Rather Than The Son, I’ll Take The Father

The situation was no different in the clothing store.

Because of his unapproachable aura, the staff doubted whether he had come to buy clothes with the money he earned legally.

While everyone was looking at each other, the most enthusiastic employee came forward as a representative.

But no matter how long they waited, the man’s party did not show.

The clerk asked cautiously, thinking about whether he should risk his life to inform him that the store didn’t sell men’s clothing.

“Uh…… Who will wear it?”

Aedis’ head tilted at an angle.

While contemplating how to describe the woman who seemed to symbolize spring, he forced out a word with difficulty.

“My wife.”

It was a word he had never said in his life.

Even his own tongue felt unfamiliar with it.

―Aedis, maybe you’ll soon forget, but we’re a couple. No, we will become a couple. Mmmmm, roughly 500 years from now? I was born then.

500 years old. Sadly, it was a long time.

He had to endure that much before he could see her again.

‘…… At least at that time, I must have properly mastered healing magic.’

He remembered her following him with her feet dripping blood, and his mouth hardened.

Aedis was really thinking of leaving her behind. When she showed up wearing his magic and gave him a friendly smile, it only felt like she was mocking him.

After all, he failed in the future.

He took a liking to others and even harbored possessiveness. He knew best that he did not deserve it, yet he committed the sin.

His life, hiding in a cave from innocent people, was all for naught.

Aedis blamed his own weakness, while sympathizing with her.

Whatever wrong he commits in the future, it wouldn’t be so bad that he had to force her involvement.

…… If his brother were to target her.

His brother killed his parents without batting an eye, so it would be the same with her.

But for her, there was nothing he could do for her as it was only a distant past.

He can only hope that his future self will take some responsibility for bringing her into his life.

“Ex, excuse me…….”

He looked at the employee, who was about to collapse, and softened his momentum. The employee asked, breathing in his runny nose.

“Is, is there, a, a material, your wife, pre, prefers?”

“I don’t know.”

“Th, then, a color, she prefers?”

“Should I know?”

Aedis answered honestly and sincerely, but the staff didn’t think so.

“…… At least, do you know, the, size?”

Aedis remembered Maevia stepping into his arms and rubbing her face freely.

“Roughly.”

The employee looked puzzled.

It was clear he was thinking, “What is this terrifying piece of trash?”

He had no intention of explaining the circumstances, and they would not believe it even if he tried, so Aedis ordered the same as before.

And instead of following the employee who ran to call the owner when he said he would buy them all, he picked up a long white cloth.

An ominous wave of black magic issued from Aedis’ hand and permeated the pure white cloth.

Even though he cast magic to help heal wounds, the cloth was stained as if it had been cursed.

“…… Even after looking at this.”

She still married him?

Aedis swallowed.

* * *

I was walking around the cave wearing the oversized shoes when Aedis returned.

I looked at Aedis’ things and squinted.

“You said you had business, and it was dowry?”

“…… I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about, sit down.”

“Can I sit on your lap?”

“Of course not.”

He was relentless.

I went back to the rock where Aedis had sat me down.

Aedis didn’t sit next to me but got down on one knee in front of me.

What are you trying to do?

As I watched curiously, Aedis took out a long strip of black-stained cloth and tore it in half. He started wrapping my feet in it.

“It tickles, Aedis.”

“…… Stay still.”

All he had to do was administer first aid to my foot, but the nervous Aedis gritted his teeth.

Aedis, fearing that my feet would bleed, adjusted his strength and tied the cloth. However, the knot completed in those bloody hands was dangerous as if it could be untied at any moment.

Are you not adjusting your power too much…….

I bit my lower lip.

Ooh, don’t laugh, Maevia.

I barely managed to calm my laughter and give him advice.

“If you tie it that weakly, it will come undone quickly.”

“ ….”

“You can tie it tight. I’ll tell you if it hurts.”

Aedis grabbed the tip of the knot lightly. Then he pulled it with a determined face.

What can I do? He’s so cute…….

But if I laugh, Aedis will pout. I desperately shut my mouth. Aedis narrowed his eyes.

