The Escort Knight Who Is Being Obsessed Over by the Villainess Wants To Run Away - Chapter 221



78. Becoming a Parent (4)

Judah and Elijah came to the temple with Amor.

For the first few days after giving birth, I stayed in my bedroom to rest.

But now it’s been three weeks since birth.

It’s time to say hello to UL and her puppy family.

“Yuel. Say hello.”

Elijah held Amor in his arms and turned his body as if showing it to Yuel.

“Our daughter Amorya.”

“Isn’t it cute?”

Judah scratched the back of Yuel’s neck and added a word.

Uel slowly blinked his gentle eyes.

Look at Amor intently at eye level.

Amor was like that too.

The child wearing a pink fur hat on his head blinked blankly as the weather grew chilly.

The eyes of a three-week-old baby could barely distinguish between light and dark.

So, I wasn’t looking at UL.

I just stare blankly at the light and dark flickering before my eyes.

In Judah and Elijah’s eyes, it felt as if they were looking at Yuel.

Yuel looked at Amor quietly, then brought his nose close to her and sniffed.

It was a cautious greeting.

As expected, Yuel welcomed Amor.

Judah and Elijah laughed happily.

“I will come to see you often in the future, so please take care of me.”

As he spoke, Judah stroked Yuel, and Yuel buried his face in his hand.

“Come here, Spots.”

Judah clapped his hands lightly, drawing the puppies’ attention.

The children, including the mother dog Wangjeom, are now grown enough.

Since he had been educated and trained for a while, he responded immediately to Judah’s words.

Judah sat down on the floor first, and Elijah sat next to him, holding Amor in his arms.

The puppies huddled around them.

Whether they recognized the new character Amor or not, their eyes were all focused on Amor.

They all sit in similar postures and slowly tilt their heads from side to side.

Elijah smiled as he looked at those cute things.

“Our daughter Amorya.”

“Isn’t it cute?”

“I’ll be coming often, so you have to play nice. Okay?”

Unlike UL, the puppies didn’t fully understand what it meant.

Still, it seemed like he understood the nuance that Elijah was trying to convey.

He tilts his head a few times and then starts panting as if he’s laughing.

Judas smiled at their gentle reactions and patted them one by one.

“Oh, that’s good. Later, when Amor grows up, I hope we can go for walks together…”

Dogs who don’t understand everything they are told react particularly strongly to certain words.

For example, snacks.

Or take a walk.

Judas just said the word “walk” and provoked the dogs.

The polka dots all ran around Judah.

“Okay! Okay!”

“Woof woof!”

“Ah, I got it…! Be quiet!”

I was worried that Amor might be surprised, but fortunately the child was quiet.

I was just comfortably in Elijah’s arms.

Elijah held Amor in his arms and said,

“I should take responsibility for saying it was a walk.”

“Yeah… That’s right.”

I wanted to stay by Amor’s side, but words already spoken cannot be taken back.

I had to go on an unplanned walk.

“Take Uel with you too. I’ll be watching from afar with Amor.”

“okay.”

Judah gave Amor a gentle kiss on the forehead.

“I’ll be back, Dad.”

If someone heard me, they’d think I was going out for work somewhere far away, but I was just walking the dogs.

But Judas wanted to say something like this at least once.

Dad!

It still feels awkward every time I pronounce it.

Amor closed his eyes and opened them again as Judah’s lips parted.

‘Will there come a day when this child looks at me, smiles, and calls me daddy?’

Just thinking about it makes my heart race.

Next, he coveted Elijah’s lips.

“Take care of Amor.”

“If someone heard me, they would think I was really going far.”

“I feel like I want to see you in that mood.”

“You’re cute. Have a nice trip.”

Elijah kissed him once more.

Then Judas opened the door to the temple.

The huge door opened and the green meadows north of the barn slowly came into view.

The polka dots were already excited and running around Judah’s feet.

“Okay, okay, let’s go, let’s go.”

