Mori, who had been fuming about noisy events, was the most excited to be at the party when she was actually thrown into the scene. At the party where she was the main character, receiving congratulations from everyone, she was really excited, even though she pretended not to be.
The midday outdoor party was beautiful. Thanks to the large, expensively purchased thermal magic tools that kept the mansion warm even in the dead of winter, the nobles dressed in their spring-like finery and enjoyed the party.
Mori sat at a table in the center of the garden, gazing off into the distance with a contented gaze. Young noble children were gathered together in the evening, playing tag. Their parents warned them against playing in such a place, but they couldn't easily stop the excited children.
'I used to wonder why people went to such lengths for their children.'
Of course, she knew having children wasn't always a good thing. But with Chession, she thought it would be perfectly fine.
There was one more thing that made Mori laugh. All the young noble children were wearing white shoes. It seemed like the shoes they'd diligently turned in the early hours of the morning had become their dress code.
"It seems like it was only distributed to the kids in our neighborhood, but word must have gotten out that kids from other neighborhoods have also reported it."
It seemed like everyone was having a hard time finding white shoes.
A mischievous boy who was running around here and there was eventually caught by his angry father.
The child, dangling from his father's arms, simply giggled, as if he was enjoying something so wonderful. His face, so resembling his father's, was lovely.
The child's father became distraught and scolded the child.
"Be quiet! How many times do I have to tell you that if you cause trouble here, you'll be buried in a hole?"
"Haha! I want to get buried! Daddy won't let me play in the dirt!"
"This isn't just a simple prank! Oh my. When are you going to grow up and become a man?"
Mori, who had been watching, smiled and said something.
"Do you want to get buried? I can if you want."
Then the child's father's face turned ashen.
"I apologize, Your Highness."
He ducked his head deeper than a hole, took his son, and hurried away. Mori was startled. Why should he be so scared? She only suggested it because it seemed the child really wanted to be buried.
Anna, who had been watching the situation from afar, giggled and brought out more tea.
"I thought I finally had something to do, but it's too bad."
"I feel sorry for that, too."
"There's no one worth stirring up trouble today. I guess the rumor that anyone who does anything strange will be buried has spread."
"That's understandable. I've been burying it diligently for three years."
"It's also amazing that there were people who kept coming up with things to bury for three years."
Even after Mori was revealed to be a witch, there continued to be a steady stream of fearless, rude nobles. This was especially true of those who broached the subject of children without much thought. Initially, this was due to the nobles' ignorance, but after it became widely known that demons and humans couldn't have children, many of those who spoke out of malice began to speak out.
Once, a magnanimous Countess subtly encouraged Chession to take her daughter as a concubine, citing the need for posterity. The Countess was buried for a very long time. Some found it a wonder she survived to return to the Count's residence.
Chession, who had been talking to others, returned to Mori at a quick pace. This was because he had seen the Baron running away in a panic with his son.
"Mori, have you caused any trouble again?"
“No, it’s okay.”
Mori smiled sweetly, her chin still resting on her hand. A relieved Chession chuckled and stroked her face. Mori grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it.
She looked particularly cheerful today, and she was cute. Chession felt like throwing the party and everything away and taking Mori home, but he barely managed to resist.
"Mori."
"Yes."
"Thank you for being by my side. I love you."
"Is that a habit?"
"No, I always say this with sincerity."
Mori's dark eyes were filled with the image of her loving husband. That insanely handsome man was once again saying the same thing. Then she should answer with all her heart, just like she always has.
"Thank you for picking me up. I love you too."
The surrounding nobles smiled happily at the sight of the still-loving couple. Some wives scolded their husbands, telling them to try saying things like that, but in any case, it was a happy party for everyone.
***
Time passed, and spring came before they knew it.
Mori was in a sullen mood that day. Iris approached Mori, who was sitting at the terrace table, resting her chin on her hand and eating potatoes.
- Mori, Isolene wants you to tell the young lady something. She said to do some work when you have time.
"What? How does Isolene see you?"
- She didn't say it directly to me. She just shouted it into the air.