“Just laugh, don’t hold your breath.”

I nodded and laughed.

“Aedis, pfft, I love you.”

“…… Stop talking nonsense.”

Aedis straightened his bent back. Then, the freshly cooked food, steaming, spread out in front of me by itself.

Huh? This is far too much.

There was a variety of soups and salads, and meat dishes sprinkled with unique spices seemed to be enough for ten people. Dessert was lavishly loaded with fruits that were highly valued in the North. Apparently, Aedis had chosen the restaurant with care.

Aedis cleared his throat and said.

“I’m sure you don’t like it, but…….”

“I like it very much. I will eat it.”

“…….”

I started eating in earnest, tasting little by little, starting with the dishes nearest me. Aedis stared at me as I ate, so I gladly shared my thoughts.

“It’s delicious.”

“That’s good to hear. But why don’t you eat onions?”

It seemed that he wasn’t just looking at it. I responded shamelessly.

“The truth is that I can’t eat onions…….”

“You’re picky.”

Isn’t it against the law to say that while eating?!

Anyway, as soon as I ate well, Aedis’ eyebrows, which had been raised the whole time, returned to their original position, as if he was satisfied inside. I held out the fork full of steak to Aedis.

“You should try it too.”

“…….”

Before Aedis could say no, I hit my point.

“You're not going to say no, are you? I’m hurt.”

It was a threat that he could ignore with a snort. But Aedis drew closer stiffly and took the food.

“How is it?”

Was it because the food was delicious, or was it because I smiled happily? A faint smile was about to form on Aedis’ face as well.

But he soon thought of something else and suddenly went away from me.

“Aedis?”

The not-so-wide empty space between us felt exceptionally empty. Aedis, who returned with a cold face in an instant, drew a line for me.

“I am not your husband. You do that where you live.”

“…….”

It was an overly defensive action when he did not even doubt my identity. It didn’t matter if he took some of the food I gave him.

I stared at Aedis blankly.

Aedis turned his head away from my scrutiny.

Come to think of it, I had never seen the 19-year-old Aedis smile properly.

Uumm.

I put down my fork. Even though I said it calmly, Aedis, who was conscious of me, flinched and turned his attention to other things.

There were so many clothes neatly packed that I could wear one for a day, for a year.

Did he rob a clothing store?

I didn’t think there would be any more food, so I took the chick in my pocket and took off the coat.

“I will return this.”

“…….”

Aedis took the coat making a face that didn’t show what he was thinking. I pulled out a warm-looking coat and fur boots. But while I was about to return Aedis’ shoes, a strange thought came to my mind.

“Didn’t people find you strange outside? You walked around without shoes on.”

“Nobody knew.”

“…….”

“They wouldn’t have known even if I had six fingers.”

It was a hard fact to deny.

He had a much more difficult impression now than he did 500 years later.

I moved the chick into my coat pocket. How deeply asleep the chick snored. Maybe I could spend the day with the nineteen-year-old Aedis, not just a few hours.

“Aedis, is there anything you want to do with me? Any place you want to go.”

Whenever it was time to draw the line, Aedis started to think very seriously and I laughed.

This is the same as the Aedis I know.

“You can just say anything. You know, but you’ll probably forget you met me.”

“But you will remember.”

“…….”

It was heartwarming, but I was not genuinely moved.

My husband, who tried not to laugh and spoke honestly only at an appropriate distance, was suspicious.

Aedis started talking to me.

“How did I marry you?”

“I proposed because I didn’t want to marry your stepson.”

“…… what?”

“Curious? Do you want to hear more?”

Aedis furrowed his eyebrows.

“There is one thing I am curious about.”

“Ask me anything.”

Aedis paused for a moment before he asked.

“Do you regret getting married?”

“Well…….”

At the pause, Aedis’ eyes shook.

The blue eyes weren’t used to hiding their emotions yet.

I laughed, thinking that if I smiled a thousand times, Aedis would smile too.

“I have no regrets.”

“Can you stop teasing me?”

Even protesting with such a blushing face is just cute.