From then on, I spent my days traveling back and forth between the royal capital and Marseize. I had always gone on expeditions frequently, so Sheila never found it suspicious.
When I was in Marseize, I stayed with Chiara.
The knight order had a subsidy system. If a knight stayed in one town for a long period or returned repeatedly, they could rent a house in the area. The place Chiara had been living in wasn’t very safe, so I rented a house near the garrison under my own name and had her move there. I gave her part of my pay so she could give birth without worry.
For our life in the capital, Sheila and I had agreed on a fixed amount we each contributed. What remained was free to use. I pretended to be saving, while in truth supporting Chiara.
Chiara worked as a server at a nearby tavern, but as her belly grew, the curious looks made her uncomfortable. The new house was farther away, and with the money I gave her, she could live modestly without working, so she quit.
At first, I wasn’t fully convinced the child was mine. But Chiara went into labor while I was stationed there, and I stayed by her side, encouraging her and witnessing the birth.
The baby girl looked a little like me. When I held her for the first time, I was deeply moved by her small weight.
“This child’s name is Lilia.”
That tiny life became someone I knew I had to protect.
When the expedition ended, I worried about leaving them behind, but the neighboring women looked after Chiara well, so I returned to the capital.
Back in the capital, I tried to avoid things, but whenever I faced Sheila, guilt welled up. Then one day, she said something that sent a chill down my spine.
“Leon, don’t you think it’s about time we wanted a child too? I want you to reduce your expeditions.”
I never imagined she would say that.
It had been over two years since we married, but I already had a child.
“Isn’t it too soon? I want to earn while we don’t have kids. Once one is born, I’ll cut back.”
Children cost money. Expeditions paid well, and I had to support Chiara and Lilia.
“It’s because you’re always gone that we can’t have one. Timing matters.”
But we already had one, didn’t we?
“Even couples with lots of expeditions have many kids. Are we done? I’m tired after getting back, and I don’t want to hear depressing talk.”
I couldn’t look Sheila in the face.
In my mind, I already had a child. I thought it wasn’t necessary to have another.
Still, if I ignored her completely, Sheila would grow dissatisfied. So when I was in the capital, I held her out of obligation.
In the capital, Sheila’s increasing complaints wore me down, and my desire to see Chiara only grew stronger.
Chiara and Lilia must have felt lonely. I wanted to hurry back and hold them.
—Before I realized it, the scales had tipped in an unexpected direction.
“Leon, the doctor gave permission. So… um…”
After dinner, as we spent a gentle moment together, Chiara leaned close. Lilia was full and had fallen asleep.
When I touched her cheek and teased her ear, she reacted sweetly. When I pulled her close and kissed her, she responded at once.
Our second time together.
Her reactions were stronger than before, and day by day, I sank deeper into Chiara.
I even began to think that this was the home I should return to.
Wouldn’t it be better to live here with Chiara and Lilia, rather than in the capital?
Rather than Sheila, who only looked at me with reproach, wasn’t Chiara better, with her moist eyes and reliance on me?
Shouldn’t I protect these two fragile people who depended on me?
I thought so many times. And yet, the thought of divorcing Sheila never crossed my mind.
As long as Sheila didn’t come to this town, it wouldn’t be exposed.
So I continued the relationship as it was.
Lilia grew, learned to walk, and my bond with Chiara became firm. Just as I thought I finally had a family, it happened.
“Your wife… her name is Chiara, right?”
One day at the garrison, the commander asked me that.
“Ah… yes, that’s right…”
He fell silent, looking troubled.
On paper, my legal wife was Sheila. But in Marseize, I had registered Chiara as my wife. The housing subsidy differed between single and family status. Their names were similar, and by fudging it slightly, no one questioned it deeply. Perhaps because we were commoners with no family name, the provinces were lax about such things.
“Yesterday, a woman claiming to be your wife brought healing potions with unusually high performance.”
“…What…?”
My heart thudded unpleasantly as the commander placed a clear vial of potion on the table.
What had he just said?
“The man who brought her is someone I trust, so I doubt he’s lying. But…”
The commander was thinking, but even at a glance, the potion’s quality was obvious.
The clearer the potion, the stronger the effect. This one gleamed as it caught the light. It likely had several added effects.
I recognized it.
You didn’t often see such potions even at the capital’s guild.
Because the knight order protected towns, they received priority supply. I had also received some directly from the maker before.
“I made too many. If you don’t mind the extras…”
Drinking it restored stamina instantly and layered multiple buffs.
There was only one person I knew who could make potions like that.
“I think her name was Sheila? But your wife is Chiara, right?”
I squeezed my eyes shut and bit my lip.
Bad feelings always came true.
Sheila had come here. To the Marseize garrison.
My heart raced, sweat beading on my brow.
Why? Why was Sheila in Marseize?
Wasn’t she supposed to be waiting for me in the capital?
“Sheila’s the one who supports the capital’s knight order, right? They said she makes the potions. When I used them, I performed incredibly well.”
“We used those potions yesterday. They worked so well we went out to hunt monsters again. These are perfect for long-term use.”
Other knights gathered around the commander and me. Those who had come from the capital spoke with gratitude about Sheila’s potions.
“So that’s why the capital knights recover so fast. Can’t we get some here too?”
“Sheila’s Leon’s wife, so if Leon asks, she might supply us.”
At that, the commander seemed to understand something and turned back to me.
“Seems there’s something I need to ask you, Leon.”
Unable to withstand his sharp gaze, I followed him without a word.
In a private meeting room, we sat facing each other.
The commander scowled, arms crossed. I looked down, fists on my knees.
The silence was broken by the commander.
“Which one are you married to?”
My body stiffened.
The subsidy required a married couple, and I had submitted Chiara’s name, though she wasn’t my legal wife. If I named Sheila now, what would happen?
Sweat poured down as I hesitated. The commander shouted.
“I asked you which one!”
“S-Sheila.”
The commander’s expression twisted.
“Then Chiara… and Lilia…”
“But in this town, they’re my family.”
“What about your family in the capital? Isn’t Sheila your family?”
It felt like a blow to the head.
Lilia was born. I became a family with Chiara. I treated her as my wife—while I was in Marseize.
When I returned to the capital, I went back to the home where Sheila waited.
—Because we were married.
I had forgotten something so obvious.
“So which will you choose?”
“…What…?”
“Will you return to the capital? Or divorce and move here to live as a family?”
The word divorce clogged my throat.
I had never considered that choice.
I had a home to return to. It was in the capital.
“I… I haven’t thought about divorce…”
“Then what about Chiara and Lilia? Are you leaving Lilia as an illegitimate child? You know what kind of future that brings.”
In this country, when a child is born to a married couple registered with the guild, they receive many benefits. Education costs are fully covered by the state.
But illegitimate children receive no such aid.
Children born from affairs are considered illegitimate, on the grounds that infidelity is only possible for those with financial leeway, and thus need no support. Lilia currently fell under that category.
If she were legitimate, her education would be free. Otherwise, it would require enormous funds.
The system was said to have originated from disputes among noble wives, since illegitimate children were once mostly nobles’ bastards.
The fate of those abandoned children was bleak.
Remembering that, my face drained of color.
For Lilia’s sake, I should divorce Sheila, remarry Chiara, and legitimize her.
But I couldn’t decide.
At a time like this, the image that surfaced was Sheila’s smile when she said, “Welcome home.”
