“Let’s rest for today, and have a formal dinner together tomorrow afternoon.”

“Sure, whatever.”

Though displeased with his grandson’s tone, the Grand Duke clicked his tongue and left the reception room first.

As Hailey stood up holding Theo’s hand, she shot at Axel,

“We’ll use separate beds.”

“What?!”

“I agreed to share a bedroom, not a bed, right? So keep that in mind.”

As Hailey firmly stated, Axel’s expectant expression quickly turned into a frown.

He wanted to argue that it was unfair and unheard of, but he had been the first to use underhanded tactics.

Axel followed behind Hailey and Theo with slumped shoulders.

* * *

The separate bed Hailey wanted couldn’t be prepared immediately.

They said it would take at least a few days, so Hailey had no choice but to sleep in the same bed as Axel for the time being.

The dejected Axel revived upon hearing it would take time for another bed to arrive.

Hailey said any spare bed from the guest room would do, but she backed down when told they couldn’t give the Duke’s daughter-in-law a used bed.

But Axel’s emotions continued to fluctuate after that.

Theo, who he had clearly recruited as an ally, suddenly burst into tears about having to sleep separately from Hailey, so they had no choice but to let Theo sleep with them too.

It seemed that making a five-year-old child sleep separately from Hailey right away was a bit too much.

As a result, they lay in bed in the order of Hailey, Theo, and Axel. Of course, the bed was large enough for the three of them without any discomfort.

On the other hand, Hailey felt relieved thanks to Theo. With Theo in the middle, she felt she could sleep with peace of mind.

“Hehe.”

“Theo, are you happy?”

“Yes! I wish Dad could sleep with us every day too.”

Theo was overjoyed at the fact that he was sleeping with the two people he loved most in the world.

He was smiling brightly with his puffy eyes, as if he hadn’t been crying just moments ago.

Feeling unnecessarily complicated, Axel pulled the blanket up to Theo’s neck and said,

“……Go to sleep.”

While Axel absolutely didn’t have any ulterior motives to put Theo to sleep quickly and fulfill his own desires, he would still be grateful if Theo fell asleep soon.

As Axel’s ridiculously large hand patted Theo, Hailey removed it in exasperation.

“Control your strength.”

“……”

Axel wanted to believe it was just his imagination that Hailey’s scolding had become harsher since he left his status as a prince.

‘No, wait. Something’s bothering me and I can’t just let it go.’

As Axel took a deep breath to confront Hailey, she made a shushing gesture.

She pointed downwards where Theo was.

“Mmnya.”

Theo, who had been laughing happily just two minutes ago, was already sound asleep.

Chubby cheeks like a baby angel, a plump baby belly rising and falling with each breath, and even the warm breath of the child.

Hailey was looking down at Theo lovingly.

Axel stared intently at Hailey.

“Are you cold?”

“No, I’m fine. It’s actually surprisingly warmer than the winter in the capital.”

“The entire castle has a warming spell on it. I specifically asked them to pay attention because you and the little one seemed to have a cold today.”

“Thank you.”

Although he didn’t seem like the type to be considerate, Axel sometimes showed unexpected moments of thoughtfulness.

Hailey had been worried because Theo seemed to have a cold today, but Axel had been very attentive. A sweet-tasting children’s cold medicine was prepared in advance for the child, and soup that wouldn’t be hard on the stomach was ready at just the right temperature for Hailey, who hadn’t been able to eat properly all day.

Hailey couldn’t help but be surprised that it was all on Axel’s instructions.

She came here following only Axel, with no connection to Winchester, knowing no one here, and knowing nothing about the place.

While Winchester was a good place to live, the nobles of Zenovia’s mainland, especially those from the capital, were particularly averse to it.

Although Khalid had warned Hailey before coming to Winchester, experiencing it firsthand was different.

Axel needed to establish himself quickly so he could fend off the rejection from the local people and become a shield for Hailey and Theo.

That was the only way, but Axel frowned as he recalled the Grand Duke’s uncooperative attitude.

“I’ll help too.”

