I heard from Roxy-ane that it was a bad time."
"Now see here, Norn-ane."
"Oh, yes... that's right, Brother. This is Arus-kun, your son."
Norn handed me the baby.
This is Arus.
His hair is red. His eyes also look just like Eris's.
It's unreal.
I wonder if that's because I wasn't here when he was born.
An uneasy feeling welled up in me.
The baby watched me, and moving his tiny hand reached out and touched my chest.
He gently poked me, pat-pat, as if he was looking for something soft.
However, my chest is tight.
"Aaya~! Agyia~!"
He begins to cry immediately.
All of my anxiety was swept away at the same time, relief spread out from my heart.
There is no doubt.
This is my boy, Paul's grandson.
"Huh? Arus, this is your papa, okay? It is not a stranger, okay?"
"Ni-Nii-chan are you alright?"
Aisha and Norn cast anxious looks my way.
Those two people were holding my child and saying 'cute'.
They held him with a smile.
They love him.
Surely I love these two as part of my family.
Thinking about Pax.
He was killed.
Zanoba has no children, but Zanoba did have siblings.
His younger brother's children, his older brother's children.
They were massacred...
He wasn't able to love them.
He wasn't able to be loved by them.
They never mutually loved.
Ah.
Zanoba, he meant this.
I wonder if he wanted this kind of relationship with Pax.
" .... !"
The moment I realized it, tears came flowing out.
"Hold on! Why are you crying!?"
"Yeah, somehow my tears just fell."
"It can't be helped, I have an idea. You should stop crying if I embrace you..."
"Stop that..."
My baby's head bobbled around, I took him and sat down between Norn and Aisha.
For a while my baby and I were crying between those two.
Until that moment, why didn't I have any recognition for Pax?
I wonder why I didn't realize the feelings Zanoba had for Pax at an earlier stage?
If it's me, I should have been able to understand Pax's feelings.
Hearing my cries, footsteps sounded from upstairs.
Lucy and Sylphy appeared in the living room, and then after a brief moment, Roxy, holding Lara, followed them down.
Then from the kitchen, Zenith and Lilia came.
Sylphy should have heard from Roxy what had happened.
Looking at me blubbering, she just stroked my head without saying anything.
Lucy trying to imitate it, climbed on top of my knee, and gave me a pat.
"Rudeus is always such a crybaby..."
Finally, Eris patted my head.
Everyone is so kind.
"Aisha... Norn..."
Crying I called out to my two little sisters.
"I'll help you anytime you need... If you are in trouble, don't hesitate to rely on me... You might think I'm unreliable, but no matter what, I'll do everything in my power..."
Those two looked at one another.
Rather then helping them, maybe my crying face is troubling them instead.
I don't know.
Maybe they won't be able to rely on me in an emergency.
"Yeah, I know."
"Yes, I understand."
But, those two nodded.
That's good.
Everything is fine.
"Gusu~tsu."
While sniffing I look up at Roxy and Lara.
In her arms Lara is making her standard impudent face.
Certainly, this time, my life wasn't in danger.
However, without Roxy, it might have been critical.
Even though I have strengthened my determination, I am still weak.
If she had not been by my side, I may have folded at some point.
Once again, Roxy is dependable.
And then I wouldn't have even taken Roxy with us if it had not been for Lara.
Roxy and Lara.
This time, there's no way I can thank the both of them enough.
"Roxy, ...thank you for your hard work."
"Rudy too, thanks for your effort."