CHAPTER 47…………
The little happening was safely resolved, and we went back to spending our days as usual.
The only difference from before was that my bed had become a little cramped.
That was because Aslan and Ayla had started sleeping in my bed.
Maybe it was because we’d gotten closer after living together for two weeks, but sometimes it felt like I had gained another daughter.
“Mommy! Let’s go out quickly!”
“Wife, hurry up!”
“Alright, just let me put on my gloves!”
As soon as breakfast ended, the children clamored to go out to the garden.
These days, we spent a lot of time outside.
That was because Ayla kept glancing at the gate, wondering when Id would arrive, so we decided to just wait in the garden.
Simply running around would get boring, so I brought them a ball, and before long, the children weren’t just used to ball games—they were obsessed.
Most of the time, I was dragged outside with a child clutching each of my hands.
But the moment we stepped into the garden, they immediately let go and bolted off as if they’d never held me.
“Hurry, Ayla!”
“Okay!”
Wearing a parasol, a hat, and gloves to block the sunlight, I slowly followed after the children as they played.
‘Is ball really that fun?’
I didn’t quite understand it, but since the kids were happy, I figured that was enough.
I sat down in the shade, twirling my parasol idly as I watched them play.
They tossed the ball back and forth for a long while, then suddenly turned their gazes toward me.
“Huh?”
Why are they looking at me? Don’t tell me they’re already bored of this?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, Aslan called out loudly.
“Mom, come play ball with us too!”
“M-me too?”
I froze, pointing to myself in disbelief.
When I didn’t move, Aslan pulled Ayla along and came running over, stomping his feet impatiently.
“Ayla said she wants you to play too! So come on, Mom!”
“Ayla did?”
“Yes. Would you please join us too, Madam?”
Ayla looked up at me, asking.
Honestly, I didn’t like physical activity.
After all, I’d managed to turn Minerva’s fine body—once trained by years of swordsmanship and horseback riding—into a wreck of stamina in just five years.
I also disliked being in direct sunlight for too long.
But…
“Please, Madam…”
“Mommyyy…”
Their pleading, shining eyes pierced right through me.
Few people could refuse in this situation.
Above all, there was no reason to deny Ayla the rare chance to act spoiled.
With no other choice, I folded up my parasol, neatly set aside my gloves and hat, and stood up.
“Alright, shall I join in too?”
“Yay! Let’s play dodgeball!”
Dodgeball was the first game I’d taught them after giving them the ball.
After all, I had twelve years of dodgeball experience—from elementary through high school.
Grinning slyly, I gave the children a mock warning.
“Fine. But I won’t go easy on you just because you’re kids.”
At my boast, Aslan clutched the ball tightly and snorted.
“Hmph, I won’t go easy on you just because you’re Mom either! Ayla, let’s team up!”
“Uh, huh? Is that okay?”
“Mom’s an adult. So of course we need to team up against her.”
Ayla looked at me worriedly, wondering if it was unfair, but I straightened my back and said confidently,
“Go ahead, team up. I’m an adult, so I can still win by myself.”
I scoffed, stoking their competitive spirit.
As expected, Aslan took the bait.
“If we win, you have to give us your snacks later too!”
“Fine, eat whatever you want. I’ll win anyway!”
No way would an adult like me lose to a couple of kids.
…Or so I thought. Thirty minutes later, I regretted those words.
Aslan took the first throw.
Whoosh! The ball zipped past, grazing my ear with a sharp sound.
“Argh, so close!”
Aslan stomped his foot in frustration at missing.
Normally it would have been cute—but right then, it was terrifying.
‘What the—how is a five-year-old throwing like that?’
I had intended to catch it, but forget catching—I barely dodged in time.
From up close, the speed and force were on a completely different level.
‘So Aslan had been holding back because he was playing with Ayla…’
Now that his opponent was me, he was throwing with full strength.
‘…This kid is a natural-born athlete.’
If we were in Korea, I might have made him a dodgeball player.
