THSDR 52

Chapter 52

“Still, the more troops we have, the better. Gather as many as possible. And send requests for cooperation to the surrounding southern territories. They all know the cycle has returned, so some of them will answer the call. If they demand compensation, meet their terms as much as possible. Work with the merchant guilds to secure grain and medicinal herbs, and lift import restrictions so we can bring in as many supplies as possible. Leave two of the three grain warehouses untouched.”

He was preparing for any possible disaster that might occur while he was away. If the people of the territory starved to death, they would lose the very reason to risk their lives.

Sir Bogus bowed his head.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Cheres looked once more at the red marks scattered across the map.

Bogus watched his back silently.

He had seen that very sight countless times before. When the previous duke died. When Cheres returned carrying his young nephew in his arms.

Those broad shoulders, always seeming as vast as the ocean, had long been their hope and their only support.

The gazes of Wills and Temer also settled on Cheres.

Their lord would never collapse.

To many people, Cheres was someone whose very existence alone gave strength and comfort.

That was why the South adored Cheres Beryden so deeply.

Lately, Cheres had been going to the knights’ headquarters more and more often.

I heard he had even left without eating breakfast that morning. A maid who had brought lunch at Lady Yurein’s orders returned carrying the untouched tray back out.

So he wasn’t even taking care of his meals properly.

I was worried, but I couldn’t simply go find him without reason. Whatever he was dealing with was important, and it likely meant he did not wish to be disturbed.

So instead, I decided to focus on what I could do.

I took Hayden out into the garden.

The southern spring sunlight was warm. Hayden toddled across the soft earth beneath it. It was a peaceful afternoon.

“Dede-dede-dede! Bba-ba, adyadya!”

Hayden held onto my hand as he stumbled forward unsteadily. These days, if he held someone’s hand, he could walk for quite a while.

Whenever he fell, he simply got back up again.

And then got back up again.

The child was growing faithfully, day by day.

His cheeks, filled with spring sunlight, were round and full of life, and his tiny legs were gradually gaining strength.

Like spring greens growing rapidly after the thaw, Hayden grew a little more every single day.

His chubby fingers crawled across the grass before suddenly grabbing a fistful and yanking hard. If it came out, he laughed happily. If it didn’t, he grew frustrated.

When he finally managed to pull it out by the roots, he turned toward me with a triumphant expression and proudly held it out.

“Well done, Hayden. That was amazing!”

“Ddeh-ddeh! Kkyuin!”

Hayden burst into delighted laughter.

After spending some time tearing through the grass, he soon discovered a butterfly instead. A white butterfly had landed atop one of the roses.

Hayden pointed at it, his mouth falling open into a little circle.

“Ddeh-ddeh-ddeh!”

He stood up and began waddling toward it.

Of course, he still wasn’t used to walking without grabbing onto something, so by the third step his feet tangled together. Just as he started pitching forward, I quickly caught him from behind.

To Hayden, this tiny garden was an enormous world.

The child was broadening his world more and more with each passing day.

Someday, perhaps even this vast empire would no longer be enough for him.

What was truly funny was that Hayden and I didn’t share a single drop of blood, yet through him I was imagining a future and dreaming of one.

“Hayden, butterfly.”

“Abya?”

“Say butterfly.”

“Abya-bya!”

Well, what did pronunciation matter anyway?

Distracted by the fluttering butterfly, Hayden wriggled excitedly again. He launched himself forward once more and predictably toppled over, so I scooped him up into my arms.

Hayden babbled as he wrapped his arms around my neck and buried his face into the crook of it.

“Ghk!”

A strangled sound escaped me as my neck was instantly crushed.

For a second, I thought I was being assassinated.

Lady Yurein let out a quiet laugh nearby.

Hayden’s hugs were always clumsy like this.

Dangling from my neck, Hayden giggled brightly.

“You little rascal. You almost killed me just now.”

“Mamama!”

I lightly bit at Hayden’s nose.

