Chapter 288 - : 288 Peaceful times.

Meanwhile, in the Zenithara estate, four more months had passed. The season had shifted fully into winter, and Charlotte was now in her seventh month.

A soft layer of snow covered the entire estate, stretching across the rooftops, the roads, and the open fields beyond.

The trees stood still, their branches weighed down by white frost. The air was quiet, broken only by the slow sound of wind moving through the empty streets.

Charlotte stood near the roadside, her breath turning faintly visible in the cold.

"Hmmm? The cold today is a bit much, no?" she said, her voice soft as she looked around.

A gentle wind passed by, brushing against her face and lifting strands of her long red hair into the air.

She was wrapped from head to toe. A long fur coat covered her body, reaching down to her legs.

Her hands were tucked inside thick gloves, and a warm winter cap covered her head and ears.

Even then, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and the tip of her nose had turned red from the cold.

"This year's winter would be long," she added, rubbing her gloved hands lightly against her cheeks.

Not far from her, Vivian was crouched near the roadside, focused on the snow in front of him.

He shaped it carefully, pressing and smoothing it with both hands.

"You think so?" he replied, glancing up for a moment before returning to his work.

They had come out to the market early in the morning. Because of the cold, very few people were outside.

The streets were mostly empty, giving them space to walk around and spend some quiet time together.

Charlotte watched him for a moment.

"But don't get careless. Make sure you don't get cold," Vivian said, his tone a little firm this time as he adjusted the snowman's shape.

Charlotte puffed her cheeks slightly, but said nothing.

The truth was, they did not need all these heavy clothes. A simple use of mana would have kept them warm.

But she had insisted on spending winter like normal people, wrapped in coats and scarves.

She had argued about it until Vivian finally gave in.

Even now, he still kept an eye on her, making sure she was comfortable.

"Done!" Vivian said after a while, placing a carrot carefully onto the snowman's face.

Charlotte's eyes lit up at once. She stepped forward quickly, her boots crunching softly against the snow.

At first, she could only see part of it since Vivian had been standing in the way.

"Wait..move a little," she said, trying to peek from the side.

Vivian stepped aside with a small smile.

Charlotte moved in front of the snowman and looked at it properly. Her eyes widened a little.

"Whoa… it's quite big," she said, standing next to it and comparing the height.

"Think so?" Vivian let out a soft chuckle as he watched her reaction.

"Yeah," she said, nodding lightly.

She reached out and held his hand without thinking, her gaze still fixed on the snowman as if it was something special.

Vivian's eyes slowly lowered to her stomach.

It had been seven months and twenty days. Her belly had grown round and full, clearly showing the life inside.

At times, he could even feel the baby move.

When he placed his ear gently against her, he could hear faint movements, small kicks that made his heart feel full in a way he could not explain.

He looked back at her face. She was still smiling, her attention completely on the snowman.

A quiet breath left him.

Having a baby in just a few months… and with her…

A small, soft smile formed on his face.

"Shall we go and bring some breakfast home?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Charlotte turned her head toward him at once, her expression bright.

"As you say, honey!" she replied cheerfully.

Before he could say anything else, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him, clearly expecting something.

Vivian looked at her for a moment, then shook his head slightly with a smile.

Without a word, he bent down and lifted her up carefully, holding her like a princess. He made sure to support her properly, keeping her comfortable.

"What would you like to eat, my adorable princess?" he asked, looking at her face.

Charlotte didn't even need to think.

"Meat!" she said at once, her eyes shining with excitement.

Vivian let out a small laugh as he adjusted his hold on her.

"Alright, meat it is," he said, starting to walk forward slowly through the snow.

Charlotte rested comfortably in his arms, her head leaning slightly against his shoulder as she looked around.

Vivian then slowly walked towards the shops while carrying, around the shops there were a few people doing their business, they noticed the pair, and bowed.

They did not seem surprised at all as Vivian carried her like that while walking into the market. Their faces stayed calm, as if this was nothing new. And in truth, it wasn't.

This was not their first time coming like this. Almost every day, the two of them would visit the market together.

Sometimes they bought clothes, sometimes food, and sometimes just small things they did not really need.

Over time, the people around had gotten used to the sight of Vivian carrying Charlotte in his arms.

A few shopkeepers glanced at them and smiled, while others simply continued with their work. No one found it strange anymore.

Vivian walked straight toward a small restaurant near the corner. The smell of grilled meat drifted through the cold air as he stepped inside.

The owner, who had been tending to the fire, quickly looked up the moment he saw them.

"Your lordship," he said, wiping his hands as he stood straighter.

"Can you pack some grilled meat for seven people?" Vivian asked in a steady voice.

"Of course, of course," the owner replied at once, already turning to prepare it.

Charlotte, still in Vivian's arms, reached into her coat and pulled out a small purse. She opened it and took out some money, holding it out politely.

But before she could say anything, the owner quickly shook his head and raised his hands.

"Please, no… don't do that," he said, his tone hurried but respectful.

He packed the meat quickly, wrapping it neatly before holding it out with both hands.

"Having your lordship and lady visit my place is already an honor. I wouldn't dare take money for it," he added, giving a small, grateful smile.

Charlotte paused for a moment, then looked at Vivian.

"If you say so…" Vivian replied calmly.

Charlotte nodded lightly and accepted the packet with both hands, careful not to drop it.

With that, Vivian turned and walked out of the market. The cold air hit them again the moment they stepped outside.

He adjusted his hold on her slightly, making sure she was comfortable.

Then, without warning, his feet lifted off the ground.

He rose smoothly into the air and began flying toward their home, the wind moving past them as the snowy streets grew smaller below.

Charlotte held onto him more tightly, keeping the food safe as her hair shifted with the wind.

"Today, we should camp outside," Vivian said while flying, his voice calm as he looked ahead. "The weather is good for it. We can stay out with the family for a while."

Charlotte hummed softly, resting against him.

"Hmm… that does sound nice," she said, then tilted her head slightly as if thinking.

After a moment, a small smirk formed on her lips.

"But wait…" she said, looking up at him. "Didn't you just say you were going to eat me?"

Vivian's eyes shifted down toward her, his expression steady.

Charlotte puffed her lips a little, trying to look more cute as she leaned closer.

"Look at me properly," she said, her tone playful. "Don't you think I look extra cute today? Maybe you should just eat me instead."

She blinked at him slowly, clearly enjoying her own teasing.

Vivian stared at her face for a second. She really did look cute, wrapped up in her coat with her cheeks slightly red from the cold.

But still…

"You're getting a bit too much, you know that?" he said, his voice calm, though there was a faint hint of amusement in it.

Charlotte let out a small laugh, clearly not bothered.

"And you're not complaining properly either," she replied, her eyes bright.

Vivian shook his head lightly but did not say anything else. His hold on her remained steady as he continued flying forward.