Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 189
“In reality, it’s not just about whether the Barony disappears or not. It’s much more socially problematic when a single word from the Duke in anger can dismantle an entire family.”
“……”
“What did you just swallow?”
Erich smiled faintly as he lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Every time you act like this, I feel the urge to show you just what I’m capable of.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Like you’ve always lived honorably and righteously.”
Instead of answering, Erich kissed the wedding ring. Claire looked at him with a hint of annoyance.
“If you were going to do that, you should have done it right from the start.”
“Have I done anything wrong?”
“Is that what you’re saying now?”
Claire pinched his lips with her finger and then regretted it as he licked the tips of her fingers.
Erich smiled, and Claire, her lips flushed from the blood, consciously looked away.
“Anyway, since it’s come to this, I hope Joanna does very well. I’d be quite frustrated if people started saying she failed at managing the family just because she’s a woman.”
Is there more advice she could give Joanna? Merely maintaining things wouldn’t be enough. Considering the geographical advantages close to the Ernst industrial city and the benefits from the Ludendorff plains, there seemed to be room for bold new ventures while still maintaining traditional industries.
Erich noticed that Claire’s thoughts were churning away in her head.
“Do you have another plan?”
“Hmmm, it feels a bit off for me to intervene too much in Barony Bloom’s management, doesn’t it? Besides, it’s not really my area of expertise.”
“But you managed Krozik.”
“That was something I added to a business I was already involved in. Partnering and interference are different matters. Even aside from needing to recruit Johann, it aligned with the interests of County Krozik.”
“Interests aren’t always just about economic matters.”
Claire blinked, and Erich, trusting his own restraint, leaned back and distanced himself, resting against the back of his chair.
“You don’t want to hear that Joanna failed to manage the family just because she’s a woman. So if that’s the case, you should step in and teach her.”
“Are you suggesting I make her a lady-in-waiting? But that would just mean she’d be benefiting from Klausener’s influence. It might be a way for Joanna to avoid failure, but it would ultimately mean she ended up as a lady-in-waiting for the Duchess just because she’s a woman.”
“She needs to achieve so much that such remarks never come up. Can’t you do that?”
“Oh, you’re really hitting my pride here.”
Erich chuckled softly.
“Anyway, you keep saying there’s no one you can trust, so it’s tough. If you’ve found someone who understands what true honor is, isn’t it time to stop being so picky?”
“Well… true. If Miss Joanna offers to help me, I should actually be grateful.”
“You’ve already inherited the title a few years earlier, so you can think of it as teaching a junior as a senior.”
Claire frowned slightly.
“By the way, do you really like Miss Joanna that much?”
“What?”
“Knowing what true honor is, that’s the highest compliment you give, isn’t it?”
Erich was a bit surprised, as he hadn’t really thought about it.
“Does it sound that way?”
“It’s just that I’ve never seen you praise a woman like this before. And this kind of suggestion too.”
“I don’t evaluate women in general. This was about whether Joanna Bloom is qualified to become a baron.”
“Hm, I see.”
Claire replied with a subtle expression and then got off the table. Her soft feet accidentally stepped on Erich’s toes.
It was only natural that he couldn’t feel much through his slippers, but Erich felt every bit of her weight and touch. It felt like she was stepping on the anxiety he had been suppressing deep inside.
Unable to hold back any longer, he pulled Claire’s waist and guided her back to his table. He then stroked her calves and feet, placing them on the armrest of his chair.
Claire lowered her head. Her still damp hair made Erich’s shoulder and head cold. Her moist skin had a faint soapy scent mixed with floral notes.
“Have you really never evaluated a woman?”
“If it’s about evaluating abilities, I do it, but it’s rare to find someone who stands out.”
Buried in her hair, Erich responded. It was true, Claire realized. She had never heard him talk about other women, including whether they were pretty or not, before she asked.
Thinking about it made her feel good. She felt even better as she cupped his face with both hands, pressing his chiseled cheeks.
When she moved her feet, which had been resting on the armrest, to touch his side, Erich flinched.
Thud.
Unable to control his anxiety, he stood up abruptly, causing his chair to topple over. Claire, who was already feeling even better, smiled brightly.
“I was feeling jealous, so why don’t you give me a compliment to cheer me up? Something more praiseworthy than what you said to Joanna.”
“Ha.”
Erich let out an incredulous laugh.
“You’re the strangest woman I’ve ever met.”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
“You didn’t really expect me to call you a graceful, demure, and noble lady, did you?”
Claire couldn’t help but laugh at his straightforwardness.
Erich wanted to say it more lightly, conveying that she was unique. But the voice that escaped his throat was deeply earnest.
“There’s probably only one woman like you in this world.”
“Good. I like that.”
Claire seemed to be satisfied with his comment, whether she understood his urgent tone or not, and she gave a little nod.
Erich pushed her down gently and, like someone who had found a spring while wandering without a water container, he leaned in and kissed her lips.
Just then, as he reached out to touch the feet that had been driving him crazy.
“Ah.”
He remembered the paperwork he still had to handle.
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