Winter was finally drawing to a close.
It was during this time that we discovered the Jewel Cat was pregnant. I had noticed she hadn't been chasing the Cat around lately, and sure enough, that was the reason. It was wonderful news.
I cleared out one of the vacant rooms in the Village Head's Mansion specifically for her. Since fumbling with the handle every time she wanted in or out would be a nuisance, I installed a small cat door. I didn't have any springs on hand to make a swinging door, so I simply hung a piece of cloth over the opening like a noren curtain.
Normally, she would get around using the "spider-walk" paths near the ceiling built for Zabuton's children, but since she was carrying kittens, I wanted her to avoid anything risky. In fact, she seemed to be avoiding those high paths on her own. She had also become quite averse to being touched and was acting a bit temperamental lately. It felt a little lonely.
The Cat was constantly loitering near her, appearing utterly perplexed about exactly how much distance he should maintain. He looked quite confounded by the whole situation.
Recalling the sight of the two cats, I went to check on Sena. When we first discovered she was pregnant, I had suggested she move into the mansion, but the people around me had been firmly against it. They insisted that childbirth is a delicate matter and that staying in a familiar environment is best for the mother.
I was about to suggest she return to Howlin Village instead, but I caught myself just in time. That was a close call. When I probed a bit more delicately later, I learned that unless there are extreme circumstances preventing a birth in one's current home, suggesting such a move is essentially an official declaration of divorce. I thought I was being considerate, but I had nearly stepped into a social minefield.
Apparently, "circumstances preventing a birth" mostly refers to religious requirements; things like a lack of midwives don't count as a valid reason to move. This world is surprisingly harsh. You would think the mother's safety would be the absolute priority, or that children would be valued above all else, but it seems local customs carry more weight.
It was all a bit baffling, but regardless of outside customs, I wanted the mother's well-being to be the top priority in this village. I really did.
"So, Sena, you're pregnant, so please... no heavy lifting. For the sake of the baby and my own peace of mind, please."
Sena herself seemed fine, but I knew that pestering her too much might cause her unnecessary stress, so I passed the word along discreetly to those around her—particularly to Ramrias, whom I had put in charge of looking after the beastmen.
"I'm counting on you," I told her. I also handed over some pudding we'd made in the mansion. "Here, make sure she eats this."
Next, I visited Rusty's house. She was using the villa originally built for Draim as her residence, living there with her attendants, the Devil Race duo Bulga and Stifano. I had a room prepared for her in the mansion, but she didn't use it very often. Usually, we saw each other frequently through work, but during the winter, we naturally drifted apart.
"There are no problems at all," she assured me.
Unlike her usual appearance, Rusty's "adult version" always caught me off guard. Ah, sorry. Your usual form is adorable too. Really. Hahaha. Even if she looked like a mature woman, her personality was exactly the same as always.
"I brought some dried persimmons," I said. "I dried these specifically for you, so please, eat as many as you like."
Currently, Draim and several Devil Race midwives were staying in the village. Draim was occupying a guest room at the mansion, while the midwives were staying at the village inn. It might have been a little early for the midwives to arrive, but they had been a huge help during Frau's delivery, so I was grateful to have them on standby.
The midwives were split into two groups: one attending to Rusty and another simply relaxing and enjoying the winter at the inn. When I went to check on the latter group, I found Gucci there.
"It has been quite a while, Village Head," he greeted me.
We had known each other for a long time now. I had seen him fight in the martial arts tournament recently, and he was incredibly powerful. Honestly, I secretly wondered if he might actually be stronger than Draim, though I kept that thought to myself.
I had intended to talk to the midwives, but I ended up sitting across from Gucci at the kotatsu for a long chat. He mostly vented about work and shared stories about Rusty's youth. Apparently, she used to be quite the handful—very wild and mischievous. Gucci seemed genuinely moved that she was now becoming a mother.
"I was absolutely certain she would never find a suitor... it's a miracle," he lamented.
