A thick blanket named "Night Sky" is spread over the sea of flowers. The blanket has holes, allowing the twinkling lights named "Starlight" to filter through. In the middle of the flower garden, a large yellow mat is laid out, and on it, Eda and Jun sit close together, enjoying the charm of the night. They are on a nighttime picnic, wearing white coats, with the cool night breeze gently tousling their hair.
Crunch, crunch.
Eda takes slices of fruit, prepared as a late-night snack, into her mouth and chews them with delight. This is her third serving since the picnic started. She had some during lunch, and after reading Red's diary in the study, this marks her sixth serving today. Jun raises an eyebrow, contemplating.
'Did Eda always like fruits this much?'
As if sensing his gaze, Eda explains with a slightly embarrassed look, as if justifying herself.
"Oh, that's... Well, my appetite wasn't great today, but fruits are easy to eat. The sour and sweet taste is attracting me."
"It's okay, you can have more. It's good if you enjoy them. Eating a bit of fruit won't make you gain weight..."
Thunk.
Eda lightly smacked Jun's back, causing him to endure the pain, and he thought about Remi who had left a little while ago. After reading Red's diary, Remi insisted that she might disturb their honeymoon. So she left some fruits, then left. Although Eda and Jun tried to persuade her to stay for the night, Remi just laughed it off, leaving a parting remark.
"The Goddess of Music should have a good time with her partner. How can this humble human interfere? Goodbye."
"Remi!"
Eda shouted at Remi with a flushed face, but Remi paid no attention and left with the Red Chamber. Eda still seemed to be bothered by those words, occasionally clenching her fists into the air with a tormented expression.
Anyway, since Eda didn't seem to be in a bad mood, Jun decided to ask one more thing for confirmation.
"Eda. Can I ask you one thing?"
"Hmm? Sure."
Eda turned to him after swallowing the last piece of fruit.
"About the story of Terra's reincarnation in your mother's diary, what do you think about it?"
Eda remained silent, looking at the flowers under the night sky emitting faint light. Between the flowers, glimpses of lumen, which seemed to want to go for a night walk, could be seen blooming little by little. Thanks to that, it wasn't too dark even without a flashlight.
"...Master forbade me from going outside at night."
Eda suddenly began to speak out of the blue, but Jun continued to pretend to sleep.
"It's mentioned in the diary, and I've told you before... I used to have that dream a lot. A dream where the six lights look down at me. Master said that the activated lumen at night isn't good for me and told me not to come out."
"Do you still have that dream?"
At Jun's question, Eda nodded in a drowsy manner.
"No, I haven't had that dream since going to the East Ocean. It seems like my throat started getting better around that time."
After pausing for a moment, Eda continued.
"I don't know if my master's hypothesis is true. If the light in my dream was really the six gods, then maybe I really was Terra in my past life. Or everything could just be a coincidence. But I decided not to care. Even if I knew what I was in my past life, it wouldn't change anything. I'm just me. I'm Edalune Grant, Red's disciple, Remi's family, and Jun's wife. That's enough."
Leaning her head on Jun's shoulder, Eda whispered to him.
"But you know, if I were Terra... then would Jun become Helius?"
"Huh?"
Eda didn't say anything more, just gazing at the sea of flowers in front of her. Jun also smiled, feeling her warmth, and silently enjoyed the flowers, recalling the time in Lumen Ziggurat.
Whoosh.
As the wind blew refreshingly, carrying flower petals that stuck to Eda's hair, Jun, as if struck by a good idea, got up and extended his hand to Eda, while brushing them off.
"Eda, want to dance?"
Eda blinked in surprise at the unexpected suggestion and asked, "Huh? Dance?"
"Yeah, dance."
After hesitating for a moment, Eda took Jun's hand and stood up.
"I learned a bit in the Lee Clan, but... even if I step on your feet, I won't know what I'm doing."
"Don't worry. I haven't properly learned either."
As the wind gently rustled, the flower petals swayed and danced, creating a soft melody that sounded like a special tune orchestrated by nature. The night sky sparkled with stars, casting a gentle light on the petals, accentuating their beauty. The entire scene felt like an enchanting concert taking place in nature's mysterious auditorium.
The simple yet beautiful landscape created an illusion as if a magical music performance was unfolding under the night sky. The sound of petals, the whistling of the wind, and the light of the stars all blended together, creating a special melody in the sea of flowers beneath the night sky.
In tune with nature's music, Eda and Jun held each other's hands and arms, beginning to move gradually. Eda's left hand and Jun's right hand interlocked, while their free hands held onto each other's forearms. They lifted and lowered their feet, creating a subtle rhythm while moving around an invisible axis.
Jun released the hand that held Eda's forearm, grabbing her waist and initiating a motion that seemed to lift her into the air. Eda relaxed, allowing herself to be guided by Jun. Their movements flowed naturally, creating a dance that matched the enchanting music of the night.
Caught up in the moment, Eda and Jun forgot about their surroundings. Holding hands and dancing gracefully, they became immersed in each other's gaze. The flourishing lumen surrounded them, weaving a space of its own. Unaware, Eda and Jun continued their dance, their eyes focused solely on each other.
