Chapter 82 – Sylphy’s Birthday
<span style="font-weight:400">— Leon Greyrat —
<span style="font-weight:400">Three months had passed since the birth of my wonderful daughter, Aria, and quite a few things had changed since then.
<span style="font-weight:400">Quite obviously, the biggest development was the introduction of Aria into my life.
<span style="font-weight:400">I had experience from my time taking care of my sisters when they were little, but between the diapers, the sponge baths, and the constant crying, it was definitely a shock to the system.
<span style="font-weight:400">Really… while it was starting to calm down a little, no matter the time, Aria always cried.
<span style="font-weight:400">But I could understand.
<span style="font-weight:400">After all, everything was so new and scary to her, so it was obvious that she would be afraid.
<span style="font-weight:400">And it was my job tofort her.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was my job, as her father, to show her that the world wasn’t so scary, and that I would always be there to protect her.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, while it was a bit annoying to have to wake up in the middle of the night, I loved her cries.
<span style="font-weight:400">That wasn’t quite right… rather, I loved calming her down from them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing her terrified, confused, and saddened face calm down into a gentle expression… and knowing I soothed her to that point… that I was the one who had made her feel safe andforted…
<span style="font-weight:400">It was the most fulfilling feeling in the world.
<span style="font-weight:400">I already knew how fast this period would pass thanks to my sisters, so I wanted to make sure that I experienced and enjoyed it to the fullest while I still could.
<span style="font-weight:400">After all, my little Aria would sadly not stay so small and cute forever, no matter how much Imented that fact.
<span style="font-weight:400">Of course, with her producing breast milk, Roxy was the main one taking care of the little Aria, but both me and Sylphy tried to chip in when we could, ensuring that our baby could always be held and talked to whenever she wanted or needed to.
<span style="font-weight:400">But that wasn’t all.
<span style="font-weight:400">Most notably, only a few weeks after Aria arrived, Sara announced her pregnancy, and a few dayster, she and Rudy got married.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was a short ceremony, but a sweet one. And while marriage wasn’t too important outside the Millis religion, Rudy tried his best to get her a nice ring and festive celebration.
<span style="font-weight:400">I would be sure to do the same for mydies when the time came, even if traditionally, the house party we had so long ago was considered a wedding celebration.
<span style="font-weight:400">I also began my position as a swordsmanship instructor a month ago, and with Roxy recovered from her pregnancy, she was nning to be a teacher at the university too… but in magic, obviously.
<span style="font-weight:400">But despite the two of us bing employed, I made sure that we stuttered our schedule with Sylphy so that one of us could always be with Aria… kind of like now.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Agh!” she babbled, reaching her hand up to grab my hair.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hmm… it was shoulder-length now, and I’d been meaning to cut it or at least wear it in a bun… but it was simply too cute when Aria always reached to grab it.
<span style="font-weight:400">She was at that stage of development, after all, and who was I to take away her favourite toy?
<span style="font-weight:400">Even if it sometimes hurt…
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re just too cute, huh?” I said, tickling under her chin as I held her in my arms. “You’re going to have Dada in the palm of your hand when you’re older.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Boo!” she responded, my words falling on deaf ears.
<span style="font-weight:400">Well, even if she didn’t understand, I always made sure to talk to her when possible.
<span style="font-weight:400">After all, how else are they supposed to learn?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufu! I think she already has you, Leon,” Mama said from the side.
<span style="font-weight:400">Well… that was probably true.
<span style="font-weight:400">I already knew I was weak to the women in my life, and Aria seemed to be no different.
<span style="font-weight:400">In fact… it was a bit worse in this case.
<span style="font-weight:400">That was the power of a daughter for you.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Truly… you’re just too damn cute,” I said, lightly poking her nose.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Aghaha!” sheughed, her lips spread into a silly smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">She really was growing quite fast.
<span style="font-weight:400">It felt like just yesterday that she was taking her first breath, and now she was happily giggling, smiling, and babbling back to me whenever I spent time with her.
<span style="font-weight:400">At least, when she was awake.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Baboo!” she cooed, once again reaching for my hair.
<span style="font-weight:400">Of course, I dipped my head down to make it a bit easier for her to grab.
<span style="font-weight:400">Really… she was incredibly cute.
<span style="font-weight:400">Aside from the head of blue hair, she also had a small nose like her mother, but her eyes… they were like mine.
