Chapter 37

The Fourth Plan. To increase the intimacy between the father and the son. (7)

“It was what Merilyn had wanted.”

A random name popped up all of a sudden.

“Merilyn?”

Even just earlier, I had been told by Mother-in-law that Merilyn and the Duke were not really on good terms. What day was it today? Also, I never expected to hear a story about Merilyn and from the Duke himself. He really, never once did ever tell me about Merilyn at all.

“She said that she didn’t like it because she felt like she was being constantly watched while eating.”

“Okay?”

It was strange that Merilyn, who had been born as the daughter of Count Petrika, was rather uncomfortable with the feeling that all her times during meals were being watched as her maid would always follow her around no matter what she did anyway. When she was the daughter of Count Petrika, she never minded her maid serving her meals in the slightest and even when she was sick as I visited the castle, someone would always serve her meals at any cost.

And the only time that the servants of the Duke’s family didn’t attend the meals had been when the Duke was having a meal too. That was to say that when Merilyn dined with the Duke, she had been reluctant to be served. In fact, Gellerhard himself didn’t seem to believe in Merilyn’s reasons. Well, I couldn’t believe in Merilyn’s own reasons either. To be honest, I couldn’t even fathom why she had behaved the way she was. Then, he simply continued, albeit cynically.

“It would have been much easier to understand if she had said that she just didn’t want to dine with me.”

It looked like they were really on bad terms… Gellerhard took another sip of his tea and since I had nothing to say as well, I took a sip of mine. Carl was stirring about the melted ice cream before it splashed around and eventually landed onto Carl’s own hands. This, too, if one were to be served during mealtime, would have been changed in time and promptly be given a new set of ice cream. In addition, they would have also prepared a clean handkerchief that was soaked in water in advance. So, I just allow Carl to play with the ice cream a little longer. Since Carl already had his fun stirring the melted ice cream, he instantly became all sticky. The kind of stickiness that needed to be all washed while his clothes changed as well.

“Then, they don’t really have to do that for us anymore, do they?”

“Yes, but……”

I would have to wait for the maid once again and it would be obviously uncomfortable to do this whenever I were to have a meal together with Gellerhard for the next half a year. Nevertheless, Gellerhard seemed to be hesitating at my question.

“If there is someone else, will you speak casually with me?”

“Huh.”

Gellerhard instantly licked his lips in a disgruntled look. Did it feel so lonely to have no friends that could call each other by nicknames and no friends to talk to each other with either?

“But speaking casually on bed is already enough.”

Gellerhard bit his lip lightly. There wasn’t much time that we would really spend together during the day. It was only during meals like this or just in bed instead. He was busy in his own way and I was occupied by my own as well. Carl seemed to have played enough, so I put down the ice cream spoon and wiped the sticky ice cream off Carl’s lips as well as hands. Ugh, he needed to be washed up right this instant. Anything wouldn’t work at all. Carl just laughed at me while not knowing what I was really thinking about.

“I’m definitely going to be tired today, so let’s just spend time with Carl starting tomorrow onwards.”

“Will Mandy be joining us?”

Hesitantly, Gellerhard began to ask.

How could you let me play with Carl without yourself; seemed to be what his face was saying.

“Of course. We can’t simply entrust Carl only to you.”

It could probably be passed as a joke, but how could Gellerhard, who had flicked his son on the forehead when they finally met after a long time, be entrusted with Carl by himself?

“Right? Our Carl? Are you going to hang out with Mandy later?”

“Huh!”

Carl answered in a loud voice as I looked over at Gellerhard. The meal was over and the dessert had already been eaten. Now that we had talked about some things, it was time to go back to our own work.

“…Can we meet again later tonight?”

Gellerhard asked hesitantly, albeit regretfully.

“Yes.”

Why would you even ask that? Gellerhard’s face instantly brightened a little as he soon nodded.

“See you then, Mandy.”

“Okay.”

After putting Carl down from on my lap, the child eventually toddled towards the entrance of the dining hall. It had been a sign that he was now going out to play since he had finished eating. However, before all of that, I had to give him a bath first. Therefore, I hurriedly got up as well.

* * *

Gellerhard took a good day off, got his hair cut as it was before and finally, he spent some quality time with me at night. Then, he woke up early in the morning before waking me up and soon left the bed without saying a word. He seemed to have gotten busy with spending his schedule just like the Lord of the North.

Today’s lunch was only eaten by Carl and me alone. I was a little concerned that Gellerhard had been so busy that he couldn’t even have time to eat lunch. But a promise was still a promise, so I took Carl to find him. I had told him in advance at lunchtime yesterday and even at night, in the midst of our own busy schedule. I already said it several times and I could even hear him confirming that he was aware of it well, so there shouldn’t be a problem at all.

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