“I want to marry Daddy!”
Amor declared.
Judas watched Eliya’s expression closely.
After considering seriously, Eliya finally spoke up.
Her voice, lower than usual, was unusually calm.
“That can’t happen, Amor.”
“Eli, that’s just something kids say when they’re little….”
“Be quiet.”
“Yes.”
Purely innocent, Amor asked, “Why not?”
“Daddy is already married to Mommy. So it can’t happen.”
“If you’re married to Mommy, then it can’t happen? Why?”
This was not to cause an argument, but genuine curiosity.
Why must a person be partnered only with one other person?
‘How do I explain the institution of monogamy to a 5-year-old…?’
Eliya was faced with a dilemma.
“Um…”
Judas took a step back to observe the standoff between mother and daughter.
The usually composed and gentle Eliya had lost her words.
It was rare and difficult to experience.
Curiously watching, Amor dropped another bombshell.
“I will marry Mommy too!”
“…?”
“Marriage is something you do with someone you love. I love Mommy, so I want to marry her too!”
“…….”
It was truly a transparent confession and proposal, something only a child could express.
Also, as a child, Amor didn’t fully understand what marriage meant.
“Marriage is something you have to do if you want to live with someone you love!”
Eliya couldn’t help but laugh sheepishly.
‘What am I even doing talking to a kid like this…?’
For a moment, her rationality wavered.
This cute child barely understood what it meant for a man and woman to marry, yet here she was, saying such things.
Judas was right.
This was merely a foolish statement made during childhood.
In about ten years, she wouldn’t even remember saying it.
Thus, Judas would forever be her partner.
Eliya smiled and hugged Amor.
“Okay, Amor. Let’s make sure to marry Mommy and Daddy later and live happily.”
“Yeah!”
Judas approached the embracing mother and daughter, joining in.
Then he casually asked, “…Amor. Is there anyone other than Mommy and Daddy you want to marry?”
This was an attempt to root out any possible future rivals.
Amor blinked her big eyes.
“Anyone other than Mommy and Daddy?”
An answer quickly followed.
“No one!”
Just as Judas let out a sigh of relief, Amor spoke again.
“Oh! There is!”
“…Who?”
“Hammi!”
Amor still called her grandmother Hammi.
That was Maria.
Judas finally felt relieved and smiled.
“Yeah, yeah. Our Amor is such a lovebug filled with love.”
“Yup!”
Amor beamed, cuddling her parents.
A big, warm embrace.
These are the people she loves most in the world.
‘I must marry Mommy and Daddy and live together forever!’
Unlike their transparently honest daughter, the parents’ thoughts were much less clear.
‘I can’t give Amor to anyone.’
‘Judas must be mine alone forever.’
Neither of them was entirely sane, but this too was a kind of love.
Anyway, as a happy family, everything was perfectly fine.
*
Even as Amor grew up, Judas and Eliya did not neglect their parenting studies.
Amor was calm and well-mannered compared to other children.
However, parenting was never something to take lightly or find easy.
They never thought to treat it lightly.
The two always wanted to be the best parents possible.
To remain parents whom Amor could trust and rely upon, they constantly studied and pondered.
Today, Eliya came to the study to find parenting books.
‘It might not be helpful, but it isn’t completely useless either. After all, I can learn from it.’
She also had the added purpose of picking out a storybook to read to Amor.
The royal study was a space open to all palace staff.
So the retainers who worked in the palace often came to the study as well.
When Eliya first started visiting the study, everyone avoided her.
It wasn’t because the Emperor ordered them to; they just instinctively backed away.
But as her visits became more frequent, they became accustomed to the Emperor’s presence.
Eliya picked up on some gossip due to that familiarity.
Just as she had selected her fair share of storybooks and was about to leave, she heard whispers.
“I heard that book is really good…?”
“Is that the one?”
“Yeah! I ended up reading it one night and couldn’t sleep at all….”
Someone was talking in hushed tones, clearly trying not to be overheard.
There was an unusually excited undertone.
It almost sounded like they were discussing a peculiar topic.
Eliya tried to ignore it but was caught by the next line.
“Remember my friend who hadn’t had any news about a baby for months? After she showed that book to her husband, she got pregnant right away….”
“Oh wow….”
Eliya froze.
At about 24 years old this year.
She and Judas had been married for approximately six years.
Still very much in an age where she found such things interesting.