<span style="font-weight:400">Wide and warm, with the most adorably brown colour that seemed to make anyone smile when she looked their way.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My… to think that kid from back then would end up being such a doting father,” Hilda said, taking a sip of her tea. “While I wish it was Eris’, when I see something like this, I can’t reallyin.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Watching Lilia ying a game of cards with Julius with a smile, I felt Mama nudge me from the side, her lips forming a pout as her eyes darted back and forth from me and Aria.
<span style="font-weight:400">She wanted to hold her… and quite badly at that.
<span style="font-weight:400">Still, I had tried to have Aria greet her grandmother once I arrived, but she quickly broke out into tears, so I don’t think this would be any different.
<span style="font-weight:400">It seems that in these three months, she had begun to recognize Roxy, me, and Sylphy as her parents, and she… really didn’t like separating from us.
<span style="font-weight:400">While it was a bit sad to see Mama’s pouting face, I couldn’t help but feel a bit happy that my cute daughter was so clingy.
<span style="font-weight:400">So, sorry Mama.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So?” I said. “You said Philip got a job?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah, my husband seems to have gotten a position as vice-principal Jinas’ assistant,” Hilda said. “His scheming side won’t get much use, but his management skills were quite sought after. And this way, if our troublesome tiese to bite us, we’ll have the university’s protection.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ah… I see.
<span style="font-weight:400">That’s… probably for the best.
<span style="font-weight:400">Enemies didn’t just go away, after all.
<span style="font-weight:400">But it was good that Philip was only taking a management position.
<span style="font-weight:400">His scheming side was quite scary.
<span style="font-weight:400">“And your father finally decided to stop beingzy as well,” Mama said, scooting closer to me in an attempt to get closer to Aria. “It seems he wanted to be a knight again, this time for a city instead of a rural vige. Luckily, he’ll be an in-city guard most of the time. Millis knows he doesn’t need any more adventures in his life.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yeah… especially with a child on the way.
<span style="font-weight:400">But still… everyone was growing, and things were slowly changing… it made me quite happy.
<span style="font-weight:400">— Leon Greyrat —
<span style="font-weight:400">The season was turning to fall… well, if we were back in Asura.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was already snowing up here in the north.
<span style="font-weight:400">Anyway, with the eighth month of the year upon us, it meant that it was now Sylphy’s fifteenth birthday, the day she would be an adult.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although… I had already made her one over a year ago… but that was beside the point.
<span style="font-weight:400">Anyway, considering her tenth birthday was missed due to the Discement Incident, we had to be sure that it was a big celebration.
<span style="font-weight:400">Although, aside from Ariel and her attendants, Sylphy didn’t really have any friends, so… it ended up being a smaller group than I had hoped.
<span style="font-weight:400">But still, there was our family there, as well as Lina and Cliff, so it wasn’t all that bad.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was lots of good food, most of which were lovingly made by Mama and Lilia and were Sylphy’s favourites. And of course, there were gifts as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">Though… seeing the familiar-looking vial that Luke and Ariel gave Sylphy, as well as the blush Sylphy had as she looked at me with sparkling eyes, I… had a feeling I would not be sleeping much tonight.
<span style="font-weight:400">I guess, aside from the earrings I had gotten her, I would be giving her another gift once the party wound down.
<span style="font-weight:400">To be honest… I was excited.
<span style="font-weight:400">But still, despite this being Sylphy’s celebration, Aria ended up being the star of the night, with everyone getting a chance to meet the growing girl.
<span style="font-weight:400">Of course, some tried to hold her, like Ariel, but were quickly put off when Aria began sobbing, reaching her little arms out for one of her parents.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hehe~ Aria only loves her daddy and mommies, so sorry everyone~ but not really sorry~
<span style="font-weight:400">“Leon, what’s with that stupid grin?” Roxy said, looking at me with a small smile. “You look like your father.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Take that back,” I said, straightening my face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Shaking her head good-naturedly, Roxy continued, “Honestly… Anyway, you have to say goodbye to Princess Ariel. It’s not good to be rude to guests, much less one that’s a princess.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Err, right,” I said, handing Aria, who had fallen asleep, over to her. “And she’s knocked out, huh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“But probably not for long,” Roxy said, looking at Aria with a smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">Shaking her head, she looked over at Sylphy who was speaking with Ariel and Luke, before turning back to me.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll handle Aria, alright?” she said, releasing a sigh. “I think Sylphy deserves a good night on such a special day, so give her a nice memory without worrying about anything else.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Uhh, I got it,” I said.
<span style="font-weight:400">If that vial was anything to go by, I think I would end up giving her a good night anyway, whether I wanted to or not.
<span style="font-weight:400">Though it still felt a bit weird for my lover to encourage me to bed another woman… I guess they had a good rtionship, huh?