As the dance reached its climax, their eyes locked, and the surroundings blurred. The newly blossomed lumen dispersed as if acknowledging the harmony of their dance. Jun embraced Eda's waist, lowering his head, and Eda rested her arm around Jun's neck, lifting her head. Under the night sky, they shared breaths, forgetting everything else around them.
/
After their honeymoon, two weeks had passed since Eda and Jun returned to Lee Clan. Another day in the clan passed as usual. In the clan meeting room of the Lee Clan, by the window, Eda, wearing the traditional attire of the East Ocean with a white, wide dress fixed with a golden button on the right chest, was reading the results of today's meeting while enjoying the evening sunset. As everyone else left for the day or went to attend additional tasks, Eda compared documents while eating fruit.
"Thank you," she expressed gratitude to the maid who brought a new fruit bowl.
"Lady Eda, have you been eating a lot of fruit lately?" the maid asked.
"I've been craving something sour lately. Other things seem to have lost their taste. Oh, is this a fruit I haven't seen before?"
In response, the maid looked strange and said, "Yes, I brought a different kind. But the sour taste..."
As Eda, who was picking up a piece of fruit with a fork and bringing it to her mouth, smelled the fruit, she suddenly covered her mouth and bowed her head.
"Oh...!"
Suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of nausea, Eda gagged. The gaze of everyone in the vicinity focused on her. Even those leaving the meeting room stopped in their tracks and turned their heads towards her. The maid next to Eda quickly knelt down and checked her condition.
"La, Lady Eda, are you okay?"
"Yes, yes. I'm fine."
"...It might be a good idea to see a doctor for an examination."
/
"Congratulations. You're six weeks pregnant."
Inside the examination room, a female doctor shared the surprising news with Eda, smiling.
"What?"
Eda, leaning back in the chair and unable to grasp the situation, uttered a dumbfounded sound. The doctor laughed and reassured her.
"So, Lady Eda, you are currently expecting a child. It seems to be around 6 weeks. I've just informed the clan master."
"Oh..."
Eda looked down at her belly with a dazed expression, stroking it with her hand. Then, in a tone that expressed disbelief, she muttered.
"A baby...?"
"Yes."
Bang!
The door next to Eda abruptly swung open. Startled, Eda and the doctor turned to look, and there was Jun, wearing the exact same clothes as Eda, rushing in at full speed, breathing heavily as he gazed at Eda. Their eyes met.
"Eda, is… Is this for real?"
Jun staggered over, kneeling in front of Eda, lifting her face to look at him. Eda, regaining her composure while observing her spouse's bewildered expression, placed Jun's hand on her belly. With a smile, she whispered to him.
"Yes... our baby."
"Eda...!"
Unable to say more, Jun embraced Eda tightly. Yet, he never forgot to be gentle, ensuring she wasn't hurt. His face was adorned with a radiant smile filled with joy. Tears of happiness glistened in his eyes, and a sense of overwhelming emotion and anticipation filled his chest. The love and joy towards his wife intensified, and his face was brimming with happiness.
"Thank you so much, really...!"
"You don't have to thank..."
Eda, too, hugged Jun and gently patted his back. Fluttering with excitement, feeling the strong heartbeat of Jun, Eda closed her eyes comfortably. A serene smile, filled with quiet happiness and anticipation, graced her lips.
The doctor, who had been sitting quietly on the side, chuckled and attempted to leave the room quietly, until someone with heavy footsteps appeared behind her.
Thud!
One of the large-sized guardians of the Lee Clan stood in front of the examination room. The small-sized woman who had been on his back hopped down. It was Remi, who judged that she couldn't move quickly with her short legs and sought help. Remi, being carried by the guardian, expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you for carrying me!"
"It's nothing, Lady Remi. Feel free to ask anytime."
Passing by the doctor and entering the examination room, Remi. After the doctor closed the door behind her, there were only three left in the room. Remi, still hugging each other, approached Eda and Jun and stuck close to them.
"Eddie, is it true?!"
As Jun slightly moved away for Remi, she slipped in and sparkled her eyes, asking Eda.
"Yeah. I'm pregnant."
As Eda nodded, Remi couldn't contain her excitement and shouted.
"I'm going to have a nephew?!"
/
From that day on, Eda's daily routine was forcibly changed.
"Eddie! Let's go for a walk. The doctors say it's appropriate to exercise for about 30 minutes a day during pregnancy."
After finishing breakfast, Remi approached Eda and suggested a walk. Eda and Remi strolled in the park near the clan's main residence after some light stretching. During their casual walk, exchanging greetings with citizens, Eda suddenly seemed to remember something and asked Remi.
"But, Remi, didn't you mention going to earn a doctorate?"
"Huh? Oh, that? There happened to be a suitable place, so I contacted the professor there. I can go there from next year. I'll go after I see my nephew being born. Since I can rest on weekends, I'll be able to see our nephew often. And, incidentally, meet Benzel too."
