For the past three months, Ruth’s routine in the morning was to buy bread before Ethan woke up. As she left the house carrying her basket, other people left their houses and walked to the bakery. On the way, soldiers were still patrolling with sleepy faces and were yawning as she walked past them, making herself yawn as well.

  As Ruth approached the bakery, the person she most admired in the city walked in her direction, and people gave her a light bow of respect. Eliza used her healing magic on her last month because her mind was overwhelmed while she was cooking.

  Ethan was not home yet, and there was something in her mind that thought he was with Leah, and her hand was hurting?. But at the doctor's, Eliza healed her in no time, and before even Ethan came back, she was just fine, finishing dinner.

  ‘Good morning, Lady Eliza; thanks for healing my hand.’ She gave a light bow.

  ‘I’m glad I can help; the one you should thank is the duchess; without her, I wouldn’t be able to do this.’ Eliza smiled at her and walked away.

  Ruth smiled at the woman walking by and held her two hands. She closed her eyes and showed genuine gratitude, thanking Ariadne for everything. She had a house, a husband, and a peaceful life in three months. As her eyes opened, she saw other people doing the same.

  At the bakery, she saw that this time, there wasn’t a line outside like every single day, and people were just in and out of it. She entered, and a person collected the money, and another handed the bread to the customer fast; it was her time to buy.

  ‘I want the usual.’ She put the coins on the counter.

  ‘We have new prices; this will be ten breads instead of two.’ The Shafran looked at her, smiling.

  ‘What? For the same bread?’ Her eyes widened.

  ‘Yes, my son, with the help of Edmund and a loan from the Arc company, I can make more bread faster. You want two or ten?’ He tapped the counter.

  ‘Give me ten; I’m going to give it to my family too.’ She pushed the coins closer to him.

  With her basket complete, she left the bakery. On her way to her house, she passed her parents' home, and her mother was walking out with a basket herself.

  ‘Mother, are you going to the bakery? Don’t need it; I already have enough bread for all of us.’ She waved while shouting.

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  ‘Be quiet, girl; what are you on about? Did you buy bread for us too? Did your husband get a promotion or something?’ She put her finger on Ruth’s lips.

  ‘Ethan earns enough, mother; I don’t want to overspend. Anyway, bread is cheaper now, and the store owner said it was because of the new devices his son developed with Edmund’s help.’ Ruth gave her mother an enormous smile.

  ‘The goddess keeps giving us more; this month, I think we aren’t doing much to pay for all we have now.’ She closed her hand and put it in front of her while closing her eyes.

  Ruth gave six of the ten to her mother, and after hugging her, she walked back home, where Ethan was just getting out of the bedroom, stretching his back and pulling his arms up.

  ‘Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?’ Ruth put the basket on the table.

  ‘It would be better if you didn’t leave like this daily.’ Ethan hugged her from behind.

  ‘Ho, you are more and more comfortable with me, hum?’ She turned around and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.

  ‘I think someday I woke up and said, I guess this is my life now.’ He chuckled.

  ‘What does that mean? You are with me by choice; remember that.’ Ruth spoke angrily.

  ‘If you are saying sneaking in my bed, putting animal blood on the sheets, being fully naked as my mother opened the door to wake me up, my choice... well. ‘ Ethan looked up and sighed.

  ‘Argh… ' Ruth clenched her fist and punched his chest multiple times.

  ‘Wait, it hurts a little. Calm down.’ He held one of her arms.

  ‘It was just a little push to start our love story, nothing more... humph.’ Her eyes started to get teary.

  ‘Ok… Ok… I know you love me; it was just a joke. I’m learning bad things with Edmund.’ Ethan let go of her hand and gave her a warm hug.

  She calmed down as she leaned on his chest. Even though she was older than him, she often felt like he was much more mature than her, which was one reason she became so fond of him. How she treated and talked to her was another reason to thank the goddess, another gift.

  ‘Let’s eat; from now on, the bread will be cheaper because of some new device they built.’ Ruth pushed him a little and kissed him on the cheek.

  ‘Things are going fast; even our training now differs completely from when I enlisted in the Duchess Army. We will have enough next month to buy that device that washes clothes. More time for you to be with your mother, hum?’ He smiled at her.

  ‘Yeah, my arms are going to retire.’ She started to prepare the table for them to eat.

  ‘So, I’m going to be out for two weeks; is it the same as before, ok? Just cleaning the monsters at the border and trying to apply the training in real-life situations. Of course, I'm keeping you safe.’ Ethan got the sandwich his wife made and started to eat.

  ‘Ok, don’t try to be a hero; I can’t have your child if you are dead.’ Ruth made another sandwich and put it on her husband's plate.

  Her words took Ethan back, and he drank a cup of water because he couldn’t swallow his food.

  ‘What? We just sleep together; that is too forward even for you.’ He drank another cup of water.

  ‘What is that supposed to mean? I’m waiting for you to step it up.’ She crossed her arms.

  ‘Me? I respected your space and waited for you to do something or even give a hint. I don’t know.’ Ethan scratched his head.

  ‘So you are saying I would be already pregnant if it weren’t for this misunderstanding?’ She spoke angrily.

  ‘W-wa-wait, what? No, why are you jumping all the steps?’ He replied nervously.

  She got up, walked to the young man, and sat on his lap, putting her arms around him and getting closer to his ear.

  ‘I… just want…to build… a family with… you.’ She spoke in a soft, paused manner next to his ear.

  Her voice made his body feel calmer and more relaxed, and it made him remember why every time she did something like this, he didn’t have the strength to push her way, and everything he could do was do a relaxed sigh.

  ‘I guess this is my life now.’ Ethan smiled.