“Well.”

Fortunately, Joseph shook off(?) Euphemina and helped me up from where I had fallen on the sofa.

Then a strange thing happened.

The bickering siblings immediately focused their attention at his voice. Truly, it was a magical command no matter when I heard it.

“I believe you learned this before, Your Majesty the Empress. Hugs should be light as sudden contact may startle the other person. You understand, don’t you?”

“…”

At that, Euphemina blinked her large eyes and loosened her arms embracing me. Whew, I could finally breathe more easily.

“I forgot. I’ll be careful from now on.”

Euphemina readily admitted her mistake at Joseph’s advice. Then Joseph smiled gently and said:

“Excellent, Euphy. I’m always proud of you.”

“…Tch.”

Clicking her tongue briefly, a small muttering sound simultaneously lodged in my ear.

At that moment, I almost burst out laughing without resistance, but fortunately Crown Prince Raphael arrived at that timing.

“Welcome, Your Majesty Alperon. And Your Majesty the Queen.”

Though appointed Crown Prince, his polite speech and respectful attitude remained the same.

Of course, so did his lion’s mane-like bright red hair, golden eyes, and overwhelmingly large build.

I stood there talking with the three of them along with Joseph. I felt newly emotional.

‘Especially Euphemina.’

That troublemaking little girl who caused so much mischief had already become a proper young lady of seventeen.

Her long cherry blossom-colored hair rippled like waves, and her sunset-like amber eyes blinked innocently like a doll-like young lady.

In addition to that downright fraudulent beauty, the etiquette and eloquence learned from Adeline made Euphemina reign as the queen of society simultaneously with her debut.

That happened just last year.

‘I’m glad I entrusted the children to Adeline back then.’

By the way, Adeline managed to suppress Euphemina’s violent tendencies in just a few months, to an extent that even surprised me.

When I asked her about it later, she replied:

…That’s still a point I don’t understand.

Let’s move on, as it would be rude to pry further into the private life of the Crown Princess… no, now Empress.

Anyway, Euphemina has become socialized enough to engage in quite normal social activities. If there was one unexpected thing…

‘…It was that she suddenly came forward saying she wanted to get engaged to Crown Prince Raphael.’

Even though she once said she wouldn’t marry and would stay by my side.

Indeed, a child’s words about “not getting married” cannot be trusted.

Although I felt vaguely resentful, I understood.

They said the two of them went hunting day and night while I was gone, so feelings that weren’t there before would naturally develop.

In fact, I’m still very worried about that point. Giving weapons to a child already overflowing with aggression…

…Well, that’s a problem that needs to be solved as we go through life.

“Oh, Mom. Dad said he needs to discuss the wedding schedule with you.”

“I was just about to go see His Majesty.”

Our private conversation was roughly concluded. It was also time for the appointment…

I finally got up from the sofa. Joseph, Euphemina, and even Crown Prince Raphael moved in unison following me.

There was a lot to do today. First, Kardiel taking over the Grand Duke title was completed.

Second, meeting with the Emperor and Empress to discuss the marriage schedule for Euphemina and Crown Prince Raphael. We’re going to do that now.

Third…

“The moon is quite large today.”

It was a long corridor on the way to meet the Emperor. Suddenly, Kardiel blurted out an appreciation while looking at the sky.

At those words, my gaze turned to the sky.

As Kardiel said, the dark October evening sky already had a bright red moon rising.

It was the color of a luminous ruby, like Joseph’s eyes.

“The lunar eclipse will start in three hours.”

“Then we still have plenty of time.”

I answered lightly and slowly moved my feet.

Euphemina, who had no interest in the color or size of the moon, was already walking side by side with Crown Prince Raphael far ahead.

“Joseph, Joseph.”

Meanwhile, I whispered while poking Joseph’s side.

“Did you hear what Euphemina said earlier?”

Joseph blinked as he leaned his upper body towards me, perking up his ears.

“After clicking her tongue and saying ‘tch’, what she said after.”

“Ah…”

Only then did Joseph laugh along with me, making a hissing sound like air escaping.

It was a small voice. Though she muttered as if talking to herself, I could hear it clearly. Of course, Joseph probably could too.

Dad…

I didn’t expect that title to come from Euphemina’s lips.

Until last year, when Joseph and I held our wedding, Euphemina still had a face full of discontent.

But she no longer openly guarded against Joseph or opposed the marriage like before.

It seems that as she came to have someone she loved too, she learned to respect others’ love as well.

‘…Or not? Is it closer to me taking a backseat because she just wants to marry Crown Prince Raphael as soon as possible?’

Either was fine. I felt a bit hurt, but since the purpose of parenting is independence, I was simply grateful for my daughter’s growth.

Anyway, the important thing is that Euphemina has now graduated from her scarred childhood, right?

Ah, there are no more burn scars left on Euphemina’s arms. That too is one of the things that makes me proud.

“Euphemina is probably embarrassed now. So if you could just understand and wait a little longer… Joseph?”

It was when I turned my gaze to the side while whispering softly. I had no choice but to stop in surprise. He…

“…Are you crying?”

Those red and luminous eyes were brimming with moisture. Dewdrop-like moisture clung to the platinum eyelashes that hung like curtains.

Startled, I handed him a handkerchief, and only then could I see the smile blooming on his lips.

Seeing that, it doesn’t seem like something got in his eye or he’s crying from sad thoughts.

“New father, are you alright?”

Before I could ask anything more, Kardiel who was walking ahead stopped. Then Joseph let out a small exclamation of “Ah.” and burst into laughter again.

At the same time, streams of water poured down Joseph’s cheeks.

To smile so brightly while shedding tears.

‘W-what? What should I do in this situation?’

I knew how to handle children crying, but it was the first time my husband cried.

