Chapter 31 – Extra Story — May This Happiness Continue  

「No entry—.」

In front of me is Anri, his hands outstretched as wide as they can go, trying his best to get through with his tiny body. The color is mine, but the face that looks exactly like Remilia’s is making a crisp expression in an attempt to intimidate, but I can’t help but feel that he is just「cute.」

「What’s the matter, Anri～ Are you a gate soldier playing knight?」

「Ah! Ugh, hey, stop that, Dad!」

As soon as I pick him up, he starts flailing around like a fish. Lately,「I’m ten years-old now,」has become a common phrase, and he has become completely reluctant to carry him in my arms. I’m very sad being his father. He would shyly get on Remilia’s lap if she called him.

「Dad’s was hurt by Anri’s coldness… I need Remilia and Emi to comfort me. Mom is in the kitchen, right?」

「I told you, Dad is not allowed in there.」

When I try to peek inside through the doorless kitchen entrance, Anri stops me with a body hug. I was more shocked by being told that I was「not allowed」to enter the room than by the joy of being hugged by Anri for the first time in a long time, and I froze, forgetting to hug him back.

「Who would do such a thing!?」

「It’s Mom.」 「Remilia did!?」

I was so shocked that I sat up hemming and hawing to Anri, who put his arms around my waist to stop me and hugged me.

「Remilia… You told me not to come in there…? Impossible, why… Did you think that I was following you around because I wanted to be with you and that I was in the way…? Or maybe are you so disgusted by how jealous I was of Emi and Anri that you have taken out a restraining order against me…」

「Dad, you’re making such a difficult time.」

「Ah, you are aware of it, aren’t you, Demon Lord?」

I looked to the side and saw Nicholas, Anri’s childhood friend and confidant, standing there with a dumbfounded look on his face. He have become so much like Klimt, who pricks me, that they are now a scary father and son combo who threaten me from both sides telling me,「You have to go see Remilia-sama at your next break appointment,」and「I’ll tell her you’re not finished with your work.」My brother and my nephew are cold to me.

「Why am I not allowed in there?」

「Not to say that the Demon Lord… umm, oh right. It’s forbidden for boys.」

「Klimt is in there, isn’t he!」

「My dad is at the lecturer’s… and he’s not telling me… For now, let’s go for a walk in the garden, shall we, Demon Lord? Anri-sama, will you take him with you?」

「Come on, Dad, let’s go.」

「What are you hiding from me… Nicholas, you’d be doing yourself a favor by talking.」

「I can only obey the Saint’s command.」

Kuh… He doesn’t tell me anything and leaves me alone… I can hear the Sofia’s voice. He’s in there too, so why am I the only one…!

Why must I feel so sad when I finally decided to take a break and see my wife’s face to cheer myself up? I was feeling down with Anri in my arms, I was so shocked that he’s telling me not to come in… If Remilia had told me to my face, I wouldn’t have been able to recover this time, so I decided to leave without trying to force my way out.

Let’s have a cup of tea with Anri in the garden…

「Oh, Angel, you’re here. Just in time.」

「! Remilia…」

The appearance of my wife, dazzlingly beautiful despite wearing only a simple one-piece dress and apron like a town girl, brought the place to a momentary halt. She is now a mother of two and her smile has become more beautiful as time goes by, and I forget that I was almost depressed and smile. Wait, what do you mean by “just in time”?

「Here, Emi… you’re giving it to Papa, aren’t you?」

「Yeah… Papa, you know, I made this… with Mama, and it’s a… starry-eyed candy!」

「This…!」

The little Emi handed me a small wrapped box, which I accepted reverently. The slightly crooked ribbon was probably tied by Emi herself. When I unwrapped it and gently opened the seal, I could smell the same sweet and savory smell that wafted from inside the kitchen.

The star-shaped baked goods, burnt in places, are said to be Emi’s homemade. No, she said it was a collaboration between her and Remilia… This baked good has generated a value that can’t be put a price on it.

「Emi…! Glad to hear it, what a great present…! Papa is so happy!」

「Ehehe.」

Emi looks up at me expectantly as I pick one of the baked goods in front of her and show her how to eat it. I said sincerely that it was the most delicious food I had ever eaten, and I was delighted with her big mouth puckering open. My girl is so adorable…!

According to Remilia,「Star Thanksgiving」is an event held at the end of winter in Remilia’s birth country. It is a day to give star-related food to those who have taken care of you. This is how star-shaped baked goods are made, apples with star-designed patterns carved into the skin are sold, and soup with star-shaped carrots is served in the dining hall. Sounds like fun.

It’s the only day on which it is「acceptable for women to confess their love,」and it is said to be very crowded, Emi simply wanted to hand out the sweets she had made to the people she loved, which is why she decided to make the sweets. I guess so. I don’t think it’s too early for Emi to confess her feelings or anything like that.

「So this is my Thanksgiving gift to you.」

「Mhmm… this one isn’t star-shaped.」

「Yes, when you give it to a loved one you’ve already shared your feelings for, you give it in the shape of a heart.」

「Remilia…!」

I was so moved that I was so happy that I wanted to enjoy it as well as the one Emi had given me earlier, and I felt that it would be a waste to eat it. I am the luckiest man in the world…!

「And… to my brother, and to Nicholas! And one for Uncle Klimt and Auntie Sofia! And also… this is a treat for Mama… Thanks for everything, Mama!」

「Well…! You’re giving Mama a heart-shaped one? I’m so happy… Emi, thank you.」

Seeing Remilia overjoyed, I’ll be next… No, not next year. I have made a strong commitment to prepare something heart-shaped food by the end of the day. I rejected the idea of having them make it for me instead, much less giving them something I bought. If I hurry up and finish my work and bow down to Klimt and ask him to teach me, can I make something before the date changes…?

And later, when Anri and Emi saw that Remilia had also given them heart-shaped baked goods, Klimt and Nicholas teased them a little, saying that they felt a little sad that「it wasn’t only for me.」