Elijah followed slowly behind the running puppies, Yuel, and Judah.

I imagine a future where Amor is with me in that scenery.

*

“Your Majesty, thank you for granting me an audience.”

Dylan greeted Elijah politely.

The other guardsmen followed Dylan and bowed their heads.

“huh.”

Elijah answered indifferently as always.

Today was the day the guards came to the audience room of the palace, so they greeted me more formally than when we usually met.

However, the purpose of my visit was not an important enough matter to warrant such a formality.

They looked at the man sitting next to Elijah.

A long-time colleague and companion of the Emperor.

To be exact, the small creature held in the man’s arms.

“That kid….”

Gukseo, Yuda smiled brightly.

“Your Majesty the Emperor and my child. Name is Amor.”

Today was the day to introduce Amor to the guards.

“Oh… .”

“Wow, wow. It’s so small.”

“Hello, Amor. Do you recognize your uncles?”

“How would a three-week-old baby know, you idiot?”

“Can I hug you just once?”

Judas glanced down at Amor.

As if he had noticed the situation, Amor grabbed Judah’s collar tightly.

“No.”

“Ugh…!”

Dyke lowered his head as if he was truly sorry.

Judah laughed heartily as he looked at the guards who had gone mad in Amor.

First of all, I was proud.

‘Yes, this is my daughter.’

Cheeks and skin like soft tofu that will steal your gaze at first sight.

Clear, red eyes that are both dazed and innocent.

I can’t help but be possessed.

“Our Erin is also a girl… She’s different… .”

Richard muttered blankly.

I feel like she’s different from my own daughter.

It’s hard to explain, I guess you could call it a softness.

Something like a round and fluffy atmosphere… .

“Are you using the gift I gave you well?”

“That bed fit Amor perfectly.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“What did I give you?”

Argon suddenly asked.

“That teddy bear is so big that it could eat Amor.”

“It’s cute when a little kid holds a big doll.”

“There has to be a certain degree of difference in that too… .”

The doll Argon gave her was as big as a baby’s bed.

So much so that I was worried that Amor might get caught.

But that won’t happen anyway since Judah and Elijah are always watching.

“I wonder where you got something so big.”

“I recently found it in a trading city when I was returning from an expedition to protect the North. I thought, ‘This is it,’ as soon as I saw it. It stuck in my head.”

Judas laughed heartily as he watched him explain vividly.

“Okay. I’ll hug you right away.”

“But he’s really quiet.”

Lindell spoke, level with Amor.

“It’s so noisy that you might whine, but it’s quiet. Erin was crying when we came.”

“Amor is just like His Majesty and is quiet. He doesn’t even cry.”

All the guards were convinced by the statement that he resembled Elijah.

If the baby had Elijah’s calm disposition, it would make sense.

“I’m jealous… .”

Richard said quietly.

It was a soul-depleted, weak voice.

His daughter, Erin, is a perfectly ordinary baby.

A lively baby who is now about a year old.

She’s his daughter, but she’s really noisy.

I cry without even trying.

Even though I know it’s the only means of communication my child has, it’s sometimes difficult.

It is difficult to even reason about how to solve the problem.

Moreover, they don’t seem to get bored and want to play the same game over and over again for hours.

It was like torture for Richard.

Because he resembles himself in many ways, he doesn’t tire easily and is secretly strong.

Although he is only one year old, his voice and spirit are extraordinary.

When Judah had a child, he thought he would have a companion to share in his suffering.

But Judah was living a life far removed from the hardships of parenting.

Judas wanted to comfort Richard, who had become haggard in an instant.

He also went to see Erin occasionally, and every time he did, he would cry quite a bit.

What a great voice. He definitely has the makings of a general.

Looking at Erin, I worried that Elijah and my child might cry as much as I did.

“But still… Erin is over a year old now, so there must be some good things about it.”

Immediately, Richard’s expression turned arrogant.

“Heh. Of course. Isn’t that right? A few days ago, Erin called me ‘dad’?”

