TMKWPL CH 19

Chapter 19

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Preparing for the Child’s Kindergarten Supplies

On a street facing the central plaza of the Eldarion Empire’s capital, Lucia and Nia were walking through the middle of an alley lined with the most fashionable high-end shops on that grand avenue.

As they strolled beneath a vast, cloudless sky and felt the weather turning cooler by the day.

There’s only one month remaining for my parental leave.

On top of that, the kindergarten entrance ceremony was now just a week away.

It was a bit late, but the two of them had finally come into the city to buy the items the kindergarten had instructed them to prepare. Among Headmistress Norcia’s many cryptic remarks, one fact was absolutely clear—Nia had been accepted. Exactly one month later, a notice of acceptance arrived from the academy-affiliated kindergarten.

Since it was the only kindergarten in the entire empire, the interview period had stretched on for months. Nia had interviewed in late spring, and the acceptance notice had come in early summer. Which meant this kindergarten followed an unusual system: enrolment in late autumn, with five terms instead of the usual six.

The reason the entrance ceremony took place in autumn was simply because the Empire itself had been founded in summer. More precisely, several large and small nations had merged into one empire, leaving internal strife behind. To calm wary citizens, the prestigious Eldarion Academy brand had been used to establish a kindergarten in just a few short months.

Judging by how much conflict had decreased since then, it seemed there was nothing more powerful than doing something for the sake of the children.

Ding.

They arrived at a tailor’s shop while enjoying the pleasant weather.

“Welcome to Goose von Closet.”

As Lucia and Nia entered, a woman wearing a fashionable, bustle-style dress, which was said to be the latest trend, greeted them.

Maybe wearing military uniforms is intimidating after all.

Just like at the kindergarten interview, Lucia wore an ordinary attire, and the flamboyant clerk greeted them brightly. The young woman led them inside, where countless items like adorable dresses, tiny suits, accessories were neatly displayed. It was unmistakably a shop specializing exclusively in children’s clothing.

The friendly clerk bent her knees slightly and smiled at the small child behind Lucia.

“What a cute young lady. Are you starting kindergarten? Congratulations! Your hair is braided so nicely—who did it for you?”

In the past, Nia would have hidden behind Lucia, peeking out timidly and refusing to speak.

Even now, she still never left Lucia’s side, but there was one thing that changed.

“Yesh…! Vernon did it!”

It took her a moment, but she answered clearly.

It was probably thanks to the seasoned headmistress. Ever since that interview, Nia had been speaking more often, and smiling more as well.

“Oh, really? Your butler must be very skilled. How lucky!”

Vernon had instantly become a “butler,” but since his work wasn’t much different anyway, Lucia neither confirmed nor denied it.

“Alright then, ma’am. While we measure your child, could you please sit here and wait?”

“Understood.”

As Lucia took a seat at the table, the clerk placed animal-shaped cookies in front of Nia before going to attend to another customer. Watching Nia, Lucia felt a quiet sense of pride. But at the same time, two stubborn bad habits still worried her.

The first is Nia’s habit of trying to help with every household chore like a maid.

What had started as an empty threat, telling her to stop or she’d be sent back to the orphanage, backfired. She cleaned so obsessively that the wooden floors now showed wear not from footprints, but from being wiped daily with water.

Sigh… should I be grateful there were no traces left?

Lucia couldn’t bring herself to forbid it outright, afraid Nia might think she’d be sent away. Fortunately, the knights simply assumed the child was kind and eager to help.

And the second habit thing is…

Lucia noticed Nia staring intently at the cookies placed before her.

“……”

She would glance toward the window, then sneak another look at the cookies. That was the second bad habit, not saying what she liked.

Lucia disliked this habit even more than the cleaning. If Nia were an adult, she might have been better at hiding it—but no five-year-old could truly hide their desire when cookies were right in front of them. At home, Lucia would provide without being asked, but what about kindergarten? During lunch or even snack time?

At this rate, Nia would probably give everything away whenever another child asked. Just imagining her losing food to others made Lucia sigh.

Is this the fate of a Saintess? At this rate, she’ll lose everything, just like before the regression…

Comparing a child’s lack of greed over snacks to self-sacrifice, Lucia was becoming an overly anxious mother without realizing it.

“……”

Watching Nia still unable to take her eyes off the cookies.

This might be a good chance to practice.

“Those cookies look delicious.”

Nia suddenly checked her surroundings, checking as if her thoughts had slipped out loud. But all she saw was Lucia staring at her.

“They’re probably crispy on the outside and soft inside. They look really tempting, don’t they?”

“……!!”

Nia blinked her big eyes and even swallowed. To Lucia, she resembles a small puppy wagging its tail desperately in front of a treat.

Like a devil tempting a soul, Lucia delivered the final blow in a whisper.

“When I was young, I never saw cookies shaped like that. Never ate them either. Even now, as an adult, it’s the same. So think about it, the crumbly, rich butter aroma, the jam inside chewy and tangy like tropical fruit. A heavenly taste. So, what should you do right now?”

Lucia’s fixation drove her into near-gourmet levels of description. She had never spoken this many words, or used these many metaphors, in her life.

Oh, she’s almost there.

At last, Nia’s small mouth slowly opened.

“…Nia wants… cookies—”

Just then, the friendly clerk’s voice returned, accompanied by another woman’s chatter.

