Chapter 37
Perhaps because there were children, the conversation at dinner did not last longer.
It was a pity for me though, as I was paying a lot of attention.
When dinner time was over, it was time for the children to get ready for bed.
They were usually parents who would personally watch over us during bedtime , but today they gave up that role to the servants.
“Sleep well, my babies. Mikhail, too.”
My parents kissed me, my sister, my brother and Mikhail good night.
Mikhail looked embarrassed as if he was not used to it at all.
“Sleep well, everyone.”
Grand Duke Leventis curtly said.
Mikhail seems to be familiar with that, and my brother just kept his manners and said, “Good night”, and the moment he answered back.
“La‐Laurentia?”
Along with my father’s embarrassed voice, Laurentia jumped onto the sofa where Grand Duke Leventis sat, and with an innocent face, she kissed his cheek.
“Good night.”
Perhaps because she was full, her eyes were already watery with sleepiness.
Grand Duke Leventis and even his grandson, Mikhail, blinked in the same way as if they were a bit surprised.
My mother and brother Damian were the only ones who quietly smiled.
Perhaps because of his years of experience, Grand Duke Leventis soon became calm and somehow…….
‘Why is he looking at me…….?’
With a face that was as if saying, “What about you?”
While I was looking at it from a distance, a bit flustered, my sister, who approached me, tapped me on the back as if telling me to go, while going, “Hehehe.”
‘No way, is he asking me for a good night kiss as well?’
Well, it doesn’t matter even if it’s a wrong guess.
Normally, younger siblings are forgiven even if they copy their older sisters and older brothers.
16 months of baby life, I now know that very well.
As I approached with my short legs and blankly looked up, the mouth of Grand Duke Leventis somehow flinched.
Then he lifted me up on his lap with a stern face.
When I followed my sister and kissed his cheek, the lips of Grand Duke Leventis really went up this time.
I probably did not hear it wrong when I heard the ‘gasp’ sound.
Since it was a sound that I hear from time to time when I even laughed.
Grand Duke Leventis stroked my head as if he was satisfied and quietly whispered.
“This must be why that kid likes the lady.”
Huh?
If you say it like that, shouldn’t he like my sister too?
Where in the world is his point?
When I tilted my head in doubt, the Grand Duke’s brusque look returned and he let me down.
‘You’re truly Mikhail’s grandfather, you’re an unpredictable person.’
* * *
My sister and brother’s room was on the east side of the second floor of the mansion, and my room was on the west side of the same floor.
My parents were a little disappointed with this.
“Should I build a separate building for the kidd?”‘
“On the contrary, when the children grow older, they may want to live apart.”
“As expected, my wife is wise, but what if they say they want to live together?”
“Then you can go and build a separate building at that time, or make the third floor a space for children because that floor is very empty.”
Of course, I didn’t think much of it.
Just because my room is a little farther, it doesn’t mean it will be hard to see each other.
My sister was a little upset that my room was not near.
“Then brother will change rooms with Anastasia.”
Because brother Damian said that so willingly, on the contrary, she closed her mouth.
Anyway, for that reason, I had no choice but to go up the stairs on the second floor with my sister and brother then go in a different direction, but instead, Mikhail was holding my hand as if he was excited.
“It’s my first time sleeping with the baby.”
No, you’re going to be in a different room.
My parents prepared a guest room right next to my room, you know?
When I had a sullen expression, Mikhail burst into small laughter.
“Can I sleep next to you if you’re scared?”
You’re not asking to come over if you’re scared?
No way, were you the type to be scared of things like ghosts?
You look like someone who has nothing to be scared of in the world.
‘Well, he’s still a 6-year-old kid.’
Still, Mikhail Leventis being scared of ghosts, he’s childishly cute like that?
As expected, I couldn’t imagine it.
‘No matter how I look at it, I could only see that he was joking around even now.’
Mikhail was really very excited.
As he said, even though he had been living in the duke’s mansion, he has never slept here before.
When my parents first took care of Mikhail, they said he could stay at home together with us, but the Grand Duke Leventis seemed to have said that it wasn’t allowed.
Instead, the Grand Duke built a cottage about 40 minutes away by carriage from the Duke’s residence so that Mikhail could stay there.
‘Come to think of it, Mikhail always politely refused even if my mother sometimes said he could sleep over.’
