New Life, New Task: I'll Be A Mom Then!!!

Leon's heart warmed up even though his entire face was now damp with splashes of water and kisses from Little Han and Eli.

Letting out a helpless chuckle, he also reciprocated their kisses as they filled the room with their giggles and peals of laughter.

Baobao looked at the blissful family and smiled with contentment while his paws worked on harvesting the rest of the ingredients of the dinner for today.

As he did this he looked at the golden scenery outside the window… His dark round eyes were filled with deep thoughts as he started to drift his thoughts away.

'Hey… Wisey buddy… the house was now returning to how it was before… and it was even more lively…'

'The only missing thing was you…'

'Buddy… When will you wake up? Let's complete this family soon…'

After the Little bonding, Eli soon joined the trio in preparing the dishes before calling out everyone to partake in another peaceful and hearty meal.

After the dinner, it was now a routine for the entire household to stay in the living room to listen to Eli's music.

Back when Little Han was just in Eli's womb, the typical nightly music was the complex piano repertoires from renowned composers like Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Liszt, Beethoven, Chopin, and so on.

But now, since Little Han started to become active in interacting with people, the music in the cottage became famous catchy tunes with melodies that would be appealing to children.

Leon and the rest were thinking that this was just some kind of happy tunes Eli heard from the streets of the capital.

However, only Eli knew that the pieces she was playing were the famous kiddie and nursery rhymes in the modern world.

"Twinkle… twinkle… little star… how I wonder what you are…" Eli's voice rang sweetly in the cool peaceful night. Her voice brought warmth to every ear that heard her music and singing.

"Winkle… winkle… stah… wow wow…. yuu…ahh!!!" Little Han was singing along as well.

He even walked beside his Mommy's piano stool and jumped excitedly while asking Eli to play and sing the tune again.

"Ahahaha…" Leon and the rest of the household could not help but delightfully chuckle when they saw how excited and happy Little Han was when he saw his mommy play music.

Soon the night started to deepen, Little Han was now fast asleep. Tucking Little Han to sleep in his newly built crib, Leon and Eli watched his sleeping appearance lovingly.

"I still can't believe… we were able to survive and carry out all the work… I thought that it would be the end of us… and hope will never come…" Eli mumbled as she tenderly patted Little Han's body.

"Many times I wanted to escape from the great hurdle that we had to face… there were also times that I would ask myself, why do I have to do this and that… Can't I just be a normal mom? Uncaring for whatever happens to the world as long as my family is here…" She continued…

"Our comrades might think that from start to finish, my heart was determined to confront the responsibility I had as the subject of the Oracle… But only you and the heavens knew…

How tired I was…

How I was whining and complaining…

How I cry and desperately pinch my body to wake myself up…"

Leon listened to Eli's words as he slowly covered her with his embrace. He pulled Eli gently into his body, resting his head on Eli's silky midnight hair. He did not say a word and just kept on listening to his soon-to-be-wife's rant.

"But when I remember how you were also working tirelessly, or even harder for us… My mind would suddenly feel calm…

It was not taking away any of my anxiousness or my fatigue… but it sure calms my heart… because I am not alone in this struggle.

Soon that fatigue turned to drive…

The whining and complaining turned to motivation…

I started to wake up no longer dragging my body to bed, but bringing my all in order to deal with everything once and for all…" Eli tilted her body to look at Leon with her eyes full of appreciation and adoration.

"I must be blessed, for at that particular moment, I knew I have you…

I was thanking the heavens… that I did not shy away from recognizing the fact that I love you so deeply…

For if not… I would have long lost motivation and hope… because before this life I was already tired, unwilling to be bothered anymore by the trivialities of the world.

But you and Little Han… changed the way I view these things."

She rested on his chest, breathing in the comforting scent of baby powder in his body. She allowed him to stretch out his hands into her waist, her back, and her hair.

"You've said it all… but I have a lot to say too…" Leon planted light feathery kisses on Eli's forehead and cheeks.

Cupping the side of her face, he looked at her like she was the rarest flower he had ever seen in the world. "Listening to your voice… speaking such things for me and Little Han, has made me lost for words…

For I delight hearing your voice… how you speak your mind… how you express yourself…

And most of all, the way you tell me how much I and Little Han mean to you…

I want to savor every moment I had with you…

Oh… Eli… my love… you don't know… how much I wanted to take you in as mine… right here right now…" Leon's professing was slow, sweet, and full of passion.

But the last part was filled with a sultry grumbling and restraint. For he knew, he had boundaries to respect, even though she and Eli were basically a couple already.

"Ahaha…" Eli let out a nervous chuckle as she could clearly see how frustrated Leon was.

Although she had no qualms if Leon would want for them to take a ceremony right now, she knew that the circumstances for Leon were something that they had to consider.

As for her, she was willing to wait for him… for their time… For she now understands that everything has its own timing… especially things like marriage.

"Don't sulk…" Eli wrapped her arms around Leon's neck, she tiptoed once again to touch the time of her man's nose. Such a simple gesture, but it was as sweet as the most sought-after honey in Prasinos.

Leon closed his eyes, trying to calm his fiery desire down while his heart was enjoying this precious moment.

'A little more… just a little more…'

'I'll start my plan to make you my honorable and lawful wife…'

'Please wait for me a little bit… My love…'

He thought as he was brought gently by Eli to the bed, signaling a good night for the two of them. Two people slept side by side, with their hearts intertwined just as their hands were holding together.

–

The morning started with the typical routine for the family.

After making sure that she had prepared all that Little Han needed for the next few hours, Eli kissed Little Han goodbye and entrusted her son to the five knights, Rosea and Baobao.

Going straight to the Farauld Magic Institute, she was immediately summoned by her Uncle Bramwell to the conference room.

As she walked towards the main hall, she was greeted by the excited and respectful looks of every faculty and student along the way.

Although the winter break has long ended, the resumption of classes was delayed to accommodate the rebuilding of the Empire and give the students and faculty members a chance to handle their family affairs connected to the incident.

Now, the Institute was in full swing, with Uncle Bramwell leading the operations as Grandpa Ben would often escape for various reasons, although as of this moment, the grandmaster was absent for a good reason.

"Ah… Eli, you're here!" Bramwell excitedly beckoned Eli to join the ranks with the respective deans of the institutes, Simonne, the dean for the School of Magic,  Athena, the dean for the School of Academics, and of course, Zeke the dean of the School of Research.

"Greetings, Vice Chairman, and Esteemed Deans…" Eli respectfully addressed everyone before sitting in her designated place.

Clearing his throat, Vice Chairman Bramwell immediately scanned the four and his face became serious and a little bit critical.

"I called upon you here because… it was now a high time to announce something…"

Eli and the deans straightened up their backs on the seat as they were preparing themselves for what Bramwell was about to tell them.

"Six months from now, the Empire will finally open its doors to accept visitors and delegates from other territories.

But even before that… the Grandmaster had already received a request that the Grand Tournament of the Three Great Continents had to be hosted by the Seirende Empire."

"W-what? Us hosting the grand tournament? At this time??!" Athena and the rest of the dean were surprised about this announcement, even Zeke looked a little troubled.

It was only Eli who had a frown on her face, unable to understand a thing about the matter that was brought up.