“…what!”

Judas was genuinely surprised.

A father who hears directly from his child.

‘It’s been a little over a year since Erin was born. Do I have to wait that long to hear Amor call me dad?! But if he’s smart like Ellie, he might tell me sooner… .’

Richard smiled triumphantly as he looked at Judas, who was truly envious.

“Oh. A conversation between married men. You’re really an old man.”

Jerry shook his head and clicked his tongue.

Judah snickered and retorted.

“They call me uncle and buy me so many presents, but isn’t that much of a difference?”

For a moment, he found the situation funny.

I am 20 years old this year.

The oldest of the guards are Richard and Argon.

I’m 24 years old.

Maybe it’s because the industry they work in is tough, but they all got fired early.

So that’s why he’s like an old man.

‘Not bad.’

These are also my family.

Judas didn’t hate the feeling of living together like this.

Elijah watched as Judah and the guards laughed and talked.

He just folded his arms and sat still.

I didn’t put myself in this position because I wanted to be by Judah’s side.

I’ve never been involved in a conversation.

All I did was throw out a word or two every now and then.

I don’t really feel the need to talk.

The only people I can interact with privately are Judas and Mary. And Amor is enough.

So I don’t feel left out.

This spot, clinging tightly to Judah’s side as if seeping into him, is just right.

While talking to his colleagues, Judah often pats or kisses Elijah.

That alone is enough.

I don’t mind other people’s gaze.

In the first place, there is only Judas and herself in her world.

A world complete with just the two of them.

He can be satisfied with that alone.

But Elijah thought he needed to broaden his vision and look higher.

You can live like that, but Amor can’t.

If possible, you should experience many things and be loved by many people.

Love from the world is just as important as parental love.

Elijah reflected on the slightly bitter truth he had learned while studying parenting.

‘The ultimate goal of parenting is independence.’

One day, children will have to leave their parents’ embrace and stand on their own.

Parenting is a process to help children achieve that independence.

Therefore, children should rely on their parents’ love, but not be dependent on them.

So, it is good for growth to have an environment where you interact with many people from a young age and are loved by them.

From noble mtl dot come

Unfortunately, this is a condition that Elijah himself finds difficult to fulfill.

They may pretend to be emperors and popes, but no one can approach them with a truly intimate relationship.

Judas is different.

He has the power to attract people, so good people will naturally gather around him, and they will love Amor.

Elijah couldn’t help but love this man who filled in his shortcomings.

Elijah smiled faintly and buried his face in her arm.

Although he didn’t know why she suddenly did that, Judah kissed her cute head anyway.

*

“Phew… .”

Judah looked up at the sky and let out a ragged breath.

Sweat poured down from my body like rain.

I barely managed to catch my breath as I looked up at the leisurely spring sky.

He roughly wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

“Good work everyone.”

Surrounding him were the guards who had trained together.

Judah was the only one standing.

Richard said, lying there, panting for breath.

“Hey, you crazy b*stard… Why is the training volume still increasing gradually… I’m going to die if I keep up with it…”

“What’s wrong with training a lot?”

“That crazy guy is really….”

He didn’t necessarily say that it was to prepare for a future son-in-law.

“I’ll go see Amor first.”

“I have to go see Erin too… . I can’t get up because of her… .”

Judas left first, leaving Richard grumbling and the guards breathing heavily together behind.

I quickly wash up and return to the bedroom.

The wedding ring allows you to teleport in an instant.

Judas did not do that, but walked it himself every day.

There is good reason for that.

There is a small knock on the bedroom door.

Don’t open it hastily, because Amor might be asleep.

If you wait, the door will open by itself.

Elijah is the first to be seen smiling and welcoming us through the door.

And the little child in her arms.

Amor, who has grown so much that Elijah has to hold him in his arms, smiles brightly as he finds himself at the age of six months.

The small front teeth that were just beginning to grow in were revealed.

Every time Judas saw this smile, his heart seemed to melt.

Elijah said.