During lunch, something different happened from the usual routine at the main dining hall of the Lee Clan. Originally, the clan members would eat together in a large cafeteria-like setting, sharing the dishes prepared in bulk by the clan's chefs. This communal dining style aimed to foster unity, much like a school cafeteria. Unless there was anything special, like Jun's return to the clan, this routine continued. However, today was different. A few chefs approached Eda two hours before the mealtime.
"Lady Eda, is there anything specific you'd like to eat?"
"What?"
Not understanding the intention behind the question as she rested after the walk with Remi, Eda asked again, and the chefs explained.
"Even during breakfast, you couldn't eat properly, and it's understandable if you're pregnant. If there's something you'd like to eat, we'll make it to your taste."
"Hmm? No, no, there's no need for that."
Eda waved her hands in surprise, but the chefs insisted again.
"You don't have to be modest. If we can't even do this much for the lady who owns our clan along with the clan master, we feel embarrassed. "
"What do others do when they get pregnant? "
"Other women usually don't come to work when pregnant. They take maternity leave and manage things at home. But since this is your home, Lady Eda, we'll adapt to your needs. It's not difficult for us to accommodate one person's preferences, so don't feel burdened. We've heard that the former ladies of the house also had things arranged according to their preferences."
"..."
Eda pondered for a moment. Indeed, her taste had become more selective lately. Normally, she would eat anything given to her, but recently, some foods made her feel queasy just from the smell, so she ate much less than usual. Fruits were more tolerable, but she couldn't just eat fruits all the time.
"Well then... is this also possible?"
Since then, it became a routine for Eda to place orders with the chefs two hours before meals. Fortunately, the Lee Clan's food warehouse had a variety of ingredients sourced from all over the galaxy, and with the chefs' expertise, accommodating Eda's requests wasn't too difficult. Her preference for a simple, vegetable-focused diet made it even easier.
/
As night fell, a small concert unfolded in Eda's room. Jun sat in a chair, bringing out traditional East Ocean instruments, a lyre-like instrument, and lightly plucked the strings. In tune with his quiet performance, Eda, seated on the bed, opened her mouth and softly sang a starsong, reminiscent of the vocalizer-dependent tone she had during time. Both Jun's playing and Eda's singing weren't particularly loud, but in the quiet room, they resonated clearly in each other's ears.
Jun's musical skills weren't exceptional, but Eda skillfully covered any small mistakes he made with her own technique. Thanks to this, the small concert held in the room ended quite successfully. After putting down the instrument, Jun spoke.
"How was it? I feel like I've improved a bit too."
"Hmm. Yeah. It got better. It doesn't seem loud enough to make our baby cry later."
"Oh... Remi, after listening to my performance, made a face as if she was unimpressed and said she'd come back to give it another try in a month."
"Oh... Remi has subtly refined musical tastes."
This small musical gathering was a combined result of Eda wanting to share her singing with the baby and Jun's desire to try playing instruments with her assistance. It was chaotic at first, but as time passed, Jun became more proficient, resulting in a reasonably pleasing outcome.
"Anyway, I don't think our baby will dislike hearing what Dad worked hard on."
Eda murmured as she touched her belly, which had gradually grown larger as she approached the sixth month of pregnancy. Seated beside Eda, Jun lightly kissed her and extended his hand to gently place it on her belly. He concentrated his attention on feeling for any movement.
"Oh!"
There was a slight sensation as Jun's hand made contact with Eda's belly. When he tapped lightly with his fingers, another response, perhaps a movement, was conveyed.
"Eda, did you feel that just now?"
"Yeah. Maybe because it's a boy, he's quite active."
As Jun attempted to place his hand again, Eda intercepted with her own hand.
"Oh, it's not good, Clan Master. Doing it too often might not be good, you know?"
"Um... understood."
As Jun lowered his head apologetically, Eda smiled and said, "Still, it seems like the baby recognizes his dad well. He doesn't respond much to Remi. She was pouting quite a bit about that."
Eda recalled the time when Remi, attempting to feel the movements of her nephew, touched Eda's belly. Remi persistently visited every night, trying to sense the baby's movements. Despite the discouraging success rate, she consoled herself.
"…It's okay. After the baby is born, I just have to play with him the most. Oh, what if he says he'll live with me and leave his mom and dad? Hihihi."
"Remi, calm down."
Thinking about Remi's whimsical laughter, Eda lay down on the bed. Jun slowly lay down beside her, turned towards her, and spoke.
"By the way, what's Remi up to these days? She seemed busy."
"Oh. She's busy selecting baby clothes, toys, gifts, and so on. It seems like she's researching what's good for the baby, what to play with, and the developmental stages. She almost looks like she's writing a thesis. Sometimes people say she seems more like the baby's mom than me."
After that, Eda and Jun shared various stories, from the affairs of the clan to miscellaneous small talk. When Jun got up to extinguish the fire, he suddenly remembered something and asked Eda.
"Come to think of it, didn't Dr. Rushell mention that she'd visit us?"
"Oh, she'll be here soon. Probably... in a month? Seems like she's really busy with her schedule because she got promoted within the Lumen Association. She mentioned something about joining the council."