As usual, it was dinner time and Lageta prepared food.

With the arrival of a new family member, she decided to treat them to a simple noodle dish.

“Did it not taste good?”

Rageta, with a strand of spaghetti hanging from her mouth, widened her eyes and threw a fork at me.

Since it was an iron fork, getting hit would be dangerous, but thanks to Ellie’s quick reaction, I managed to avoid getting hurt.

Rageta still seemed shocked, not knowing what to do, while Ellie, with a sword pointed at Rageta’s throat.

“I’ll ask you one last time. What exactly are you thinking?”

Ellie had disliked Rageta from the beginning.

To everyone else, she was the great top tower that everyone respected! But from her perspective, Rageta was just a stranger.

A stranger who happened to be my escort.

“Technically, I’m not even an escort, am I?”

In any case, it was only natural to be hostile to someone who continued to have a strange attitude towards me, even though I was her comrade.

Of course, in terms of skill, Ellie was nothing compared to Rageta.

A top tower who could defeat demons and a mere junior knight.

Even a passing child would answer, “The top tower will win!” if asked.

Nevertheless, Ellie drew her sword to protect me, her comrade.

She was truly thankful and appreciative.

“I can’t bear to see you, Ellie, get hurt.”

I approached the two, who looked like they might explode at any moment, coming out of the hell of a voluptuous bust.

“Hey, it’s dangerous!”

“If you get any closer, it’s dangerous, Lord!”

Even though the two were shouting warnings, I reached out and grabbed Rageta’s shoulder.

Rageta was using magic by flicking her fingers.

There was only one reason I had approached Rageta despite the danger.

“Even if it’s her, my ability should work.”

So far, there had been no one who couldn’t be affected by the effect of “[Open and Close Mouth].”

Rageta might be an exceptional existence beyond the norm, and it might not work, but I had to give it a try.

As she tried to use magic, I interfered with her by opening her fingers, preventing her from casting the spell.

Of course, if she used another method that I couldn’t notice, it would be over, but…

Rageta’s blank expression froze, and her gaze turned towards me.

“Di-am… Who are you? How did you…?”

The question had been asked several times before.

Yet, the answer remained unspoken.

Should I answer honestly, even if it bores me? But the moment I speak, I become powerless.

Instead of a reply, Rageta slowly closed her eyes as she shook her head gently.

“Oh… I see…”

…?

What?

I had merely nodded, but she had posed the question and understood it all by herself.

“Please take care of me from now on, Diarm.”

…?

She left an incomprehensible answer and chuckled softly.

As if performing magic, the fork that had been lying on the floor flew into her hand.

With the fork in hand, she expertly stabbed at the food and rolled it up, then put it in her mouth to begin her meal.

In that moment, I realized.

‘What a crazy woman.’

To conjure magic with just a thought.

Madness in terms of skill.

Even with Elly’s sword pointed at her throat, she ate her food nonchalantly.

Madness in terms of mentality.

She was completely, utterly mad in every way.

‘Luckily, she isn’t trying to kill us.’

It was fortunate that her madness was not directed at us.

I released my hand from the useless Rageta and took hold of Elly’s hand, which wore a bewildered expression after letting go of her sword.

“Young, young master?”

After making her release the sword, I gently pressed her shoulder and guided her to a chair.

“…I understand.”

She still had a dazed expression, but it seemed she understood my intentions, as she too picked up a fork.

Since that extravagant dinner, Rageta’s attitude toward me had changed drastically, like flipping the back of a hand.

Initially, she sent curious glances my way, much like a child discovering a new toy. But now…

“Dieum. Eat this.”

“Dieum. It suits you well.”

“Dieum. Should I give you a toy?”

“Dieum. Do you want to see my chest?”

Like with Olivia, she tried to do everything as if dealing with her own child.

“And what is that at the end?”

Thanks to her excessive fuss.

“Lageta! This is my son! Baby, look at your mommy’s chest!”

“Lageta, don’t you feel uncomfortable? Step aside! Young master! I have a chest too!”

The affection from the two of them directed at me became even more excessive.

“So, why the chest?”

I barely escaped the threat of a three-way chest, but a new threat came over me.

“Baby? It’s time to wash up and sleep.”

It’s bedtime now…

Until now, Olivia and I have been sleeping in the same bed.

Eli always had a dissatisfied expression and said, “I want to sleep with Young Master too!” But even the lenient Olivia didn’t give up on sleeping with me.

So, Olivia and I slept in the same bed, and Eli in the bed next to us.

“Dieum. Let’s sleep together.”

A new rival appeared.

“Lageta? The baby sleeps with me.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m the baby’s mother.”

This time, Olivia said a word to protect me, but…

“I want to be Dieum’s mother too.”

Lageta wouldn’t back down.