“Amor. Dad’s here?”

Amor, who started babbling when he was one month old, has recently been trying to imitate what Judah and Elijah say.

“Ouch, boo-a-ba-a-a!”

Judah couldn’t help but laugh at her clumsy, desperate attempt to convey her message.

“Oh, that’s right. Did you miss Dad?”

Judah received Amor from Elijah.

Amor’s body is always warm, so it feels good just to touch it.

It’s also lovely to see your little heart pounding when you put your face against it.

“Abu-.”

A sight you can only see if you walk there yourself.

Elijah opens the door and Amor hugs her.

His wife and daughter welcomed him with a smile.

Because of this, Judas doesn’t use teleportation very often.

Judah took Amor in his arms and kissed Elijah.

“How have you been?”

“Yeah. Amordo just woke up.”

The dust that had been sitting by the window came out to greet me, walking a little late.

Elijah picked up the dust.

“Muaewung-.”

Amor imitated that sound.

“Eww?”

Not only Judah and Elijah, but also Amor sometimes imitates the sound of dust.

The couple laughed at the same time.

It’s not the first time, but I laugh every time I hear it.

As the two laughed, Amor also laughed out loud.

Judah and Elijah love that upside-down laughter.

“Mom said dinner will be ready soon. Should I go ahead and wait?”

“Okay. Okay then.”

Judah took Amor in his arms and hugged him.

The remaining hand held Elijah’s hand.

We went down to the restaurant together.

My daughter, who touches everything these days, touches and pulls her own hair and clothes.

It’s annoying because I keep trying to put things in my mouth that I can reach.

“Dad, you’re not eating.”

“That’s right. Dad only eats Mom.”

“… … .”

He says all sorts of things, saying that he still doesn’t understand what I’m saying.

Still, I didn’t hate her for being like that.

He cherished this peaceful daily life so much.

If there is a wind, Amor will quickly call him dad.

It was a cozy everyday life, full of such little things.

*

Amor grew up quickly.

Although he was a quiet baby who never cried, he had the same tendency as other babies to put things he saw for the first time in his mouth.

Although Judah and Elijah were perplexed because he kept touching this and that and trying to put it in his mouth, it was a happy time even then.

Judah was especially fond of Amor’s hands.

If you put your finger on his small, chubby hand, he reflexively grasps it.

Such small and dainty hands that it takes all of your strength to grasp something with just one finger.

Elijah loved Amor’s body heat and scent.

A small, warm warmth that enters your arms.

And the baby’s soft, gentle scent brings peace of mind.

One day, when the baby’s pronunciation started to become clearer little by little,

It was about 12 months after Amor was born.

Amor, who was now old enough to hold onto objects around him, was standing awkwardly, holding onto the bed frame.

In front of him, Elijah was showing off the dolls one by one.

“Should I give Amor a new doll? Or should I go see the puppies for the first time in a while?”

Bright red eyes that watch over you.

Elijah was very fond of those eyes that resembled his own.

Meanwhile, Judas was looking at a large teddy bear from a distance.

This is one of Amor’s favorite dolls.

Every time I held it, hugged it, bit it, and sucked it, it got a little dirty.

‘Hmm… I think it’s about time to do laundry.’

Thinking alone.

A sound I suddenly heard was etched in my mind.

“…mom!”

Judah looked back.

Elijah, who had been looking after Amor, remained frozen in place.

“Just now… . What… . Did I, did I hear wrong? Huh? Was it a hallucination? Ellie?”

Only after hearing Judah’s rambling voice did Elijah react a little too late.

“Oh, Amor? What, what did you just say?”

Gradually, the baby’s babbling became clearer and there were many instances where he spoke with pronunciation similar to that of his mother.

The pronunciation was not clear.

It was just meaningless babbling, not even a word calling Elijah.

But at this moment.

Amor looked up at Elijah with a smiling face and said.

Although the pronunciation is still awkward, the intention is clear.

Called with a short tongue.

“mom!”