*This... is really happening.*
Evelyn held the hand of the young girl- No, of her daughter and walked towards the business area of the campus to get some food.
As she did...
"Is... that the princess?"
"Who is THAT?!"
"I didn't know the princess had a sister?"
"Sister?! Isn't that clearly her daughter?!"
"What?!"
...There was no avoiding the eyes of the other students around her. But even so...
"Hm, hm, hm~"
Evelyn didn't care, seeing how happy her daughter was.
Although it was still a strange thought to have...
*I am a mother.*
Somehow, someway, that had happened.
*...Was it an immaculate conception?*
There HAD been myths surrounding the Imperial family about miraculous occurrences. Heirs blessed upon the bloodline by the heavens.
...Evelyn had been under the impression that those were simply excuses made for women who had been unfaithful towards their husbands.
But now she wasn't so sure.
This daughter of hers...
Evelyn was sure. This young girl WAS her daughter. It wasn't just the young girl's appearance, although that was telling enough. But it was more the fact that Evelyn could feel it. Something in her heart of hearts that said, 'this child is mine.' A feeling and a bond that made her want to give everything up for this young girl holding her hand.
*But she is also clearly Alex's.*
It wasn't obvious from her physical appearance... well, other than the light green eye the young girl had. But it was in the little things.
The way the young girl tilted her head when she saw something new was just like Alex when he was thinking. How the young girl walked too. It wasn't the carefully measured steps Evelyn took, but instead the relaxed and calm steps that Alex took.
Evelyn pursed her lips and pulled out her phone with her free hand, checking on it.
The first thing Evelyn had done after recovering from the fact that she was suddenly a mother had been to text Alex to confirm with him.
But there hadn't been a response. A call had led straight to the message box as well.
'Did something happen to you, my love?'
Evelyn was concerned. But at the same time, she had the vague sense that it was alright. That, while he wasn't here right now, he would be soon.
So, until then...
'I may as well familiarize myself with my daughter.'
"Mommy?" The young girl tilted her head. "What's that?" She pointed at Evelyn's phone.
"Ah. This is a phone, dear. It is used to communicate with other people from a distance."
The young girl tilted her head. "...Can't you just use magic?"
Evelyn smiled. "You can, dear. But not all people can use magic. This is useful because it can be used to contact anyone who has a phone."
"Oh!" The young girl nodded her head. "It's so everyone can be special then!"
Evelyn slipped her phone back into her bag and then patted her daughter's head. "Yes, dear. Exactly that."
"Heehee~"
Evelyn and her daughter continued walking towards the business area. As they did, Evelyn continued to observe her daughter. Then she said, "Dear?"
"Yes, Mommy?"
"Do you have a name?"
"Oh!" The young girl's eyes lit up and she said, "Yes! My name is Ama... Amaru... ...Emma!" The young girl beamed and said, "My name is Emma!"
"Emma, is it?" Evelyn smiled. "That's a lovely name, dear."
Emma... like the emerald hue of her eyes. And her full name was likely Emerald as well, judging from how Emma had tried saying it.
Moreover...
'Quite a noble name as well.'
Setting aside 'Emerald,' Emma was also a noble name.
From what Evelyn could recall, Emma was historically the name of quite a few noblewomen. Moreover, it was derived from an ancient word meaning 'whole' or 'the entirety.'
'A daughter named after a beautiful gemstone and the entirety...'
Did Alex name their daughter? If so, the message was clear.
The daughter who was the center of their entire world... whose full name was a gemstone associated with fidelity and truth...
Evelyn laughed.
Emma tilted her head. "Is something funny, Mommy?"
"No, just..." Evelyn let out a warm smile as she looked at her daughter. "...Just realizing how much your father loves me."
A love persisting across death. A love that overturned time itself. A love that swore to always continue...
And the embodiment of that love was walking beside Evelyn right now. A daughter who was a bit of her and a bit of Alex.
...Although Evelyn still wasn't sure how it occurred, she accepted it completely.
But regardless, there was something more important to address at the moment.
"Emma, dear. What would you like to eat for breakfast?"
"Pamcakes!"
Evelyn laughed. "Pancakes it is then. Come, Mommy will show you the best place to get it."
"Yay~!"
===
Roland woke up with a start, panic welling in as fragments of that terrible tragedy flickered in his mind.
But then he saw Marisa in his arms, nestled against his chest.
And the events of late last night slowly filtered into his mind.
"...How embarrassing." Roland murmured while idly reaching out to fix Marisa's hair.
Waking up from a nightmare, calling a young lady in the middle of the night, pulling her to bed and clinging onto her...
'A scandal.'
That was the only result from this.
Regardless of the reason, regardless of their close relationship... no, BECAUSE of their close relationship, this was dangerous.
An unmarried young lady waking up in a nobleman's bed...
Even if Roland's rank wasn't that high, and even if they were both students, this would ruin their reputations.
The peerless Lady Sagewind? In bed with a mere son of a Baron?
Even if nothing happened, the implication alone...
"...It doesn't matter." Roland murmured and idly carressed Marisa's cheek. "The world can laugh and scorn us. But as long as you're alive..."
It was time that Roland took a page from his friend's playbook.
...Although Roland was still mixed on what he saw Alex do. And the fact that it led to Marisa's death in that time... in that memory.
The fact remained that Alex had hardened his heart to execute some unthinkable plan to save Evelyn's life.
...And it seemed to have worked, considering they had returned to the past.
Of course, Roland was going to feed his friend a knuckle sandwich the first chance he got and demand a full explanation.
But for now...
Roland placed his hand on Marisa's cheek and watched her for a bit, letting her sleeping face calm his aching heart.
And then she opened her eyes.
Roland froze.
Marisa blinked. Then she let out a shaky breath.
Roland felt his ears burn and he said, "Th-This isn't what-"
Marisa placed her face into Roland's chest and murmured, "I'm alive. I'm alive. This is real. I'm still here...!" After that, she started sobbing.
Roland's world stopped. Then he slowly wrapped his arms around Marisa and rubbed her back. "It's okay."
Marisa sobbed, clearly terrified and relieved in equal measure.
Roland set aside his own mixed emotions and just held her, gently massaging her back to calm her down.
As he did...
'...One knuckle sandwich isn't enough. A dozen or so should be fine...'
...He made a mental note of what to do when he saw his dear friend Alex again.