Chapter 115
When I sprang to my feet in a huff, Serurian happened to be walking in just then, carrying in the milk tea he’d made for me. He tilted his head in confusion.
“What’s the matter, Edel?”
I shot my father a glare and shouted,
“Father keeps making me angry!”
“How unfair.”
“…….”
Judging by his expression, he didn’t look the least bit wronged.
As if he truly couldn’t understand what the problem was, Father shrugged his shoulders.
Growing frustrated, I poured out every detail of what had happened to Serurian. After listening to my story seriously from start to finish, he tilted his head and replied,
“But it is true that you’re working far too much, Edel. Wouldn’t it be wise to heed your father’s advice?”
At that moment, I realized something.
Asking Serurian for help was a mistake.
He was someone who told me to rest and suggested taking a vacation with him every chance he got—what on earth had possessed me to confide in him?
Up until a moment ago, it had only been Father wandering all over my office, but now Serurian had joined him. Two large men staring at me nonstop—it was incredibly uncomfortable.
Letting out a long sigh, I pressed a hand to my forehead.
“Fine. Do whatever you want.”
What I meant was I’m exhausted, do as you please, but no sooner had the words left my mouth than Serurian scooped me up in his arms.
“Then let’s go and get you some rest at once.”
“W-Wait! Why all of a sudden?!”
“You said you’d rest. I should take you before you change your mind.”
“When did I ever—!”
That wasn’t what I meant at all! Since when did do whatever you want mean I’ll rest?!
Ignoring my flailing protests, Serurian walked off steadily. Sighing, I turned my head and spotted Father following behind us over Serurian’s shoulder.
Frowning deeply, I shouted,
“And why are you following us, Father?!”
The answer I got was completely unexpected.
“I want to help you too.”
“…What?”
Serurian was already more than attentive enough—why was Father suddenly insisting on helping as well? As I stood there confused, unable to grasp the context, Father continued,
“After the Hastings incident, I made a decision. Every day, I would do one thing to help you.”
“So that’s why you’ve been bringing gifts every single day?”
Father silently nodded.
I asked hesitantly,
“Then… after I told you to stop bringing gifts, you’ve been feeling anxious because you couldn’t help me anymore?”
Once again, he nodded.
“Oh dear.”
A headache started to bloom, and I pressed my palm against my forehead.
“Are you all right, Edel?” Serurian asked.
“How could I be?! You two are driving me crazy!”
At my outburst, both Serurian and Father lowered their eyes like scolded puppies. Somehow, I was the one feeling guilty—even though I was the one being stressed out.
In the end, I mumbled,
“Th-Then… how about the two of you work on decorating the baby’s room today?”
And this was the result.
In hindsight, I never should’ve suggested decorating the baby’s room in the first place.
Choosing the location alone turned into a struggle, since the room arrangements in the Luke ducal estate had recently been completely reorganized.
I didn’t originally have a room of my own.
Back then, I’d been planning to divorce Serurian as soon as possible and leave, so I hadn’t felt the need for one. I lived in a small adjoining room off the marital bedroom with nothing but a desk.
But circumstances had changed.
Traditionally, the wife used the room connected to the couple’s bedroom—but in the Luke estate, Serurian had been using it.
So I took the room that past dukes had always used.
Father moved into a room closer to the study.
And that’s where the problem arose.
“A child should be close to their mother,” Father insisted.
The nursery he proposed was located between my room and his.
Serurian, however, disagreed.
“The baby’s room should be next to mine. Edel will be sleeping in the marital bedroom anyway.”
“So you want to put the crib in the marital bedroom? When the baby cries, how will Edel rest?”
“When the baby is born, I’ll take care of them. Naturally, the baby will stay in my room at first, then gradually move into the nursery.”
Listening to their argument with a distant, enlightened expression, I suddenly snapped back to reality.
Serurian will take care of the baby?
“Serurian, you have work. How are you going to raise a child?”
