Chapter 39 ,…………………………………………
Bright sunlight poured into the garden.
The duke and I sat down in front of the stationery.
Since I had received a precious letter, it was my turn to write back.
“I should write that I’m thankful for the reply. And I was thinking of giving this as a gift, but hmm… Father, what do you think?”
The duke smiled radiantly, like a white flower petal I held out.
“Yes, it’s good. How could I not like a flower chosen by my daughter-in-law?”
Father and daughter-in-law. Just that title alone made me feel as if the bond between the duke and me had grown stronger—but that was probably just my imagination.
“Let’s hurry and write the letter.”
“Ah, yes.”
Regaining focus, I attached the flower petal to the stationery.
It was a flower from the greenhouse garden.
While searching for something to give to Ron these past few days, I had stumbled upon it by chance.
“The gardener told me this flower is called Sheia. Its meaning is ‘pure courage.’”
“You’ve found the perfect flower for that child.”
I wrote in the letter that the place I was staying wasn’t too far from him.
And hoping we might meet someday, I included the flower along with its meaning.
Just as I stretched to finish—huh? I felt a gaze watching me from somewhere.
An assassin?
I subtly shifted my eyes so it wouldn’t be obvious.
Then, behind a garden pillar, something swiftly darted away.
“…!”
What… what was that?
It wasn’t a person.
Judging by how low it appeared, it seemed like a small animal.
Curious, I pretended not to look and glanced elsewhere.
Approaching too quickly in situations like this only made the other party hide completely.
So I acted uninterested, then quickly turned back.
A blue head.
A tiny body.
“C-Creamu?”
Our eyes met—Creamu was peeking out from behind the pillar with just his little face showing.
Then, in an instant, his face vanished again, tucked behind the pillar.
At my voice, the duke turned his head.
Sensing something, he rose from his seat.
“The letter is finished, so I’ll be on my way. It’s a fine day for a walk. Enjoy your time.”
“…Pardon?”
Leaving only those words behind, the duke glanced once more toward the pillar and quickly exited the garden.
Left alone, I ran over and lifted up the curled-up Creamu.
“Creamu! What are you doing here!”
“Noona!”
Seeing Creamu all gloomy, I was startled—then soon realized why.
From his vantage point behind the pillar, he could clearly see the spot where the duke and I had been sitting.
“Creamu.”
“Mm.”
“Did you want to play with me?”
Creamu blinked his bright red eyes, then nodded.
His chubby cheeks wobbled.
“I see. So that’s what it was. You wanted to play with me, but I wasn’t paying attention, so you were hiding here?”
“Mhm! Noona was talking with Father.”
I gently stroked his soft blue hair.
“Then you should’ve come closer so we could play together.”
“I wanted to… but I couldn’t.”
“Hm? Why?”
“…Because Father was there.”
At that moment, I could see in Creamu’s eyes—he felt awkward around the duke.
Come to think of it…
I had never once seen the duke play with Creamu.
How could that be possible?!
This was dereliction of duty as a father.
And just now, too—the duke had noticed Creamu behind the pillar and still intentionally walked away.
Why? Why would a father and son be so awkward with each other?
Especially when Creamu was only four and needed a parent’s affection the most?
I immediately tried to carry Creamu to take him to the duke.
Considering the abuse incident with the previous nanny, letting this awkwardness continue would be terrible for Creamu’s emotional wellbeing.
But then a problem arose.
“Uuugh!”
Creamu… when did you get so plump…?
No matter how hard I tried to lift him, he wouldn’t budge.
“Uuugh!”
“Noona, no strength.”
“You’re right… Creamu, you’re growing fast.”
He felt heavier than my thirteen-year-old body.
I gave up and had Devier carry him instead.
Despite his delicate appearance, Devier was surprisingly strong.
He lifted Creamu with ease—and even seemed unfazed.
But only for a moment.
“Devier!”
His long, tied-back hair was grabbed and yanked by Creamu.