“No, you can’t!”

“Why? You’re not the baby’s real mother either.”

“Well, it’s an order from His Majesty, the King!”

“An order? So you’re doing it against your will?”

“N-No, it’s not like that! I mean it sincerely!”

“How’s the hero doing?”

“Rageta, you have Arwen, too!”

“I know everything about my daughter, so I’m not interested anymore.”

“How can you say such a thing? Can you still call yourself a mother?! And you mentioned leaving her once you know everything!”

“Diam is different.”

“What’s different about Diam?”

“Diam is different because she is.”

“Lady Samo, Rageta, both of you calm down for a moment.”

In the never-ending conversation, Elly tried to say something, but…

“Be quiet, Elly!”

“Be still, Elly.”

Whether their relationship was good or bad…

I briefly patted Elly’s back as she sat beside me, her head bowed.

Leaving them like this would only result in endless fighting and mutual hurt.

In situations like this during social life, the best way was to disengage. But…

“They’re family, after all.”

“That’s right! … Baby?”

I sat down on Olivia’s lap, who was crying with teary eyes.

I reached out and wiped away her teardrops.

She was briefly surprised by my touch, then she hugged me with a happy smile.

“Diam, I also…”

Rageta, who was standing on the other side, tried to approach, but I held out my hand to stop her.

“Why…”

The reason was simple.

Prioritizing the family I had spent time with over the people I just met today was only natural.

That’s how my intervention determined the winner and the loser.

From Noble mtl dot com

“My Lord… I…”

“…”

“Thank you!”

“Why…”

The rankings are determined up to second place.

Could it be because I, who dislikes taking the lead, stepped forward?

The hierarchy of our family has been clearly established.

I don’t know why, but I am first place.

I still don’t know why I, who is both physically and age-wise the worst and weakest, became first place, but well… good things are good.

Second place is Olivia.

“Heung~ Huhuh~ Sleep well, darling~”

As second place, she sleeps right beside me.

Third place is Ellie.

“Have a peaceful night!”

Originally, she used to sleep on a small bed a bit far away, but as she climbed up to third place, she took my left spot.

The last, fourth place, is Rageta.

She is a great leader, so powerful that even the Demon King is afraid of her.

Wherever she goes, she is revered and treated greatly.

“Damn it… I want to sleep next to Diem too…”

“Rageta, the baby is sleeping. Please be quiet.”

“Rageta, the lord is sleeping. Be quiet.”

“…Hng.”

In our party, she is just a woman named Rageta.

She sleeps alone on a bed a little further away, which used to be Ellie’s position.

In such designated places, we spent our first night.

***

Deciding to act together with Lady Rageta, the first day was scary.

Her powerlessness?

No.

“I want to be Diem’s mother too.”

It was frightening that she tried to take the baby away from me… because I’m not Diem’s real mother…

“An order? So you’re doing it against your will?”

An order… a relationship bound by the command of His Majesty…

“And what about the hero?”

Dray… my son Dray…

Each of her words pierced my heart.

Thanks to the happy times with the child, I had forgotten about the reality.

The more I thought about it, the more my body trembled in fear.

I held the child’s arms and calmed my shaking body.

My child… my baby…

What does the child think?

Does she see me as her real mother?

Is the child with me because of the command too?

When Dray comes back, will the child leave me?

The reality I had forgotten shook my head.

What should I do?

When Dray comes back… what should I do?

I don’t know.

No matter how much I think about it, I don’t know.

The more I think, the more my body trembles.

The more my body trembles, the more strength I put into embracing the child.

This shouldn’t be happening…

I shouldn’t disturb the child’s sleep…

Even though I know I shouldn’t…

Unconsciously, strength entered my body.

Strength entered and

The feeling of fear grew even stronger.

The strength left my body.

In that moment, I remembered.

The harm the child would suffer because of my attachment.

I am already old.

But the child is young.

Not youth, but young.

The chance of a kind, handsome, and charming child… My obsession is taking away the child’s life… interfering with the child’s path… that is not something a mother should do…

Yes…

After the command is over… let’s part with the child.

When Dreay returns… let’s part with the child.

If the child doesn’t want it… let’s part with the child.

As I thought about this, tears flowed.

Why…?

Why am I so sad just thinking about parting with the child?

“Sniff… Sob…”

Why is it so painful just thinking about the inevitable future?

As I tried to wipe away the tears, careful not to wake the child.

Swoosh. Swish.

“Ah, child…?”

Diam gently stroked my head with his other hand.

In that moment, his rough hands, hardened from rigorous training, touched my head.

All the painful thoughts that tormented me vanished.

In their place, warm emotions filled me.

And…

“Sob… Sniff…”

The tears continued to flow.

“Now… even Mother doesn’t know… child…”

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