole family.”

“We’ll need to pack plenty of baby supplies.”

Ludwig laughed softly as he quickly calculated what would be needed by that time.

“Beth, do you like daddy that much? Come to mommy now.”

Florencia sat down next to him, holding the baby. She gently rested her head on his shoulder while admiring the well-maintained landscape. The subtle fragrance of lisianthus filling the garden was carried by the wind.

“It’s beautiful, Ludwig.”

“Yes, it is.”

Ludwig answered softly as he tightly embraced the small shoulder that radiated warm body heat. He slowly turned his head to look at his beloved wife and daughter. Right before his eyes was the most beautiful scene in the world, impossible not to love.

“……It truly is beautiful.”

Ludwig, do you know the flower language of lisianthus? Florencia whispered in a small voice. Of course I know, he leaned down and told her the answer close to her ear, quietly smiling.

It was a peaceful late summer afternoon with the subtle fragrance of lisianthus filling the entire world.

*Lisianthus flower language: Unchanging love

Epilogue

Michael straightened his back as he wiped the sweat flowing over his forehead. A cool breeze blew at just the right moment, bringing the now deeper scent of lisianthus to his nostrils after several seasons had passed.

This spring, having come of age, he graduated from knight school with excellent grades and proudly passed the Imperial Knight Order’s examination. He had obtained some vacation time before joining and intended to spend it with his sister after a long while. But what do you know, from the day he arrived at the territory, he had been constantly playing nanny to his formidable niece.

“Beth, please…… Uncle is dying of exhaustion. Isn’t this enough?”

“No! I’m making this as a gift for Mom! Hurry and make it bigger……”

Since morning, she had been dragging him around the garden, insisting he create a lush bouquet to her liking.

His sister was as gentle as a soft spring breeze, and his brother-in-law, once a respected clergyman, was also mild and dignified, so who did this child take after? Michael trimmed flower stems with the knight’s sword bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor and inwardly vowed never to have children even if he married someday.

But seeing his sister, who had conceived a second child despite dealing with this troublemaker, made him think she must be quite happy…….

Well, to be fair, my niece is especially cute…….

No, what am I thinking…… No, absolutely not!

Michael quickly shook his head to dispel these thoughts.

“How’s this, Beth? Good enough?”

“Wow, it’s pretty…… But will Mom like it?”

“Of course. Now Beth, can Uncle rest a bit?”

“Yes, thank you, Uncle!”

Satisfaction finally settled on the small face as she cradled an armful of flowers almost as tall as herself. Beatrice ran into the house, then tiptoed down the corridor to the door. Through the slightly open door, she could see her mother knitting by the sunlit window. But lacking the courage to enter, she hesitated there for a while.

“Beatrice…… Are you really going to keep disobeying? Seeing how you upset me every day, it seems Beth doesn’t love her mother.”

“No, no! Mom, I……”

The memory of this morning made her hesitate even more.

‘If a good baby unlike me is born, Mom might only love the younger sibling……’

Just then, someone approached from behind and placed a hand on her small shoulder.

“Beth.”

Gulp, startled and swallowing her breath, Beth turned around and immediately called out “Daddy!” with a bright smile.

Her light white-blonde hair was completely disheveled from running around the garden. Ludwig skillfully combed Beatrice’s hair and braided it on both sides.

“Weren’t you going to see Mom?”

At his question, the violet eyes that looked exactly like Florencia’s immediately drooped.

“Daddy…… Mom…… seems very angry because I only cause trouble. I broke a statue while running in the corridor, and I dirtied my new clothes for the festival while playing in the garden……”

“Oh dear, Mom said you should behave well because she’s tired from carrying your sibling. So you came to apologize?”

“Yes…… and to tell Beth that she loves Mom more than anyone in the world……”

Ludwig smiled gently and stroked her head as Beatrice mumbled while looking down at her toes.

“Are you shy about saying that?”

He bent his knee to match his young daughter’s height and whispered affectionately.

“It’s all right, go to Mom now.”

Finally gathering courage, Beatrice nodded slightly and entered the room through the partially open door.

“……Beth?”

Mom, this…… Florencia received the bouquet that Beatrice hesitantly offered. Her eyes widened slightly, then curved into gentle arcs.

“How lovely. Did you bring this for Mom? Thank you, my good baby.”

Though her body had grown heavier, unlike with Beatrice, she had no morning sickness, making for smooth days. Florencia gently embraced her daughter while lightly kissing her forehead. I thought Mom was angry! Beatrice, who had been subdued and cautious all morning, immediately brightened and giggled.

“Beth, baby. Aren’t you hungry? Shall we ask Daddy to make us a delicious snack?”

“Yes, Mom……! I want the hotcakes Daddy makes! And, I have something to tell you……”

Beatrice stood on tiptoe and whispered something in her ear. Warm and sweet words that made both the speaker and listener happy…… A gentle smile appeared on Florencia’s lips.

“Oh, did you think Mom didn’t know……”

“I already knew.”

Huh? As Beatrice blinked her round eyes, Florencia hugged her tightly once more and whispered.

“Because, in this world, some things can be understood without being said.”

Florencia waved her hand with a bright smile toward Ludwig, who met her eyes through the open door.

“Right, Ludwig?”

As if agreeing with her words, a smile crossed Ludwig’s neat lips.

That’s what love was. Filling each other’s gaps and comforting loneliness with the warmth shared in an embrace. Sometimes hurting each other in immature ways, but revealing true feelings and forgiving one another. Planting a small seedling in dry, barren land and together cultivating a garden full of blooming flowers.

He slowly stepped toward his beloved wife and daughter.

A beautiful sight just like what he had witnessed in some faintly remembered dream long ago…….

It was a truly perfect happiness, like unwavering faith.

<The Priest’s Secretive Education_Side Story> End