For a moment, not knowing what to do, I sent a look asking for help to Kardiel.

But despite my request, Kardiel just tilted his head indifferently and then quickly turned away!

“…I didn’t know that title was so moving.”

After saying that, Kardiel immediately walked away towards Euphemina, who still wasn’t paying any attention to this side.

Left alone beside Joseph like that, I…

“…”

Watching him finally catch his breath and wipe his face, I was able to find appropriate words of comfort after a while.

“You’ll keep hearing it from now on, so wouldn’t it be good to get used to it?”

I thought it was a very rational, logical, and reasonable consolation in my own way, but…

I couldn’t understand why Joseph’s eyes filled with tears again after hearing those words.

[This is the timeline separator]

The lunar eclipse ended.

The magic that had been emitting light from the ruins of the collapsed magic tower subsided quietly.

Only the boy standing in the center of the complex magic circle was still radiating light.

No, he wasn’t emitting light.

It was just that the colors composing the child were so brilliant that it created the illusion of light.

The boy’s closed eyes trembled. Then the luminous eyes hidden by platinum eyelashes were revealed.

Red, red eyes like they had swallowed the lunar eclipse.

It was a transcendent mystery that made one exclaim in admiration. I could only stare blankly at the child, forgetting even to call his name.

“Mother…”

At last, the angel-like descended boy called me with a radiant smile like sunshine.

“Father Joseph!”

“Chelsea…”

“Will you come here?”

Fourteen years old.

However, the youngest son, who still had an angelic and kind heart, finally inherited Chronomancy today.

Ah, of course, inheriting Chronomancy doesn’t mean he can use time magic.

Since that’s forbidden magic, Joseph had already burned the magic book long ago. He said it took a full three days to complete that task.

Chelsea, who had been hugged in turn by me and Joseph, soon looked at Kardiel and Euphemina with an embarrassed face.

“Big brother Kar! Sorry, I really wanted to go to your succession ceremony…”

“The opening of the social season is on a fixed date every year, and it just happened to overlap with the eclipse, so it’s not something that could be helped by human power. No need to worry about it.”

“But still…”

Kardiel, with his blunt expression, lightly placed his hand on the head of his youngest brother, who barely came up to his shoulder.

“So the hair and eye color changed after all.”

“Yeah, Father Joseph said it’s unavoidable.”

“I see.”

“What, Chelsea really became a magician.”

Saying she wouldn’t be able to bully him like before, Euphemina blinked her innocent eyes.

Though it was nothing special, for some reason I got chills.

It wasn’t just me who felt that way – even Kongsam, who was next to Chelsea, whimpered “Keeung” and moved far away.

He had grown as big as an arm but was still a cowardly puppy.

“Anyway, since our youngest son has truly become a magician…”

Joseph intervened at the right timing to block the siblings’ murderous conversation.

“How about giving the first magic demonstration here?”

“Okay!”

Chelsea immediately took his stance.

Ah, but at that moment I saw the three children exchanging glances with each other. I had an ominous feeling that they were about to cause some mischief.

“Is any magic okay?”

“Anything is fine. After all, there’s no one on this land now except our family.”

It was a confident voice saying he could clean up even if a major accident occurred.

‘…I really hope he can clean it up.’

They were such troublemakers that even I couldn’t predict what they would do.

But before I could say anything to stop them, Chelsea closed his eyes tightly with his hands clasped together.

I could only watch nervously, wondering what kind of magic he would use.

And soon.

Bang! Pop pop bang! Bang!

An explosion occurred.

Bang bang! Pop bang! Pop pop bang! Bang!

Tremendous booming sounds rang out in succession, suddenly shaking heaven and earth. Everywhere was filled with flashes of light.

I reflexively jumped up. First, I had to evacuate Joseph and the children to a safe place from this dangerous situation…

But.

“Happy birthday, Father Joseph!”

Not a scream, but an unexpected sound poured from Chelsea’s mouth. Only then could I come to my senses and assess the situation.

Bang, pop bang!

The flashes bursting in the sky were fireworks like those set off at banquets.

Moreover, looking closely… the shapes of the fireworks closely resembled the faces of Joseph, me, and the three siblings.

Above all, the words clearly formed in the center.

Happy 30th Birthday.

“Ah, this.”

Seeing those words, I could only sigh. Because…

Today’s highlight, the long-awaited final event, was Joseph’s birthday party.

‘They got me.’

A satisfying regret rose to fill the sky, twinkling like stars to brighten the dark October sky.

Well.

I’m not sure how Joseph, who has finally reached the future of thirty years old as he so longed for, feels right now.

But my feelings were certain.

I moved my lips as I intertwined my fingers with Joseph’s, who was blankly staring at the sky.

My voice was drowned out by the sound of fireworks exploding, but I felt Joseph’s gaze as he turned to look at me startled.

I didn’t bother to face him directly. Just the interlocking of our hands was enough.

So…

I should read the letter Sergei sent later.

[This is the timeline separator]

…Therefore, it is speculated that when the successor casts Chronomancy, the heir can support the magic by making physical contact with the successor.

However, keep in mind that this method does not nullify the price of Chronomancy.

It is merely a way for two people to simultaneously retain the memory of the erased world. So…

…Based on the facts you told me and the above data, my predictions are as follows:

First, the possibility that Joseph’s memories have been cut countless times as he used Chronomancy.

In other words, the possibility that Joseph has lived many more years than he thinks.

Second, if the first point is true, the ‘precious’ memories that were cut off were likely memories with you.

Third, this was the most decisive reason I could infer the second point.

I apologize that due to my pettiness, I was unable to reveal this to Joseph and left.

The words Joseph said to me that day in the Sea of Mist were…

[This is the timeline separator]

“Thank you for surviving for me.”