Vol 1 Chapter 7: Caelan Makes Cookies with Mama

The morning light slowly peeked through the window of the small house, illuminating the thin curtains that swayed gently. In the almost silent warmth, the sound of light footsteps crept into the tiny bedroom decorated with the scent of dried roses.

“Caelan… Honey, wake up. It’s morning,” Marry whispered softly, gently stroking her daughter’s silver hair, who was still pursing her small lips in her sleep.

Caelan squirmed spoiledly, then slowly opened her eyes. “...Mama?”

“Hmm?” Marry smiled. “Come on, wake up. We have to brush our teeth before breakfast.”

With half-closed eyes, Caelan nodded, and as usual, raised her arms to be carried. Marry chuckled and complied with the request. Because, of course, Caelan was Mama’s daughter.

—

A Quiet Morning

After taking a shower and changing clothes, Caelan sat on the high kitchen stool with a small towel over her head. Marry helped her brush her teeth diligently, although Caelan kept chattering throughout the process.

Breakfast that day was simple but warm: warm mushroom soup, toast, and fresh milk.

While sipping her soup, Marry asked, “So, what do you want to do today, Caelan?”

Caelan chewed enthusiastically, but her cheeks were smeared with soup.

Marry wiped her cheeks gently with a tissue while smiling.

“I want to make cookies with Mama!” Caelan answered cheerfully.

“Oh? Why do you want to make cookies?” Marry asked, a little surprised but curious.

Caelan put down her spoon and answered innocently, “Because… yesterday Grandma Dora was sad. If you eat delicious cookies, your heart can be happy, right? So I want to give Grandma Dora cookies so she’ll be happy again.”

Marry fell silent. Her heart warmed.

You really are a little angel, Caelan…

Marry stroked her daughter’s head, gently stroking her soft hair. “Then, let’s make cookies together, Honey.”

Caelan immediately cheered while raising both of his hands, “Yaaaay! Mama is the best!”

—

Flour, Laughter, and Love

Their kitchen turned into a white battlefield.

While Marry was measuring the flour, Caelan secretly took some flour from the bowl and... puff! threw it at Marry's face.

"Hyaaa! Caelan's flour attack!" the daughter shouted while laughing out loud.

Marry was silent for a moment, then... "Oh, so this is a war, huh?"

The reply came instantly.

The mother and daughter laughed, playing with flour until their faces and hair were all over the place. Even the kitchen was not spared from the mess.

After laughing to their heart's content, they returned to focusing on making the dough.

Caelan sat down seriously to shape the cookies into various shapes: rabbits, bears, cats, and even one shape that she claimed was Mama with long hair, although it looked like a dented doughnut.

Marry could only laugh softly.

The cookies were then baked. A sweet aroma spread throughout the house. Caelan sat with her chin on the table, staring at the oven with shining eyes.

—

To Grandma Dora’s Fruit Stall

After the cookies were finished, Marry wrapped them in pastel-colored paper packaging boxes with small ribbons, Caelan’s own handicraft.

Caelan smiled broadly. “Cookies were made by Caelan for Grandma Dora!”

“Hmm… of course, Caelan was made it,” Marry nodded with a knowing smile—even though 90% of the process was done by her own hands.

The two of them walked to Grandma Dora’s fruit stall.

—

The Silliness of Thomas and the Shadow Hero

In front of the usual fruit stall, Grandma Dora was scolding her grandson, Thomas.

“Come on, help Grandma look after the shop! Don’t just daydream!”

“I can’t, Grandma! I have to train to be strong! I… I want to be a shadow hero!”

Grandma Dora could only shake her head and laugh.

When Marry and Caelan approached, Grandma Dora immediately smiled brightly.

“Oh! Caelan! Marry! Good morning! Do you want to buy some fruit?”

“Not today, Grandma,” Marry answered softly. “We just wanted to give you something.”

Caelan stepped forward, holding up the cookie box. “This is Caelan’s cookies! For Grandma Dora, who was sad yesterday.”

Grandma Dora was stunned. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Caelan, Honey… thank you so much…” She hugged Caelan tightly. “You’re a very good girl”

Thomas, who had been sulking, turned his face away.

Grandma Dora reprimanded him, “Thomas! Greet them. This is Marry and Caelan. Marry is a kind mother, and Caelan is a sweet daughter. Be a little polite.”

Thomas pouted but obeyed. “I’m Thomas…”

Caelan bowed politely. “Caelan.”

Marry just smiled warmly.

Grandma Dora, as usual, tried to unite the world. “Thomas, why don’t you play with Caelan? It’ll be good, so you don’t wander around all the time.”

But Thomas shouted, “I don’t have time to play with a little girl! I have to train to be a shadow hero!”

Caelan snorted. “Caelan only wants to play with Mommy anyway.”

Grandma Dora slapped her forehead. “Gosh, you guys…”

Marry covered her mouth slowly, holding back her laughter at their silliness.

—

Afterwards

After saying goodbye and handing over the cookies, Marry and Caelan walked home.

Thomas watched them leave, especially Marry, who calmly and gracefully carried her daughter back home.

There was something… strange in his heart.

That graceful movement…that protective aura…

Similar to Red…

But he immediately shook his head hard. “No way! Red is a teenage girl!”

He glanced at Grandma Dora, who was giving him the cookies.

“This is from Marry and Caelan. Eat it while you watch the stall.”

Reluctantly, Thomas took a bite of the cookies.

His face immediately changed.

“…It’s delicious.”

But he remained indifferent.

But if Red was a mother…and already had a child…huh, it would be a different person.

—

Marry didn’t Care About Her Identity as Long as Caelan was Happy…

While the world once called her an blood executioner…to her daughter, she was just Mama. And to another child, she might be a shadow hero. But for Marry, as long as Caelan smiled, all other identities were unimportant.