The Baby Isn’t Yours

Kalia fell asleep almost immediately, as if she had fainted.

Having endured over nine hours of excruciating labor, it was understandable that she would be exhausted.

Allen promptly prepared nutritious food for the new mother and a mild soup for the baby.

From this point on, Allen and Hemmie had much to do.

Whatever Simon and Kalia had noticed about their circumstances, the Lady of the Castle offered her assistance graciously and kindly, promising to help with everything for Kalia and her baby.

The baby’s cries in the castle had been rare for a long time, and the Lady, who smiled benevolently, contributed to Allen and Hemmie’s ability to prepare a room for the new mother and her baby without worries.

Simon gazed at Kalia’s sleeping face for a long time in the dark room where the curtain had been lowered.

The warmth from the red setting sun peeked through the gap in the curtain and stroked Simon’s cheek.

It was hard to tell what he was thinking from his emotionless expression.

As if they had suffered together all night, his cheeks were as pale as Kalia’s.  Even his smooth skin, which had been highly praised, was now blotchy, and his bright silver hair was disheveled.

Simon slowly lowered himself to her side.

“You really…”

…You always turn people’s lives upside down like this.

Simon whispered softly, caressing her swollen cheek as if moisture would seep from it. His whole body tingled as his fingertips grazed her moist skin.

“You’ve been through a lot. You did well, Kalia.”

Despite all the chaos she had caused, she was still the most radiant person in his eyes.

She would probably become the strongest and most loving mother he knew, and she would remain the most beautiful person even after decades had passed.

Simon gently stroked Kalia’s cheek, removing the strands of hair that clung to her sweat, then took her hand and kissed it for a long time.

It was reverence, it was relief, and it was a promise.

“I will continue to protect you. No matter what kind of person you become or what secrets you hold.”

He held her hand as if in prayer, clasping it with both hands and kissed it deeply, then he murmured again.

“…Yet, it’s still you.”

Because you are my world.

Through this incident, it became even clearer to Simon.

* * *

“Oh, how adorable.”

Was it because he had struggled so much in the womb for a long time?

The baby, who had just emerged into the world, cried out loudly and then fell deeply asleep.

Although the baby looked sturdy, his fiery red skin, still warm, and his small, curled-up body seemed infinitely tiny and fragile.

Hemmie took a quick glance outside, where the sunlight was still bright, and drew the curtain.

She left only white linen curtains on the half-closed window, allowing only the white light to seep through and brightening the room to a perfect level for sleep.

Thanks to Simon’s meticulous touch, the air in the room was pure, and the temperature, humidity, and brightness were perfect.

“Sasha, nice to meet you.”

Hemmie greeted the baby, sitting beside him, her eyes sparkling like crescent moons.

Her gaze on the baby’s bed sparkled.

Although she hadn’t yet become a mother, she felt strangely emotional.

Hemmie dared not touch the baby’s cheek, but she just leaned against the baby’s crib with her arms crossed on the crib’s posts, resting her chin on her hands and gazing at the baby.

Sasha’s face was only about the size of her fist.

It was as if he knew nothing about the world, his peaceful, sleeping face, and his lips, which occasionally puckered like a baby chick, were so lovely.

“…Thank you for safely coming out. I don’t know how much Miss Kalia has been waiting for her baby. And I’ve been waiting a lot too.”

Hemmie spoke as if she were singing a lullaby, and then she yawned without realizing it.

Closing her sleepy eyes, Hemmie rested her head on the baby’s crib while her hand held her chin.

“In the future, let’s… do well, Sasha…”

Her quiet voice slowly faded away.

In the end, Hemmie couldn’t overcome the pouring drowsiness and fell asleep as it was.

And as she slept, a giant shadow loomed over her.

Kalexia stood in front of the tiny baby’s crib and looked at the sleeping baby.

The small human woman who often followed Kalia had been deliberately put to sleep.

There was nothing good for this young lady to watch what was going to happen next.

“…”

Kalexia observed the baby in the crib as his chest rose and fell gently, looking so tranquil.

Whether it was due to affection for children or some other reason, Kalexia closed his eyes tightly. Tears welled up from the surging emotions that washed over her.

Indescribable tenderness surged, and at the same time, unexplainable anger and frustration also rushed in.

This baby had been perfected with the magic of his bloodline.

This type of magic only worked for a child who had the same blood flowing in his veins as the caster.

“If you really are of my blood…”

Kalexia, while talking, stopped in the middle of his sentence and bit his lips.

Deep emotions lay within him furrowed brow.

‘If that’s the case, that child…’

With a sigh that couldn’t be described, Kalexia’s trembling fingertips were about to touch the baby’s reddened cheek.

