Side Story: That Lovely Name

 Nearly twenty notes were written during the crappy meeting.

"Adele, did you come up with anything good?"
After dinner, Julius entered my private room in the dormitory as if it were a natural thing to do, and called to me from behind as I went to my desk.

"Sort of."
I replied, putting down my pen and brushing away the blonde hair that was peeking out from the corner of my eye.

"I'm impressed. You're so quick to make decisions at times like this. And uh … is this really what you’re going for?"

"It's perfect. What's wrong with it?

On the desk on a piece of paper in blue ink is the name "Tiadele". The name I thought of for Tiana and I’s soon-to-be-born child.


＊


"Yeah, yeah … you should calm down, Adele."
"Why not? It's a pretty name, the most fitting name for our child in the world."
“That’s not- …"

He's always talking about how he can paint and how what colors compliment each other, but he can't understand the beauty of this name.

My beloved Tiana, the most precious "partner" in the world.
She lives in her hometown of Arita, a day and a half's ride away from here on horseback, and having a child with me.

Tomorrow I will take my first break in two weeks and go see her.
From Heilban, the home base of the Knights I belong to, it would take me a day and a half to go, half a day to stay, and a day and a half to return. Four days of vacation would be enough time.

My seniors are astonished at me for combining two weeks of vacation into one and going home every time, but I don't mind at all.
If I could just see Tiana for a moment, I could work another two weeks without a second glance.

In order to let the horses travel long distances, my luggage is minimal. I always carefully select souvenirs that I think Tiana will enjoy.
This time, Julius suggested that we add to that and come up with a possible name for the child.

Every once in a while, about once every fifteen years, this guy says something good.


"But why Tia-adele."
"It’s Tiadele."
Sitting on my bed, legs crossed, Julius shook his head.

"It's fine. It can be for a boy or a girl. Besides, it's mine and Tiana's baby. It'll be our crystal."
“No, I doubt it. First of all, if you call the child Tia, the mother and daughter will look back at you in confusion."
"Then you should stop calling Tiana Tia."

Julius blinked slowly and looked at me. Then he smiles. I don't like it.

"I see. Adele, you were jealous that we call Tiana Tia."
"What !? That's not the case."
"But, Adele. Think about it. It's almost like a ‘so-and-so jr.’ but even more obvious than that. You can still think about it longer, because I think you're carrying too much weight on your shoulder.”
Julius said with an unusually serious face, so I looked at the note in my hand.

"Think about it, Adele. What if your name was a combination of your father's and mother's names?"
"My parents are Albrecht and Bettina. It wouldn’t work."
"Betty Brecht can work. So, Adele, can you start living as Betty Brecht tomorrow?"

I looked at the note in my hand for a while and sighed.

"Originally, this was supposed to be a joke."
I folded the paper and pushed it to the corner of the desk.

"What about you, Julius? You're always complaining about others, but have you thought about it yourself?"
“Yes, I really wanted to talk to Adele about it!”

I regretted asking as Julius' eyes lit up and he began to open his sketchbook.

"First of all, this is a mythological word meaning sun and stars. Then there's this. This is my favorite flower and Cornelia's favorite flower. And these are the knights and grand dukes of the former founding period of the Principality of Arita. The first thing that bothers me is whether it rhymes or not."
"Wait a minute."
"What?"
"Why are they all paired?"

I ask with a vague feeling of foreboding.
Julius asked, "Huh?” and raised both eyebrows.

"Didn't I tell you? We're almost certainly going to have twins."
"Eh … is that so?"
"Yes."

Julius suddenly looked at me with flushed eyes. I feel sick.

"I'm sure of it. We’ll have boys. And yours will be a daughter, Adele."

"What of it?"
"I told you. My sons will love your daughter. This is fate, Adele."
"Stop it! Don't curse me! I'm not joking!"

I kick Julius seriously when he asks to shake my hand, and I tear up my two notes and sketchbook.

"It's not like we're going to come up with a name for them! We'll let the two people who are doing their best to raise them in their bellies to come up with the names!”

“Ehh," Julius' lips twitched for a moment, but he quickly broke it off.

"Yes, that's a good point, Adele. I think that's the best way to go."

Then he stretched and said something annoying, "I have to finish the painting as a souvenir for the two of you."


I look out the window at the night sky in the southern direction.
It's my daily routine to look at the direction of Arita and think about Tiana.


Soon, our child will be born into this wide world.

It doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl.
It doesn't matter what their name will be.
…… But it’s true.


Whenever I call Tiana's name, I always feel this love and sadness in my heart.
I want my unborn child to be cared for in the same way that this world cares for me.
I'd do anything for a world that cares for Tiana and our child.

I smiled and closed the window. I' ll be leaving early in the morning.


Tiana, rest well. I love you.

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