“My ideal type, someone like you, Master.”

Leticia’s smiling face was beautiful enough to captivate anyone in the world.

But Astrid felt a chill down her spine.

Over Leticia’s shoulder, she could see Chamuka. He had clearly heard what Leticia said about her ideal type.

Chamuka stared at Astrid with an interrogating look, and Astrid slightly avoided her son’s gaze.

“Ha, haha… I see. Our Leti really likes her master. But you don’t need to make me your ideal type…”

“Ah, rather than your appearance, umm… someone who knows how valuable they are.”

Leticia added, reminiscing about the past.

“The things you said when we first met were impressive. That confidence… when you naturally stated that you were more valuable than twelve warehouses full of gold?”

Astrid had naturally claimed that even the Grand Duke of Basilinte couldn’t afford the dowry to take her away.

Naturally recalling that moment, Astrid awkwardly countered Leticia’s words.

“Then you should say you like confident people, not me specifically.”

But Leticia firmly nailed it down, leaving Astrid no room to escape.

“I like people who are confident like you, Master. Not just arrogant people.”

To Astrid, Leticia’s description of her ideal type seemed more like admiration than romantic interest, but Chamuka apparently didn’t feel the same way.

“…Mother.”

Chamuka, who had silently approached behind Leticia, called out to Astrid.

Despite the sudden voice from behind her, Leticia wasn’t startled and turned her head to greet Chamuka.

“Hello, Chamuka.”

To Astrid’s suspicious eyes, she wondered how often he must have appeared suddenly for the child not to be surprised like this.

“Did you sleep well?”

The greetings he never gave to his parents flowed so easily from Chamuka’s mouth.

Chamuka treated Leticia specially, to the point where it was strange that no one except Hallik had suspected anything between those two until now.

“Yes. Did you come to see Master? Should I leave if you have something private to discuss?”

“No-“

Astrid hastily cut off Chamuka’s words.

“Yes! I called him because I had something to say. Our baby- I mean, Leti, would you go ahead and have breakfast?”

“Breakfast?”

Leticia questioned after checking the time, which was almost approaching lunch. Due to oversleeping, breakfast time had long passed.

“Lunch, I meant lunch. Oh my. Look at me.”

“…Master, are you really alright?”

As Leticia turned with concern in her eyes, Chamuka’s gaze slid back to Astrid.

Astrid countered with a silent look that said, ‘How dare you look at me like that.’

Of course, while patting her lovely disciple’s shoulder.

“Of course, of course. Run along now.”

“Alright…”

Leticia’s words trailed off with suspicion.

But being the good disciple who listened well to her master, she left the workshop without asking further questions.

Leaving just a brief eye greeting for Chamuka.

“….”

And Astrid was left speechless at Chamuka’s gaze, which followed Leticia until the door closed.

“Now that the baby is gone, would you look at me, Chamuka.”

“Please speak. Why did you hold me back?”

“I didn’t hold you back, you came here…”

“I was planning to take Leti out. He needs to eat lunch.”

“….”

Why does he seem so hateful despite his expressionless face?

Astrid realized that she was now giving the same subtle look that Gaien had given Ferik when she was dating him.

So, you were this kind of child…

Why didn’t I know?

It didn’t seem like it was this bad at first.

Did everyone just adapt because it changed so naturally over a long period?

“Sit down for a moment, Chamuka.”

“If it’s a long conversation, let’s do it later. I have things to-“

“If that thing is having lunch with the baby, give up and sit down. It’s about the baby.”

“….”

Transparent boy.

Astrid personally brewed tea while Chamuka sat on the sofa, exuding displeasure.

It wasn’t for her son, who couldn’t even distinguish between tea and water anyway; she just wanted to find peace of mind by watching the bubbling liquid.

After watching the bubbles rise, Astrid finally spoke.

“Chamuka.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“What do you think about the baby- no, I mean, Leti?”

“…? I think going to bed earlier at night would be good for his health. After all, Leti is still growing. He’s too small. Right now.”

That’s true, but that’s not what I asked…

While Astrid was silent at such an irrelevant answer, Chamuka continued with slightly furrowed brows.

“Does it make sense that Tan is taller? Last year, while that guy grew, Leti’s height barely increased. It’s probably because he keeps staying up all night for research and skipping meals. What have you been doing instead of stopping him, Mother?”

I thought it was unusual for him to speak at length, but it turned out to be criticism.

Astrid suddenly wanted to gulp down cold water instead of the warm tea in her hand.

My insides are burning because of you, son.

“I didn’t order Leti to do that research. There hasn’t been much progress on the Basilinte curse research lately. So the baby has become more anxious-“

“Don’t use the baby as an excuse.”

Haha. Look at this damn son. Subtly calling her “baby” himself.

Astrid put down her teacup with irritation and said.

“You’re the one sticking right next to the baby, using his research as an excuse.”

“Excuse? I’m taking care of him because her master, you, aren’t doing it properly.”

“Ah, I see. So you’re taking care of him because you have no choice? Then how about I, the ‘master,’ follow him around and take care of him directly, and our Chamuka can step back a bit?”

“….”

Chamuka’s eyes turned cold for a moment.

Astrid snorted at that look. Until Chamuka said his next words.

“Mother, could it be that you have impure interest in the baby?”

What crazy thing did I just hear?

“Could it be that you made the baby say those strange things earlier?”

While Astrid was momentarily speechless from the absurdity, Chamuka’s eyes grew even colder.

Astrid held her head, newly realizing the sad truth she had known for 15 years already—that she had failed at raising her child.

“How could that be possible…”

She consoled herself that at least she had succeeded in raising her disciple, but now some crazy person was fixated on her well-raised disciple.

“You know your mother’s taste. Unfortunately, I like tall, well-built, handsome men, which is why I met your father and gave birth to you…”

That was a fact no one in this castle was unaware of, thanks to Astrid’s tendency to talk about it whenever she drank.

But Chamuka just raised an eyebrow and retorted.

“Leti may be small, but when someone is that beautiful, doesn’t it transcend preferences?”

“Of course, our baby is a beauty who destroys preferences. With that face, who couldn’t he seduce? Though he himself didn’t seem interested in seducing anyone…”

Astrid looked at Chamuka and muttered dejectedly.

“Somehow, you got seduced…”

As Chamuka’s eyes narrowed as if he didn’t understand what she meant, Astrid finally asked him directly.

“Aren’t you the one with impure interest in the baby?”