The strength of a four-year-old who didn’t know how to control his power was astonishing.
“Ugh. Ngh!”
Devier’s head jerked back and forward repeatedly.
But he endured it and said,
“Kh… Wh-where shall I take Young Master Creamu, my lady?”
Oh, admirable.
Thumbs-upping Devier, I led the way—to where the duke was.
The moment he saw the three of us, the duke panicked.
He even set down the documents he was holding and stood up.
I took Creamu’s hand from Devier and said:
“We’re going on a walk with Creamu. Would you like to join us, Father?”
I could now say that embarrassing “Father” quite smoothly.
Beside me, Devier shuddered as if goosebumps crawled up his arms while looking between the duke and me.
Creamu, still too young to grasp what Father meant, simply blinked wide-eyed and squeezed my hand.
“Well… I have much work to do.”
So that’s how he wanted to play it, huh?
“Devier told me that the work you have today can be finished this evening.”
The duke’s red eyes turned murderous toward the butler.
“So please come with us. Ah, and you said earlier the weather was perfect for a walk, didn’t you? Father? Creamu has been waiting too!”
“……”
He exhaled a thin sigh at my stubborn persistence.
I recognized that sigh—it meant yes.
Of course. After everything I’d done for this household, he owed me at least this much.
Though winter approached, the glass garden was pleasantly cool—perfect for walking.
I held Creamu’s hand and glanced back.
Behind us walked the duke, and behind him, Devier.
I signaled Devier with my eyes, reminding him of the plan I mentioned earlier.
Get lost!
Understanding instantly, Devier withdrew, taking the other servants with him.
The duke immediately picked up on this.
He soon approached Creamu and me.
“Ann, do you have something you wish to say to me?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
Despite his cold face, the duke asked gently.
“From now on, please take walks with Creamu yourself!”
“….!”
Before he could react, I moved quickly.
I pulled Creamu’s hand free from my own and placed it into the duke’s large hand.
Then I bent down, speaking softly so Creamu wouldn’t be startled.
“Creamu.”
“Noona, come together.”
“Instead of Noona, this is time to play with Father.”
“Father?”
As Creamu’s face darkened, he lifted his head—meeting the duke’s eyes.
His small body flinched.
I immediately stroked his blue hair.
“Father said he wants to play with Creamu too. Very much.”
“Really?”
“Mhm. Right, Father?”
I turned to the duke.
His perfectly-balanced features wavered.
Then he cleared his throat lightly and nodded.
He didn’t want to let go of Creamu’s tiny hand in his large one.
It was awkward and unfamiliar, but that was only because it was the first time.
“Let’s take a walk together, Creamu.”
Hearing his low voice, I nearly cheered out loud.
The father and son, identical from hair to eye color, took their first step together.
A proper father-son walk at last.
But before they even took ten steps, they stopped.
Huh? What’s wrong?
Before I could figure it out, something happened—
Creamu’s hand slipped from the duke’s and drifted farther away.
No! You barely held his hand—why let go already?!
I wondered if I should intervene again, when—
“….!”
My heart nearly dropped at the sight before me.
After releasing his hand, the duke bent down and lifted Creamu into his arms.
Two blue heads rested close together.
Creamu’s tiny fingers tapped onto the duke’s broad shoulder.
“Noona, bye-bye!”
Still in the duke’s arms, Creamu waved at me happily.
“Mm. Have fun, Creamu.”
I fought the warmth rising in my throat and waved back.
Had the flowers of the glass garden ever smelled this sweet?
The duke took each step as if dreaming.
His thoughts felt hazy.
But the small son holding onto him grounded him in reality.
Tap tap—Creamu’s tiny palm gently patted his hand again and again.
The duke’s heart stirred.
He bent down slightly to meet Creamu’s gaze.
The little boy beamed, joyful for reasons unknown.
Before he realized it, the duke felt his own mouth lifting in the same smile.
“Creamu.”
“Yes, Father?”
“It’s a fine day. Won’t you stay in my arms?”