Although it’s true that she and Judas were still very passionate at night, still.
“…….”
Eliya peeked over the bookshelf.
The noise had quieted down.
Everyone had left.
She checked to see if anyone was watching.
There was no one.
Like a thief, Eliya walked over to where the women had been chatting.
This section was organized by title.
Among them, a book stood out glaringly.
[The Lecherous Cat Maid and the Tyrant Pretending to be Sadistic.]
Just reading the title made her head spin.
The shelf had both Volume 1 and Volume 2.
The empty space next to it suggested there were more volumes in the series.
“…….”
Eliya picked up Volume 1 and opened it.
Rather than a novel, it was formatted more like the script of a play.
Especially the exaggerated and dramatic lines reminded her of a script she had seen long ago.
[Maid: My lord. I only came to clean the room. Please don’t touch my tail.]
[Master: Is that really all there is to it? Why are you lifting your ample backside and waving your cute tail in front of my face?]
[Master: (sighing internally) Oh dear. Hiring her as a maid was the biggest mistake of my life. Her features are only her ears and tail, but otherwise, she looks just like a human! Little did I know that she is a sadomasochistic pleasure-seeker, the continent’s strongest assassin who will kill and run away if I fail to satisfy her! To survive, I must satisfy her!]
[Maid: (blushing as if embarrassed) T-That’s just…! It’s only a trait of our kind!]
[Master: (pretending to be calm again) Is that so, my sweet? Yes, you said you came to clean, right? Then you must clean thoroughly in places like this, too, don’t you?]
[Maid: There’s a huge and sharp spear there! It will pierce me!]
[Master: Don’t you worry. While this spear might jab you roughly, it won’t injure you. But I might grab that tail of yours quite firmly.]
[…….]
Engrossed in reading, Eliya suddenly jolted her head up.
She quickly scanned her surroundings.
Fortunately, no one was watching.
Eliya read the title of the book again and squeezed her eyes shut.
‘What am I… doing… with this…? No, what is… this content…?’
Eliya hurriedly returned the book to its spot.
‘I… I just read a little. I don’t need this….’
She needed to leave, but she couldn’t.
Eliya hugged her storybook tightly and peered up at the shelf.
Volume 1 and 2 were right there next to each other.
The content from the books she just read flooded her mind.
A fantasy creature with black cat ears and a tail.
And a master man who is trying to satisfy her.
‘…….’
Eliya left the study.
And both Volume 1 and Volume 2 disappeared from that spot.
*
“You want to read a book with me?”
Eliya suddenly put forth her request upon returning from the study.
“Yeah.”
For some reason, Eliya’s face flushed.
Judas didn’t know the reason but agreed nonetheless.
“Well, if you want to, we can do that… but are you sure? I read slower compared to you.”
“It’s okay.”
“Okay, great. What book is it?”
This was a first for them.
He couldn’t wait to find out what book they would read together.
Then Eliya shyly revealed the book, shattering all expectations.
[The Lecherous Cat Maid and the Tyrant Pretending to be Sadistic.]
“…….”
Judas could only stammer, unable to say anything.
As Eliya quietly climbed onto his lap, leaning against the side of the bed.
She sat with her back to him.
This way, she could comfortably read together with him.
“…….”
Judas had no choice but to remain silent until she settled in.
Finally, when she turned the page, he was sucked into the story.
[… (omitted)… ]
[Maid: My lord, how do I fit this large bread into my oven?]
[Master: My sweet, you aren’t prepared to bake that bread yet. It hasn’t risen yet, has it?]
[Maid: Oh, really? What should I do?]
[Master: (in a tender yet chilling voice) It’s pathetic that a maid like you doesn’t know that.]
[Maid: (blushing with anticipation.)]
[Master: Now, I’ll teach you, but you must do it yourself next time, understand? And make sure to warm your oven while the dough rises.]
[…….]
“Judas.”
Eliya called him with a sultry voice.
“…Uh, yeah. Eli.”
She turned around after closing the book.
Her eyes glistened.
Her lips were tightly pressed together.
It was evident she was yearning for something.
Judas felt the same way.
He subtly glanced around.
“…Where’s Amor?”
“She’s sleeping in Mommy’s room. I checked on the way back.”
“…….”
Even with Amor present, the two had never neglected their love.
As Judas brushed back her hair and caressed her shoulder, he suddenly said.