Anyway, I retrieved the ball that had rolled far away and started thinking strategy.
Throwing directly at Aslan seemed risky—he’d counterattack right away.
‘In times like this, you knock out Ayla first.’
Ayla wouldn’t be much of a threat in the outfield.
So I aimed at her shoulder and threw with all my might.
“Hyaah!”
“Eek!”
But whether it was thanks to practice with Aslan or sheer luck, Ayla managed to awkwardly but securely catch my ball.
She hesitated to throw it at me, unsure if it was okay to target an adult, then handed it to Aslan.
“I-I can’t! You do it, Aslan!”
“What are you saying, Ayla? You caught it, so you should! If you knock Mom out, all the snacks will be ours!”
Aslan pushed her forward. I shouted encouragement too.
“It’s fine, Ayla! Just throw it! It won’t hurt anyway!”
I said it confidently. Aslan’s throws might hurt, but Ayla’s surely wouldn’t.
Maybe because of that reassurance, Ayla screwed her eyes shut and hurled the ball.
“Hyahh!”
“Good!”
Thump! The ball landed safely in my arms.
Heh, I knew it. Just as I expected, it didn’t hurt at all.
‘If it’s Ayla, she won’t be too hard to handle even in the outfield.’
So the plan was to eliminate Ayla first.
I aimed at her shoulder again.
Thwack!
“Ah!”
This time, it hit!
The ball bounced off her shoulder and rolled to the ground. I shouted in triumph.
“Ayla, you’re out! Go to the outfield!”
“Waaah! Mom, that’s mean!”
Aslan protested angrily, but my conscience didn’t waver.
“What’s mean? I didn’t break any rules.”
“But we’re just kids!”
That did prick my conscience a little—but coming from him, it felt even pettier.
Ayla giggled, then soothed him gently.
“It’s okay, Aslan. I’ll do my best in the outfield instead.”
“Hmph! I’ll avenge you, Ayla!”
Somehow, I felt like the villain.
Anyway, with Ayla out, all I had to do was hit Aslan to win.
But Aslan was so quick that hitting him with the ball was nearly impossible.
What I hadn’t expected was how dangerous Ayla actually was from the outfield.
She might lack power compared to Aslan, but she only targeted spots that were hard for me to dodge.
“Hyaah!”
The ball narrowly missed my leg.
Before I could breathe in relief, Aslan’s attack followed.
“Take this!”
‘N-no way!’
I barely dodged and stumbled away from Ayla’s side.
Between Aslan in the infield and Ayla in the outfield passing the ball back and forth, I had no chance to intercept.
My poor stamina didn’t help either—I was already short of breath.
Sensing my fatigue, the kids began coordinating to corner me.
“Ayla! Throw with more arm strength!”
“Aslan! Aim for her legs!”
Good lord, how could children be this devious?!
With Aslan’s brute strength and Ayla’s strategy combined, I was completely outmatched, just barely hanging on.
‘Why did I ever think I could beat them?’
I wanted to go back thirty minutes and gag myself.
On the rare chance I did catch the ball, I was too exhausted to do more than lob it weakly—and of course, the kids easily caught those.
“Take this!”
Ayla’s throw came flying toward me.
“Ah!”
I tried to dodge, but my legs tangled and I stumbled.
The ball aimed at my torso smacked into my head instead, and I crashed forward onto the ground.
“Ow ow ow…”
Wincing at my scraped palms and knees, I quickly remembered: head shots didn’t count.
‘But wait—where’s the ball?’
The ball I’d traded for a blow to the head wasn’t in my coat.
Looking around, I spotted it rolling straight to Aslan’s feet.
He picked it up and looked at me with a wicked grin.
Sensing defeat, I frantically waved my hands and shouted.
“Wait! Time out! Please! At least let me get up first—I got hit in the head!”
“No way!”
“She’s right, Madam!”
The children laughed mischievously.
My pleas fell on deaf ears as Aslan raised the ball high.
“Here it comes!”