While her arrival in the village had certainly been chaotic, she hadn't seemed particularly "wild" during her time here. We ended up talking for a long while over mandarins and a game of chess. As for the match... Gucci was formidable. Or perhaps I was just that bad at it.
Returning to the mansion, I visited the room shared by Frau and Fracia. I found Beezel there. I felt like he was always there lately—maybe it wasn't my imagination. The way he doted on Fracia made him look like a quintessential grandfather. He reminded me of Raimeiren.
Since he was available, I brought up the matter I'd been planning for a while: meeting Beezel's wife, Frau's mother. Beezel, having teleportation magic at his disposal, said it was fine anytime. He promised to send word to her immediately. Frau, however, was the one who looked reluctant.
"Is there really a need for a formal meeting?" she asked.
"Of course. Manners are important, right?"
"I suppose... but perhaps we should wait until Fracia is more settled? Maybe in six months or so?" she suggested.
I wondered if they had a strained relationship, but Frau denied it.
"Then, and I mean no offense, would it be possible for your mother to come here instead?" I asked. Surely her mother would want to see the baby as soon as possible.
Frau made a sour face. I asked again if they were on bad terms, but she insisted that wasn't it. Eventually, Frau gave in, and it was decided her mother would visit.
The following day, she arrived.
"I am Silkyne, the mother of Fraurem."
Standing before me was a petite beauty. This was Frau's mother? She looked more like a younger sister. She was incredibly young—honestly, she looked younger than Frau. Even her mannerisms were youthful. If I hadn't been told, I never would have believed she was the mother.
"Honestly, Bee-kun, you always go and decide everything for Frau-chan without asking me first. Don't you think he's awful?" she chirped.
I assumed "Bee-kun" referred to Beezel. He certainly looked flustered.
"Silkyne, I've told you not to call me that in public," he muttered.
"Bee-kun is Bee-kun. Besides, I'm in the middle of my introductions. Don't interrupt me."
"S-sorry..."
"I have heard many things about you from Bee-kun," Silkyne said, turning back to me. "It is an honor to actually meet you. Please, continue to look after my Frau-chan... I mean, Fraurem."
We exchanged formal greetings and engaged in some light small talk. She gave me a playful jab for being so late with my introductions. Since Frau hadn't formally "married" into the village but rather moved in for work before our relationship developed, I could only apologize.
"So, where is Frau-chan?" she asked.
"She's currently nursing Fracia."
"Oh, that's right. Frau-chan has become a mother now, hasn't she? It brings back such memories."
To think she had given birth to and raised a child looking like that... I suppose I'll just chalk it up to the mysteries of the feminine physique. Once the nursing session was over, I led her to them.
"Frau-chan's daughter is a beauty, just like me. Or perhaps she takes after Bee-kun's dignified side?"
"Nonsense," Beezel interjected. "She'll resemble Frau or the Village Head, not me or you..."
They looked like a devoted old couple—though to my eyes, they looked more like a middle-aged man and his teenage daughter. I decided not to overthink it. Since they were the Demon Race, it was common for age and appearance to be completely decoupled. Still, for her to look that young, her magic power must be immense.
"It is," Frau whispered to me later. "And for the record, she's actually older than my father."
What? Well, considering the ages of Lu, Tia, Ria, and Hakuren, I shouldn't have been surprised. I decided to let it go.
"She seems like a wonderful mother. Why were you so against me meeting her?" I asked Frau.
"Could you tell?"
"A little."
"...It's because men are easily deceived by that appearance of hers."
I could see her point.
"But your mother doesn't seem like the type to be unfaithful or anything, right?"
"No. She just knows exactly how to handle men. She uses it to keep her territorial management running smoothly, which makes it very hard to complain..."
I see. So that was it.
"Frau, you don't need to keep standing between us. I'm not going to lose my heart to someone else's wife—or rather, mother. Have a little more faith in me."