MHHASCD 6

We were far enough away that we shouldn’t have been able to hear anything, and yet Asti’s magic made every word come through clearly. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

“Alright, I’m heading out.”

“Papa, are you coming back today too?”

“Yeah. Once I’m done hunting monsters, I’ll come back to you, Lilia.”

My husband’s expression as he gently patted the girl’s head was soft—so soft it made my chest tighten. So he could look like that. Maybe he could have, if we’d had a child.

“Be careful, Leon.”

“Of course. I’m a strong knight. I’ll be fine.”

He pulled the woman into his arms and kissed her forehead, then her cheek. A warm, happy family stood there—one I had never known—and I felt my love cool and fade, quietly and surely.

“Even that ‘strong’ part is probably thanks to Ms. Sheila.”

“Hm?”

Asti muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. I thought I heard my name, but he looked sulky, so I decided not to press him.

“Looks like he’s going to the garrison.”

“Yes.”

Leon tore himself away and began walking.

The mother and child kept waving until he disappeared from sight, and Leon kept turning back to wave again and again.

He’d be coming right back once the monster hunt was done. Were they putting on a dramatic farewell just for the feeling of it?

That was how detached I felt as I watched.

“Ms. Sheila, are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“How do you feel? Any morning sickness?”

Only then did I realize—I hadn’t felt nauseated at all. Maybe it was because my emotions were running high, but it seemed I could keep going.

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

“So what do we do next? I recommend bringing a gift to the garrison.”

“…What?”

A gift to the garrison? Me?

Wouldn’t that reveal everything?

“We can say you happened to be nearby for a quest and wanted to bring something for the knights. And that your husband might come here for expeditions sometimes. That should work.”

Was this Asti’s plan? I blinked, still confused, but nodded.

“If possible, something handmade with your support magic would be best. We could borrow the inn’s kitchen. Or healing potions might be good, too.”

Some of the healing potions sold through the guild were made by me.

But I didn’t have the ingredients with me, so potions would normally be impossible.

“I have the ingredients in my spatial storage, so just say the word.”

Of course he did.

He really was prepared for everything. If every household had one Asti, most problems might solve themselves.

“Then I’ll make healing potions. If it’s from someone they don’t know well, potions are safer than food.”

“Your food has buffs, though. It’s not like ordinary cooking. But yes… for the knights, potions might be better.”

So I returned to the inn room first.

I had walked here, but going back was instant with teleportation.

Asti pulled the materials out of his spatial storage, and I immediately began brewing.

He said he had something to do and returned to the area again. He would come back when the potions were finished.

“Alright. Let’s get started.”

I lined up empty bottles and set an instant cauldron on the table.

It was expensive, and it was borrowed, so I had to be careful with it.

Making healing potions was simple.

You put the ingredients in, add purified water, bring it to a boil, stir, filter, and let it cool.

The ingredients had healing effects on their own, but the magic added during mixing was what showed a maker’s skill.

This time, I blended recovery enhancement, a speed boost, and gradual healing.

The potion turned beautifully clear.

“Done.”

I poured the potions into bottles and sealed them.

The cauldron was large, so I ended up with around a hundred. Less than usual, but more than enough for a gift.

I had been so focused that the moment my concentration broke, something rose in my stomach. I hurried to the lavatory.

With one hand on my belly, I reminded myself again: you’re here.

That thought made me stronger.

And at the same time, guilt pressed down on me. I would be taking away this child’s father from the very beginning.

I would love them twice as much, but there might still be nights when they longed for a father and felt lonely.

So I couldn’t say I had no hesitation at all.

But I couldn’t ignore that little girl’s smile either.

Children always suffer for their parents’ choices.

And after seeing her, I couldn’t bring myself to steal her happiness just to keep Leon.

“Ms. Sheila, how are you? You look pale. I bought some things you might be able to eat. Should we have lunch?”

“Wah—!”

With a soft whoosh, Asti appeared inside the room.

He seemed used to it, but wasn’t there a thing called manners? I stared at him.

He blinked once, then silently left the room.

The door closed—and immediately there was a knock.

“Ms. Sheila… may I come in?”

My body slumped, and I let out a long sigh.

The order is backwards.

“…Come in.”

When I allowed it, the door opened cautiously.

Asti stepped in, looking so awkward that if he had ears, they might have been drooping.

“I’m sorry. I set the coordinates to you, Ms. Sheila… It’s a relief you weren’t changing.”

“Yes. It’s a relief.”

I probably should have scolded him properly, but… why couldn’t I?

Maybe because I could practically see imaginary ears and a tail, I couldn’t be harsh.

And I owed him too much. His personality made it hard to stay angry.

“Are you hungry? It’s about lunchtime. After you eat, should we bring the gift?

It looks like the knights went out to hunt monsters, so I don’t think your husband will be back until evening.”

So he’d checked after they parted. I couldn’t help being impressed.

“Today, we’ll only bring the gift. It’s better if we don’t run into him yet.”

It was probably better if Leon didn’t realize we were gathering evidence.

For now, we only needed to remind him that I was still his lawful wife. That was enough.

So I decided to follow Asti’s plan without questioning it.

After eating, we headed to the garrison.

This time, Asti teleported us near it, and we walked the rest of the way.

“The coordinates were here?”

Teleportation required registered coordinates, and the spot Asti had chosen was the place where we had watched the house that morning.

“The garrison is close to that house. And it seems the house is rented under your husband’s name.”

I stared at him.

Where was he even getting all this?

“I asked the neighbors.”

“…I see.”

As we walked, he reported what he’d learned.

According to the neighbors, the mother and child had started living there about three and a half years ago.

Leon had apparently brought a woman with a pregnant belly and said they would live together.

“My home is here, so I want you to protect it.”

So that line was one of his favorites.

If so… could he have a “wife” at every garrison?

If he told each one to “protect the house,” it made me feel sick.

And if that was the case, then maybe I didn’t matter at all. Maybe “tired, food, bath, sleep” was all I ever deserved.

Though even so, I doubted Leon earned enough to rent houses in multiple towns.

“This is it.”

We arrived at the garrison, and Asti went to speak with the front desk.

He said he had worked here before on a job and had people who recognized him.

“Asti! It’s been a while! You doing well? Your info is always useful—come leave some here once in a while!”

A man who seemed like the leader laughed loudly, shaking Asti’s shoulder.

Then he turned toward me.

“What’s this? You brought a pretty woman. Is she your girlfriend?”

“No. She’s the wife of a knight stationed here.”

“…What?”

Asti looked at me, so I turned my smile toward the leader, whose expression had stiffened for a moment.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Sheila, wife of Leon of the Royal Knights in the capital.”

“Shi… Sheila? Not… Chiara?”

Hearing the other woman’s name made my smile deepen.

“My husband Leon is always in your care. I happened to be nearby for a quest, so I thought I should greet you. This is just a small token.”

I pressed the wooden box of healing potions into his hands.

Still wearing a strained smile, he accepted it.

“Is Leon out hunting monsters?”

“Huh? Ah—yes. He’s out hunting monsters right now.”

“Then I’ll come again another time.”

Still smiling sweetly, I turned on my heel.

Asti’s plan for today ended here.

All we needed was for Leon to hear that I had come to this town.

What would his reaction be?

A moment later, Asti used teleportation again, and we returned to the inn.