Chapter 163: After Story 3

"Aedis?"

Perhaps the chick was excited that I finally realized the identity of the baby, the chick shook its flapping wings with its pea-like eyes sparkling.

"Why am I here all of a sudden......."

I stopped talking halfway through my thought.

There was something that caught me.

Last night before I went to sleep, I imagined Aedis' childhood that I didn't know.

And the chick could read my mind.

...... Whatever I imagined, it had the power to make it a reality.

"Hey, isn't this a dream?"

"Bbik."

"Is it really real? Is this really Aedis' past?"

"Ppyak ppyak!"

The chick innocently moved its beak. The eyes that demanded praise bored into me.

It can't even see my dumbfounded expression.

I shouted, being careful not to frighten the baby.

"You want me to praise you? You didn't do any good! No...... Did you do well? No...... You should have discussed it though!"

"...... Ppii."

The chick's eyes widened as I paced back and forth. First of all, let's catch that troublemaker.

"Affuu."

Gasp. Did I just hear it babble now?

The chick was erased from my attention in an instant. I looked at the baby as if I had been struck by lightning.

"Uuu?"

The baby did not cry even when strangers were staring at him. Rather, he looked at me with curious eyes and reached out his hand.

I withdrew, knowing that the baby with short arms and short fingers couldn't touch me.

"Ppyak?"

The chick croaked as if it didn't understand my behavior.

I fell asleep with a picture of my husband as a child in my head, and I think everyone would have the same reaction as me if that became a reality.

I swallowed and cautiously approached again.

The baby was now struggling to touch me with both hands.

How can his fingers be so small...... ?

After hesitating for a while, I put my finger on the baby's hand. The soft flesh gripped my fingers tightly, and it felt like it was a sin to even touch it.

At that moment, I felt emotional and something hot came out from inside me.

"...... Can I see Aedis here like this? It's the past and it's the reality, so is there no problem?"

"Ppii ppii."

I had no idea what the chick was talking about. So I'll just accept it as I like.

Aedis is too young to remember anyway. It might be okay if only others don't notice.......

The embarrassment melted away as the baby's warmth permeated my fingertips.

Before I knew it, I was smiling.

"It's a pity that there are no video stones...... It's nice because I can monopolize it myself."

It was a waste of time to blink, so I kept my eyes on the baby.

"I love you, Aedis. Will you marry me when you grow up?"

"......."

The chick seemed to be looking at me like trash, but it dismissed me lightly.

Then, I felt a presence outside.

They must be Aedis' parents.

I removed my finger from the baby and looked back at the chick.

"Let's go."

The baby started crying because the fingers that were holding on to him were gone. A huge sense of guilt came over me. Still, getting caught here would make things a lot more complicated.

Fortunately, my presence was removed from the surrounding landscape just before the door opened.

Shortly afterward, I arrived at a modestly decorated garden.

It was a pretty nice garden, considering the high standards of living as a nobleman.

Intoxicated with the light of the high sky and the refreshing breeze, the flowers swayed joyfully.

At the end of the garden was a small and pretty house that looked like something out of a fairy tale.

"It's not Cyclamen castle."

"Ppyak."

Is there anything left to see?

There were no other buildings nearby, so I approached the house.

Every step I took, fallen leaves rustled under my feet.

Cyclamen castle is now spring, so it seems that I have come a long way this time as well. Either in distance or in time.

The house had large windows everywhere, so it was not difficult to look inside.

"I don't know who the landlord is, but I think they should pay attention to crime prevention......."

I stopped talking and raised my eyebrows. Furniture with blunt corners was very familiar.

It's the room I was in just before.

Everything was the same except that the crib was gone and a new bed was made.

"Ppii ppii."

I removed the fallen leaves from my head and looked inside.

Aedis, now a boy, was about to take medicine from his brother.

Wait, that's... ... !

"Aedis!"

"Ppiiii!"

The chick grabbed my dress with its beak and stopped me desperately. I clenched my teeth.

