Chef Bill presented specially prepared duck meat. Everyone enjoyed the meal, but it seemed like this wasn’t what he usually made. Elody comforted the sullen chef, saying, “Don't be bothered, the meat was very delicious.” But his other ambitious work, the cake, was enjoyed by all. It was even more delicious because everyone shared. Caville ate two plates of cake himself. Elody told Caville that he did not have to keep the table manners. Elody ignored etiquette herself, and had a pleasant conversation with her servants.

Finally, it was time to open presents. Norman gave Caville and Elody a book each, and the maids gave them their hand-made clothes. Brienne gave Caville an expensive wooden sword made of blackwood, and gave Elody a cute hairpin. Elody laughed when she recalled that the grumbling Brienne had picked the hairpin himself. It definitely didn't match him.

“Come on, Caville. Here's my gift.”

Elody gave Caville his present with a confident face. The maids waited for Caville's reaction, the anticipation written on their faces.

“Wow.”

Caville tore off the wrapping paper. At first he seemed surprised to see the big rabbit doll. Then he immediately hugged the doll. The maid exclaimed at how nice it looked.

Elody also smiled proudly at the sight. I gave my bias a doll as a present! What a success!

“I love it.”

Caville smiled beautifully, hugging the rabbit doll tightly. Even though the rabbit doll had uneven ears, Caville seemed not to care.

“Come on, my lord, you're going to give her what you've prepared, right?” Norman asked.

“Yes, or course,” Caville said.

At Norman's words, Caville held out what he had hidden behind his back. Elody's eyes widened at the unexpected gift. The maids clapped their hands in excitement. Elody looked down at the present from Caville. It was a wrapped candy and a letter. Giving a candy that he loved so much meant giving everything for him.

Elody opened the letter with pride.

[Thank you very much.

I love you, wife.]

Caville’s writing was still rough, and the sloppy letters looked more like a painting than words. Stii, it was the best birthday present Elody had ever gotten.

***

After the party, Elody and Caville washed up, changed into pajamas, and arranged the gifts in front of the fireplace. Then they fell asleep side by side on the blanket laid in front of it. The maids who came in a long time later smiled at the sight.

“Oh my, it's so lovely.”

Elody's hairpin, which Brienne had given her, was stuck in Caville's bangs. Marie and Emily, another one of the maids, giggled at the sight.

The two carried Caville and Elody to the bed, respectively.

“Oh, what is this?” Marie said.

Marie found a small doodle on one side of the wall. It was the mark Elody made to mark her and Caville’s height.

“They must have measured their height, How cute.”

“They'll both grow up day by day, right? Emily asked.

“I believe so.”

Marie and Emily walked out of the room with a happy smile. In the coming days, two more lines appeared on the wall where their heights were marked.

Caville grew a span taller than before, and Elody grew that much too.

A year passed quickly, and the seasons changed. After the warm spring came, the hot summer passed, and after autumn, winter came with a slightly stronger wind than last year. And it was around the time when the spring of the warm wind came again.

***

For a little over a year, Elody had been busy with no breaks in between.

Every day, she went to the library to study magic drugs and taught Caville how to read and write.

She did not forget to pick medicinal herbs in the fields with a couple of maids behind the castle.

“Madam, this is weed, right?” One of the maids asked.

“I think so.”

Every time she went out to the field with a basket, Elody felt like going on a picnic. So, she always took snacks like sandwiches.

“The clouds are so beautiful today!” She said.

“Yeah, it's a perfect day to pick medicinal herbs,” said Anna, one of the maids.

Marie and Anna were always together when Elody went to pick medicinal herbs. Anna was fond of flowers and plants, so she was very helpful. And, at eight years old, Caville was still smaller than his peers, but he had grown quite a bit. He also seemed to have a more active personality than before.

“Caville, let's go for a walk again today.”

“Yes!”

Elody remembered to take a walk with Caville every day. In addition, she always watched Caville's sword training in person.

He’s gotten a lot less sloppy.

His sword holding posture had also changed. It said he was a born genius, no wonder. . .

Elody asked Brienne with a proud smile,“Caville has improved a lot. Right?”

“Yes, well, he's very talented,” he responded.

