“Mac?”

At the soft call, McClart immediately looked up.

He heard slightly uneven footsteps, and soon, Vienny peeked her head through the open door.

“Ivelis has finished eating.”

As soon as he saw the baby cradled in her slender arms, McClart quickly stepped forward to take the child.

The baby, who had been clinging to Vienny’s clothing as if reluctant to let go, settled down the moment he recognized McClart’s embrace. He looked even more comfortable than he had in Vienny’s arms.

“I was just about to leave.”

Skillfully, he sat down, placing the baby on his lap and patting her back. In Vienny’s arms, Ivelis had seemed to have grown quite a bit, yet in McClart’s hold, she looked as small as a newborn. He could easily cradle her in one arm. Despite her delicate size, which might have made others cautious, McClart handled her without a hint of hesitation.

As his large hand gently stroked her back in a steady rhythm, it wasn’t long before Ivelis, resting comfortably against his arm, let out a small burp. It was a sight that never failed to amaze him.

“Just sit and rest; if she falls asleep, I’ll lay her down and come back.”

After confirming that Vienny had settled into the armchair by the window, McClart stood up with Ivelis in his arms and began to walk.

Vienny couldn’t help but think that her daughter seemed to prefer McClart’s embrace even more than her own or the nanny’s.

Although Ivelis was still too young for clear communication, it certainly seemed that way. Vienny, who herself had often been cradled in McClart’s arms, understood the comfort his embrace provided.

Still, she wondered why there was such a difference. While she was working hard to grow closer to Ivelis, gradually learning how to care for her, McClart seemed to have formed a strong bond with the baby from the very start.

When Ivelis cried loudly for no apparent reason, it was McClart’s arms that calmed her. When she grew fussy or sleepy, it was his embrace that soothed her, and whenever there was a problem, McClart’s hold seemed to be the answer.

When Vienny first heard this from the staff, she thought it was simply a sign that the baby recognized her father and didn’t dwell on it.

Since her body didn’t allow her to breastfeed, Vienny felt relieved to leave the baby in McClart’s care, believing that when she eventually took on more parenting duties, she’d bond with Ivelis just as naturally as he did.

However, Ivelis seemed to prefer McClart’s strong, comforting presence over Vienny’s slender and more delicate frame.

When Vienny first held the baby, Ivelis had whined and squirmed uncomfortably, but the moment she was handed to McClart, she settled down instantly. The surprise of that moment was unforgettable!

Vienny felt quite hurt by this for a while. If it hadn’t been for Sara, the nanny, and Corinne, who offered a flimsy excuse—that since she was still slender after pregnancy, her body wasn’t quite comfortable enough for the baby to relax in—her melancholy might have lingered even longer.

Meanwhile, McClart effortlessly fed, soothed, and cared for Ivelis. Both Sara, Corinne, and even Moira couldn’t hide their astonishment at the sight. In response to their looks, McClart would coolly ask in a detached voice, “What’s so strange about me taking good care of my own child?”—which only left them even more shocked.

And Vienny, who struggled to care for her own child in the same way, felt a quiet sense of sadness.

“You should let the nanny hold her. Don’t your arms hurt?”

Vienny was jolted from her thoughts by the sudden question from behind her. McClart, who had quickly soothed the baby and returned, stroked the back of her head gently.

With her head resting against his large hand, she replied in a somewhat dejected voice.

“But I need to hold her more to bond with Ivelis.”

“You seem impatient.”

“Well, you might not understand, Mac…”

When she pouted and lowered her head, McClart cupped her cheek and lifted it gently. He planted a light kiss on her lips, which she had absentmindedly bitten.

“But you’re close with me instead.”

“That’s…”

As she trailed off, McClart narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Are you going to deny our closeness?”

“You know that’s a completely different matter.”

Vienny had no intention of letting it go. No matter how much the nanny handled most of the childcare, it didn’t make sense that she, as a mother, couldn’t even manage to burp the baby herself.

Moreover, McClart had succeeded on his very first try—with those enormous, intimidating hands of his.

Seeing his hands, large and thick as pot lids, only added to her frustration. An inexplicable dissatisfaction surged within her.

“What if I get used to relying on you to take care of her forever?”

McClart tried to reassure her, saying that his long experience with handling power allowed him to control his strength with such delicacy. But his words did little to comfort her.

She understood that, surprisingly, he had a gentle touch. Still, she couldn’t understand how the same precision could be applied so seamlessly to the care of Ivelis, without any missteps.

Could it be that the baby, who had nestled in her womb for the entire pregnancy, had somehow become just as accustomed to McClart’s embrace?

“Well, then I can just take care of her from now on.”

McClart said casually, gently brushing her hair back as if to soothe her.

“There’s a lot more you can offer Ivelis than just this.”

Others often reminded her of that as well. Sara and Corinne had always tried to make her understand how significant a mother’s presence was to her child, telling her that physical tasks didn’t always equate to emotional bonding. Given the circumstances, they suggested she leave the heavier tasks to the sturdy McClart and focus on recovering her strength.

Vienny had thought about accepting their advice and quickly recognizing her limitations.

But as soon as she considered stepping back, new concerns surfaced.

“But if you keep taking care of Ivelis…”

Vienny hesitantly looked up at McClart.

“The baby might start picking up rough words.”

At her serious murmuring, McClart blinked and reflexively responded.

“…What?”

“Kids learn quickly.”

There wasn’t a hint of jest in her tone. Seeing her earnest expression, McClart pressed his lips tightly together.

