A child was given a name at their baptism.

Only after the child’s birth had been announced to God and gratitude expressed for their life could they be recognized as an individual. This sacred and solemn rite was reserved for infants who could survive a hundred days without crying in the holy place where they first offered their breath to the divine.

In the past, the ceremony was held even later. This was at least partly intended to prevent the unfortunate event of a child crying during the baptism.

But children are small and fragile. Too many died before they could properly declare their existence to God. Fearing that their children might wander without guidance and be unable to find their way, parents protested so desperately that the timing was eventually changed.

One hundred days.

For most, it passed in the blink of an eye, but lately it had felt entirely different for Ilenia.

The reason was the warm, fragile bundle resting gently in her arms.

“What name do you think would suit our child? Denis? Denevil? Or perhaps Dark would be best?”

“Didn’t we already decide yesterday?”

“Now that I think about it… the meaning doesn’t feel quite right.”

Unable to settle on a decision, Ilenia had been like this for days. Delphius recalled the handful of names he had heard countless times and quietly let out a breath.

“As you wish. As long as it’s a name you like, I have no objections.”

“Then I’ll think about it a bit more. It still feels a little… off.”

No matter what he said, the result was always the same.

Seeing his wife fall into deep thought over names once again, he let out a quiet laugh.

Since giving birth, Ilenia had started smiling again.

These were not the fragile, fleeting smiles she once wore, which looked as though they might shatter at any moment; they were warmer and more alive. There was a clear vitality in her expression that reminded him of the way she used to smile at him in the early days of their marriage.

A pure face, untouched by restraint.

A gentle expression that revealed her feelings just as they were.

And yet—

Even as he found himself drawn to that sight, his gaze dropped, displeased, to the small bundle in her arms.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to leave the child with the nursemaid for a while? You haven’t fully recovered yet.”

“It’s alright. I’m almost completely better now. And besides, this little one isn’t heavy at all.”

Her light tone only served to highlight the falseness of her words. The evidence was there for all to see in the bandages wrapped around her wrist.

Having endured the agony of childbirth and the haze of fever, she had come closer to death than ever before. Now, she seemed even more fragile than before. Someone who had once endured pain without complaint would now often huddle up, unable to hide her discomfort.

Each time, the head maid and the others rushed to attend to her, but there was only so much they could do. The burden of enduring that pain still rested entirely on her.

And yet, she insisted on holding the child at all times.

Constantly carrying the baby in a body that looked as though it might give way at any moment was pushing herself far beyond her limits.

“At this rate, the nursemaid may come to submit her resignation herself.”

Even when he spoke gently and tried to persuade her, Ilenia only held the child closer.

Realizing that he could not sway her stubbornness, Delphius let out a long breath and adjusted his cravat.

A soft hum filled the quiet room.

He couldn’t identify the song, but from the lyrics he could make out, it appeared to be a prayer for a bountiful harvest. It was a melody in which the earth embraced and nourished all life.

“Ah… oo.”

“That’s right. It’s a song from your mother’s hometown.”

As though she had truly understood the baby’s small cooing as words, Ilenia responded with a soft smile.

He wondered how much that tiny child could possibly understand—but seeing how happy she looked, he chose to let it be.

Instead, he reached out and gently patted her shoulders, which had long since grown stiff.

“…Don’t overdo it.”

“I’m fine, Delphius.”

“And there’s no need to name the child after me.”

“Wouldn’t that make it nicer? Anyone would be able to tell he’s your son at a glance.”

“Then what about your name, Ilenia? Why not use that?”

“As for me… my name isn’t nearly as remarkable as yours. I don’t mind.”

It was clear she had no intention whatsoever of drawing from the name Hildebalt.

Delphius paused, lips parting slightly, before simply nodding.

“There’s still plenty of time before the hundred days. You can take your time deciding.”

“That’s true, but…”

The child was only forty days old and had not even reached the fifty-day mark. She knew there was no need to decide on a name quite yet.

Yet she couldn’t shake off the sense of urgency she felt.

Ilenia gently brushed her fingers against her baby’s cheek. Well nourished on her mother’s milk, the child’s plump cheeks curved into a soft smile.

“He’s our first child. I want to give him only the very best—everything. What he eats, where he sleeps… he’s your first son.”