"Please, how can I just look at that? I won't do much. I just need to detach Kadan's head from his body. I killed him in the future anyway, so I don't think killing him now will make a big difference."

"Ppyak ppyak! Ppyaaak!"

The chick seemed to want to say something like it would be a big deal if my existence was discovered by others or if the past was changed. But all that came out of the beak was the usual cry.

Then Aedis coughed up blood. I couldn't stand watching helplessly. Aedis would have acted the same as me.

But right before I broke the window and stormed in, the chick used its ability.

I was transported to an unknown place again by an invisible force.

"Ppii......."

The exhausted chick lay on its stomach.

Perhaps it was because it jumped not only in space but also in time several jumps in a row, and its exhaustion was evident.

Of course, I wasn't all that well either.

"...... I."

"......."

"Thank you for showing me because I was curious about Aedis' childhood, but you don't have to do this. As you can see, I don't have the confidence to keep my sanity."

My voice was hoarse . I stroked the chick's head gently with my finger. It was the same finger that Aedis had held.

"Ppii......."

It's okay. It's all in the past. Something that cannot be changed.

I clamped down on my emotions. I rubbed my warm eyes and sighed. I can grieve after I return safely to Cyclamen Castle.

...... No, maybe I won't be sad anymore then. Because Aedis is there.

"So where are we?"

A bluish light ran down the walls and reached the ceiling.

No garden, no house.

It was blocked off on all sides by rugged walls, but the temperature dropped significantly, and when I spoke, my breath came out.

It was like a cave....... Not a good place to stay in pajamas for a long time.

I brushed off my skirt and got up. The cold energy of the floor seeped into my bare feet.

...... The clothes are a problem, but the lack of shoes is also a problem.

As I was wiggling my toes and let out a deep sigh.

"Who are you?"

The voice was as cold as frozen water.

It was full of vigilance and hostility, and it was so good to hear that I was bewitched at once.

I unknowingly flinched, took a half step back, then raised my head.

The man who called at me had jet-black hair.

His deep eyes were as flawless as a famous painting, and his nose was smoothly stretched out. It would have been much better if the almond-shaped eyes hadn't been glaring at me with ferocity.

Still, a beautiful face like something descended from the most sacred place......

It gave off a scary atmosphere that I wondered if it was because of the uninvited guest, that is me, that had intruded upon a sacred place.

Besides, I felt like it was before he turned 20.

"A villain, no, Aedis?"

Thanks to the chick, I learned something new.

My husband, in 500 years, your impression has become much milder.......

No, wait a minute, thinking about it the other way around, that cute baby grew up that way, right?

Aedis ignored the fact that my expression was getting more and more strange and asked again.

"How do you know my name?"

Anger flashed in his blue eyes. It was a very unpleasant look.

Uumm.

I glanced at the chick. Perhaps the chick had no energy to stop me, it was lying on its back.

It might be okay since this is a cave. There seemed to be no chance that anyone else would pop out of nowhere.

Instead of answering, I moved my foot.

Aedis looked at me in pajamas and barefoot, finding me absurd.

He would have looked like that even if I had come armed and protected with full armor, but it would be nice if he kept his guard down like that.

When the distance was close enough, I rushed over and hugged Aedis.

"I got you!"

Perhaps disappointed that it was a hug rather than a surprise attack, Aedis stiffened.

I pushed harder and clung to him. I could feel his hard chest and thick bones intact.

"Aedis, how old are you now?"

"You know my name, but you don't know my age?"

"Eighteen? Nineteen?"

"Don't make wild guesses."

Your ears are cute.......

I raised my head and looked at him.

I remembered the image of the boy who was coughing up blood, but I bit my lips and forgot about it. I smiled broadly at him.

"Can I touch your face? Can I kiss you then? Can I say I love you?"

"You're out of your mind."

Aedis pushed me away.

My eyes widened, and Aedis hesitated.

He wrinkled his sensitive face.

"Don't touch me. You haven't answered my question yet."

Wow.......

I covered my flushed cheek with my hand.

Aedis just told me not to touch him.......

"Can you be rough with me one more time? It's so exciting......."