Chapter 78
“Maybe, it’s because you’re so pretty. I can’t show it to anyone.”
“The only one who says that is the Duke.”
“Everyone can’t say that. I have my eyes wide open like this.”
Even when he said it from the heart, Rosalind only passed it off as a joke. She then shook her head with a really tired face.
“I can’t even wear clothes because I have no strength.”
With a playful scolding, he moved closer to Rosalind and started dressing her instead. The hand that fastened the half-fastened button was so kind.
“Are you really going to make me a baby?”
“So what?”
It really didn’t matter.
“And, where’s such a lewd baby?”
He spoke as he gazed at Rosalind’s nape. Her neck was already mottled with the red marks he had left behind.
Realizing his words, Rosalind lowered her head, trying to hide her expression. She had mingled with him just a moment ago but still felt ashamed when the subject came up. It seemed that she was still not immune.
“Next time, don’t come with the kids, just the two of us. You and me.”
She nodded her head, her cheeks flushed with heat at his quiet whisper. His lips rested softly on her forehead.
“I think it was good that we came here to play. Reminds me of the old days…”
Rosalind continued, looking around the room.
“Making good memories. Leo likes it, too.”
“Really? That’s fortunate.”
He smiled a little, barely visible. He followed Rosalind, gazing around the room, and opened his mouth in a calm voice.
“When I first came to this house, I felt like I was being punished.”
Kyle remembered the old days that had haunted him all along. His heart broke when he learned that she was weak and had never lived on her own but had to raise her child alone here. The days when she was not confident seemed to stab him painfully.
It was on his mind all the time, so he wanted to change this place even if it was already late like a regret that was a step too late, even if it was very, very late.
“The days I treated you badly remain as regrets. Still.”
“It’s okay.”
Sorry. I’m sorry.
He said, holding Rosalind in his arms. It was a calm but sincere voice. Countless nights and days without her were stained with regret. Even though his daily life with Rosalind felt natural, there were times when it felt like a miracle that Rosalind was by his side.
So, Kyle added in a slightly impatient voice.
“Because I will do better in the future.”
How do you plan to do better from here?
Rosalind asked playfully, but his voice was still low and distant.
“Then, don’t go anywhere without me.”
He said something similar before… As she thought so, Rosalind stared straight at Kyle and replied affectionately.
“Of course.”
“Promise.”
“Yes.”
Rosalind’s answer seemed obvious, but he narrowed her eyes in disbelief.
“Only in words…?”
“Then?”
“Stamp it, too.”
“Stamp?”
When she opened her eyes wide, he tapped his cheek with his index finger.
“Stamp it with the lips.”
The atmosphere that had calmed down a bit was immediately relieved. Rosalind finally burst into laughter at his characteristic gentle look.
She naturally fell into his arms.
“I’m not going anywhere. Forever.”
“Well, I’m not going to send you anyway.”
I can’t live anyway.
A light kiss accompanied by Rosalind’s laughter soon led to a deep kiss.
The next morning.
Rosalind woke up later than usual, making the most of her vacation. Leo, who played with Joseph all day until yesterday, must have been sleeping in even more, so time passed, and the second floor was quiet.
In the end, the maid went upstairs to look at Leo as the family who sat at the table first were waiting for Leo.
“…Good morning.”
After a long yawn, Leo came to the table. She was about to go upstairs to check if he was deeply asleep, but they said that the Young Master was coming down. Rosalind gave her thanks and spoke affectionately to Leo.
“You overslept.”
The child yawned again and nodded.
As he yawned in succession, she quietly smiled as she walked along with him, as the child rubbed his eyes as if he hadn’t woken up yet. Even though Leo was quite big, in her eyes, he still looked like a baby.
“Oh, it’s beans again.”
Looking at the food on the table, Leo poked out his mouth as if he didn’t like it. He sat down at the table, staring at the plate, then started rolling the beans around with the tip of his fork. He didn’t put it in his mouth and just played around with it, and it was clear that he didn’t want to eat it.
