Maylily - Chapter 138

“Even though you’re an adult, Grandmother, it seems you don’t know how babies come down. Well, since you don’t have experience, that could happen. So, could you please make sure the servants don’t disturb the two of them? They need to succeed in their prayers quickly so I can freely go see Mother whenever I miss her.”

“I… see. I’ll do that.”

Deborah answered without thinking, but the more she considered the situation, the more absurd it felt, and she muttered to herself without realizing it.

“I don’t even know what I’m saying to a child.”

At that, Dylan stretched his neck forward, set down his spoon, and looked straight at Deborah. The gaze from his large blue-gray eyes was surprisingly serious.

“I’ll be nine next spring, Grandmother. I’m old enough to talk about family matters with Father. And I have no trouble understanding what Father says.”

The child, who hadn’t yet gone through puberty, spoke in a clear voice as if he were eighteen. It was both amusing and endearing, and Deborah accepted his protest readily.

“That was careless of me. I’m sorry, Dylan.”

“It’s alright. But please be careful from now on.”

With a single apology, Dylan’s gaze instantly softened back to its usual gentleness. At the same time, a shallow dimple formed on the cheek marked by a small mole.

“I will. Then does that mean you won’t be going out today? I heard you were supposed to go to the seaside.”

“Hmm… I don’t think so. Except when she’s busy with performances, Mother has never broken a promise. Last time, my riding lesson ended an hour late and it was nearly sunset, but when I asked her, she still took me.”

“I see. I hope today’s promise is kept as well.”

“Thank you. Would you like to come with us, Grandmother? The weather is clear, so it’s perfect for swimming.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I have an appointment with the Duchess of Dunwell this afternoon. If you do go out, ask your parents when they think they’ll receive God’s answer and let me know as well.”

“Yes, Grandmother.”

After answering brightly, Dylan glanced at Deborah for a moment, then carefully picked out the celery from his consommé and set it aside on his plate. It was something that would never happen in Hugh’s presence.

Seeing that, Deborah was reminded of Hugh doing the exact same thing as a child and quietly swallowed a laugh. Then she turned her gaze as if she hadn’t noticed and continued her meal.

***

Under the deep blue sky and warm sunlight, the cries of seagulls scattered faintly. The vast stretch of sand shone white. With the gentle wind and calm waves, it was a perfect day for swimming in the sea.

Dylan’s prediction was correct. After lunch, his mother and father stopped their prayers and came out to keep their promise to go out. The family rode in a carriage and went to a quiet beach at the edge of the Everscourt estate.

Dylan swam with his father in the shallow water. Unlike a calm lake, the sea sometimes brought strong waves, but with his father beside him, there was nothing to fear.

Watching his father swim through the rough current was always impressive. Dylan wanted to become like him as soon as possible. As his father said, there might come a day when he would have to save his mother, who couldn’t swim, in his place, so he practiced all the more diligently.

His mother sat on an outdoor chair nearby and watched them. Her white feet, with her shoes and stockings removed, were placed side by side on the wet sand. Clear seawater washed over them and receded again and again.

On her head was a wide-brimmed straw hat decorated with a ribbon. Even under the light shade beneath it, her neatly braided blonde hair and slender face shone brightly. Every time their eyes met while he was swimming, his mother smiled and waved at him. Perhaps because of that, his gaze kept drifting toward her without him realizing it.

“Dylan, what did I tell you to be careful of when swimming in the sea?”

“…You said the waves change every moment, so I must always stay focused.”

“Remember it at all times.”

“Yes, Father.”

It was just as he was scolded in the end.

“Take a short break. I’m thirsty.”

At his mother’s clear voice as she rose from her seat, both father and son turned their heads. They soon came out of the water and stepped under the shade of a white canopy set up on the sand. A lukewarm breeze blew past and gently brushed over their wet hair.

Just then, as the maid who had been waiting there laid out lemonade and biscuits taken from a basket onto the small table,

“I have something urgent to report.”

