Editor : Amethyst00



Carl fell into deep thought as he looked at Elim and Elly, the fraternal twin siblings.

Eventually, with a serious expression, Carl spoke.

"Maybe… in the northern continent, the word 'dad' means something different?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Like, maybe they call their mom's male friend 'dad' or something?"

"If that happens, families would be destroyed regardless of what part of the continent you're on."

Leo looked genuinely dumbfounded.

"No, think about it! Isn't it weird?"

Carl stammered, flustered.

"Born between me and Eliza? That would mean I'm Eliza's future husband or something?"

"Isn't that exactly why this kind of thing is happening? You said you had feelings for Eliza too."

"Well, yeah… If it turns out that way, I'd be ridiculously happy, but…"

As Leo shrugged his shoulders, Carl scratched his head.

At that moment, Chelsea, who had been playing with Elim and Elly not far away, came over.

"Wow~ I can't believe those kids were born between you and Eliza! They're so cute!"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

As Carl squinted at her, Chelsea smiled sweetly.

"So anyway, what were you talking about?"

Leo shared the conversation he'd just had with Carl.

Chelsea looked equally dumbfounded.

"You seriously think that makes any sense? And…"

Chelsea brought Elly—who had the same hair color as Carl—over to him.

"She's obviously your daughter."

At Chelsea's words, Elly blinked her large, innocent eyes.

"Daddy!"

Then she smiled brightly and ran into Carl's arms.

Carl's face broke into a silly grin.

Elim hugged Carl from behind as well.

Watching them, Chelsea rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

"Maybe I underestimated you, Carl. You actually managed to win Eliza over."

"Carl is a pretty cool guy."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Is that why Eliza asked us to come to the annex? Because of these kids?"

Chelsea tilted her head in confusion.

Leo also had a puzzled expression.

"If that's the case, then Chen Xia and Eliza must have seen the kids first, right?"

As they realized this, Leo and Chelsea's expressions subtly changed.

'Eliza didn't seem any different from usual…'

'Then she must have had this future in mind to some extent?'

Their minds raced.

"Carl. Tell us the truth."

Chelsea narrowed her eyes.

"What?"

"You're dating Eliza now, aren't you?"

Carl flinched.

"I knew there was something between you two, but… I didn't think you were already in that kind of relationship."

"Whoa! You're seriously amazing! How did you manage to land someone like Eliza?!"

Leo looked at Carl with genuine curiosity, and even Chelsea looked surprised.

"Anyway, congratulations."

"Yeah, congrats! Congrats!"

Leo and Chelsea offered sincere congratulations.

Carl scratched his head sheepishly in response.

"Congrats, Dad."

"Not sure what it's about, but still."

Elim and Elly got swept up in the mood and congratulated him too.

"Still, it's kind of disappointing. You kept it a secret."

"Yeah. Totally."

Chelsea nodded at Leo's comment.

Watching their reaction, Carl scratched his head again.

"Sorry. But if the others find out…"

"Well, rumors do spread like wildfire."

Chelsea nodded understandingly.

Even if Carl and Eliza were close, considering Eliza's usual demeanor, it would be a huge scandal.

"Chelsea. Seriously, don't tell Eliana, okay?"

"Don't worry, don't worry! Just trust me!"

Chelsea thumped her chest and smiled brightly.

Leo gave a small laugh at the sight.

"Must be nice."

bl

Eliza's expression stiffened as she faced the head butler of House Hergin.

He had served as the family's butler since Eliza was a child.

An extremely competent and trustworthy man.

Though older and wrinkled now in this future timeline, his position hadn't changed.

The fact that he had come to the annex filled Eliza with intense anxiety.

"What brings you to the annex…?"

"Yes, My Lady. The young master and young miss insisted they must have dinner with you…"

Looking at the butler's troubled face, Eliza's own face turned pale.

Listening nearby, Lyl looked confused.

"Young master and young miss?"

Chen Xia cupped her cheeks with a troubled smile.

"Oh dear."

"My, my, my?"

Melina, sensing something, sparkled her eyes with excitement.

Just then, the door opened and Carl entered, carrying Elim and Elly in his arms.

Eliza closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and pressed her forehead.

Chelsea grinned stupidly, staring at Eliza, and Leo wore his usual poker face.

Lyl also gasped as she realized the situation.

All eyes turned to Eliza.

Eliza forced a smile and spoke.

"Let's have dinner first."

A grand dinner was laid out.

At the head of the table sat Melina, a professor at Lumene and the Dragon Queen.

To her left sat Leo, Lyl, Chen Xia, and Chelsea.

To her right sat Eliza, Elim, Elly, and Carl.

Elim looked curious about the seating and whispered to Eliza.

"Mother, what's that lady's name?"

He was intrigued by Eliza giving up the head seat.

But he asked quietly out of courtesy.

Smiling gently at Elim, Eliza nodded.

At ten, he was still a child.

But as the heir of House Hergin, he was trying to read the room and protect the family's honor.

'Whose son is he… Oh, mine.'

Thinking inwardly, Eliza felt proud of her future self for educating her son well.

'No, this is all just a possibility.'

As she pondered this—

"Huhu. I was Eliza's professor back in her school days. My name is Mel."

Melina replied with a smile.

Caught off guard by being heard, Elim quickly bowed.

"So you're my mother's mentor."

"Huhu. What a clever boy."

Eliza didn't know how to react to the compliment.

As the meal began, Eliza couldn't tell if the food was going into her nose or mouth.

Even so, she kept scooping food to Elim that was out of his reach.

Elly also told Carl what she wanted to eat, and though flustered, he obliged.

