...
"Goodnight, son."
"Okay. Mom…goodnight…"
After watching her son fall asleep, Leanna gently stroked his hair, quietly left the room, and let out a long sigh.
Several days of persistent high fever had nearly made Leanna's son unconscious.
After confirming the fever had subsided, Leanna was finally able to relax her tense body a little.
"Where's Dino? Is he asleep?"
"…Yes. He just fell asleep."
Hearing her husband's voice from the living room, Leanna, who had just relaxed, tensed up again.
Her husband sat at the dining table, seemingly wanting to say something.
Although she could guess what he was going to say, Leanna couldn't bear to ignore her husband and sighed as she sat down opposite him.
"…Indeed, a child still needs their mother."
"…"
"Leona…I'm not asking you to give up your job completely. I just hope you can pay more attention to housework and come to the shop occasionally when you have time…"
"That's too much. You…you know how much effort I've put into this job…"
"I know. Of course I know. We met when you were studying fashion design. How could I not understand? But…" Starting a few days ago, cracks began to appear in the relationship between Leona and her husband, Moren Dario.
Dario inherited a four-generation family business specializing in everyday clothing.
Although he didn't deal in expensive clothing, for him, who had inherited a fairly respectable shop, his wife's desire to sell women's clothing that went beyond the ordinary and was almost unconventional was unacceptable.
What he thought was just a temporary hobby turned out to be something Leona had become deeply involved in, even wanting to open a shop.
When he finally couldn't bear it anymore and asked her to close the shop, she continued her avant-garde women's clothing creations as a hobby through a chance encounter called a divine beast.
Although dissatisfied, Leona and Dario convinced themselves to accept the situation.
In this situation, it was inevitable that friction would arise between Leona and Dario when Dario asked her to give up her job.
"You see now? It's because we didn't take good care of the children that things turned out this way."
"Just take turns caring for them. Why don't you want to do anything?"
"It's not that I don't want to do anything! First of all, I need to make money from the shop…"
"Only you're making money? I'm making money too!"
"Materials are so expensive, we can't even sell a few pieces of clothing a month! How can we support a family with that?"
Their voices grew louder as they spoke.
A sense of pride in making clothes.
These two, filled with this pride, seemed like a good couple until their marriage… From a certain moment, their paths diverged, like gears that couldn't mesh. They were in two different fields: everyday clothing for the general public and clothing for specific groups' interests. "I can do whatever you want! But, look at Dino! Don't you think Dino is pitiful without a mother!?"
"Didn't I take care of him!? Wasn't it me who took care of Dino all along!?"
"If there were no problem, I wouldn't have insisted you quit your job! But…!…You know what's happened to Dino lately…"
"…" Not long ago, neither of them had any major problems with their work.
Although unwilling, they could barely accept it as long as it wasn't their main job but a hobby, and the wife was understanding of her husband's situation, so she had been enduring it.
But the moment they found their son, soaking wet and lying alone in the entryway, being bullied by the surrounding children,
the couple had to seriously consider the issue of both working, and faced the situation where one of them had to give up their dream.
"…Even if you quit, the three of us can easily make ends meet…we'd even be considered upper class among ordinary people. The shop's income alone is enough."
"…But I've dedicated my life to this job…it's the only thing I can do well…"
"I know…you won awards and received sponsorships because your designs were recognized. But even so, if it doesn't gain public recognition, it has no value…"
"…! You said it has no value? How could you say such a thing…! Waaah…" This once penniless, ordinary woman's only recognized achievement was her avant-garde design.
That's why Leona was so determined.
But now, facing the reality of having to give it up, her tears flowed uncontrollably.
No matter how important her work was, she couldn't ignore her young son's current situation.
Although this was the first time she had received recognition for her valuable work, she also knew she couldn't let her husband, the pillar of the family, quit his job.
Knowing his wife's feelings, Dario was equally bitter, forced to end her dream in this way.
The sobbing wife, and the husband gazing at her with a bitter expression.
"…Um, Mom…" The couple were unaware that their young son was listening to his mother's sobs behind them.
... Three days have passed since Leona's absence.
I wanted to rush straight to Leona's house, but wanting her to only experience pleasant things, I waited quietly for her to appear.
That's why I had time to inspect the newly opened shop… phew… In these three days, they've either been using imitation Сock dildos or trying out new products without horse semen. It feels like my females are being used as guinea pigs… Am I overthinking it?
And my beasts are bringing in more women. Now the livestock are lined up in long queues; I can't even tell which ones are my females anymore?
Pfft…
Well, it doesn't matter either way. An increase in the livestock serving me is never a bad thing.
Now, all I need is for Leona to come… I heard my son has recovered; he should be back at work today, right?
Although I don't know why my son was sick for over three days… since he made me wait so long, your mother has to stay with me for a while.
"Remember this, Leona's son."
—Ding-a-ling…the bell hanging on the door announces someone's arrival.
Coming!
Leona!
I missed you so much!
After finishing Cecilia's clothes today, I should play with Leona!
I'll make you completely forget about family!
Leona!
"Leona-neechan! You're here…!"
"...Oh. It's Shimo."
What's going on?
This sister…
Why does she look so gloomy?
Uh…could it be that something happened to her son?
Eee-ah-ah-ah…!
No! No! No…!
Won't this make things harder…!
"Sister, sister? Why do you look so pale? What happened?"
"...Um. That..."
"Could something have happened to the sick child? We should have sent Claire sooner!?"
"...Heh. The Holy Maiden can't just treat anyone. The child is fully recovered."
"But...why the expression..."
"Um...there's something I'll tell you later...I'll tell you then." Leona walked towards the inner room to change with a lonely smile.
What's going on...I didn't expect to see that lonely expression on her face...it must be because of her son, right?
Ahhh...!
She only said she had a slight fever, I thought it was nothing serious...!
I should have sent Claire!
Just because I threw a tantrum and said I couldn't see Leona!
Leaving aside the other priests, those nuns and livestock, and Claire, could even make Ethel lively again, treating a child is nothing! "Waaah... I'm so sorry, Leona... I didn't realize your son was so sick..."
"Uh... So your son is really that sick... In that case, it's a bit..."
"Hmm... Leona's mood seems a little different, doesn't it?"
"...Huh? Is that so?" Just as Leona sighed, not wanting to disturb her son's worry, Claire tilted her head behind her.
Yes.
If it were Claire's Mystic Eyes, she should be able to sense some emotion... But, isn't she worried about her son?
Hmm?
Then why?
Why that expression...?
"It feels like something's happened at home... When you ask Cecilia to prepare clothes, you should discreetly inquire."
Perhaps it's her intuition as a married woman? Cecilia suggested after a moment's thought.
Okay. She'll find out by asking... After all, the usually cheerful Leona suddenly became like that.
...I feel like there are many obstacles, could it be just my imagination? Hiss—no. Even with obstacles, Leona is destined to become my beast.
Since she helped me without any reservations, she should enjoy this reward to the fullest.
Wait a little longer, Leona. Whatever your sorrow, I will sweep it away.