“That’s what I’m saying. Our Cézar is so well-behaved, he’s such a little gentleman.”

“Indeed! Baroness, I’ve never seen such a composed child!”

“Oh my, really? Hohoho.”

Startled by the noise, the timid puppy tucked away her wagging tail and snapped her mouth shut.

…Ah. Failed.

Lucia turned toward the voices that had ruined her carefully staged moment. A woman in a fluttering, fresh dress stood there, boasting endlessly about her child, Cézar, at her side. Lucia glared at them, then quickly turned her head toward the window upon recognizing the woman.

Please just pass by.

Thankfully, the doorbell jingled as they were seen out. Relieved, Lucia turned back—only to lock eyes with someone through the shop window.

“Oh—oh my!? Could it be…?!”

The woman outside pointed at her in shock. Yes. Lucia had turned toward a spotless display window that clearly reflected the street.

“……”

Another failure.

Today really wasn’t her day. And as expected, the woman rushed back into the shop.

“My goodness! Commander Lucia?!”

Lucia, who couldn’t even remember the faces of her former subordinates clearly, was once again forced into a guessing game.

“Commander! It’s me! Marien!”

“Oh. Marien…”

Thankfully, she gave her name , but Lucia still couldn’t quite place her.

“Of course! What fate! Cézar, say hello!”

“Yes, Mother. I’m Cézar Chepley, eldest son of Baron Chepley. A pleasure to meet you.”

Despite being about Nia’s age, his diction and pronunciation were flawless. So even among children of the same age, there were differences.

“You’ve heard a lot about Lady Lucia, haven’t you? She’s wonderful already, but she’s also the one who made it possible for you to spend your baby years with me.”

…Baby years?

“Yes, Mother. I know. I heard that after she requested it from the White Mage’s commander, parental leave was established. Thank you, Lady Lucia.”

With his warm brown hair and a gentle demeanour, Cézar thanked her politely.

Oh… she must be Berl’s sister.

Marien was indeed Berl’s older sister. Thanks to Berl’s endless praise of his captain, Lucia’s so-called terrible reputation had long since become something familiar rather than intimidating. Lucia had only met Marien once, but Cézar’s resemblance to Berl made it easy to connect the dots.

“Nice to meet you, Cézar.”

After exchanging greetings, an awkward silence fell. Their gazes were fixed on Nia, hiding behind Lucia. Perhaps wary of another child, Nia seemed more guarded than when she first arrived.

Ah… I never taught her formal greetings…

“…Nia.”

At Nia’s timid, brief introduction, Baroness Marien widened her eyes. Lucia recalled noble etiquette, simply stating one’s name could be rude, even for a child. Marien’s eyebrow twitched.

“…You—!”

…This will be troublesome.

Lucia sighed, bracing for a scolding. But—

“You—are so cute!! Oh my! You’re exactly the quiet little girl I dreamed of!”

“….”

Contrary to expectations, Marien clasped her hands with sparkling eyes.

“Cézar is so calm that I always wanted a lively daughter next. But you know? One of his childhood friends is a girl, and she’s anything but ordinary. Whenever she visits, I have to check every single item in the house, something is always broken! Hohoho!”

I have a feeling she’s talking about Ivonne… or someone else.

Marien continued her unstoppable chatter like a runaway train. Just as Lucia’s ears were about to burst, Cézar urged his mother along, finally freeing her. Nia was standing stiffly in the fitting room with her arms spread.

…She might adapt more easily than I expected.

Though the chatter had been exhausting, it reassured her to see that the adults’ gazes toward children were gentler than she’d feared.

“Well, she’s so well-behaved. That went quickly.”

“Hoho, indeed. Now then, shall we give her a reward?”

“Go ahead and choose, little lady. Two are fine.”

Throughout the measurements, the middle-aged women smiled kindly, and one presented a basket filled with premium candies. Nia hesitated for a long time, then shook her head.

Again…

A child refusing candy? At the lodging, Nia always smiled brightly whenever sweets were offered. Lucia knew this was that same habit again.

The seamstress spoke regretfully.

“Oh my, such a mature child. Then…”

As she turned to put the basket away, she felt a tug on her skirt and turned back.

“…C-cookie.”

The timid murmur echoed through the room.

“Yes? What was that?”

With the most earnest expression Nia can give in the world,

“The cookie earlier…! I need to give it to Lucia. Young Lucia never saw one like that. Never even ate one. So please,just one. Just one. Please! I’m begging you…!”

For the first time in her life, the child earnestly begged someone. The seamstresses’ gazes shifted to Lucia, who stood frozen.

“These young mothers these days—always talking about eating habits. But is it really right to deny a child a single cookie?”

“Exactly! I don’t believe in that. You send them to a fancy kindergarten but won’t give them a cookie?”

“Giving up such a common cookie just to give it to a younger sibling? Oh my heart aches.”

It felt like gossip after witnessing child abuse. For the first time in a long while, Lucia broke out in a cold sweat.

So this was why one must watch their words in front of children.

Nia shyly offered Lucia a pile of cookies, smiling innocently. Lucia accepted them, meeting the seamstresses’ piercing glares head-on.

She couldn’t bring herself to explain the misunderstanding… not when she saw Nia’s sparkling eyes, hoping for praise for the precious gift she’d brought for her mother.

…Fine. As long as you’re happy, that’s enough for me.

Chapter 18

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Chapter 20