Chapter 27

The third method. Making my side. (7)

Anyway, the Duke returned to the castle majestically, with a lot of Knights and soldiers. It was a bit tiring, but I was relieved to see the Duke looking strong. I knew he wouldn’t die until that man handed over the Duchy to Carl, but the phrase ‘I won’t die; doesn’t guarantee ‘I won’t be mortally injured or crippled’. The Duke of DeMancier, Gellerhard, was an indifferent father to the main character, Carl, so nothing about him was detailed in the book. Therefore, when I saw him leaving for the battlefield and returning, I was relieved and afraid that he would be injured.

The Duke, who disbanded the soldiers and then the knights, got off his horse and approached me. Behind him came Viscount Desmond, making eye contact with his wife. When I held Carl in the Duke’s arms, the Viscount and Viscountess slipped aside and met with emotion. In the distance, another nanny of Carl, the Baroness, was seen reuniting with her husband with her children. I took my eyes off the ardent couples and leaned my head slightly against the Duke’s chest, which held me rigidly. His body was hard because he was still in armor. Carl caught between us, reached out, and buried his little bracken hand in the fur the Duke was wearing, stroking it with joy. The fur worn by the Duke was much stiffer and rougher, so Karl found the touch amusing.

“I’m glad you came back safely.”

“That’s right, I got here safely…”

The Duke’s hand touched my cheek. Surprised by the cold smell and touch of iron, I reflexively pulled my face back. The Duke bit his hand and his purple eyes captured my face. I couldn’t know or guess what the man who had just returned from the war would be thinking about his wife’s face.

“Hello!”

Carl’s voice rang out. Duke and I moved to the child at the same time. Carl, whose cheeks and nose were red in the cold wind, smiled lovingly as usual and looked at the Duke’s face.

“You’ve grown quite a bit.”

“Right? Here, hug him.”

The Duke couldn’t beat my momentum, so he took Carl in his arms. Carl was crying as if he was dissatisfied with his father’s hard arms and then changed his mood by stroking the stiff fur again. The Duke’s arms holding the baby were sloppy, but Carl was not as young as he used to be, so he managed to balance himself well in the sloppy arms. Perhaps because he was the son of a famous knight, Carl’s physical ability and growth were extraordinary.

“He’s a lot heavier than last time.”

“It’s been half a year, of course. Kids grow up like crazy.”

The Duke nodded at my words. He didn’t seem to be offended by my harsh tone. Eventually, Carl struggled in the uncomfortable arms of the Duke and the Duke dropped the baby off. Carl toddled himself and clung to my skirt.

“Hey, you poor Young Master!”

I held Carl in my arms again and the baby laughed in my arms. As if to enter, the Duke touched my waist and led me toward the castle. Just before we entered the castle together, I found Charlotte standing still by the door. Usually, nobles were introduced before they could give a greeting.

“Oh, you know your mother is here, right? Let me introduce you to a guest who came with your mother.”

“…If it’s the Young Lady, Countess Emile, I already know it. Long time no see.”

Said the Duke, who paused for a moment at my words, in a displeased voice.

“Long time no see. The Duke of Desmancier.”

Charlotte bowed politely to the Duke. Despite the brief exchange of greetings, I sensed at that moment that there was something strange aura flowing between the two.

It wasn’t a pink aura. If I had to name a color, it was a very hostile aura of dark reddish colors. Charlotte, who has always been quiet and calm, had eyes that said she didn’t like it! Get it away! It was also unfamiliar to see the Duke look at someone silently with a hostile gaze.

The Duke hurried without saying a word, and I followed him and told Charlotte that it is cold, so she should go in. The Duke closed his mouth tightly and his wrapped cold hand wore a gauntlet around my waist. I couldn’t figure out what was what.

The Duke, who entered the castle, went to wash up immediately, and the castle was busy preparing for the banquet, in which only polite men participated. In order not to repeat last year’s mistake, I took care of Carl in the nursery and heard from the maid and Lady May to see if the banquet preparations were going well and went to the bedroom early.

The chef prepared a mountain of food and the butler brought in several bottles of alcohol. And men will eat it all at the banquet and go in and sleep. I didn’t worry much because it was an annual banquet. In addition, the discipline between the servants became stronger after The Duchess Dowager returned, so I was not particularly worried, but the war of nerves between Charlotte and the Duke was strangely disturbing.

If it was a pink nerve war, it’s more like falling in love… Even if it felt dirty, it would have been understandable, but the hostile air current between the two of them could not be guessed because there was no clue. Charlotte said it has already been almost five years since she stood by The Duchess Dowager. The Duchess Dowager said that she left once Merilyn got used to the Duchess’s work and when she was pregnant with Carl, so Charlotte would have left with The Duchess Dowager at that time. So now that the two of them are facing each other about three years later, what’s the point of having a bad relationship with a woman who is his mother’s caregiver?

“Ah!”

The Duchess Dowager left the Duchy when Merilyn got used to the duchess’s job. Merilyn! I remembered a pink envelope with dried flowers on her dresser.

Young Lady of Emile, Charlotte.