At the very least, she hoped that this child would never experience the cold stares she had once endured.

She wanted him to grow up untouched by ridicule or scorn and to inherit only the pride and glory of the Luckhardt name.

For that to happen, perhaps it would be better if she faded quietly into the background.

Even if they lived under the same roof, she hoped her presence would never hold him back.

With that thought in mind, she gently adjusted the child in her arms.

“Ah.”

It was only a fleeting pain.

Closer to a soft gasp than a cry—so quiet that even the child in her arms did not hear it.

But Delphius noticed immediately.

“Ilenia. Give me the child.”

“I-I’m fine.”

“Now.”

Her trembling gaze lifted toward him. It wasn’t as though he were asking for a part of her body—yet still, she hesitated, unable to hand the child over.

“Ilenia Luckhardt.”

She flinched.

At the sound of her name, her shoulders trembled. Her gaze lifted briefly towards him, wavering as it did so. In that fleeting moment, a quiet resignation settled in her eyes.

She carefully handed the child over to him.

Even then, it was obvious how reluctant she was. As he watched her fidget, he resisted the urge to poke her puffy cheeks and took the child into his arms instead.

“I’m really fine…”

“Shall I call the physician?”

Perhaps recalling how many times she had been warned not to strain her wrist, she immediately shook her head.

Only then, seeing her finally settle down to rest, did he turn his attention to the child.

“Mm…”

He was soft, just like his mother.

Everything about the child reminded him of Ilenia: the delicate warmth, the gentle texture. It was as if she had been shrunk and placed in his arms.

Although the child did little more than sleep, eat, and soil himself, there was something endlessly fascinating about him. His golden hair and round, golden eyes were strangely captivating. Tiny mittens, carefully made by Ilenia herself, covered his small hands.

A faint scent of milk clung to him.

It was a scent that had recently begun to linger in the bedroom.

Ilenia always nursed him in bed. As she reclined against the pillows and loosened the strap at her shoulder, those quiet moments seemed to transform the entire room into a space intended only for them both.

She produced more than enough milk to feed him, so there was no need for a wet nurse. The child grew steadily with each passing day, wanting for nothing.

He changed in the blink of an eye.

Watching the child quietly enjoying that small, peaceful happiness stirred a faint sense of envy within him and he pressed lightly against the bridge of his nose.

“Waaah!”

“It seems he’s hungry.”

Had only a few minutes passed? In that short time, the child’s face had flushed a soft red.

With practiced ease, Ilenia took the child back into her arms and loosened the strap of her dress. The nursing garment parted easily, revealing her br*ast.

The moment her br*ast came into view, Delphius averted his gaze.

How absurd!

To be unsettled by the sight of his own child being fed!

He clicked his tongue softly and reached for his coat.

It was pathetic to feel stirred by something as simple as this.

With a quiet scoff, Delphius slipped his coat over his shoulders.

“…Are you leaving already?”

“Yes. I have work to do.”

His gaze flickered briefly towards the child, who was eating eagerly. He felt the words ‘Eat your fill and don’t trouble your mother too much’ rise to his lips, but he swallowed them back.

Instead, he leaned down and gently kissed Ilenia on the forehead.

“As you said, if we want to give our son the very best, we’ll need a great deal of money.”

There was still a faint hint of childishness in his words, a lingering echo of the way he had brushed things aside, but her smile was enough in the end.

Delphius leaned in once more and placed a soft kiss on her lips before turning to leave.

Since the child had been born like a blessing, peaceful days continued for all of them.

***

As the early buds of spring began to bloom, a long-awaited guest arrived at the Luckhardt estate.

Ilenia, tense, clasped and unclasped her hands several times.

‘This isn’t a sudden visit. There’s no need to be nervous.’

Repeating that to herself, she steadied her breathing.

The door to the drawing room opened.

Straightening her shoulders, which had unconsciously curled inward, Ilenia lifted her head to greet the guests.

“This place truly hasn’t changed at all.”

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

Though the response she received was somewhat curt, it was still an acknowledgment—and she managed a small smile.

But the moment she saw the figure stepping out from behind the Duke of Luckhardt—her body stiffened.

“It’s been a long time, Ilenia.”