Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 140

However, there are limits. At the very least, he needed to prevent unexpected visits like those of Johann Krozik or the son of Marquisate Ludendorff.

He strictly instructed his secretaries, the mayor of Salzgitter, and Gustav not to disclose his whereabouts.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was truly hidden. Gustav smiled contentedly as he looked at the letters pouring onto his desk.

He was on his way to deliver only those that the Duke and Duchess must see themselves.

“Flakes of white snow… Ah! It’s the steward Uncle!”

Elliott, with cheeks as red as apples, was hopping from one stone tile to the next while singing, when he spotted Gustav and ran over.

“Young Master. Did you enjoy the snowball fight?”

“I made a snowman! This big!”

Elliott spread his arms wide excited. Gustav smiled warmly.

There was no one among Klausener’s vassals who wasn’t charmed by Elliott. Gustav was no exception.

He was one of the few who remembered Erich at that age.

Though the solemn and dignified boy was lovely in his way, this adorable young master was as pretty as a fairy.

Even the younger vassals, who might have mistakenly thought Erich grew up cold and aloof, felt the same.

“Weren’t you cold?”

“Not at all! You know, uncle, mom said we’re having dinner grilled over charcoal. What’s that?”

“Oh, I was just about to ask about that, and you’ve already decided.”

Such simplicity. Coal products were very cheap here, so it was common and inexpensive to grill something simple in front of the brazier.

However, such food had never graced Erich’s table. Let alone him grilling it himself.

“I’ll prepare some delicious sausages and meat for you.”

“Sausages!”

Elliott danced with joy, shaking his hips. Gustav clutched his heart at the cuteness.

“I’ll go inform the Duke. I have letters to deliver to him.”

“Okay! Ah, uncle!”

Elliott hastily stopped Gustav as he was about to leave and said with flushed cheeks.

“It’s a secret from mom.”

“What do you mean?”

“That I called her ‘mom’.”

Then Elliott covered his face with his hands and ran off with his tiny legs as fast as he could.

The nanny, who had been watching, gave Gustav a slight bow and hurried off after Elliott.

A similar smile to Gustav’s lingered on her lips.

* * *

“Aaaahhhhhh, this is the life…”

Claire let out a sound full of pleasure and stretched out.

In the cold weather, catching each snowflake on her face through the open skylight while her body was submerged up to her neck in the warm spring water, then stepping out to wrap herself in a fluffy cotton robe and sipping on cold sparkling water.

Erich watched her with a peculiar look as she enjoyed the bliss of the moment with her cheeks flushed with warmth. Claire tilted her head in curiosity.

“What?”

“I thought for sure when you wanted to come to Klausener, it was to work on something.”

“No, who works on their honeymoon?”

“I figured it might be a bit of both. Considering the factories for Delford and Weaving Guild are down south, wouldn’t it have been rare not to think about the communication network up here?”

“I could have made the trip if I really wanted to. Though it would cost a bit for express mail. But what work would there be here?”

“Diamond mine inspection.”

“Hmm. That’s not really my job, I left that to Sir Johann. It’s already on track, so Casey and Count Krozik will handle it well.”

“Visiting cloth merchants in the north.”

“Hmm, since I’m here, I should probably show my face to the direct sales stores and wholesalers.”

“Looking for investment opportunities.”

“No, not doing that. Anything discovered here would end up being yours anyway.”

“Oh no, Claire. I know you’ve been scooping up inventors around here.”

Claire, who had been lying down suddenly sat up. She then moved towards Erich, took the cold wine from his hand, placed it down, and climbed onto his lap.

“I thought we had cut ties back then, but you were watching everything?”

“Everything that happens in my domain…”

Before he could finish, Claire’s hand gently caressed his cheek, tilting his chin up to bring her lips closer.

Just before they touched, Erich slightly stuck out his lips. Claire chuckled, her breath touching his lips.

“You’re quite the fox yourself.”

But before she could finish, Erich overlapped his lips with hers.

His hand weaved through Claire’s damp hair, causing her to startle and her hips to twitch as she drew her legs in.

It was then Erich grasped her waist, pulling her firmly against him.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Hoo.”

Erich let out a frustrated sigh because of the interruption. Recognizing the voice as Gustav’s, he reluctantly let Claire down and permitted him to enter.

“Is it urgent?”

“Ah, not urgent.”

Gustav apologized, looking regretful for intruding on the couple’s moment.

“I’ve brought letters from Grand Duke Victoria and Duke Moore.”

Despite their wish to avoid external communications, they couldn’t ignore such correspondences.

There were a few more letters besides those. Erich scanned the names of the senders on the bundle of letters.

The one sent in the name of the old Count Krozik was likely from Johann. Roger Carson’s would be a trade report from the Weaving Guild, and Casey Morris’s…

Too many men involved. But discarding them would interfere with Claire’s work, so he couldn’t do that. Instead, he separated the bundle and casually tossed it onto the table.

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