♡ Chapter 8 ♡
“It seems like Lady Anastasia enjoys spending time with you, Your Grace.”
She wasn’t crying, and she was eating well.
I said something that any parent would like to hear.
If only this could at least create some human affection.
Even if Duke Cromwell just gave a small smile, that would already be good.
“…Is that so.”
But his response was completely dry, with zero interest.
“Of course! Lady Anastasia is naturally calm, but she seems to follow you especially well.”
After that, my shameless flattery began.
“People say babies know who their guardian is.”
“I think she likes being with you! This is the first time she’s been this bright in the morning.”
I did my best, but…
“I see.”
“Alright.”
“I understand.”
That was all I got in return.
The conversation wouldn’t continue.
“……”
He even started looking annoyed at listening to me.
This was worse than I expected.
I couldn’t waste the first meal like this.
No matter what, I had to build some kind of bond.
Meanwhile, Duke Cromwell continued eating while looking at documents, as cold as ever.
‘Sigh…’
I didn’t plan to rush things like this.
But the future was too terrible.
I needed to go step by step.
Thinking about what I had to do next made me nervous.
I had to speak at the perfect moment.
When Duke Cromwell put down his spoon and his eyes left the documents—
I spoke right then.
“Would you like to hold the princess?”
I did it.
I originally planned to let him get used to her face first, then hold her hand, and only later let him carry her.
At this rate, that would take a year.
‘But the ending is in just 3 years.’
There was no time to waste.
Duke Cromwell looked surprised, as if he didn’t expect that request.
“I think Lady Anastasia would like being in your arms.”
At least holding her shouldn’t be uncomfortable, right?
This wasn’t his first time anyway.
He was the one who carried her from the ruins to the duchy.
‘He even carried her here!’
But he didn’t respond.
It was awkward.
‘I’ll just push through this.’
I couldn’t let a moment of embarrassment stop me.
If I failed to say it now, all my plans would fall apart.
“If a child misses their father, that’s really sad.”
“……”
Duke Cromwell frowned slightly, like he didn’t understand.
At least he wasn’t ignoring me.
That was something.
I started listing everything I knew about babies.
“They say newborns remember their parents by smell. I’m sure the princess remembers you too.”
“……”
“So she’ll feel most familiar in your arms!”
He still looked unsure.
“Please take her. My arms are about to fall off.”
I urged him, showing Anastasia.
She wasn’t even that heavy, but still—
“……”
Just as I started worrying if he noticed my lie, Duke Cromwell finally took Anastasia from me.
Maybe he gets pushed along if pressured?
I decided to enjoy this unexpectedly warm moment.
“It’s more comfortable to support her with your arms rather than just holding with your hands.”
I pointed out his awkward posture.
But seeing how large his hands were, I realized I didn’t need to worry.
‘He’s holding her like a hotdog.’
Wrapped in white cloth, she really did look like one.
‘Should I make him feed her too?’
Since things were going well, I wanted to push as far as possible.
If it got to feeding, holding her properly would be important.
“Hold her like this.”
Instead of taking the baby back, I demonstrated with my arms.
It was a bit tiring to teach step by step, but this was part of bonding.
“That’s better.”
Duke Cromwell muttered after adjusting his posture.
It was a flat reaction, but I accepted it.
She wasn’t his real child, after all.
Even if he didn’t feel affection yet, it was fine.
I planned to give him the bottle at the right moment and say, “Would you like to feed her?”
“As expected, I knew Lady Anastasia would like it!”
I kept encouraging him.
Maybe because he hadn’t seen her in ten days, he looked at Anastasia.
Sadly, she just blinked without smiling.
‘Still, at least she’s calm.’
‘Please melt your father’s heart…’
‘Just a few more seconds…’
I tightened my grip on the bottle.
“Lady Anastasia really likes her father—”
But I had to stop.
“Waaah! Waaah—!”
Anastasia suddenly started crying loudly.
The sound pierced my ears.
It didn’t sound like a baby’s cry—it sounded like a scream.
Babies cry, of course, but—
‘Why now, when he’s holding her?!’
Worried he might feel annoyed, I quickly spoke.
“Haha! She’s just hungry! Would you like to try feeding her?”
I immediately handed him the bottle.
“You just need to tilt it like this so it’s easier to drink—”
I guided him as he tried to feed her.
“Ah! Not that vertical!”
“……”
I quickly grabbed his hand and adjusted the angle.
She was still crying, but babies usually cry from hunger at this time.
If he succeeded in calming her, it would feel rewarding.
“Just adjust the angle while checking how much is left. Everyone makes mistakes at first, so don’t worry. Ah—though I’m not saying I made mistakes.”
Now all that was left was for Anastasia to drink and calm down—
But for some reason, she refused.
She kept turning her head away.
“Waaah!”
She kept crying.
“T-this isn’t right…”
I panicked.
Not only would he think I’m incompetent—
“This ‘father-daughter breakfast’ might end right here.”
“Can you give her to me for a moment?”
I asked.
He handed her over immediately.
For the first time, he looked tired.
If it showed this much, he must really be fed up.
What if he really hates this?
My thoughts became complicated.
But the moment I took Anastasia—
“……”
“……”
She became quiet instantly.
“As expected, she seems more comfortable with you.”
His tone sounded like you handle it yourself.
“I-I’m just more experienced! It’s your first time, so it’s natural!”
That’s why you’re paying me, right?
I spoke more desperately than in a job interview.
“I have to earn my pay! Haha…”
There’s nothing more painful for a parent than hearing their child prefers someone else.
To prove that this was just a misunderstanding, I encouraged him again to hold her.
He sighed and took her—
“Waaah!”
She immediately started crying again.
When I took her back—
“……”
She became quiet again.
She even sucked her lower lip peacefully.
It was hard to believe she had just cried.
She cried the moment Duke Cromwell touched her.
Anyone could see it.
I couldn’t keep asking him to hold her.
So I finally said—
“…C-crying is also a form of affection!”
Everyone in the room knew that was nonsense.
‘Ah… I’m tired.’
I forced a smile and prayed this moment would end.
After that, no one spoke.
‘They say staying quiet is better sometimes…’
When Duke Cromwell tried feeding her, she panicked.
But when I fed her, she finished everything instantly.
‘Now everything he said is true…’
I swallowed a sigh.
I wanted to fix the situation somehow.
After a long silence, Duke Cromwell put down his utensils.
The atmosphere was terrible.
He wiped his mouth and spoke.
“From today, meals will be—”
I could already see the future:
“This will be the last. Don’t come from tomorrow.”
So I cut him off.
“I will see you tomorrow at seven again!”
The one who speaks first wins.
After forcing that agreement, I immediately ran out of the dining room.
