Mushoku Tensei: Life and Strife.

Zenith’s POV

…

Zenith was a runaway aristocrat, the second daughter of a count. After a big fight with her control freak of a mother, she became an adventurer, eventually joined the Fangs of the Black Wolf, and ended up married to Paul. She was naïve. Naïve enough to agree to sleep with Paul. Naïve enough to end up having an accidental pregnancy on her first and single night with him. And that was how she ended up with a pair of twins. Rudeus Greyrat and Laurel Greyrat.

Both were wonderful children. But they were too mature at times. Both rarely smile genuinely. At least not in front of them. Rudeus would usually have a forced, awkward grin. And when Laurel did, it was a smile that never reached the corners of his eyes.

There was a time when Zenith thought that neither of the twins loved their family at all. In fact, Rudeus has a somewhat condescending attitude that makes her wonder if they secretly looked down on the family. That child rarely calls her mom willingly.

As for Laurel… He had an entirely opposite disposition. With eyes as beautiful as purple gemstones and a personality similar to tranquil waters, he was like… like a carved marble statue untainted by mundane dust, like the ones back in Milis's church. Right. There’s no better description for him. Even when he was right beside her, he sometimes felt distant. It was as if they were in separate worlds.

And the speed at which he was learning things was unnatural. At first she was joyous that her children were both highly talented. However, there was always a subtle feeling as if Laurel had been rushing to grow as fast as possible.

Laurel was always found staring towards the sky from time to time. It was as if… as if one day, the child in her arms would suddenly leave without saying a single word.

“… No, no, Zenith. You’re probably overthinking things.”

Zenith thought as she shook her head. Why would he leave? This is his home; where else would he go?

She thought, entering Laurel’s room. Looking around the room, she couldn’t help but frown at the state it was in. Was it always this empty?

Aside from the necessities befitting of what an ordinary room was supposed to have, there was nothing. No trees, no plants, no weird statues. Nothing. It wouldn’t even be weird to assume that no one had lived here in the first place.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, her eyes landed on a strange book.

“The Art… of War?”

The title of the book was so absurd that she had to question its presence. However, as she opened the mystery book and read into its content, she couldn’t help but laugh at its absurdity.

A book filled with scribbles and sketches about how Paul holds his sword, as well as magic and a bunch of nonsense encouraging himself to do his best.

It turns out that the book was just about how to win against Paul. Or it could’ve been against Rudeus, considering how serious Laurel was about being better than him.

Why was she feeling so anxious? Ah. Right. It was because Laurel was too quiet. Way too quiet.

His presence was like air, to the point where no one would notice even if he slipped away. That’s why she was so worried about Laurel. Because it felt like he wouldn’t say anything even if something actually happened. Because Laurel was the type to keep quiet until everything explodes.

As she walked down the stairs, the worried expression of Lilia caught her attention.

“Lilia, what’s wrong?”

“Ah, Zeny.”

Lilia muttered, as if finding it hard to articulate her words. At that moment, Paul walked into the house after talking with someone and awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“It’s nothing much, Zenith. Just kids causing kids’ troubles.”

He continued while sounding a little proud.

“Apparently, Laurel beat up three kids.”

“Laurel did?”

Zenith frown. The same crybaby who started bawling out crying when he fell on his butt—that one time Rudeus accidentally pushed him? That Laurel? Ah wait, he used to be a crybaby when he was younger, but somewhere along the way, that stopped. Properly around THAT time.

“Just now, Miss Ada came to complain about her child’s injuries, apparently.”

Lilia answered. Zenith thought about the name Ada. If she had remembered it correctly, that should be Mr. Eto’s wife, and the child was probably… Somar?

Laurel bullied Somar? Wasn’t that kid a whole lot bigger than Laurel? No, Laurel was talented, so he probably would win in a fight. No wait. Would Laurel even bother to talk to Somar?

Zenith thought to herself. Would her Laurel, who was too lazy to even walk, bother to go all the way to Somar just to bully him?

“Hard to make any sense, isn’t it?”

Paul said. It was apparent that even he was confused when he heard it as well. But then he shrugged.

“Then again, Laurel was never the type to lie low and take a beating. Still, couldn’t he at least be a bit more… gentle? Seriously, who beats a kid black and blue?”

“Ah.”

So that’s what it was. Right. How could she forget? Laurel had never been the type to endure injustice. That child may not be loud, but he is definitely ferocious, and more importantly, Laurel is competitive. Ever since that incident with Rudeus, Laurel had been backing down a single inch, especially not when it came to magic.

It would totally make sense if Somar were the bully and Laurel, in turn, beat the daylights out of the kid in self-defense. Yes, that would be something Laurel would have done. It was unquestionable, even.

“Bah! Don’t sweat it. Let me handle things. Trust me. It’ll be fine.”

Paul said, patting himself on the chest… She could have sworn she was instantly reminded of the time when Paul had told her having a one-night stand was fine.

But then again, he did the right thing, and they got married. Wasn’t her current happiness in itself due to him? So, if Paul says it’s fine, then it’s fine. Because she believed in Paul. And he had proven himself a trustworthy man.

Hence, she waited indoors so Paul could have his parenting time with Laurel. Well, she wouldn’t have to worry about them. After all, even if Paul were a bit unreliable, he was still a good man. After all, he did the most responsible thing and asked for her hand in marriage right then and there. Surely he could handle things maturely.

That was what she thought, at least until she heard a slapping sound from outdoors.