He couldn’t even hide his expression which was as if he was very disappointed.
‘Seeing you look so excited like this, I guess you really wanted to sleep over.’
When I glanced up at Mikhail, I made eye contact with him at the right timing.
Just in time, we stopped walking, because we were also in front of my room, but Mikhail squatted down like that and asked, matching my line of sight.
“Can I come to say my morning greetings?”
Why is he asking me something like this?
“No?”
“Ish okei.” [It’s okay.]
“Really?”
Mikhail’s face brightened as if he didn’t know he would get permission.
“Then I’ll definitely go there in the morning to say my greetings. I promise I won’t force you to wake you up.”
In case I’d change my mind and say no, Mikhail even made a promise that I didn’t have to rush. [—to wake up/prepare]
And then.
“Won’t you do that to me?”
“Huh?”
“Good night kiss, you gave one to my grandfather.”
What is he talking about?
“You did it to Damian and Laurentia a little while ago too.”
That’s because they’re my older sister and older brother.
“Hm?”
You also didn’t do that with my sister and brother!
I mean, if you’re going to do that, shouldn’t it be with my brother?
You’re brother’s friend.
When I lightly stepped back, Mikhail murmured as if he was disappointed, drooping his eyes.
“As expected, it’s not possible if it’s not your family…..?”
“……”
“It’s my first time today.”
‘Right, I don’t think he’ll do something like that with Grand Duke Leventis.’
His sullen face weakened my mind.
Yeah, I would be a very bad person if I don’t grant a six-year-old child’s wish.
Since, when I also first received a good night kiss in this life, I felt very happy and fluffy.
As if it was nothing, I kissed Mikhail’s cheek and opened my mouth.
“Gwoo nigh.” [Good night.]
Then, flowers bloomed over the young boy’s sullen face.
After kissing my forehead, Mikhail raised his body and responded with a bright smile.
“Good night, baby. See you tomorrow.”
* * *
Of course, I wasn’t a good child who went straight to bed.
As soon as I separated with Mikhail, I eavesdropped on the conversation in the drawing room.
“Are you sure that the queen is pregnant?”
“That’s right.”
When Grand Duke Leventis affirmed once more, a short sigh came out of my parents’ mouths.
“I heard that the child will be born next spring.”
“Spring? If it’s spring, then it’s already……”
“Yes, it means it’s been about five months.”
At the words of the Grand Duke, my mother clicked her tongue and said.
“I understand that, it’s been 10 years since she got married, but I haven’t heard from her at all.”
“That’s why His Majesty the King has been doing well.”
Grand Duke Leventis also spoke in a very begrudging tone.
“We’re originally hated by His Majesty the King, but shouldn’t you be prepared?”
My body trembled with surprise at those words, and unintentionally surprised the maids who were wiping my body.
“Oh dear, our lady must be cold.”
“That’s serious!”
The maids busily dressed me in thicker pajamas than usual, laid me on the baby bed, and covered me with thick blankets.
Thanks to this, I felt the weight of the untimely winter blanket and tried to eavesdrop again on the conversation in the drawing room that had been cut off for a moment.
However.
“The youngest will also be three years old in the new year, so it would be okay to go up to the capital.”
“Be careful, especially the duchess.”
“Don’t worry too much, Grand Duke.”
In the meantime, all the important talks had already passed.
I sighed briefly.
‘Well, I can ask Choco to find out the details, but…’
Even so, it was very uncomfortable.
About half a year ago, when the b*st4rd broke into my dream, I investigated this world in my own way.
Naturally, I also investigated the country where I was born.
‘I’m sure I heard that the king is the type of person who wants to maintain the status quo and behaves peacefully..…?’
He ascended to the throne effortlessly, but because even though it has been more than a decade, and there was still no news of an heir, he couldn’t gain a strong power.
‘That’s why I didn’t worry much.’
It’s because it was an image where even my father appropriately conceded and did not develop a big confrontation with the king.
[TN: i think she’s referring to a situation where the two are not that aggressive to each other or sth.]
However, such a king gained a successor, and my parents, who know his nature better than anyone else, are worried.
‘The situation is a bit uncomfortable.’
I had a feeling that it would be bothersome.
The reason why the current king, Luxius Parsian, was able to get the throne effortlessly even though he was incompetent.
It was none other than because my mother gave up the throne.