Lantern Against the Wind

uilt that had become ingrained in him.
She longed for his affection, wanted to be looked after, and acted like a child only in front of him.
She loved him and showed that she desperately needed him again and again.
Thanks to her, Gareth could gradually start living as a normal man, not a mercenary.

* * *

“Are you uncomfortable by any chance?” Gareth asked in a gentle voice after washing her face and wiping her hands and feet.

Elena sat down on a chair with a smile while giving him a comb and answered, “Everything’s fine.
You’re really good.
I want you to wash our baby once it’s born as well.”

Gareth nodded as he took the comb from her and began to brush her hair slowly, watching her thin, smooth black hair glistening as he did so.
Gareth carefully brushed her hair for longer than usual, feeling that her hair was softer than normal today.

“Today is the first day of the harvest, right?” Elena asked at that moment.

“Yes, it is.”

Elena gazed at the stunning view out the window as she enjoyed the feeling of the comb moving up and down her hair.
She exclaimed, “It’s a good day, a good day to enjoy the blessings of the harvest.”

“It is going to be a great day, Elena.”

Once Gareth finished combing her hair and Elena had tied her hair neatly, he helped her change into a dress.

“Every time you do this, I feel like I’m dreaming.”

“Why?” Gareth asked back rather bluntly, unfolding a new dress and carefully placing it over her neatly tied hair.

“I pinch my cheek sometimes because you’re so kind to me.”

“You don’t have to do that, Elena… because this is not a dream.”

As she was pulling her hands through the sleeves of the dress, she exclaimed, “Huh? I’ve never seen this dress before.”

“Madel worked hard on it.
Your stomach should be a little more comfortable now.”

Elena stood still in awe at the new light yet warm dress that covered her body.

“Do you like it?” Gareth asked.

Elena grinned as she fiddled with the dress that had more area around the belly and contained fancy lace.
“I love it! Oh no, I might start asking for a new dress every day now.”

“You can ask for as much as you want,” Gareth replied as he approached her to tie the straps on the front of her dress.
Elena gazed at him as he finished helping her dress.

When Gareth had returned in the spring, he had armed himself with his armor and iron gauntlets every morning and had finished the day by shining his armor and sharpening his sword as usual.
Now, he was standing in front of her without his armor despite the routine having long protected his life.
He still didn’t let Elena touch his armor and sword.
Although Elena was confused about his adamant behavior at first, she was able to understand why when he had said one thing.