Surely he didn’t mean he’d just abandon his duties once the baby arrived… right?
Nervously, I looked at him. His reply was far heavier than I’d expected.
“Caring for the child is my right, Edel.”
“…Ah.”
There were plenty of fathers who avoided childcare altogether, so hearing him declare it not as an obligation but a right made me grateful.
Grateful, but—
Isn’t this a bit much?
At this rate, it felt like he’d be spending more time with the baby than I would.
As I stood there stunned, Father refused to back down.
“I’m the one with the most free time in this house. Shouldn’t I be the one taking care of the baby?”
So you are aware that you’re the most idle person here. I’d thought you didn’t even realize that.
At Father’s counter, Serurian’s sharp brows twitched. Afraid this might escalate into talk of resignation, I grabbed Serurian’s arm and smiled.
“Father! I think Serurian’s right. Let’s put the nursery closer to his room.”
“Hmph. If that’s what you want.”
Father clearly wasn’t pleased, but he relented. Serurian thanked me by pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
We then inspected the rooms adjacent to Serurian’s. Most had been empty for a long time and felt overly old-fashioned and bleak.
“We’ll have to redo the wallpaper at least. Cherry red doesn’t feel right for a baby.”
But then—what color should it be?
That single question was enough to spark another argument.
Serurian declared firmly,
“It’s definitely a girl. There’s no way it isn’t.”
Father shot back just as stubbornly,
“It’s a boy. Our family’s always had more sons.”
“But Edel is a daughter, isn’t she?”
That stopped Father short. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish before running a hand through his hair.
“Th-Then what proof do you have it’s a girl? You didn’t even have a prophetic dream.”
“A father’s intuition.”
Utterly subjective.
Father scoffed.
“And this is a grandfather’s intuition.”
At this rate, the sun would set before we chose wallpaper. I snapped,
“Why are you both acting like children?! What does it matter whether it’s a boy or a girl?!”
“That’s not the issue, Edel.”
“Indeed. This has nothing to do with gender preference.”
Watching them dig in their heels was maddening. I shouted,
“Then decorate it so it works for either!”
There was no need to tailor everything to a specific gender.
As I fumed, Serurian replied gloomily,
“But Edel, what if the child is born and feels disappointed by a room that doesn’t suit them? If a precious princess is born and her room is too rough, wouldn’t that be tragic?”
“And what if a son is born, only to find everything prepared like a princess’s room? Wouldn’t that be equally disappointing?”
Both had a point. Then, simultaneously, they turned to me.
“So—son or daughter?”
“How would I know?!”
Judging by how desperately the father and grandfather were already fretting, the baby was bound to be extraordinary.
At this point, I wish they’d just hurry up and be born.
As I sulked, both men immediately tried to placate me. I was just about to launch into another lecture when a bright, cheerful voice rang out behind us.
“Wow, the duke’s household has gotten awfully harmonious since I last saw it.”
“Kalima!”
Kalima—whom I hadn’t seen in quite some time—removed her hat and smiled warmly.
Even after coming to the capital, Kalima had kept a room at the Luke estate, claiming she didn’t want to return to the Potentia duchy just yet. Last week had been when she was finally supposed to go back.
I wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Kalima, I missed you!”
“Hehe, my lady, you really are spoiled.”
Spoiled—hardly a word that suited me.
Pointing at the two men who had refused to follow us into the sitting room to continue their nursery debate, I said,
“Since you’re here, take those two with you. My father said you could. You don’t even have to bring them back—just take them.”
“Wow… it must’ve been really hard on you.”
It sounded cruel, even to my own ears—but it was deserved!
First the surprise gifts, now tormenting me over the nursery!
And Serurian won’t stop clinging to me either. I’m grateful, but it’s too much. I need some freedom too.
As I was thinking that, Kalima replied with a mature smile,
“But His Grace looks his best when he’s at the ducal estate. So I’ll have to decline your offer.”