The baby, completely unaware, only laughed harder.

Was that fun for you? I genuinely thought I was about to die.

Lately, Hayden had discovered a new natural enemy.

The papers in my hands.

People always say children want whatever their guardians are touching, and apparently Hayden had entered that stage. Anything in my hands immediately became something he wanted to snatch away.

After playing with Hayden for quite a while, I briefly checked the latest social news while he became absorbed in stacking blocks. Recently, Lady Yurein and I had been focusing heavily on society rumors while searching for traces of the Association.

Hmm. Nothing especially suspicious stood out.

Honestly, they even looked like a genuinely hardworking charity organization.

Which didn’t feel right at all.

At this rate, we might have no choice but to wait for Count and Countess Buruate to arrive.

Then suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

Why was it so quiet?

A moment ago I could clearly hear blocks clicking together and crashing down—

“Momma!”

I turned my head.

Hayden had abandoned the blocks entirely and was staring directly at me.

The moment our eyes met, chills ran down my spine.

Sometimes that happened.

Moments where you simply make eye contact with a cute baby, yet your entire spine suddenly goes cold.

Like when you think you’ve successfully put them down for a nap, only to turn around and find them awake and staring at you.

Or when you wake up at dawn and discover them sitting upright in bed.

Or moments like this.

Hayden suddenly crawled toward me on all fours like a bullet.

Sometimes even I couldn’t keep up with how fast he moved.

Without even pausing to breathe, Hayden rushed forward with sparkling eyes. His chubby little hand stretched eagerly toward the papers I was holding.

“Hayden, no. What if you cut your hand on the paper?”

I lifted the papers high above my head.

Hayden stretched both arms upward.

Obviously, there was no way he could reach them.

“Auu!”

Hayden abruptly stood up.

Using my leg for support, he hauled himself upright entirely with arm strength and tilted his head upward stubbornly.

Alright then. Let’s see how far you can go.

Hayden toddled forward with his little arms stretched out.

Whoa. At this rate, he might actually reach it!

I quickly spun my body away.

Hayden immediately waddled after me.

Smiling brightly, he stretched out his hand again—then promptly lost balance and tumbled over.

I hurried to catch him.

When did he get this big already?

And somehow, during all that, Hayden successfully snatched the papers from me.

“Bbya-bya-bya-bya!”

Hayden raised the papers overhead like a victorious conqueror.

Yeah. Good job.

“You’re the best, Hayden.”

You win.

Hayden turned away protectively, clearly unwilling to let anyone take them back. He especially seemed to like paper. Maybe because it made sounds whenever he touched it and was easy to play with.

Fine then. Do whatever you want.

How could anyone stop you?

Watching the profound little back of his head made me laugh automatically.

Riiip.

The paper in Hayden’s hands was gradually becoming smaller and smaller. Tiny scraps scattered across the floor.

After digging through the scraps for a while, Hayden picked one up.

Then he turned around and proudly held it out toward me.

“Eomya-mya-mya!”

“Th-thank you, Hayden.”

Without thinking, I accepted it.

Hayden immediately picked up another piece and brought it over too.

“Thank you very much……?”

Hayden clapped his hands and beamed happily.

Then he continued bringing me paper scraps one by one, stacking them into my hands.

“Kkyuin!”

Hayden flapped his little hands excitedly.

Wait.

Was he giving these to me?

Wow. He really must be a genius.

I felt like I should start looking into Mensa membership immediately—except unfortunately, Mensa didn’t exist here.

Lady Yurein paused midway through entering the room carrying Hayden’s lunch.

“Gyaa! Ddeh-dedede!”

Laughing brightly, Hayden picked up another scrap and proudly offered it to Lady Yurein too.

“It’s a gift, Lady Yurein. I think our child might genuinely be a genius. What should we do?”

“Th-thank you very much, Young Master.”

Lady Yurein answered with an emotional expression.

As expected, there was no one in this household capable of defeating Hayden.

He was the tiny emperor of his tiny world.