Chapter 14

When I went out to greet my husband returning with dignity from the war this year, my

mother-in-law did not accompany me. I couldn't ask my mother-in-law to meet her son in the

cold wind after she said she was not feeling well. So my only choice was to wrap Carl tightly and

go with Carl's nanny, Charlotte, and his escort following us.

Mother-in-law's illness, who was sick in time for her son's return to the castle, was very

unfortunate. There seemed to be a reason why she did not want to appear here, rather than

because of the bad relationship between the Duke and her. If she had had a bad relationship

with her son, she would have ignored my request to come to see Carl, and she wouldn't have

listened to my request for help because I would be ignored.

Anyway, with knights and soldiers, the Duke proudly returned to the castle. He looked

somewhat tired, but I was relieved to see the Duke looked strong. I knew that he wouldn't die

until he handed over the Duke's title to Carl, but the word "I won't die" doesn't guarantee a fatal

injury or cripple. The Duke of Demancier, Gellerhard, was a father who was indifferent to the

main character, Carl, so nothing about him was described in detail in the book. Therefore, I was

afraid while he was leaving for war and now relieved that he was returning.

The Duke, who disbanded the soldiers and then the knights, got off the horse and

approached me. Behind him, the Viscount Demans eyed his wife passionately, following her

movements. When I hugged Carl and was held in the Duke's arms, the Viscount and his wife

slipped to the side and had an emotional reunion. Farther away, Carl's other nanny, Baroness,

could be seen reuniting with her husband and children. I took my eyes off the enthusiastic

couples and leaned slightly against the Duke's chest, who hugged me with a solid body. His

body was really hard because he was still wearing armor. Carl, who was stuck between us,

reached out and buried his small hand in the fur worn by the Duke and patted him. The fur was

much rougher, so Carl enjoyed the texture.

"I'm glad you came back safely."

"Yes, I came back safely..."

The Duke's hand slightly touched my cheek. Surprised by the smell and texture of cold

iron, I reflexively pulled my face back. The Duke held my hand and his purple eyes captured my

eyes. I couldn't know or guess what the man who had just returned from the war was thinking

while looking at his wife's face.

"Hi!"

Carl's voice rang loudly. The Duke's and my eyes were on the child at the same time.

Carl, whose cheeks and nose was red in the cold wind, smiled lovingly as usual and saw the

Duke's face.

"You've grown quite a lot."

"Right? Come on, hug him."

The Duke held Carl in his arms because he couldn't overcome my momentum. Carl shed

a few tears from dissatisfaction with his hard father's arms, and then changed his mood by

stroking the fur on his father's armor. The Duke's arms around the baby were sloppy, but Carl

was not as young as before. He managed to sit up in the Duke's sloppy arms. Perhaps because

he was the son of a famous knight, Carl's physical ability and growth were extraordinary.

"He's much heavier than last time."

"It's been half a year, of course. The children grow fast,"

The Duke nodded at me. I spoke as if I were scolding him but he did not do anything

particularly offensive. Eventually, Carl struggled in the uncomfortable arms of the Duke, and the

Duke dropped the baby to the ground. Carle walked on his own and hung on to the edge of my

skirt.

"Hey, naughty little Duke!"

I picked Carl back up in my arms and the baby laughed. The Duke put his hand on my

waist as if to go in and led me to the castle. Just before entering the castle together, we found

Charlotte standing by the door. Usually, nobles started to introduce each other because they

could greet others only when they were introduced.

"Oh, you know your mother is here, right? I'll introduce you to a guest who came with

your mother."

"...I already know Countess Emile. It's been a long time."

The Duke said in a cold voice, pausing for a moment at my words.

"It's been a while, Duke Demancier."

Charlotte bowed politely toward the Duke. Despite the very short greeting, I felt

something strange flowing between the two at that moment.

It wasn't a pink aura. If I had to color it, it would be a very hostile atmosphere, dark red!

Charlotte has always been quiet and docile, but she just doesn't like what she doesn't like! It

was also strange for the Duke to say "Get rid of it!" with his hostile gaze. Intimidating his

opponent silently.

The Duke quickly walked in silently, I was following behind and barely told Charlotte to

go in because it was cold. The Duke kept his mouth closed and wrapped his cold

gauntlet-covered hand around my waist. I didn't understand the situation.

