Hmm. Torain and Kierbit, huh?
That was a pairing I had never even considered.
Setting aside the age gap for a moment, Torain was still far too young. Personally, I wanted to wait until he was more of an adult before we moved forward with any serious discussions—at the very least, until he was old enough to push back against his parents’ opinions. However, I decided I would keep the fact that this conversation had even happened in the back of my mind.
"Understood. I will leave the matter in your hands."
Whether she left it to me or not, he was my own son. I would handle it properly. I also wanted to hear Ann’s opinion on the matter.
"I will follow the Village Head’s wishes," she said.
That might have been a fine response for a maid, but surely not for a mother? And this was a situation where she needed to think like a mother. We would have to discuss this bit by bit.
"…Understood," she replied.
Even as she said that, I could tell that Ann was feeling positive about the idea. Since the girl was Kierbit, Ann knew her personality to some extent, so she likely had few complaints about her as a partner for her son. One might wonder what was left to discuss then, but that was a separate issue. As a mother whose son was being taken away, it was impossible for her to have zero complaints. It was absolutely out of the question.
On top of that, Ann doted on Torain to an almost excessive degree. She trained him strictly with his future in mind, but every bit of that rigor was born from her love for him. As a mother, she was likely happy that someone wanted to be Torain’s wife, but at the same time, she must have felt a sense of anxiety and loneliness at the thought of him moving away. If we didn’t sort those feelings out properly, there would be trouble when Torain eventually got married, regardless of who his partner turned out to be.
…Wait.
Hold on a second. This was strange. Something was definitely wrong.
Ann was being positive about Torain’s marriage? She was actually in favor of it?
What was going on? If it were the usual Ann, she would have said something like, "That Angel has her eye on my Torain. Would it be acceptable for me to beat her to death?" without a second thought. In fact, she usually would have punched the person before even mentioning it to me.
Yes, she should have punched her already. Yet here she was, having obediently accepted the proposal and reporting it to me.
Hmm? Had they gotten into a fight and Ann lost?
No, impossible. If it came to a fight, Ann would ensure she was in a situation and a position where she couldn't lose. Even in a no-holds-barred match, Ann’s skills were the real deal. After all, she could trade blows with Lu. She certainly wouldn't be inferior to Kierbit.
If Ann were to lose, it would have to be during a surprise attack from the sky, but that was virtually impossible within the village. Kuro’s Children or Zabuton’s Children would have interfered. There were even signs that some of Kuro’s children actually obeyed Ann more than they did me. The one who provided the food was truly the powerful one. Well, those wolves would eventually follow me once they grew up, but…
Oops, my thoughts were drifting. Back to the point.
Why was Ann so positive about Torain’s marriage? Since I didn't understand, I decided to just ask and confirm.
"Ann, what happened?"
Had Kierbit offered some kind of backroom deal? Or had she attached conditions to Torain’s life after marriage? I even considered the possibility that Ann had threatened her to "hand over the grandchildren." Surely she hadn't lost her love for Torain?
"There is nothing of the sort," Ann said.
"Really?"
"Yes. However, Kierbit-sama was simply very sharp at seeing her opportunity."
What did that mean?
"Village Head. I have another report to make."
"Hmm? What is it? All of a sudden?"
"I am with child."
…………
………………………………
With child… that meant she was pregnant, right?
Wait, who? Ann? Oh, right, I understood. I finally understood…
Ann was pregnant! With our second child! Ohhh!
"Since I am still in the early stages, the birth will likely be around next summer."
"I-I see. No, this is wonderful. Truly wonderful! This is amazing!"
And now, I understood everything. I see. Ann hadn't lost her love for Torain at all. It was just that since she had discovered her second pregnancy, she had been looking for someone she could entrust Torain to. She was always so well-prepared.
…Wait? In that case, couldn't she have just left him to Ramurias?
"Village Head. I have one more report as well."
"Eh? What? Don't tell me…"
"Yes."
As Ann nodded, Ramurias, who had been standing a little distance away, approached us.
"I’ve done it as well."
Ramurias too?! Whoa!
Well, it did seem like we had been together quite a lot lately… I see. This was wonderful news!
"Thank you very much. My own delivery will also likely be around next summer."
"Ah, understood. As for work, consult with Ann and make adjustments. If you want, you can even take leave starting now. Same for Ann."
…Wait a minute. If Ann and Ramurias both went on maternity leave, who would manage the mansion?
Up until now, I’d relied heavily on Ann—no, I’d left everything to her. And Ramurias was her right hand. If the two of them were gone, could the remaining High Ogre maids keep things running? Even if they worked in shifts, was there anyone who could command the staff like Ann did?
It would be impossible for me. I would be at a total loss if I were told to manage the maids like Ann or Ramurias. All I could do was help with the cooking, and even then, only for a few people. Cooking for dozens of people was a different story. I mean, I had every intention of working hard for their sake, but…
"I was considering entrusting the command of the maids to Torain, but it is still too early for him. That is why Torain is heading to the Academy," Ann explained.
"Torain should be able to do just fine at the Academy," Ramurias added, nodding along.
I wanted to nod too, but the logistical concerns were still there.
"Village Head, please rest assured about the mansion. We have already prepared for such a situation."
"Oh?" I was relieved by Ann’s confident words.
"Indeed. We are not so incompetent as to let things stall just because two of us are missing," Ramurias said reliably.
"However, the simple lack of hands was an inevitable problem…" Ann said, glancing toward the side.
"Fortunately," Ramurias added, also glancing over.
At the end of their gazes was the group of the Angel Race enjoying tea after dinner. These were the ones who had recently arrived in the village.
"We shall captu—excuse me, we shall recruit those with aptitude and train them to fill the gaps."
Uh, Ann. I understood her enthusiasm, but I wanted her to only choose those who actually intended to settle down here.
"Thinking of the future, you are right. If they don't settle down, they won't be worth the effort of training," Ramurias noted.
"Ramurias, since you're pregnant, you mustn't do anything dangerous. As long as you understand that, it's fine."
Well, it seemed neither of them planned to go on leave immediately. However, they probably wanted to get everything ready while they could still move easily, looking toward the near future.
"Don't push yourselves too hard. If you need anything at all, just tell me."
It was Ramurias who responded to my offer.
"Then, I will not hesitate."
"What do you need?"
"Yes. I would like some sour fruit."
Ramurias smiled as she said it. Apparently, she had always admired the idea of a pregnant woman making a request like that. I hadn't realized Ramurias had that side to her.
"You're free to eat any of the lemons, oranges, or mandarins from the portion I have reserved. If that's not enough, I'll go buy more in Village Five or Shashato City."
"Ann, you shouldn't hesitate to speak up either. And don't get careless just because it's your second child. The moment you get used to something is exactly when mistakes happen. You've experienced that with cooking and work, right? I have too. No being careless."
"Also, who else knows about your pregnancies? I need to report this to everyone in the village. Ah, that's right. Let's announce it tomorrow. However, Ann, there's someone you have to tell before that, isn't there? Yes, Torain. Don't be shy about it. Let's tell him together. I'm sure he'll be happy for us."