Watching Carl, Eliza thought:

'Carl would make a great dad.'

Smiling warmly as she watched him eat with Elly, Eliza suddenly felt someone's gaze and looked up.

Melina was resting her chin on her hand with a soft smile.

Lyl was staring intently at Eliza, fork in her mouth.

Chelsea and Chen Xia were whispering to each other.

"Eliza's totally unexpected."

"Seriously. She's like a real mom."

"You two over there. If you have something to say, just say it."

Eliza pressed her temples.

Normally, she'd blow up and create a fierce atmosphere, but she held back because Elim and Elly were beside her.

"We're not teasing or criticizing. Eliza, I'm genuinely surprised. You seem like someone who's raised children before."

Lyl said honestly.

And it was true—Eliza was very skilled at handling the kids.

The pure compliments from her seniors and classmates were annoying to Eliza.

Even Leo eating quietly felt like a blessing.

"She's a beast tamer."

Then Leo spoke up.

"Young beasts require a lot of care. She's taken care of them since childhood, so she's naturally good with kids too."

Though fierce and sharp, Eliza was unrivaled in her handling of magical beasts.

She could handle any of them with ease—a skill that required close, attentive care from a young age.

The girls gasped in admiration at Leo's explanation.

Carl also looked at Eliza in admiration.

After dinner—

Having tucked Elim and Elly into bed, Eliza let out a deep sigh.

"How am I supposed to face those people tomorrow?"

Seeing her pained expression, Carl said,

"They won't tease you anymore. And they won't spread rumors either."

"Of course not."

Eliza sneered.

"If they do, I was seriously going to take them down with me."

Eliza growled.

'That's exactly why they won't push their luck.'

Her classmates were experts at teasing people.

'They know just how far to go.'

Thinking this, Carl gazed at the sleeping Elim and Elly.

Seeing that, Eliza's expression grew strange.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"Just… I'm amazed a future like this is even possible."

"What?"

Eliza furrowed her brow.

"What do you mean? Were you planning on dating me casually or something?"

Carl quickly waved his hands.

"No, no! That's not it. I'm really serious. It's just…"

"Just?"

"You're the heiress to the great House Hergin. If you ever got bored of me, our relationship would end just like that."

"Are you kidding me? We just started dating, and you're already thinking about breakups?"

"Well…"

Carl looked sheepish.

Eliza stared at him intently.

Carl's thoughts weren't unreasonable.

They were both young.

Teenage emotions.

And love, no matter how fiery, could fade just as quickly.

Even if they liked each other now, there was no guarantee those feelings would last.

Especially considering their status gap.

Still, Eliza didn't like that Carl was already thinking about 'after.'

Even if she understood it, she felt angry.

"Ugh, so annoying."

Eliza snapped irritably, making Carl flinch.

"Hey, Carl Thomas."

"Y-yeah?"

Grab—

Eliza grabbed Carl by the collar and pulled him toward her.

As he was drawn in, Carl's eyes widened at the sensation on his lips.

In the softly moonlit room, the two kissed for a long time.

Eventually, Eliza let go.

Carl covered his mouth, blushing furiously.

Eliza snorted at the sight.

"Remember this, Carl Thomas. No matter what happens in the future—"

"Y-yes."

"You're mine right now."

Eliza curled her lips into a smirk.

"So stop overthinking and focus on me. Got it?"

"Y-yes! Understood!"

Carl nodded hastily, and Eliza jerked her chin.

"Then get out."

"… Okay."

Carl wandered out of the room in a daze.

Click—

As the door shut, Eliza crouched down and buried her face in her knees.

She muttered to herself.

"Crazy! I'm seriously crazy!"

Seeing Carl about to slip away had made her act on impulse.

'Ugh… He better not take this lightly. If he pulls anything dumb, I'll kill him.'

Blushing, Eliza stood up while fanning herself.

Then she looked at Elim and Elly—and froze.

The twins were wide awake, staring up at her.

"You didn't sleep?"

Eliza forced a smile and asked sweetly.

Elly mumbled,

"Mommy."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"For my next sibling, I want a little brother."

"No! A little sister!"

Elim immediately objected.

Eliza suppressed a twitch in her lips and patted their heads.

"Good kids go to bed early."

"Yes."

The two kids obediently shut their eyes.

As Eliza stepped out and looked back at them one last time, she closed the door.

Click—

'… Carl and my kids, huh.'

Touching her lips, Eliza walked down the hallway.

'Maybe… this future wouldn't be so bad.'

She chuckled softly.

Meanwhile—

In the room next to the twins'—

Leo was pinching the cheeks of Chen Xia and Chelsea.

"You don't eavesdrop on other people's conversations."

"O-ow! I'm sorry!"

"Ack! Ow, ow! We won't do it again…!"

They were being punished for eavesdropping on Carl and Eliza's conversation.

Leo clicked his tongue and let them go.

Chelsea rubbed her red cheek and asked,

"But Leo, did you hear what they were talking about?"

"Nope."

Chelsea smacked her lips in disappointment.

"You're that curious?"

"Carl and Eliza dating? Of course I'm curious!"

"Exactly. We're at the age where we care about stuff like that."

"You guys are such kids."

"Yup."

"Yeah."

"Only when it suits you."

As they gave their perfectly synchronized answer, Leo flicked them both on the forehead and crossed his arms, gazing out the window.

'"Maybe this future wouldn't be so bad."'

Repeating Eliza's words in his mind, Leo looked at the future landscape and smiled bitterly.

'We always dreamed of the future, yet here we are, still clinging to the past…'