Hailey carefully added her opinion, sensing that Axel was troubled about gaining the Grand Duke’s trust in the future.

Surprised by the unexpected response, Axel silently stared at Hailey. Hailey spoke softly while gently patting Theo, careful not to wake him.

“It’s true that you used underhanded tactics, so it’s natural that the Lord doesn’t trust you yet. But seeing how the Lord readily agreed to share a bedroom with Theo earlier, I think he’s someone who responds to sincerity.”

“……Underhanded tactics? The old man was the first to be underhanded. The condition of having a wife and child within a year was absurd from the start—”

“Fix that form of address too. Isn’t the Lord practically the king of this Grand Duchy? What’s with calling him ‘old man’? Do you know how shocked I was earlier? What will the child learn from this?”

Axel couldn’t accept it. He had never used proper titles even for his father, the real king. Whenever he directly used the term ‘Your Majesty’, it was always with a sarcastic tone.

But at the same time, he had recently learned that sometimes it’s better not to argue with Hailey’s words.

“Anyway, Theo and I will try to gain the trust of the Lord and the people of this castle. I hope that helps you.”

Although she sometimes spoke casually to Axel now that they were a bit closer, and said whatever she wanted to say, Hailey was still grateful to him.

She had to repay his kindness. Hailey and Theo felt like magpies repaying a debt of gratitude.

“You want to be helpful to me?”

“Of course. I want to help, and I will help. Even if I don’t have much, I’m someone who always does my part.”

Hailey took pride in herself for having survived even in that hellish Baron’s household. Moreover, with her memories from her past life, although she was younger than Axel now, she was not lacking in experience.

“There’s a way you can help me right now.”

“What is it?”

Hailey was curious about Axel’s answer, but strangely, she didn’t want to hear it.

Axel, who had apparently been preparing for this moment, suddenly took Hailey’s hand that was patting Theo, interlocking their fingers.

“I have trouble sleeping too. But I think I could sleep soundly if you held my hand.”

This truly crazy person.

Hailey harshly shook off Axel’s hand, feeling both bewildered and embarrassed.

“Shut your mouth and close your eyes.”

“You’re too cruel to me.”

“You’re really insane. Remember, we’re just a contract couple. Don’t forget that.”

“Do you feel better only when you define it so strictly?”

Hailey was experiencing at least once a day lately that when something is too absurd, it can leave a person speechless.

The words ‘You’re the one who wrote the marriage contract’ rose to her throat, but she swallowed them back.

“If you say nonsense one more time, I’ll kick you out into the hallway.”

“I’m the one who will become the Grand Duke of Winchester. You can’t do that to me.”

“Didn’t you hear what the Lord said? In Winchester, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess have equal authority. Besides, from what I’ve seen, it seems the Lord would take my side?”

“……”

“Quickly close your eyes and go to sleep.”

It was an especially bitter night for Axel, as no one seemed to be on his side.

* * *

Roto had turned ten this year.

Dora had taken in Roto, who was alone after losing his parents, and brought him to the Grand Ducal castle of Winchester.

Roto’s dream was to succeed Dora as the butler of this mansion, following her like a mother and a teacher.

Although he held the position of apprentice butler, in reality, Roto’s tasks were mostly useless chores.

The path to becoming a butler was originally long and difficult. Roto had been diligently training in his own way, observing Dora, waiting for the day to prove his worth.

Then one day, an opportunity finally came to Roto. News spread quickly that the Lord’s heir was coming to Winchester.

While most were worried about this news, Roto was different.

He thought that with the arrival of a new heir, someone would be needed to serve as their hands and feet. And the most likely candidate would be the apprentice butler, Roto himself.

Roto waited eagerly for that good-for-nothing young master to arrive as soon as possible.

Sure enough, Roto was given formal butler attire and shoes that fit him perfectly.

Roto walked like an elegant gentleman with his shoulders straight.

“Roto. Your role is crucial. You need to be his hands and feet to help him adapt well to Winchester. I believe you’ll do well with what you’ve learned so far, but I have a few things to advise you on.”

Crucial! Roto was so excited he wanted to dance.