Chapter 9

Although I was worried, after a few days, Rias started to come back home.

It seems that the attacker turned out to be a lone criminal, but it was hard to believe given how much we struggled.

But if they couldn't find anything, there was nothing we could do.

After the matter was settled, Rias started to come home every night for dinner.

Actually, we didn't see each other's faces, but it seems he didn't completely avoid this mansion.

He would come back in the middle of the night and give instructions to ensure the mansion ran smoothly. I heard this from the butler.

For the first dinner, I had a small table set up in the spacious dining room. Rias and I sat facing each other, with Eidan in between.

Normally, Eidan's seat would be the seat of honor, but Rias said, "I'll leave it to you," when I asked through the butler if this setup was fine, so I didn't hesitate.

"Mmm, mmm."

"Is it delicious?"

"Delicious!!"

Eidan leaned back and let out a strange cry.

Clang, the glass made a sound. It seemed to have slipped from Rias's hand.

I didn't have time to look over; I wiped the rice that overflowed from Eidan's mouth.

Clatter, I hit the fork I was holding against the table.

"A, ah!"

"Here, here, this one."

It was probably a ball of mashed potatoes. When I tried to skewer it with the fork and pull it closer, Eidan's head moved closer and he put it in his mouth.

"Ah, Eidan. No, you have to use the fork."

"No!"

"It's okay to use your hands for bread."

When I tried to hand him the bread, he also bit it.

No, his small mouth, which just grazed it, was cute... but that's not the point.

"Eidan, give me your hands."

"Ch, ch."

"Here, please."

"A, ah."

I managed to get him to hold the bread in his hand.

While he was sucking on it, I brought the soup to his mouth.

"Have you always eaten dinner like this?"

When Eidan's belly was somewhat full and he calmed down, Rias said in a growl.

"Huh? Yes, I have."

"Shouldn't this be left to a nanny?"

I finally looked at Rias's face, which I had ignored because I was busy. He seemed a bit pale.

Eidan's table area was incredibly messy. The white tablecloth was already a mess.

If you looked closely, you might lose your appetite.

I sat to Eidan's right because I'm right-handed. We were close enough to touch each other if we reached out.

"It's a family dinner. It's more delicious to eat together, right?"

There was another reason.

Recently, Eidan had started to follow me around.

Following, the best.

I had seen him with the nanny, but he was doing it for me too. I was so happy.

Moreover, he came to me more often than to the nanny. He would cry if he couldn't see me. It was unbearable.

Because of this, he ate well when I fed him. I thought it was bad when I saw him throw the fork at the nanny.

The nanny, after all, is an employee and can't scold Eidan. She might scold him a bit in dangerous situations. Thinking about entrusting the increasingly strong and difficult Eidan to such a nanny, I decided to take charge of feeding him.

He is relatively calm when he is with me. But he cries when I'm not there.

So cute.

It might look like a disaster to someone seeing it for the first time, but it's relatively calm now.

If it seems impossible, we can shift the times... but...

The ideal is for Rias to feed Eidan dinner eventually. Being fed is a sign of trust, I think.

It seems it will be a long time coming...

"——Do you dislike eating with a child?"

After all, he is a duke. If it seems impossible, we can shift the times.

"That... I'm surprised by the lack of such a custom."

Rias honestly expressed his confusion.

"More than that——I'm concerned that you're not eating."

"Me?"

"I am eating."

"You're already so slim. I think you should eat more."

"Watching Eidan eat does make me feel fuller."

"That's not good."

"You're right."

While listening to him half-heartedly, I tried to put cooked vegetables in Eidan's mouth.

"Eidan, ahn."

"No!"

"It's a delicious carrot, see, ahn—n!"

I looked at Rias, who was across from me, in surprise.

Rias, with a completely innocent face, had put food in my mouth. It was... meat.

I wanted to say, "What are you doing?" but I couldn't speak with food in my mouth.

I gave him a reproachful look, but Rias kept a serious face.

"——What exactly..."

"You seem busy feeding Eidan, so I thought I'd help you."

"Wha—"

"Here, please."

"Eh, ah..."

More food was put in my mouth. ——You're good at feeding. No, that's not the point.

I want to feed Eidan, not be fed!

"How is it? ——By the way, I haven't heard your opinion on our home cooking. We received a few recipes from the palace, but we can't use them every day."

"Rias."

I managed to stop him from trying to feed me again.

"The food is satisfactory. And... I can eat by myself."

"Please don't be so formal. ——Please, do it for Eidan."

No, even if you say that...

But the pressure. This man, with his perfect face, exerts a lot of pressure.

"Eh, Eidan. Here, ah—n."

No, what is this enthusiasm? As soon as I opened my mouth a little, he put food in.

"No!"

Eidan suddenly got angry.

He was supposed to be happy eating.

"A, ah... no!"

He was waving the fork around. If he could control his grip, he would have thrown it.

"Eidan? What's wrong? Was it not delicious?"

Eidan, with his round, milky tea-colored eyes, looked at me and was clearly upset.

"Wha—no!"

He held out the fork. At the end was probably steamed pumpkin.

This, could it be.

"Eidan, are you giving it to Mommy?"

I looked at Rias in amazement.

"Rias! You saw you feeding me, and Eidan is imitating you!"

"Is that so...?"

"Eidan! What a kind boy!"

I couldn't help but hug Eidan.

"A, mommy!"

He even called me mommy.

I signaled the servant with my eyes. The nanny came immediately.

"Come on, Master Eidan, let's have dessert over there."

When the nanny invited him, he probably sensed something delicious and reached out his arms.

When Eidan left, it suddenly became quiet.

"——You really care for Eidan, don't you?"

"He's my son. I love him more than anything."

"Is that so...?"

"What about you?"

"What...?"

I resumed my meal. I had to eat so he wouldn't try to feed me again.

"What do you think of Eidan?"

"...Not as much as you, to the point of being unable to resist his cuteness. However, I will cherish him. He is your child, after all."

Hmm. A disappointing answer.

Oh no, it's showing on my face.

Let's change the topic.

"By the way, Rias. Can you call me by my name yet?"

Clank, Rias's cutlery made a sound again.

"Th, that..."

"I can't imagine you, Rias—"

I dramatically covered my mouth.

"Have you forgotten my name?"

"Of course not! That's impossible!"

It was a surprisingly loud voice.

When I was surprised, Rias also realized and straightened up.

"Th, that... still, it would be too presumptuous—"

"Please."

Just call me already.

"It's nothing once you do it. Come on."

"......Si......"

He couldn't continue.

I put meat in my mouth, chewed it thoroughly, and swallowed. I finished the salad in the same way.

"......Cynthia."

It was a small voice.

"Yes."

Since he called me, I answered with a big smile, not giving him a chance to add "Lady."

"Finally, you called me."

This is the first step to making us look like a couple, at least in form.

"S, sorry. ——Excuse me."

Before dessert even arrived, Rias said this and left.

The road ahead is long and difficult.

However, Rias started to eat dinner with us almost every night.

He began to call me by my name sometimes, and eventually, it became natural.

On holidays, we started to eat breakfast and lunch together too.

We only spend time together during meals, but it's a big step forward.

As we saw each other more often, Eidan's wariness of Rias gradually faded.

Eidan even asked for grapes from Rias's plate.

Overall, things were going according to plan, and I was satisfied.