<span style="font-weight:400">That was nice.
<span style="font-weight:400">And I would be sure not to let her feel alone tomorrow in exchange.
<span style="font-weight:400">After all, she had long since recovered from the birth with the help of healing magic, and I’m not sure if going through childbirth had awakened something, but she was much more… active in bed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Perhaps it was part of that selfishness she had disyed?
<span style="font-weight:400">Either way, I liked it quite a bit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Okay… goodnight, then,” I said, giving her a kiss.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Goodnight, Leon,” she returned. “But don’t be too loud, okay? While I promised to watch Aria, I do want to get some sleep tonight.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I got it,” I said.
<span style="font-weight:400">Well, I doubt we would be able to keep quiet, but that was where my lovely sound magic came in.
<span style="font-weight:400">Magic… it really was amazing.
<span style="font-weight:400">Heading over to Ariel, she gave me a smile as she put on her cloak.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why… are youing to see me off?” she asked, tucking her hair behind her ear. “How lucky, to be treated so kindly by the newest swordsmanship instructor… should I call you ‘teacher’?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That… is not necessary,” I said, shaking my head. “And could you stop teasing me?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm? Oh, if that’s what you think is me teasing you is like, you are in for a surprise…” she said, chuckling into her hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">Uhh… what did that mean?
<span style="font-weight:400">I was a bit afraid now.
<span style="font-weight:400">“But aside from that… Aria is quite the cutie,” she said, looking over at Roxy as her expression changing to something… softer.
<span style="font-weight:400">That smile looked quite good on her, if I was being honest.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tell me… that sounds like my name, no?” she said. “Don’t tell me you named her after me~”
<span style="font-weight:400">“In your dreams,” I huffed. “Besides, it was Roxy who named her.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is that so?” she said, looking back at Roxy as she went up the stairs. “Well, still… I can’t help but feel close to her. She’s certainly a charmer.”
<span style="font-weight:400">I guess that was good.
<span style="font-weight:400">It seemed that the princess had good taste.
<span style="font-weight:400">Wait… I wouldn’t have to worry about her in the future, right?
<span style="font-weight:400">This princess wasn’t <em><span style="font-weight:400">that</em><span style="font-weight:400"> deplorable… right?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Anyway, I really should be going now,” she said, walking towards the door. “And Sylphy? Be sure to use our gift topletion, alright?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I got it, Ariel!” Sylphy said, walking over to grab my arm. “I’ll… make the most out of it!”
<span style="font-weight:400">…That vial was definitely what I thought it was, huh?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ensure that you do,” Ariel said, nodding. “Because I want <em><span style="font-weight:400">all</em><span style="font-weight:400"> the details.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Again… how much did Ariel know about my sex life by now?
<span style="font-weight:400">It was surely more than I would want, but s, I think it was toote by now.
<span style="font-weight:400">And with that, she departed, with Luke and another attendant that I forgot the name of as her guards.
<span style="font-weight:400">With my family, Lina, and Cliff having already left, that meant that Sylphy and I were now alone, and as soon as the door closed behind the princess, Sylphy turned to me, her fingers tentatively tapping together.
<span style="font-weight:400">What had gotten her so meek?
<span style="font-weight:400">“U-Umm, Leon, it’s… my birthday, right?” she said, looking up at me with a blush. “So-”
<span style="font-weight:400">I interrupted her by capturing her lips in a kiss, and in a smooth motion, I picked her up into a princess carry.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I hope you remember thest time you sneaked an aphrodisiac on me,” I said, looking down at her. “Don’t expect to sleep tonight.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-I know… and, can you… not use ‘that’ spell?” she said, her eyes staring at me with determination. “I… that big, warm family I’ve dreamed of… I want to start contributing too.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Oh… I see.
<span style="font-weight:400">Well, she was an adult now, so…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course, Sylphy,” I said, kissing her forehead.
<span style="font-weight:400">And so, with that, I then carried my beautiful fairy up to her room to do the deed.
<span style="font-weight:400">While I had the main room, with a big bed to fit everyone on most nights and a bass to hold Aria, both Sylphy and Roxy had their own rooms.
<span style="font-weight:400">While they both usually slept together with me, unless one of them needed a break from the crying Aria, they both had their own use for their rooms, with Roxy’s slowly turning into a library and Sylphy’s being used for Ariel whenever she stayed over and otherwise simply storing her clothes.
<span style="font-weight:400">But tonight, well… it would be serving a different function.
<span style="font-weight:400">I just hoped she would change the sheets before Ariel came back.
<span style="font-weight:400">I had the feeling I might see something I would rather live without if she didn’t.