"Ha, I'm not free. I'm waiting eagerly for Charlie to come over and play."
The blue wolves of the verdant forest frequented the Grand Duke's residence. They were deeply intrigued by the family that had achieved the astonishing miracle of unifying the human and demon worlds, so they would occasionally visit and receive seasonal fruits.
- Judging by your expression, you seem to have some worries. What is it? Let me hear it for you.
Iris sat down in the empty chair and leaned toward Mori. Mori put down the potato she was eating and sighed deeply.
"I’m not having children.”
- Ah.
"Were there not enough Astria flowers? I guess my power is too strong, so a single bouquet of flowers isn't enough."
- Then I guess you can eat more flowers.
"Wouldn't I have thought of that? I searched the snowy mountains for more flowers, but there weren't any."
- I guess the flowering season is over. You'll have to wait until next year.
"Why do you listen to my worries like a machine? Can't you empathize with my troubled heart?"
- Mori, you seem to be becoming more and more like my brother. I think I heard something similar from him.
"You're just a cheapskate. If you were to ask for advice, everyone would react like this."
Mori, her heart broken, turned her head away and took another big bite of potato. Iris looked at her strangely.
-Mori
- Why are you eating potatoes? You used to hate potatoes so much.
"I just have no appetite. Lately, I don't want to eat raw meat or anything. It makes me sick. This is the only thing I can eat."
Iris's eyes narrowed as if she noticed something.
- Mori
"Get out."
- Why are you eating potatoes? You used to hate potatoes so much.
"I just have no appetite. Lately, I don't want to eat raw meat or anything. It makes me sick. This is the only thing I can eat."
Iris's eyes narrowed as if she noticed something.
- Mori
“I told you to go away.”
- Did you know that when humans get pregnant, they experience something called morning sickness?
“What is that?”
- When you have morning sickness, everything feels disgusting. You might even crave foods you normally wouldn't eat.
“Is there such a thing?”
- Yes, it's a symptom that appears in the early stages of pregnancy. Could you be experiencing morning sickness right now?
Mori stopped eating potatoes and blinked.
- Mori
"..."
- Open your mouth. I can see what you're chewing. Swallow it.
"...!"
- Is Mori broken?
"Woooooo!"
Mori, who had been eating a potato, let out a shout of joy. Iris hurriedly got her down.
- Don't get your hopes up too high, it might not work! Maybe your tastes just naturally change with age!
"Am I human? Do you think demons suddenly start enjoying grandfather's food like humans when they get older? Aaaah!"
- Since you're not human, it's unlikely that you'll experience morning sickness like humans!
Charlie, who happened to be strolling through the garden, pricked up his ears. The seemingly mad, yet secretly sane witch seemed to be roaring again for some strange reason.
Charlie, who had been nimbly crossing the garden, jumped up and entered the second-floor terrace where Mori was.
Since he was on someone else's terrace, he couldn't bring himself to write on the floor with his claws. Mori, who had noticed Charlie's suspicious gaze, suddenly thrust his stomach in with a face as if he were reminded of the above.
"Hey, Charlie! You said that before, didn't you? You have a good sense of smell, so you can tell right away when a demon has lost a child! Then look! Am I pregnant?"
He wondered what the hell that witch was talking about. A human and a demon can't have children, so did the child have an affair with a demon?
While he was debating whether or not to tell poor Chession this, Charlie buried his nose in Mori's stomach and pounded.
But there was a very peculiar smell. It was clearly the scent of something that was neither human, demon, nor light. It was a warm and fragrant smell.
"Something miraculous must have happened," Charlie nodded, confident.
"Woooooo!"
Mori, transformed into a cat, quickly ran out onto the terrace. He was going to meet Chession.
And about 30 seconds later, Chession's screams echoed through the mansion like thunder.
Charlie looked at Iris, scratching his ears with his hind legs. It seemed like he got their attention today, so, with a look in his eyes telling her to bring out some fruit.
Iris chuckled and told Charlie where the food warehouse was.
On a happy day like today, he guesses he could open a warehouse or something.
The witch doesn't really hide her identity.
Side Story Completed
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