(If it were true that May Plov said, “It’s already been a while, I should have had two kids by now? At this time, I would have been putting the kids down for their nap and making a third!”)
I’ve realized at a slightly younger age than most how heavy the burden and responsibility of someone else’s life can be.
But if you ask me if I regret it, not at all. The happiness beyond responsibility, the satisfaction beyond burden, and the power beyond weight were always welling up.
“Daniel! Training’s over, so you’re heading home after a long time?”
At Harry’s words, I couldn’t hide my smile and nodded enthusiastically. Just thinking about going home after so long filled me with energy.
My steps became lighter, my heart lifted.
“Must be nice. A beautiful wife and a son and daughter waiting for you at home. Meanwhile, I go back to an empty house. I wonder if I should have preferred training instead of going into a house with just the wind.”
“Ugh, are you kidding?”
“Of course not. The best thing is to stretch out and sleep at home. Why do we even train? We’re just the guards who watch the door during a war anyway.”
“Well, that’s true.”
We’re the guards checking the ID of people entering through the front gate, but why are we sent out for such intense training?
I envied the colleagues who conveniently got out of training.
I strapped my sword to my waist and threw my leather bag over my shoulder. As I greeted Harry and headed out, the captain called me from against the corridor wall.
“Daniel, come here for a moment.”
A woman who proved herself solely through her skills. Personally, she’s someone I respect a lot as I’ve received a lot of swordsmanship guidance from her.
“Yes, what’s up?”
She had a serious expression, so I approached her, feeling tense. The captain hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Actually, I’ve been appointed to the royal palace. My position isn’t confirmed, but it’s still a promotion.”
“Really? Wow! Congratulations!”
“…So, about that.”
She shifted her body slightly and leaned forward, contrasting her usual charismatic and confident persona.
“With my authority, I can take one deputy with me. How about it? Want to come along?”
“Are you serious?”
Surprised by the unexpected offer, she blushed and started stumbling over her words.
“No, you seem talented with a sword. You learn everything I teach you! You look like you have the most potential for growth among the guards!”
I was grateful for the captain’s suggestion, but I answered without the slightest hesitation.
“I’m sorry, but I think that would be difficult.”
Seeing my firm answer, her expression quickly turned sour, and she awkwardly raised just the corners of her mouth.
“Is it because of family?”
“My second child is now 2 years old. I don’t want to move around or be separated for no reason.”
“…Okay, I understand. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s alright. Thank you for the offer, and I’m sorry.”
*
A savory smell teased my nostrils from afar, stirring my hunger. Is it stew today? Perfect dish to recover from exhausting training.
I popped a candy I bought as a gift into my mouth and knocked on the warm wooden door.
At that moment, I heard hurried footsteps coming towards me, and I couldn’t help but smile.
The door opened gently.
With reddish-brown hair flowing, my wife rushed at me without greeting me first, immediately wrapping her arms around my neck and giving me a passionate kiss.
May McLean.
But the kiss, which felt like it would last forever, ended abruptly because our 4-year-old son pulled at his mother’s pant leg, saying he wanted to give dad a kiss too.
“Hmm? Lemon flavor?”
“Since it’s been a while, I thought I’d give you a lighter flavor.”
May took the candy from my mouth and rolled it around with her tongue. I lifted our son, who was waiting below, and ruffled his hair.
“Yay!”
A sound of laughter that my child loved.
Just that alone made the fatigue from a week of training melt away.
“Where’s our second child?”
“Asleep. It’s around his nap time.”
“I guess I’ll see him tomorrow then.”
As I entered the house, I awkwardly smiled at the food prepared on the table.
“I’ll wash up and eat first. I might smell a bit sweaty from walking.”
As I began to unpack my bag and sword, May sat at the table and said,
“Eat first and then wash up. Our eldest needs to eat and sleep too.”
Since I came back so late, our firstborn was definitely nodding off. Then May whispered,
“And soon we’ll wash together.”
“……”
I could never win against her, even from way back then.
With a resigned nod, I sat at the table. Along with the warmed stew, there were also bread, meat, and quite a lavish spread. Our family had dinner for the first time in a week.
Our firstborn was so tired that as soon as he filled his belly, he slumped over in his chair and fell asleep, so I moved him to bed.
I was about to rush to wash up, but once I started eating, the wine was poured, and we began chatting.
About my cousin who adeptly uses magic and got a job recently.
Updates from my childhood friends who graduated from Aios Academy.
What difficulties I faced during training, etc.
As we talked, we naturally transitioned into discussing the captain’s earlier proposal.
I intended to brag that my husband was being recognized at work, but May’s expression suddenly changed.
“She asked you to go to the royal palace together?”
“……Uh-huh.”
This is dangerous.
May’s eyes held an intensity reminiscent of the days when she defended children and flattened bullies in our old town.
“Isn’t that crazy? Asking a married man to do that? I can’t believe this.”
“No! The captain didn’t mean that, she just said I do my job well…”
“Are you defending her?”
‘Oh no, I’m in trouble.’
I sighed internally and scrambled for excuses, but my mind went blank. May chugged the wine, propping her chin on her hand, wearing a smirk.
Her face clearly said, “Try to explain yourself if you can.”
Having lived with her for years, my answer was clear.
“I’m sorry.”
“Phew.”
May popped one of the candies I had brought as a gift into her mouth and began to chew it.
“When’s your next shift?”
“…Three days from now.”
Since training had ended, I had three days off at home. At my answer, May nodded vigorously.
“I’ll come visit you during lunchtime when you return. I’ll pack a lunch and make it look super pretty. I’ll show that b*tch what a married woman looks like, so she can’t drool over you.”
To be honest, considering I’m still in my early twenties, I didn’t think there was anything particularly alluring about a married woman’s figure, but if I say no or deny it, who knows what kind of situation could arise.
I nodded fiercely like a flag fluttering in the wind.
“……Ah, I don’t like this.”
Maybe she was still upset. May stood up abruptly and pushed me back in my chair.
“Hey, wait a second!”
“I need to bring back some memories.”
May began to peel layers off. Seeing how the clothes loosened quite easily,
“You, you! You meant to do this, didn’t you? You were prepared!”
“……No.”
I retreated, desperately trying to argue.
“I sweated a lot! I need to wash up first!”
“It’s fine. I like your smell.”
As May took a step closer, trauma flashed in my mind—this had happened before, exactly four years ago.
That was the day our lovely firstborn was conceived, but unfortunately, I wasn’t on board back then.
“I, I clearly said I didn’t want this! You pounced on me the night before we went to Aios!”
I couldn’t continue my protest.
With her on top of me, pinning me against the wall, May smiled with her mouth covered.
“Do you want a son or a daughter as the third?”
Chirp chirp
The warm sunlight and the chirping of birds drift through the window. May Plov, struggling to open her eyes as she doesn’t want to wake up, suddenly recalls the dream she just had.
“May McLean…”
No.
She didn’t have that surname anymore.
She wasn’t unable to come to Aios Academy either.
This was the 4th floor women’s dormitory of Aios Academy.
Daniel McLean had gone to the royal palace with Tana, and it had already been three days. Without any contact, carelessly.
May Plov finally realized everything was just a dream and muttered with her hand on her forehead.
“Ah, crap.”
Then, she buried her face back into the pillow, wrapping herself in the blanket with her legs and letting out a sigh.
“Missed out.”
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