How long did it take to decide on this name?

Aeli recalled the days when she secretly huddled with Lutis, away from the child’s eyes.

It was not easy to find time for just the two of them to decide on a name, as the child hardly wanted to leave their side. And even when they managed to find time, it was not the kind of matter that could be quickly decided.

Some say that a name can penetrate through a person’s entire life.

[If possible, we should give a name with a good meaning.]

With that thought, they combed through both general books and ancient language books, searching for words.

Words with meanings they liked, yet had a pleasant sound to them.

Uncommon, yet could still be called by the current nickname.

With such limitations, there were not many options left. Of course, even so, there were enough words to fill several pages when listed out.

‘It was purely my own desire for Adi to keep being called by his current nickname.’

I thought he might feel awkward if his form of address suddenly changed− I just somehow wanted it that way.

I’m not quite sure why I had such thoughts, but anyway.

[……! Wait,] [What is…… this?] […….]

It was purely by chance that she discovered a few pieces of paper on one side of Lutis’ office.

Lutis’ office was a place she frequented almost every other day even in the past, so she knew most of what was in there.

In fact, even without that reason, if there was a dictionary oddly placed among various documents and difficult books.

Who would not have cast their eyes upon it?

So it was no different for her.

Out of curiosity, she took out the thick dictionary, and similarly, a few pieces of paper fell to her feet.

·

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On the last page of the papers with short words scribbled haphazardly, at the very bottom.

There were traces of ink splattered here and there, as if the quill had broken while writing.

[The handwriting…….]

It was familiar.

So figuring out who the owner of the handwriting on the paper was.

On the paper that seemed to have been written at least several years ago, judging by the ambiguously faded state,

Aeli reflexively turned her head.

Then she saw Lutis, who seemed to have tried to stop her, frozen in an awkward pose with his hand stretched out in the air.

[Lutis.] […….] [……What is this?]

The answer she got after persistently questioning him, who looked like he had no intention of opening his mouth at all.

[I…….] […….] [I wasn’t sure if I could really name the child without you.] […….]

Ever since informing him of the pregnancy and even after giving birth, for several months I kept saying let’s discuss and give the child a pretty name.

But when left alone in the actual situation, I couldn’t muster up the courage.

It was customary to name a child half a year after birth, but by the time he came to his senses, even vaguely, after holding my funeral, that time had already passed.

Even when he belatedly searched alone, there was not much time as he had to go to battle, was the answer that came back.

Still, he did not want to name the child so hastily, so he intended to name the child a little late after returning from the war.

[But it got so late.] […….] [The child had already grown that much, I…….]

Aeli also knew.

Lutis returned from the war a full 4 years after he had left for it.

He returned right before the child’s fifth birthday, so it was way past the proper timing.

So just a little more.

After getting a little closer to the child.

Directly asking for opinions, and even then, if the child wanted it.

Thinking that way and putting it off day by day, it had already come to this point.

[…….]

Aeli, who fiddled with the few pieces of paper in her hand at Lutis’ words, thought.

Although there was a reason and an excuse that was not an excuse, it was true that he had done wrong.

Due to his avoidance, the child was neglected for several years in a separate annex attic that was no different from a secluded room, living without even receiving a single character for a name.

But…….

Am I any different?

I was not unaware of what had happened during the ‘day by day’ that Lutis spoke of putting things off.

It must have been a series of situations that were hard to believe with common sense, so it would be ridiculous to hope for him to find his reason during that time.

Moreover, even I had enough time by the child’s side for several seasons to pass, yet I did nothing else.

So I couldn’t say anything more.

However, there was a name that particularly caught my eye on the paper he had written long ago, so I asked.

[This…… seems like a word that’s not in the dictionary.] [That’s an ancient language.] [Ah, you were good at ancient languages.] [That’s not it…….]

It’s not a wrong statement, but that word kept coming to my mind.

The answer that came back was that he wrote it without realizing it, and the quill broke at that moment because he failed to control his strength.

Anyway, even after that, the two of them put their heads together for a long time, but they couldn’t find a better word.

So that was the decided name.

‘……But maybe we should have searched a little more?’

However, I never expected this kind of reaction.

The startled Aeli hurriedly held the child in her arms to soothe her, her pupils trembling finely.

How much did she dislike it to cry like that? Aeli’s Adam’s apple moved with a gulp.

“Hic−,”

“Ah, Adi. You don’t like the name?”

“Uh, ugh…..”

“Sh- Should we change it? Of course, you’re listed in the Radcliffe family register, but we haven’t written your name yet.”