Elody never hid her attitude of overprotectiveness. If she didn't like what was happening in class, she wouldn't hesitate to argue with Brienne.

“By the way, how long will you be attending his classes?” Brienne asked.

“Until Caville refuses my presence,” Elody responded.

Brienne looked at Caville. Caville pouted his lips and shook his head with a determined look.

Elody soothed Brienne with a look of.

“Caville is still a baby. Please be patient until he's a little bigger.

“Oh, is there a baby that big? A newborn baby is called a baby.”

“He's a baby in my eyes.”

At Elody's firm remark, Brienne shook his head.

Caville will be my baby even when he grows up and becomes an adult. He’s my baby. Elody was determined. Brienne continued to train hard, grumbling. After spending a year together, Brienne seemed to have gotten attached to Caville. Caville was no longer afraid of him either.

Brienne led the knights well for a year. The knights' accommodation blocks and training grounds in the renovated castle were filled.

“Madam, I'll have to hire more servants for the castle and the knights,” Norman said.

“Okay, Norman, please take responsibility for it.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Norman decided to hire new workers for his servants, who are having a hard time preparing meals for the knights every day. Elody left the job to Norman. Norman was easily influenced by others, but he seemed to be strict in hiring people.

A few days ago, Caville stood in front of the knights for the first time as a lord. At the same time, several qualified apprentices were appointed as official knights. Elody held Caville’s anxious hand throughout the ceremony. She had come to a pretty big decision herself. She had decided to repair the greenhouse, and would use the remaining gold coins she had to build a lab next to it. She should have started right away, but the building had been delayed since she considered Caville's growth as her priority. But it was time to give it a try.

“Madam, the repairmen will be here tomorrow.” At Norman's words, Elody put down a cup of cocoa and asked,“Yes, how long does the construction take?”

“There is little to repair, so it won't take too long.”

“That's a relief. Oh, by the way! I'm going to a market with Caville today.”

“Yes, I heard. You're going with Marie and Sir Vedos too.”

“Yes, but Caville doesn't seem to want to go.”

“It's his first time going out of the castle.”

Norman looked at Elody and Caville, smiling like a gracious grandfather.

Throughout the conversation, Caville stood next to Elody. She sighed and shifted her gaze towards Caville. He was well-fed, as he’d been raised with care all year round. But It seemed like Caville had become overly attached to Elody. He hated being away from her. Caville was afraid of tall adults, and of places where there were many people. He acted much better now, but without Elody by his side, he was very anxious. I guess he has developed separation anxiety.

Elody calmly looked at Caville. Caville looked at Elody with wide eyes.

At this rate, he won't be able to join the war without me. It would be better if we could go together, but unfortunately, I would be a burden. I might put Caville in danger. Should I put some space between us?

Elody thought about it for a while, but she couldn't do it at all.

“Wife, do we have to go?”

How can I separate myself from my cute but clingy bias?

In addition, Caville listened to Elody without asking or questioning, like a puppy that listened well.

“Yes, we have to go. We need to get medicinal herbs from merchants who are there.”

Some samples of medicinal herbs had been collected from the fields and forests behind the castle. But that was not enough. Herbs from other regions were also needed. To get them, she’d have to go to the market and check the items brought by merchants and buy them.

“Madam, madam! The carriage is ready!”

Marie, the nearest maid, came up with an excited face.

Marie was a red-haired, tall maid. She was so cheerful and bright that she quickly became close to Elody.

“Come on, let's go, Caville.” Elody smiled at Caville’s sulky and unwilling face. Then, she buttoned up Caville's clothes and held his hands.

***

The market was more lively than she thought. Perhaps thanks to the reduction of the tax this year, people in the duchy were bright in their looks. This may have been because they could fill their families' stomachs as much as they wanted, considering how much rent had decreased.

On the other hand, merchants who visited the market seemed disappointed at the smaller size of the marketplace than usual. It was true that it was not very active compared to the size of the territory.

Elody took Caville's hand and looked around.

“There are quite a few people. Be careful, my lord, madam,” Brienne said.

“Yes, thank you. Sir Vedos.”

Brienne glanced at Marie all the time, pretending to be worried about Elody. And Marie didn't seem to hate his eyes either.