After a full week of rest, Chloe had made a full recovery and was once again able to take care of her own needs and those of her newborn son.
Alex, however, was still struggling to come to terms with his reincarnation. Initially, he found it hard to believe that he had truly been reborn, but over time, reality settled in. He had learned the language spoken here was English, and that he was now the son of the powerful Lee family, renowned for their mastery of swordsmanship. Despite this knowledge, it felt strange to exist as an infant in this new life.
As Alex lay in his crib, lost in thought, Chloe entered the room and scooped him up, interrupting his quiet contemplation.
"Alex, my sweet little one," Chloe cooed, pinching his chubby cheeks and hoping to get a giggle out of him.
Her persistence paid off when Alex let out a soft, playful giggle.
"Hehehe," Alex giggled, attempting to mimic the baby sounds he had learned to make.
Chloe's heart swelled with love as she smiled down at him. The two continued to play until Alex finally drifted off to sleep, his small body exhausted from the playful interaction. Satisfied that he was resting peacefully, Chloe turned toward the door.
"Joan!" Chloe called out.
A woman with striking red hair, dressed in armor with a sword sheathed at her side, entered and knelt gracefully.
"My lady, you called for me?" Joan asked, her voice calm and respectful.
Chloe smiled warmly at her loyal guard. "Could you please bring me my lunch? I'm feeling rather hungry," Chloe requested sweetly.
"Of course, my lady," Joan replied, giving a small bow before heading off to fetch the meal.
Once Joan had left, Chloe carefully placed Alex back into his crib, making sure he was comfortable for his nap. She pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek and forehead, then stood to look around the room. Her gaze landed on a portrait of a handsome man with dark, long hair. He wore a carefree smile, almost childlike in its innocence.
"I miss you, honey," Chloe whispered, her hand brushing the frame of the portrait. A look of sadness and longing crossed her face. "When will you return to see your wife and our newborn son?"
Her voice barely audible, Chloe continued, "I miss you... Please be safe. While you're out there fighting, I won't just be idle. I'll recover my strength... and I'll get stronger."
Suddenly, the door creaked open. Chloe turned, expecting Joan to return with the food, but instead, it was Zelda who entered.
Zelda paused, her sharp eyes landing on the portrait Chloe had been gazing at.
"Oh," Chloe said, startled. "I didn't expect you, Matriarch. Forgive me."
Zelda raised an eyebrow, her gaze calculating but not unkind. "Oh?" she responded, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of authority.
Chloe quickly straightened, flustered. "Forgive me, Matriarch. I wasn't expecting you."
Zelda's gaze softened as she observed Chloe, her sharp eyes flicking between her and the portrait. "It's clear you miss him," she said, her voice firm yet understanding.
Zelda approached Chloe and pulled her into a brief, comforting hug. "I miss my son too," she said quietly.
After a moment, Zelda pulled away, her eyes scanning the room.
"Where is my grandson?" Zelda asked.
"Alex is in the crib, Matriarch," Chloe answered, pointing to the sleeping baby.
Zelda gave a small nod and moved to the crib. She peered down at Alex, her gaze scrutinizing.
"Let me guess... was it my son who suggested such a name?" Zelda mused, her voice tinged with amusement.
"Yes, Matriarch. He suggested Alex for a boy and Rose for a girl," Chloe explained with a small smile.
"Haha, Rose? Your naming sense isn't much better," Zelda chuckled.
Chloe's face flushed pink with embarrassment, but Zelda's teasing tone made her smile despite herself.
"I came to see my grandson, but since he's sleeping, I'll come back later," Zelda said, turning to leave. "Take care, Chloe."
"I will, Matriarch," Chloe replied with a bow.
Zelda left with a soft click of the door behind her.
Chloe let out a deep breath. "Phew, I still can't get used to her presence," she muttered under her breath.
She walked back to her bed and sat next to Alex's crib, gazing at her son with a mixture of awe and affection.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," Chloe called out.
Joan entered, wheeling in a cart piled high with food.
"What's all this? I only wanted lunch, not to host a feast," Chloe said, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"Forgive me, my lady. The family physician requested I serve you this to help you regain your strength," Joan explained.
"I'm fine," Chloe replied, dismissing the cart with a wave of her hand.
"My lady," Joan said softly, "The physician knows you've recovered from childbirth, but not from the strain on your powers. She believes this will aid in your recovery."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "With all this food? A few monster cores would do."
"I'm only following orders, my lady," Joan said apologetically.
"Alright, alright," Chloe said, rolling her eyes. "I'll eat it. It's been a while since I could handle beast meat anyway."
Joan smiled and stepped back, allowing Chloe to dig into the food. She ate quickly, savoring the rich flavors, and after a while, was finished.
"Joan, please return this to the kitchen and while you're at it, help me get some monster cores. I need to recover faster," Chloe requested.
"Yes, my lady," Joan replied with a bow.
Joan returned shortly with a sack and handed it over to Chloe.
"Thanks, Joan," Chloe said, taking the sack with a nod.
Joan bowed again. "My lady."
Chloe moved to the center of the room, unrolling a carpet, and poured the contents of the sack onto it. A cascade of glowing stones appeared, their brightness varying. Chloe's eyes widened as she noticed the brightest of the cores. These were particularly valuable.
She picked up one of them, inspecting it closely. "How did you acquire these, Joan?" she asked, her tone both curious and surprised.
"I came across the Matriarch while visiting the resource hall," Joan explained. "She told the elder in charge to provide these special beast domain lord cores for you."
"Looks like the Matriarch is hopeful for my full recovery," Chloe murmured, her thoughts lingering on Zelda's unexpected generosity.
"Please watch over Alex while I meditate, Joan," Chloe ordered.
"Yes, my lady," Joan replied, moving to stand guard at the crib.
With that, Chloe selected a beast grandmaster core and began to meditate, creating a swirl of energy around her. The room pulsed with the raw power of the cores as she prepared herself for the arduous task ahead.