Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 172
Erich’s ice-cold blue eyes scanned Claire. With a furrowed brow, he abruptly dropped Bruno to the ground.
It wasn’t a violent action, but simply the act of loosening his grip was enough to make Bruno tumble to the floor.
Only then did he look at Bruno’s face. He stepped forward as if recognizing something.
It wasn’t his intention to trample on him.
Just as he was merely trying to see his face, Bruno wetted himself in fright.
“Hiick, hii…”
“That face seems familiar.”
Erich uttered in a tone devoid of any intonation. Claire looked at him, puzzled.
“Erich?”
“It seems unlikely that there are two people in this world who, knowing full well I am present, would still speak so foul.”
Though Erich said this, he did not lay hands on Bruno again or kick him.
Instead, he extended his right hand. A secretary quickly grabbed a water bottle from a nearby table and dampened a handkerchief.
Erich took the handkerchief, wiped his hands, and then threw it on Bruno as if he had touched something filthy.
“Take this away.”
He spoke dismissively, as if merely asking for the handkerchief to be removed.
Marquisate Ludendorff’s servants, as if commanded by their own lord, quickly converged to seize Bruno.
“Ah, ah! I was wrong! I apologize!”
Bruno cried out hysterically as he was led away.
Claire watched this scene with a bewildered face as Erich looked at Maximilian but chose not to reprimand him.
Instead, he wrapped an arm around Claire’s waist and tenderly caressed her earlobe.
His low whisper came to Claire’s ears.
“I’m sorry you had to hear such filth.”
“Do you know him?”
“…”
Erich met Claire’s gaze but quickly looked away.
“Erich.”
“Later.”
He responded slowly, clearly not wanting to express his feelings at the moment.
The place quickly fell silent.
Claire was a little stunned but she couldn’t help but admit Erich’s method was right. She saw the cautious looks from those around them.
For the sake of their child, she couldn’t let him hear such things.
Erich then turned his attention to the Ludendorff couple.
“Marquis, Marchioness.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“I fully grasp your intentions now, including the purpose behind inviting my wife.”
“It’s a misunderstanding, Your Grace. That man is a troublemaker even within the family. I wonder why the Baron sent such a man!”
“If insults to my wife weren’t commonly exchanged within the Marquis’s domain, could such a man have entered this gathering?”
“No, absolutely not. That never happens.”
“So it seems only the deaf live in the Marquis’s domain.”
Marquis Ludendorff sweated profusely as he bowed his head. The Marchioness looked as though she was on the verge of tears.
“Erich.”
Archduke Victoria approached, holding Elliott’s hand.
Elliott hadn’t seen what had happened but was subdued by the atmosphere and rolled his eyes before seeing Erich and breaking into a smile.
“Dad.”
Erich let go of Claire’s waist and stretched out his arms to Elliot.
Ellitot leapt into Erich’s arms as if he was about to fly.
“Hihi.”
A smile finally bloomed on Elliott’s face.
Archduke Victoria said.
“That was well handled. I was wondering what to do about it.”
Driving out someone who insults you is simple, but instilling fear to keep their mouth shut permanently is not as easy.
Erich responded calmly.
“Madmen are not easy to deal with. Thank you for looking after Elliott.”
“It’s what anyone would do.”
Archduke Victoria exchanged a smiling glance with Elliott, who was now in Erich’s arm.
Erich continued.
“We will be leaving now. Are you going to stay here?”
“It wasn’t Marquis Ludendorff who invited me after all.”
“Understood.”
That was all Erich said. Archduke Victoria was not someone who needed to be looked after.
“Let’s go.”
Claire sighed. There was no reason to remain in a party that had turned so tense and chilly.
Erich held Elliott with one arm and extended his other hand to Claire.
Claire took his hand.
There were only two carriages now. Erich had Elliott and Maximilian get into the carriage Claire had arrived in.
He then boarded the carriage he had arrived in, taking Claire with him.
“What’s going on? You’re supposed to be in Saltzgitter now.”
“I’ve just arrived.”
“That much is obvious. Did you come straight from the train station?”
A nervous-looking secretary was pacing beside the carriage. Inside, several briefcases were loaded.
“Because you sent a letter.”
“I thought it would arrive this morning.”
Claire stopped mid-sentence, realizing that Erich had departed as soon as the letter arrived.
“You must have been busy.”
“It doesn’t matter where I do my work.”
Erich spoke in a subdued voice.
“Because you said you needed me.”
He didn’t say ‘for what,’ but Claire, who had written the letter, knew well.
Her face flushed with warmth. Erich lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her palm.
“I’m sorry I can’t apologize.”
“…It’s not your fault. Well, it is, but…”
“…”
“Say sorry.”
“I can’t.”
“That’s absurd. You just did.”
“That was different.”
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