I deliberately left it blank because I wanted to write it together with the child when tomorrow dawns.

A name was not something that could be easily changed like the back of one’s hand, but she had no choice but to make that decision because the child’s reaction was completely different from before.

Unlike usual, she wasn’t clinging to them, nor was she wailing loudly, just hanging her head low and shedding tears drop by drop.

With a terribly contorted face, she was making soft, suppressed crying sounds, which was quite unfamiliar.

How much did it affect her for this young child to react to that extent?

“Baby. Will you look at Mommy?”

“…….”

“I’m sorry for naming you arbitrarily without discussing it. Then shall we decide together this time? It’s Adi’s name, so let’s do it the way Adi wants. What do you think?”

I thought if we soothed her to sleep first and searched for books together when the day dawned, we could console her to some extent.

After considering the child’s taste and having a delicious meal, and feeding her snacks when she’s in a good mood.

“Th- That’s, that’s not−.”

But what came out of the child’s mouth was a completely different answer than what I expected.

The child, who rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, opened her mouth.

“I- I thought…….”

“Yes. Adi thought?”

“Mommy and Daddy, wouldn’t, ugh…… wouldn’t give me a name−.”

“…….”

“I thought, I thought you gave up− hic…… gave up…….”

“…….”

Could it be that she thought we wouldn’t give her a name?

But then, there were countless times when she stared at us blankly, urging us to give her a name quickly.

Aeli, who silently watched the water droplets falling on the child’s thighs, not even bothering to wipe away the tears, asked.

Was that why she cried, thinking we wouldn’t give her a name?

“Hic…..”

“……Adi?”

Instead of an answer, only muffled crying sounds were heard.

How many minutes did this situation, where she was crying silently, last?

As time passed, Aeli, who had never seen her cry like this, gradually became anxious and constantly watched the child’s reaction.

Then she suddenly felt something strange.

‘Something…… Something is a bit.’

It doesn’t seem right.

If asked what wasn’t right, she couldn’t answer. Because she didn’t know either, so it was obvious what she could say.

However− as she mentioned a few times before, even though the conversation itself proceeded without much problem, she couldn’t erase the strange illusion that it seemed to be going around in circles.

She had a bizarre conviction that the child was hiding something.

There was no evidence, but it was because she had this feeling quite a few times.

[I didn’t…… learn it, I shaw it in an ancient book somewhere.] [−Ancient as in when?] [Uh, really long ago…… It’s so long ago that even if Mommy told me, I wouldn’t remember.]

There was a time when I asked her who first taught her these things when she was learning magic from me.

Even then, she shook her head, saying she couldn’t tell me, making incomprehensible sounds, and ran out.

[……In the past, when you were young, there was an attendant who briefly took care of you at dawn and got injured. I heard he became lame from that incident and quit his job, but he was the son of the previous head attendant.] […….] [He may hold a grudge because of that incident, so it doesn’t seem good to bring him into the mansion. I was on my way to check myself.] [Th- That… Could it be the young man with red hair?]

When I asked if she was familiar with someone she had never even seen before, calling them as if she knew them and her eyes sparkling, she insisted that she heard about him from the servants when she was in the annex.

I didn’t suspect it then, but it didn’t make sense for her to react so affectionately just by hearing about him.

Moreover, if the person was someone who had a bad connection with me, she wouldn’t be pleased.

“…….”

That wasn’t all.

When she cried out that the previous Count and Countess would wear black clothes and cry when they came to the capital.

When she suddenly had a fit and screamed that she hated hot things and wouldn’t go.

When she seemed mature for her age one moment, but showed a more innocent side than her peers at other times.

When she possessed magical skills that were incomprehensible by common sense standards.

But strangely, the necessary circles were missing.

If I were to point them out, there would be too many to count.

[−Or it could be a prejudice to think that she must have learned it this time. There are many things in the world that happen beyond common sense than you think.]

So, the fact that the conversation we had in the hut came to mind at this very moment.

Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be a coincidence.

‘……If not now, I’ll never be able to hear it.’

Aeli, who grasped the child’s shoulders with both hands without hurting her, opened her mouth.

If I had to say, it was an action closer to a parent’s instinct.

“Adi, you…….”

“…….”

“−Are you hiding something?”

At the same time.

The child’s teary violet eyes met Aeli’s gaze as she slowly raised her head.

[This is the timeline separator]

The child reminisced.

“Adrian.”

“−Mommy!”

−Do you believe in miracles?