Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 182

However, Linus would never truly understand how or in what way he had changed.

Not just Linus, but no one in the world would.

What’s so extraordinary about enjoying playing with a toy sword and feeling affection when receiving kisses on the cheek from his son? Such things are natural and expected.

Fundamental change isn’t about those things.

He had no intention of discussing such matters openly. There was no need to.

“If you need time to think, take it. You won’t be able to move until your pneumonia is healed anyway.”

“……”

Linus didn’t respond.

Erich left him and stepped outside.

‘It seems that only the outward appearance has changed.’

It appears that his sensitive and evasive nature remains unchanged.

Linus lacks the qualities to become a ruler.

Weakness itself is not a sin. However, failing to fulfill the duties demanded by the noble blood running through one’s veins because of that weakness is a sin.

Therefore, Linus must escape now.

Once the Empress places a crown on his head, he will have to face the consequences.

* * *

Elliott fell asleep within minutes after the snack table was cleared away.

After playing joyfully and eating his fill, how could he not be exhausted?

“He’ll sleep until dinner, won’t he?”

Claire mused hopefully as she carried Elliott to his room. Jenny answered with a smile.

“I think we’ll need to wake him for dinner. We don’t want him to wake up during the night.”

“Hmm. That wouldn’t do.”

Elliott had felt noticeably heavier over the past few months.

Claire laid him down on the bed and stretched.

Though she wasn’t physically tired, the stress from the Linus situation had left her feeling quite exhausted.

“I need to rest in the bedroom for a bit. Will you tell Erich to come to the bedroom when he comes down?”

“Yes, Madam.”

The maid replied politely.

Claire planned to take a short nap in the bedroom on the second floor.

If Erich came by? She could simply use him as a body pillow, resting her legs on his firm abs.

However, busy people’s plans for daytime naps rarely work out as intended.

As Claire had just loosened her hair and removed her outer dress, a maid knocked on the door.

“Duchess, guests have arrived.”

“Who are they?”

“Archduke Victoria, Sir Hermann of Marquisate Ludendorff family, and Miss Joanna of Barony Bloom family.”

“Ugh……”

It would have been one thing if only Hermann had come, but ignoring Joanna was undesirable, and it was inconceivable to disregard Archduke Victoria.

If they were coming, they should have done so before she undressed. She was frustrated.

* * *

Joanna sat in the drawing room, tense and on edge.

Archduke Victoria had been invited up to the nursery, leaving Joanna and Hermann alone in the drawing room.

The Duchess would likely first meet with Archduke Victoria and, once she had some leisure, she would come down to the drawing room.

How long would she have to wait? Three hours? Four hours?

Given the unexpected visit, Joanna was prepared to wait for a long time. In fact, she was grateful just for the chance to meet.

Joanna’s real concern was not how long, but how she should wait. Should she sit? Or kneel?

“There’s no need to be so nervous, Lady Bloom. The Duchess is not one to flaunt her status by making people wait.”

“Yes.”

“Archduke Victoria wouldn’t keep the Duchess for long. She came to see the Young Lord, not the Duchess in the first place.”

“Thank you.”

Hermann paused at Joanna’s gratitude.

“Did I say something deserving of thanks?”

“The fact that Archduke Victoria is visiting the Young Lord is a warm gesture between close relatives, so she could have come alone. But she included me. If I had come alone, the gate might not have opened.”

“Express your thanks to the Archduke for allowing you to accompany her. I only made a request to accompany Her Grace because my father suggested I apologize. When I heard that Archduke Victoria was visiting, I quickly asked to attend.”

Hermann said, though his smile was more pronounced.

Escorting Archduke Victoria was an honor in itself, proving his influence by including Joanna and giving a favor to Barony Bloom.

In the small Ludendorff social circle, word would likely spread within a day. And soon enough, it would reach the capital as well.

No matter what happened to Barony Bloom, it would not harm Hermann.

Joanna, aware of this, shook her head as she replied.

“You could have chosen to ignore us. In fact, the Marquis has previously treated my mother with cold disdain. Her letters were returned unopened.”

“Oh, that……”

It would be rude to turn away a noble lady seeking help without meeting her.

Furthermore, even though the relationship had loosened and the vassalage contract had been dissolved, Barony Bloom were once vassals of the Ludendorff family.

At the very least, a reply to the letter or a greeting by a secretary should have been arranged.

Joanna gave a slight bow to Hermann.

“I hope you don’t misunderstand that I’m implying any special criticism of the Marquis. In truth, there are no remaining obligations between the Bloom and Ludendorff families, and my mother’s past friendship with the Marchioness only led to her acting rude.”

“Lady.”

“I have also done nothing to benefit the Marchioness. The Bloom family acted foolishly, and it is right that the Bloom family should bear the responsibility.”

Joanna spoke with composure.

Except for the mentally unstable Bruno, the entire Bloom family was in a flurry, trying to avoid complete ruin by any means necessary.

However, no responses came back from anywhere.