The Duke headed to wash up immediately, and the castle was busy preparing for the

banquet, where only men would participate. In order not to repeat last year's mistakes, I took

care of Care in the nursery. The maid and Mrs. May told me about how the banquet was going,

and I went to bed early.

The chef prepared a mountain of food and the butler brought in several bottles of

alcohol. The men will eat it all at the banquet and pass out all over the castle. I didn't worry

much because it was an annual banquet. In addition, after the mother-in-law returned, the

relationship between the servants and I became stronger. Although the war of nerves between

Charlotte and the Duke was strangely irritating.

If the atmosphere had a pink tint it would make you feel like they were in love...even if it

would be scandalous, it would have been understandable. Instead, the hostile atmosphere

between the two gave no clues, so I couldn't guess. Charlotte said it had already been nearly

five years since she began attending to mother in law. Mother-in-law said she left the work of

the Duchess to Marilyn when she was pregnant with Carl. Charlotte would have left with mother

in law at that time. Now, about three years later, the two face each other again, so what's the

reason for the duke's relationship with a woman like his mother's caregiver?

"Ah!"

Mother-in-law left the Duchess work to Marilyn as soon as she got used to it. Marilyn! I

remember her pink letter and dried flowers on her dressing table.

Countess Emile, Charlotte.

The sender of the letter was Charlotte. This means that Marilyn was so close to

Charlotte that she kept the dried flowers and letters in the drawer of the dressing table. Did

Charlotte know that the Duke was cold to her when she had been weak after giving birth to

Carl? Even taking in a new wife shortly after Marilyn's death. Does Charlotte hate the Duke?

I was also a friend of Marilyn and I became a duchess through her, but Charlotte, who

was away from the castle at the time, might be thinking differently. A wife who passed away

after giving birth, and a man who married a friend of his wife shortly after her death. Oh, it was a

combination that I would have cursed and hated.

But for that, Charlotte has never been particularly hostile to me. She always stood by

mother in law quietly. She couldn't take her eyes off Carl at first, she would secretly avoid the

nursery and quietly stand by mother-in-law, avoiding Carl's. Sometimes she gave appropriate

herbs to those who complained of headaches, abdominal pain, or menstrual pain. I liked her

doing her best without saying a word.

I looked far into the burning fireplace and climbed into the bed. I was depressed to think

that Charlotte might hate me, perhaps because I had met and talked to get. Don't think too

much and sleep.

At that time, I heard a knock followed by a woman's voice calling for me, "Madam." Well,

I cleared my throat and answered.

"Come on in."

I was too lazy to go out to open the door, and there were only two people in this castle

for who I would have to open the door. The Duke and mother-in-law. When the door opened, the

maid came into the bedroom with her head down.

"Come closer."

The maid approached with a calm step and stopped in front of the bed where I was lying.

When asked what was going on, she told a pretty surprising story.

"The Duke asked if he can take you to bed soon?"

Rushing the end of the sentence, the maid bowed her head further. I was surprised. I

thought he would need to crawl into the bedroom and fall asleep after drinking alcohol. Did...he

miss the touch of a woman after drinking?

"Is there an owner of a bedroom between a couple? Tell him I understand."

"Yes, ma'am."

The maid seemed pleased with my positive answer. I couldn't see the expression

because she bowed her head, but the voice of the response was cheerful. Well, even if the

response of rejection is from me, it is the maid who delivers it. So if I refused, I would be afraid

that the Duke would be angry. I understood her joy because many aristocrats sometimes vent

their anger on servants and maids.

The maid left the room and I took a fresh look at myself. I wore pajamas to go to bed and

my hair was loosely tied down. It was not in a messy or bad condition, but I was nervous to

meet my husband in the bedroom after half a year.

Soon after, I heard a knock.

This time, I raised my body and headed toward the door. I was conscious of my heart

pounding for no reason. When I opened the door, there was the Duke.

"Wow, you smell like alcohol."

"...I didn't drink much."

Compared to the strong smell of alcohol and the Duke's cheeks being red, he seemed

relatively intact and talking. As I stepped aside, the Duke came into my bedroom and took off his

cloak-like robe from his shoulders, dropping it on the floor.

"Ahhh"

Breathing out, the Duke roughly took off his clothes and sat in front of the fireplace.

Sitting languidly on a soft carpet, sulking his shoulders with his big back, the flames cast

shadows around him. Damn. I know. No cursing, but really. Damn.