After pondering over this for days, she had finally managed to voice her concern, but his response left her puzzled, making Vienny furrow her brow even more.

For a moment she wondered if she had upset him, but after a second thought she realised she hadn’t said anything wrong. After all, she knew better than anyone how rough his words could be.

“Mac?”

“I’ll be careful.”

The words that finally came out sounded a little insincere. Vienny looked up at him with a worried expression. Normally she could overlook empty assurances, but this was about her daughter.

While Vienny often accepted most of McClart’s excuses, this was something she couldn’t let pass. For the sake of her daughter’s future, she had to deal with it.

“Think about what you said to the florist the last time you promised to be careful.”

“That guy…”

“That guy?”

“The… merchant is kind to me.”

For the past five years, Vienny had come and gone, forming a personal connection with the merchant, though that didn’t mean he could speak to him however he pleased.

Vienny pictured the robust flower merchant. Whenever the merchant was around McClart, he appeared pale, looking tense and uncomfortable. It was surprising that someone so timid could successfully run a business, yet he always managed to sell out his flowers, suggesting he had some talent.

When speaking with Vienny alone, the merchant seemed to relax a bit, but his words became noticeably sparse whenever McClart was present. Curious about this change, Vienny paid closer attention to their interactions and realized that McClart’s tone was particularly harsh.

He didn’t treat only that merchant this way. Upon closer observation, she noticed that McClart kept a blunt and cold demeanor with everyone in the mansion. The only person he seemed to handle with care was Vienny. No, now it included Ivelis too, so it wouldn’t be right to say she was the only one.

Still, being special to him was something that made her happy. After realizing this, Vienny felt a bit proud for a while. But that feeling quickly faded when she thought about Ivelis possibly picking up McClart’s manner of speaking.

‘Of course, I understand it’s hard to change, especially when you’ve always spoken this way so freely,’ she thought, ‘but I still hope Ivelis doesn’t pick up on it.’

Vienny wasn’t the type to usually express her thoughts openly or assert herself much. The fact that she was speaking up now meant it was a serious matter to her.

Since the topic had come up, she wanted to make her point crystal clear, so she focused intently, trying to recall specific memories. Her memory was still sharp, and McClart had used plenty of “rough words” with her in the past, so finding an example wasn’t hard.

“For example…”

“Vienny.”

McClart cut her off instinctively, nervously biting his lip.

It didn’t take him long to make up his mind. He resorted to his last tactic.

“It’s time to go feed the rabbits.”

In reality, there was no need for them to go out and feed the rabbits themselves, as the feed in the pen was regularly replenished. The only reason they took this time was for Vienny’s enjoyment.

She particularly enjoyed feeding the rabbits with him. More than that, she seemed to enjoy sharing one of the few skills she knew with him. As there were few things she seemed to enjoy doing, McClart was more than happy to join her.

The staff, who used to stop in shock when they came upon the scene, had now begun to casually ignore the sight of him crouching in the garden. What else could they do? It was their loss if they didn’t get used to it.

McClart silently observed Vienny as she gathered small handfuls of hay, offering them to the rabbits. The white rabbit nibbling in front of her had red eyes. He remembered how startled he’d been the first time he saw those eyes. Even though he knew rabbits could naturally have red eyes, he had felt his blood run cold for a moment.

“I have nothing left. Just as you do.”

Vienny’s soft, haunting words, whispered repeatedly to him as he stood frozen, echoed vividly in his mind. At that moment he had clung to her like a child, kissing her with such intensity that his lips were sore. The force of his biting and sucking broke the skin on her lips, and only when he could taste blood without its usual bitterness did he feel at ease.

He knew that Vienny’s blood no longer held any power. Yet he couldn’t help but check her body from time to time, making sure there were no new wounds, that she hadn’t been bitten by any creature.

He only felt reassured when he could see for himself that there were no new injuries beyond her old scars.

Whenever he found even the smallest scratch on her skin, he remained on edge until it healed, unable to focus on anything else. He wanted to keep every tiny wound within the bounds of his care and protection.

“Mac, I think that one’s finished eating.”

Bieni suddenly said, still focused on the white rabbit in front of her.

McClart quickly placed a bit more hay in front of the brown rabbit beside him. Unlike Vienny, who enjoyed feeding them directly, he preferred to place just the right amount of hay in front of them and let them eat comfortably. Especially the brown rabbit near him, which was timid and sensitive, refusing to take food directly from his hand.

Once McClart noticed this, he took it upon himself to feed the brown rabbit. He didn’t want Vienny feeling disheartened if her attempts to hand-feed it were turned down.

Whether she understood his intention or not, she had answered without much thought, agreeing he could handle it. After that, she never tried to feed the brown rabbit again.

Looking back, it had always been like this. Vienny rarely questioned him twice, usually following his lead. The only difference was that where once her compliance had come from fear and intimidation, now it came from trust.

“Oh, by the way, I found a squirrel near the back door this morning, so I left it with Corinne. Did you hear about it?”

“Are you planning to keep it?”

“It seemed to have hurt its leg… Could we look after it until it recovers?”

It seemed she might have forgotten just how many animals were already residing in the mansion.

McClart recalled Corinne’s proposal that had been lying on his desk. To sum up the long-winded request, it was essentially a plea: “Please, let us hire just one animal caretaker.”

For some reason, injured animals seemed determined to drag themselves to the mansion. And, without fail, Vienny would find them and bring them in.