“…Could you wear the maid outfit for me?”
“…….”
Eliya swallowed hard.
With a peculiar anticipation buzzing in her heart, she also felt nervous.
She knew where the maid outfit was kept.
If she teleported there, she wouldn’t be caught.
And after using it, she could sneak it back into the laundry without anyone noticing.
Eliya made up her mind.
“…I’ll get it.”
Then Judas was faced with Eliya, who wore an authentic maid outfit that reached her ankles.
She seemed shy, frequently bowing her head while gripping the hem of her dress.
After sneaking a glance, she bashfully asked.
“M-Master…?”
“…!”
That word completely severed what little rational thought Judas had.
As he pulled her into a fierce embrace, Eliya whispered.
“Hey, even if I say to stop, please don’t. I want you to treat me however you’d like. Even if I say I don’t want it.”
“…….”
Thoughts of sultry fantasies swirled in Judas’s mind.
He grinned and nodded.
In that rare and pleasurable moment, the two experienced a switch in their roles.
Three weeks later.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”
Eliya was pregnant with their second child.
*
Judas and Eliya had not intentionally set out to have a second child.
They wanted to focus on Amor.
Since it was their first time parenting, they were worried about being inexperienced, potentially neglecting Amor.
By the time Amor grew a bit older and they thought it was okay to have a second child, a real second child came along.
“A sibling!”
Amor was thrilled when she learned she would have a sibling.
“A sibling! I want to have a sibling too!”
Richard and Beninita already had their second child.
His name was Beirin.
He was a boy two years younger than Amor.
Recently he became Judas’s primary target of suspicion.
Whenever she played with them, Amor envied the very existence of having a sibling.
“Is there a sibling in here?”
Amor asked, placing her hand on Eliya’s belly.
“Yep. Your sibling is waiting to come out and meet you. They will come later.”
“Oh….”
Judas gently patted Amor’s head.
“Will you be nice to your sibling?”
“Yup!”
“Oh, how lovely.”
Eliya mentally organized her magic.
Since her first delivery, she had improved the anesthesia magic with Epona.
Giving birth to Amor was undeniably an unmatched blessing in her life.
However, she didn’t want to experience the pain of childbirth twice.
‘I finished the clinical trials, so it should work well.’
While it was impossible to eliminate all pain, it was sufficient to alleviate it.
That alone was good enough.
Eliya smiled, patting her not-yet-rounded belly.
“By the way…”
Amor suddenly tilted her head.
“How do babies come to be?”
“…….”
It was the right age to be curious.
However, the timing was far from ideal.
To ask such a question at this stage of her pregnancy…
Judas and Eliya exchanged glances.
“The fact that your sibling is in here means there’s a baby inside. But wait, that’s strange. Why is the baby inside Mommy’s belly?”
“…….”
What’s inside isn’t a baby, but…
It was something they couldn’t tell their 5-year-old daughter.
Moreover, their clever daughter blocked any offhanded escape routes parents often take when talking to kids.
Like saying it was found somewhere.
Or that God gave it as a gift.
Those kinds of excuses.
“Why? Huh?”
Judas and Eliya were at a loss for words, unsure how to respond to Amor.
Once a child becomes curious about something, they tend to dig into it relentlessly.
Her tenacious nature was reminiscent of Eliya.
While Eliya pondered what to say, Judas stepped up to salvage the situation.
“So, Amor. Mommy and Daddy got married and…”
“…Yeah?”
Judas overlooked an important factor.
That was what could be called the curse of knowledge.
Once you learn certain information, you could never return to the ignorance of not knowing.
In other words.
He couldn’t match the perspective of a child who had no clue about conception or childbirth.
“Does that mean Daddy also has to be there for a baby to be born?”
Having believed that babies could come from just Mommy alone, Amor’s innocent misconception was now shattered.
Being as perceptive as her mother, she didn’t miss the difference between what Judas said and her own knowledge.
“Why? The baby’s in Mommy’s belly. Why does Daddy need to be there?”
Cold sweat began to trickle down Judas’s back.
He regretted complicating the matter with his thoughtless comment.
He felt like smacking his own lips for his mistake.
He would do anything to take back his words.
But the words once spoken could not be unsaid.
As Lady Eliya stepped forward to compensate for her anxious husband, she had just completed creating a plausible explanation for her daughter.
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