Click.

With an urgent creak of the door, two sets of footsteps entered the room.

Kalexia, who had already sensed their presence, remained unfazed.

He slowly raised his head when he heard the sounds and said to the newcomers:

“Oh, it might be better if he doesn’t wake up yet.”

His gaze gently softened as he looked at Kalia’s face, which still retained some puffiness.

It was Kalia who appeared flustered.

“I thought you went back to the fairy forest.”

Kalia’s voice trembled as if surprised by his sudden appearance.

Just as Kalia took one more step into the room, her facial expression involuntarily changed slightly. It was due to the lingering aftereffects of childbirth.

“…See, Kalia. You haven’t fully recovered yet, so you should just stay in the room.”

There was concern mixed into his words.

“Come here. Lean on me.”

Without any hesitation, Simon naturally wrapped his arms around Kalia’s waist, bringing her close.

His warm and large hands firmly supported her from behind.

Kalia looked at Simon with a slightly unfamiliar gaze.

When she had opened her eyes earlier, she had been surprised at how close Simon’s face was.

Although Kalia was sensitive in her sleep, Simon had been careful, gently and quietly staying by her side.

As soon as their eyes met, Simon’s gaze became joyful as their gazes intertwined.

“You’re awake?”

One of his hands, which had been holding her waist, touched her cheek. His affectionate voice called her name, causing Kalia to blush.

It felt as if the eyes and voice that had gazed at her so tenderly, just as she had seen them in a dream, were right before her eyes.

She couldn’t help but be taken aback.

After waking up, Hemmie had heard that Simon had been by her side throughout her labor pains. Kalia also remembered Hemmie’s kind words and Simon’s gentle voice.

“It’s okay, Kalia. It’s okay. I’ll protect you.”

“If I could take your place… I wish I could.”

“If it’s too hard, you can scratch and bite me as much as you want. So don’t hurt yourself.”

These voices were unusually clear in her memory, despite the blurred memories due to the haze of pain.

In her scattered memories, those voices were particularly vivid.

Simon’s touch on her waist, despite being so familiar, felt unfamiliar. His gaze, which stuck to her even as she moved away, also felt strange.

She was a bit uncomfortable with his persistence, so she was slightly awkward after meeting Simon. It was the first time she felt slightly uncomfortable since meeting him.

To be more precise, when their eyes met, her heart raced and her cheeks turned slightly warm. She suddenly realized that she felt a little embarrassed in front of him.

Kalia raised her hips slightly while maintaining eye contact with Simon.

“I… I’m fine, Simon.”

Without taking his eyes off Kalia, Simon asked leisurely.

“What’s okay?”

“I mean, my body is fine.”

Simon naturally wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.

His gaze, while unwaveringly focused on Kalia, was both strict and affectionate.

“But why do you wobble when you walk?”

“I didn’t wobble.”

“You wobbled. You frowned as if you were in pain.”

Simon lightly touched Kalia’s forehead with a single finger.

Between her brows, Kalia felt as though flames were rising.

It was strange.

Why did it feel so awkward to simply have her forehead touched and her waist supported?

Kalia was usually insensitive to such things, but she couldn’t help but notice.

Simon’s strange eyes felt awkward and unfamiliar whenever they met.

She felt nervous that she might break if she were to walk alone.

During their time apart, what on earth happened to those beautiful golden eyes that made her feel strange and new every time they looked into each other’s eyes?

“It’s not painful, it’s just a little uncomfortable.”

“Yes? Where are you uncomfortable? Shall I treat you? It’s like walking on heels.”

Unexpectedly, very unlike her, Kalia blushed as a serious face, drawn in concern and looking down at her, approached.

‘…No, if you ask me where I feel uncomfortable, I don’t think I can answer…’

“What, is it so painful that you can’t even say it? Just lean on me, Kalia.”

Simon smiled at Kalia, who was blushing with embarrassment.

This ambiguous smile and innocent look of his that seemed as if he knew something, but pretended that he did not understand anything.

What was even more annoying was that these supposed changes could drive her crazy, but were so minor and trivial that she couldn’t stay alert for long.

‘It’s crazy. Why did he become even more handsome after I hadn’t seen him for so long?’

“Or should I hug you like this? This is also not bad for me…”

With gentle pressure, Simon’s hand grabbed her waist, pulling her tightly towards him.

His actions, although strong, did not seem coercive, and his hand resting firmly on her body did not seem oppressive. Rather, his arms supported her tightly enough to ensure that she could stand and walk comfortably.

‘No, you really… Why did you… Huh…?’