His slightly upturned eyes that resembled Edgar’s transformed into round shapes like Shasha’s when they curved with a smile. As soon as he realized this fact, his curiosity was piqued. Were there other features the baby shared with her?

…Our baby. The being who had caused Shasha pain, yet brought her twice as much happiness.

Shasha said that when she looked at the baby, she felt as if their love, which had existed formlessly, became visible. Edgar, unusually, felt no jealousy at those words.

It was because that small being, resembling him yet also resembling her, truly appeared like some kind of “fruit.” A tangible, physical thread connecting him and her.

He gently stroked the soft cheek with his bent knuckle. The eyes that curved with a giggle indeed resembled Shasha’s.

That day marked the beginning of his observation.

And as those hours of observation accumulated, Edgar realized that the baby he thought resembled himself actually resembled Shasha much more. Though the paternal love and affection he felt for the baby was still embarrassingly minimal… he quietly made his way to see the baby’s purple eyes, which resembled his wife’s, once again.

“……”

And in the baby’s room, he came face to face with someone he didn’t particularly want to meet. Edgar stood briefly in front of the open door, scanning the servants who had paused their work at his arrival and moved to the side, waiting with greetings.

Theodore’s wet nurse, one maid. And… Benjamin.

A servant whose name he had uncommonly memorized a few days ago. For not particularly good reasons.

The blond man with a gentle smile on his lips stood with his gaze lowered and hands clasped, looking no different from any other servant, yet emanating a strangely irritating atmosphere.

The voice that had called for Shasha followed again like an afterimage.

〈…Madam. If you wouldn’t mind—〉

It was a voice with such clear heat in it that Edgar couldn’t forget. So he could easily guess what words would have followed, words he had cut off, filled with expectation. It was easy to imagine if he recalled his own days of unrequited love for Shasha. He would have tried to say something to spend time with her.

…Who would have thought such a person existed in Shasha and his mansion.

His blue eyes had already turned cold. If Shasha’s heart hadn’t been directed toward him, such restraint wouldn’t have been easy. No, if he hadn’t thoroughly inhaled his wife’s scent last night, Edgar might have rarely taken action.

Recklessly, like when he had frantically chased after the woman who had gone to her hometown for rest, trying to force marriage. It meant that even if it caused Shasha to hate him afterward, his actions would have come first. From Edgar’s perspective, it was only natural that he would have to extinguish that servant’s feelings, even if it meant using slightly underhanded methods.

Moreover, the irritating atmosphere surrounding the man constantly provoked him. It was as if he wasn’t afraid of having his feelings discovered. As if he had quite the brazen face, daring to harbor feelings for a married woman.

Because Edgar could guess the man’s desire to possess her smile, which was only permitted to himself.

‘…How to get rid of him.’

That was the concern that continuously plagued him.

Besides, wasn’t this area originally off-limits to men? It was only natural that the presence of a servant who stood out, appearing in a place where servants shouldn’t frequent, would create a splinter in his mind. Even if that person had no feelings for Shasha, that aspect would have been irritating.

But Edgar ultimately approached the cradle where the baby lay without showing his discomfort outwardly.

The wet nurse and maid did not interfere with the father-son interaction. Therefore, only the sound of small babbling echoed in the quiet baby room. In that peacefulness, Edgar let out a hollow laugh as he felt a strange, unfamiliar gaze fixating on him.

After Viscount Sweeney, who had spent a brief time with the baby, left the room, Benjamin raised the corner of his mouth crookedly. Indeed, saying he would come to the baby’s room in the morning had been quite a good choice.

That strangely cold face that couldn’t be seen in front of Charlotte. While he wore a rather decent smile as he briefly conversed with the wet nurse, the man’s blue eyes still looked infinitely cold. Those who said the Viscount was a kind and gentle man must surely be blind.

Benjamin shuddered as he recalled the man’s duplicitous nature. It was unbearably irritating that such a suspicious person was by Charlotte’s side. Especially since she seemed unaware of her husband’s true nature.

‘Charlotte is being deceived by that man.’

He assessed the baby room’s furnishings as slowly as possible.

Not to perfectly carry out what the butler had ordered, but to search for an appropriate pretext to drive a wedge between the Viscount and the woman. The nursing area he glimpsed had several layers of silk curtains at its entrance. Since that space would likely contain furniture suitable for Charlotte to sit and lie down rather than things for the baby, he wouldn’t be able to examine it openly.

‘The Viscount seemed completely uninterested in that place…’

Judging by his gaze directed solely at the baby. Still, he thought there was no better space to grate on the man’s nerves.

While furrowing his brow briefly, wondering how to use the intimacy beyond those curtains, Benjamin was suddenly awakened from his contemplation by the wet nurse’s voice beside him.

“Is it because he resembles the Viscount? Though not even half a year old, his limbs seem much longer than other babies.”

Perhaps when fully grown, he might be as tall and broad-shouldered as his father. Benjamin struggled to control his face from grimacing at the voice filled with amusement.

Unaware of his feelings, cheerful conversation continued behind him.

“So it might not be bad to change the baby bed to a larger one on this occasion. You know, that large bed the Duke sent earlier. It was too big to be suitable as a cradle, but now a wider sleeping space would be fine.”

“Ah, come to think of it, it’s time for him to start rolling over.”

“Yes, our adorable young master. Though he’s docile now, soon this cozy space won’t be enough.”

And that voice, which he had been half-listening to, suddenly called out to Benjamin, who was pretending to be busy working.

“Benjamin.”

“…Yes.”

“Please tell the butler. It would be good to replace Theodore’s bed on this occasion. I’ll inform the madam later.”

Bringing in new furniture…

Benjamin slowly nodded while mulling over those words. After bringing in the ridiculously large bed sent by Duke Oz, inspecting the condition of that furniture would also become his job.

The mansion, just before welcoming spring, was busy with new decorations throughout, including the garden. Edgar quietly smiled as he looked at the guest sitting at the well-arranged tea table in the center of the brightened reception room.

“…Ed. Where’s Shasha?”

The blunt question that fell without greeting as soon as he opened the door and entered was familiar. Since the baby’s birth, Grace had been dropping by the mansion like this whenever she had the chance. Of course, the employees seemed to be thrown into confusion every time Duke Oz suddenly appeared without warning in the early morning.

Grace, who had lived as a wandering knight for a long time, had the quite ingrained habit of starting her daily routine at dawn. And she wasn’t particularly courteous when it came to family. Edgar had never reprimanded his sister for such behavior, but…

Today might be a bit troublesome.

“Shasha is sleeping.”

And she would likely wake up later than usual. Because he had lost his self-control.

‘I tormented her too much last night too…’

When she woke up late and heard the news that Grace had arrived, she would surely glare at him. Even that face would be lovely and cute, but he didn’t want to do anything to be disliked if he could help it. That’s why Grace’s sudden visit felt somewhat inconvenient.

But he had no intention of waking Shasha, who was sound asleep.

“I won’t wake her. Next time, give some notice before coming.”

Despite the gentle tone, Grace showed slight disappointment at his firm intention.