Chapter 32

Eric’s unpleasant retort was more than enough to meet Leopold’s expectations.

Why he felt so irritated whenever he saw him was beyond his understanding.

However, the raw and unfiltered reactions of the seemingly rational and perfect Duke were undeniably satisfying to provoke.

“Aren’t you older than me? Isn’t that correct? Since things have turned out this way, why not open up and share a genuine brotherly bond?”

Leopold bent his waist in an exaggerated manner, his tone brimming with laughter.

“Prince of Kettlin.”

Leopold had no intention of enduring Eric’s irritating antics any longer.

Eric silenced him with a sarcastic tone.

“From the way you naturally call me ‘brother,’ it seems as though you want to become my wife’s lover or something.”

“Lover? What did you just say?”

Leopold, intending to tease slightly, was taken aback by Eric’s unexpected remark. His jaw dropped at the unanticipated comment.

Eric, with his chin arrogantly raised, drove the final nail in.

“Dream on. Euphrasia has much higher standards than you might think.”

At least someone like me.

The smirk on his face conveyed the unspoken thoughts he didn’t bother voicing aloud.

“I have no intention of overturning what my wife has permitted. Stay at the Ducal residence, but let’s try to avoid crossing paths. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Leaving the frozen Leopold behind, Eric turned on his heel and walked away.

The forced smile he had twisted onto his lips vanished without a trace the moment he turned his back.

‘I won’t overturn it, but if he decides to leave voluntarily, there’s no need to stop him.’

Eric’s thoughts cooled.

He didn’t truly believe that Leopold had entered the Ducal residence out of romantic interest for Euphrasia.

Rather, he suspected that Leopold’s possible motive was to claim Euphrasia, who was secretly a Princess of Kettlin, for political advantage.

However, if by any chance Euphrasia wasn’t the Princess of Kettlin—if his assumptions were wrong—and Leopold’s reason for staying at the Ducal residence included even a shred of romantic interest in Euphrasia, then…

The former scenario would be a complicated political issue, but the latter would be deeply unpleasant.

Regardless of his intentions, Eric had no intention of allowing such a suspicious and irritating guest to remain near Euphrasia.

There was a way to uncover his motives clearly and simply, but…

‘For now.’

Eric slipped his hand into his trouser pocket.

Inside his tightly clenched fist, he felt the crisp texture of paper.

It was a sealed envelope handed to him directly by the Emperor’s chamberlain.

***

“Well done, that’s right!”

“Mya! Ah!”

“Just a little more! Wow, our Louis is truly the best! Good job!”

“Kyaa!”

Euphrasia, crouched in the hallway, hugged Louis tightly, her face glowing with joy.

Louis, who had toddled over and clung to her, also wore a radiant smile.

Having recently started walking, Louis had quickly learned to walk quite adeptly.

At last, he successfully crossed the considerable distance of the third-floor hallway of the Ducal residence—from end to end—without falling even once.

Euphrasia lifted Louis into her arms, her expression overflowing with pride as she glanced around.

Naturally, her personal maids, Sara and Elena, as well as Louis’s nanny, who now accompanied the child every moment, were visible a few steps behind, watching her and Louis.

Her heart swelled with the undeniable pride of a mother eager to show off her son’s achievements.

“My son is amazing! Isn’t it obvious he’s special?”

“Soon, he’ll be running around outside without any trouble. I should find shoes that fit him perfectly.”

“There should be plenty of shoes that were gifted to the young master earlier. I’ll locate them and prepare them.”

The nanny responded promptly, bowing slightly.

“Shouldn’t we also prepare clothes suitable for his activities?”

“Hm, perhaps knee and elbow pads would be a good idea, just in case?”

“Of course! Let’s go, Elena! Let’s find something pretty and durable together!”

“Alright!”

The two young maids exchanged glances and departed after a brief conversation.

Meanwhile, the nanny received Louis, who had been nestled in Euphrasia’s arms.

“The young master must be hungry after moving around so much. Oh my, how has he grown so quickly?”

The nanny, accustomed to holding Louis, swayed slightly under his weight and glanced at Euphrasia.

“I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare his baby food, Madam.”

“…Alright. Please take care of his meals.”

Louis had already weaned off br*ast milk and was eating baby food quite well. His two tiny front teeth had adorably started to poke through.

The moment Euphrasia gave her permission, the nanny carried Louis and left the hallway.

Even as she walked, she swayed slightly under the noticeable weight of Louis, who seemed heavier than before.

“Oh dear, he didn’t feel this heavy just this morning. How strange, is it just my imagination?”

The nanny’s quiet muttering reached Euphrasia’s ears.

Her expression stiffened awkwardly, and a wave of confusion surfaced on her face.

She prided herself on being able to make objective evaluations about herself.

She was aware of her slight lack of social awareness and perceptiveness.

However, when it came to one thing, she knew she possessed an instinct as sharp as that of a wild animal.

That one thing was her only child.

‘Certainly, the atmosphere is…’

Distracted by Louis’s walking progress, she suddenly noticed the peculiar atmosphere in the hallway.

The faint terror in Sara and Elena’s eyes was unmistakable.

Their natural excuses and subsequent departure from the hallway were, without a doubt, acts of fleeing.

Even the nanny, who had practically snatched Louis from her arms, had similarly fled under the guise of tending to his meal.

Though they didn’t make it obvious, the servants who were relatively close to Euphrasia within the Ducal residence were evidently afraid of her—or perhaps of both her and Louis.

‘Is it because Louis is different from other children?’

She tried to dismiss it as an overreaction, but the uneasy feeling lingered.

She recalled a conversation between the maids and the nanny that had occurred not long ago.

“Elena, is the young master’s growth rate normal?”

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem typical. My younger brother was only crawling at his age.”

“Could the young master be someone special?”

“Of course. He’s the Duke’s son. He’s bound to be different from ordinary people like us, isn’t he?”

“How dare you gossip about the young master! Watch your tongues, or you’ll face consequences!”

“Ah, um… Baroness Helen, we didn’t mean it that way… Baroness, you’ve been a nanny for a long time, haven’t you? Have you ever seen a case like the young master’s? We’re just amazed by how incredible he is…”

“I’ve never seen anyone like Young Master Louis, but considering he’s Duke Herrington’s son, it’s certainly possible. Isn’t he the youngest Sword Master in the Empire?”

“Could the young master also become a pride of the Empire like the Duke? Hmm, somehow… Anyway, if that’s the case, shouldn’t we take extra care of him from now on?”

“Taking care of the young master is my job, not yours. Now go and focus on your own tasks!”

“Yes…”

“Sorry…”

Sara and Elena’s chatter was silenced by the nanny’s sharp scolding.

The conversation had taken place right outside Euphrasia’s tightly shut door.

At the time, Euphrasia had been standing just inside the room, near the door, soothing a fussy Louis in her arms.

Though their voices were low, they were audible enough if one paid attention.

From their dialogue, Euphrasia sensed an odd discomfort.

Though their words seemed like praise and admiration, there was an underlying sense of unease woven between the lines.

‘Louis’s growth isn’t typical, is it?’

Only then did Euphrasia realize that Louis’s development far outpaced that of other children.

She tried to convince herself that their interest stemmed from amazement at Louis’s remarkable growth.