“Leo, even if you don’t want to eat, you have to eat.”
Kyle spoke firmly and commandingly.
Leo, who opened his mouth, took a bite of the bean and put it in his mouth. Actually, he could have eaten the other food in front of him though the child used to eat what he didn’t want to eat first and then what he wanted to eat.
“Because I will become a wonderful and great adult like dad. I have to listen carefully to mom and dad to become a great adult.”
Leo nodded his head, making a promise.
After the banquet that confirmed Leo’s birthday and successor, he started studying with a private tutor.
The class wasn’t too difficult for his young age, but Leo was a good student. Even when the teacher taught him things that were a bit daunting, when he said it was “Things you need to learn to become a great adult,” he followed them diligently, unbelievably for a child his age.
“Leo, you don’t have to try hard to become a great adult.”
Rosalind said with a soft smile. The child gazed up at her, his eyes twinkling as if he had met his savior.
“Still, you have to be a healthy adult.”
When he added with a playful laugh, Leo pouted.
She spoke like a joke, but to some extent, she meant it.
Leo was appointed as the successor, and it was true that as the first of the family, he should succeed Kyle, but in her heart, she did not want him to be too hard on himself. He was already much more mature than kids his age.
“Yes. You have to eat evenly.”
Hearing Kyle’s words, Leo nodded his head and began to munch the beans reluctantly.
As they continued their meal, Chloe, who was drinking milk in the nanny’s arms, suddenly burst into tears. Rosalind and Kyle’s eyes turned to Chloe at the sudden crying. The moment Rosalind was about to move, a rather solemn voice rang out.
“Chloe.”
Leo had called his sister’s name firmly.
“Chloe. You have to be quiet while eating.”
Leo was speaking earnestly to his younger sister, who couldn’t understand a single word he had said. His face was so gentle and solemn that Rosalind, who was watching him, laughed without realizing it.
“You have to be quiet.”
When Leo raised his voice sternly, Chloe burst out crying even louder. The nanny tried shaking the child to comfort her, but the child, who was already frightened, would not calm down. Seeing Chloe in the nanny’s arms, Kyle reached out for her.
“Come here.”
The nanny approached Kyle, and he deftly picked up the child. After comforting her in his broad arms, the crying subsided a little.
Kyle, wiping the child’s mouth with a handkerchief, smiled softly like the moonlight.
“Somehow, Chloe seems to like the Duke more than me.”
Rosalind, who was watching it, opened her mouth, a little disappointed.
“I’m better at taking care of the kids.”
He smiled mischievously and shrugged his shoulders.
In that sense…
“Don’t you want to give me a reward?”
Later at night.
As he added the shape of his mouth, Rosalind laughed even louder, this time because of that. Covering her mouth while laughing, she poked his waist with her elbow.
“I really can’t believe you.”
“What? Why?”
He asked Rosalind in her coy voice.
When he said night, she suddenly remembered what he said about leaving the kids behind last night. When she heard those words, her heart fluttered like the night she saw him for the first time.
The days spent with him passed silently through her mind. Her time with him wasn’t always thrilling and happy. There were times when she came here to get away from him. At that time, it was difficult for her to even endure each day.
Right now, sitting so affectionately and exchanging jokes with him, it felt like those moments were healing little by little… Perhaps, it was because there was love.
It was because he loved her, and it was because she loved him.
“Alright.”
Rosalind whispered in a calm voice.
“Night or day… anything.”
Her cheeks turned red like a girl’s.
As long as she was with him, everything, anytime, was always nice. A soft laugh flowed from Kyle after hearing Rosalind’s shy reply, and when he laughed, Leo laughed as well. Only Chloe, ignorant of anything, could only blink her eyes, exhausted from crying.
Such a trivial yet everyday moment.
Rosalind gazed at her husband and her children, feeling as warm as a sudden spring breeze. It was peaceful and happy like any other day, yet it was a special day.
…A special morning because there was love.
Rosalind smiled quietly as she felt the sunlight sinking down.
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