David suddenly appeared from somewhere with a serious expression.

“I’ll be right back.”

His father rose, draping a large towel that had been hanging over the back of the chair around his wet shoulders. Then he went with David to the shade of the trees behind the beach. If David had come all the way here during a family outing, something must have happened…. Still, Dylan wasn’t particularly worried. His father always resolved any problem for the sake of their family and house.

Standing with his back straight and shoulders squared, his father placed one hand on his waist and listened to David. As he slowly raised his gaze and brushed back his hair, when his eyes met his mother’s, the corner of his lips curved slightly. Even from a distance, the change in his handsome expression was clearly visible.

His mother flinched and cleared her throat, then quickly turned her head toward Dylan.

“Dylan, aren’t you hungry? Let’s eat.”

Her cheeks were flushed as she held out a glass of lemonade.

“Yes, Mom.”

When Dylan, who had emptied about half the glass, turned his head absentmindedly, his mother and father’s gazes met once again. Sometimes, the two of them quietly looked at each other as if there were no one else around. For some reason, it felt like he shouldn’t intrude, so he always held back, but watching it from the side didn’t feel very good.

Dylan looked at his mother, who placed a hand lightly over her chest and let out a soft breath. After a few seconds passed and she still didn’t look at him, he bit into a biscuit with a crunch. Then he went over to the chair where she sat and took her hand.

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

His mother turned to him, her eyes widening. The moment he met her clear blue eyes, bright like today’s sky, he thought there was no one more beautiful than his mother in this world.

“Here, you got it all over yourself while eating. You’re still a baby.”

His mother brushed away the biscuit crumbs from around his mouth and chuckled softly. That was why he’d left the crumbs there instead of wiping them away himself like he usually would.

Unlike his father and great-aunt, who always told him to act with dignity and like a noble, his mother would beam brightly at his childish side. That was why, when he was alone with his mother, Dylan would sometimes pretend to be clumsy at things he could do perfectly well on his own, or act spoiled. Being treated like a child was unpleasant, but his mother was always an exception.

Today as well, after giving him that warm touch, she kissed his cheek. Smack, the light sound was as pleasant as her voice when she read him fairy tales.

Dylan took another bite of his biscuit and said, “I have something I want to talk about, just the two of us.”

As his mother brushed the crumbs from around his mouth, she dismissed all the servants nearby. When they were alone, she met his eyes kindly and asked, “What does Dylan want to tell Mom?”

Dylan placed the half-eaten biscuit on the plate. Then he looked at his mother with a serious expression.

“Did God answer your prayers?”

“Answer…?”

“You two have been praying since yesterday for a younger sibling to be sent. Father told me that you have to receive God’s answer like that for a baby to come into Mom’s belly.”

“What? Ah….”

Unable to form proper words, his mother looked at his father, who stood at a distance, with a bewildered expression. Then, when she turned back to Dylan, her face was clearly troubled. It seemed this prayer hadn’t been answered.

“I guess it didn’t work this time.”

Dylan spoke calmly, trying to remain calm while hiding the disappointment seeping into his heart.

“Maybe… that’s the case.”

As if she were making the same effort, his mother forced an awkward smile.

“Don’t be too disappointed, Mom. It’s hard to receive an answer to prayers. Father told me that too. He said it could take many days, maybe even months.”

As if to comfort his mother, who could only move her lips without knowing what to say, Dylan tightened his grip on the hand holding hers.

“But if you keep praying, your wish will come true someday, right? I’m praying too, so it should happen soon.”

“Dylan… you prayed too?”

At his mother’s question, her eyes wide, Dylan nodded. “Yes. Since I came to Riverton to live with Father. But my prayers still haven’t worked, so a few days ago I asked Father to pray together with me. I thought it would be more effective that way. After hearing Father’s explanation, I understood why it didn’t work when I prayed alone.”