Chapter 32

The Fourth Plan. To increase the intimacy between the father and the son. (2)

When one eventually became the Duke and Duchess of DeMancier, things like bedtime and such would no longer be kept as a secret. When the Duke and Duchess awakened in the morning, those who stood by to aid them would have definitely known where their masters were. And in fact, those who made the bed right after their masters had woken up were not simply a company of just one or two people. What about those who had come in late at night during the time when the owners were already asleep before taking a look at the fireplace?

In addition, unlike the civilized society of the 21st century, a place where lands and titles were inherited through blood like here, it was not something that should be kept hidden or concealed when the Lord slept together with his own wife. Since, even mentioning it was seen to be rude after all.

Right now, amidst these early days when I had just become a duchess, I tried to build up my place by spending the night with the Duke and in emphasis, the Duke also sought me out at night in order to strengthen my position. Even though there were times when one would say something about a passionate relationship before ‘congratulating’ the couple in person, they never said that it was actually embarrassing to listen to at all. And on top of that, I really had to get used to this, but every time I encountered something like this, I still got very embarrassed.

“Ah, yes… Gellerhard was a bit… he looked absolutely tired earlier. It rarely happens, so I eventually decided to go out first.”

It would be utterly embarrassing if she were to think that her son had actually been tired from me sucking his spirit last night… All the previous mothers-in-law whom I had seen in the last drama soon passed by. Fortunately, the Duchess Dowager was a very rational individual.

“I’ve come a long way, so it’s all worth it.”

Carl excitedly trod along the sofa before he began to spread his arms towards me and leaned over his body as if he was tumbling frontward. As I accepted the child’s body and patted his buttock while tickling him, Carl chuckled as he wriggled his body in response. I watched as Carl laughed as he patted my arms and legs. Then, I withdrew his hand and took a seat down on the sofa while Carl simply sat on my lap as if it was his own designated seat.

I winked at the maid and she immediately picked up Carl’s shoe that had fallen on her floor. Then, I put the shoe back on Carl once again. The Duchess Dowager appeared to be looking closely at both Carl and myself.

“It’s wonderful to know that the relationship between the couple itself is good. Especially since you like Carl, I don’t think it will change even if you were to become pregnant any time.”

“Sure. Even if I were to give birth to a child, Carl will definitely be the Next Duke and my attitude won’t ever change at all.”

The Duchess Dowager had never talked about having the next child. I had been the Duke’s new wife after all, so it was regardless of the possibility of a new pregnancy as well. On this occasion, I replied, expressing that I had no intention of threatening the positions of both Merilyn’s and also Carlos’s. Even if I were to give birth to a child, the position of the Duke of DeMancier would eventually become Carl’s next. Unlike ‘Amanda’ in the original novel, I would never aim for that position at all.

“Status is definitely important to Carl, but a loving mother has an equal importance as well. My son would have been able to enjoy it, but I couldn’t really do it. Sometimes, seeing what you do towards Carl makes me feel somehow sorry for that child.”

“Mother…”

I just didn’t know how to react. A light of remorse was seen to flash across the Duchess Dowager’s always unerring face. Nevertheless, she quickly put back her feelings under wraps.

“Actually, it would be more prudent for me to be present at both his departure as well as his return ceremonies as his mother, but… it’s a tad bit difficult since I still think of my husband.”

Her words made sense of her behavior yesterday. The previous Duke of DeMancier had returned from the battlefield as a mere corpse. A handful of knights returned with the Duke’s body and Gellerhard, who eventually succeeded the Duke’s position informally, had to leave right away since the Commander’s seat could never be left vacant on the battlefield. I couldn’t even imagine the pain and shock that she must have felt when her husband, whom she hoped for a safe return, had come back earlier and on top of that, in an unexpected condition too.

“Ah, Mother….”

Imagining Gellerhard would return as a corpse made my heart thump and tears began to well up in my eyes. Even though he was just a husband who had only slept with me, I was still in pain despite the fact that I had simply imagined it.

“I should have been more considerate of Mother…”

“Don’t look like that. It was something that I should have told you earlier after all. Anyway, I’m so glad that you are fond of Gellerhard and Carl. With Merilyn… she had been a very nice and sweet child, but she was strangely off with Gellerhard instead.”

“Merilyn?”

The Duchess Dowager had already heard all about the story of how Merilyn and I had been very close friends as well as the fact that she entrusted her Carl to me while asking me to remarry the Duke. However, the Duchess Dowager had never told me the story of Merilyn herself. The Duchess Dowager was being considerate in her own way and I could feel that she would not compare me to Merlin in any way at all.

She eventually broke that unwritten rule and talked about Merilyn to me. I also had guessed that the Duke and Merilyn were not on good terms, but it came out as a bit of a surprise that even the Duchess Dowager, who was only in the castle during the beginning of their honeymoon, noticed it as well.

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