Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 192

In the coastal region of Ludendorff, seafood is affordable, especially since her husband is wealthy. A half rice, half abalone porridge? It was perfect.

‘I should try making rice dishes next time.’

Although controlling the heat was difficult, she could attempt it with the chef and, if successful, perhaps ask for help later. She wanted to feed Erich some gukbab.

As Claire indulged in her meal without a care, Linus stared at her in disbelief. He couldn’t tell if she was trying to get his attention or not. Slowly, he got up and sat across from her.

“Decided to be polite?”

“It’s ridiculous that you’re trying to feed me like this.”

“Me? What do you mean?”

Claire felt a bit embarrassed, wondering if he interpreted her actions as some sort of performance. It was human nature to want to eat when seeing someone enjoy their food, but that wasn’t her intention.

The dish was simply excellent.

“Just take a sip. You might be surprised at how good it is.”

“I’m not deliberately avoiding it. I just don’t have much appetite.”

“Then you should eat even more! It might actually be worth trying if it’s a new dish.”

“……”

Whether Linus remained silent or not, Claire continued to savor the risotto and finished off a bowl of soup. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she started eating. Given her depleted energy, she felt she should be consuming not just abalone but also eel three times a day.

When she was younger, she hadn’t thought much about exercise, but these days, it was evident that Erich maintained his physique through regular workouts. She wondered if working out was something people should have done a decade ago.

As Claire finished her bowl, Linus clicked his spoon against the dish. If this was an attempt to grab his attention, he had no desire to fall for it. Still, he knew she had no reason to do so. All she could wish for was for him to either live or not—those were the only two options.

“Don’t want to eat?”

“……”

“Fine, then don’t eat. I’m not going to force you if you really don’t want to.”

Claire replied cheerfully, pushing her bowl aside. The maid placed a warm glass of water in front of her.

“Then why come here to eat at all?”

“I know how depressing it is to sit alone at the table every day. But I suppose having me here doesn’t really help much.”

Linus clicked his spoon a few more times, feeling oddly uncomfortable, and he shifted his feet.

Claire asked.

“What about Erich? He’s your cousin.”

“Just the thought of it gives me chills.”

Sitting across from Erich at the table for no reason, sharing a meal? Linus made a genuinely displeased face, though he was also curious.

“If I said that would be better, could you sit Erich at that table?”

“It’s not hard to just tell him to come for a meal. But dinner is a different story; it has to be with family.”

“……”

Linus felt a strange mix of discomfort and annoyance. A fluttering sensation starting in his chest that he couldn’t quite place. He averted his gaze to the clear soup bowl.

“What’s the real benefit for you in all this?”

“There’s no benefit. You know that. I just want to do my duty as a human.”

“A traditional kindness of making sure your guest leaves full?”

“Food is just food. You don’t need to overthink sitting at the table.”

Claire said it casually, but Linus thought again how odd she was.

“And there’s no need to starve yourself out of pride. Even if you want to die, you can still be hungry. You’re still alive.”

Her words made Linus want to prove that he wasn’t refusing to eat out of defiance. So, he picked up the spoon and took a sip of the slightly cooled soup. It slid down his throat more easily than he expected, probably because it was liquid.

“It’s salty.”

“You’re being picky. Just eat it. I can’t adjust the seasoning for someone who probably won’t even eat.”

Linus grumbled, but once his stomach settled, the food went down easier than expected. As soon as he finished the small amount of broth, the butler refilled his bowl with risotto. The small soup bowl was quickly emptied, leaving a salty and warm aftertaste in his mouth.

Claire watched him with a soft sigh. Whether Linus realized it or not, his expression had relaxed slightly. People tend to get more irritable when they’re hungry.

Though Erich had told her to leave him alone, Linus seemed too young for that kind of neglect. Sure, twenty was technically adulthood, and he should be responsible for himself, but no one magically transforms into a fully mature adult overnight.

He had jumped into the freezing sea at just twenty. That thought made her feel pity for him.

She had hoped that sharing a meal might open up some conversation, and it seemed like that wasn’t entirely wrong.

“You’re not thinking of running away anymore, are you?”

“What makes you think that?”

“You really do talk like Erich sometimes.”

Claire sighed.

“Just answer the question instead of always deflecting with another one like you’re trying to test me.”

Linus frowned. He hated being compared to Erich, and even thinking about him brought a wave of irritation. Still, arguing against it seemed pointless—this woman didn’t know anything.

“I heard Erich offered to help you disappear without a trace. The fact that you haven’t decided yet means you’re not really considering it, right?”

“This has nothing to do with you.”

“And going back to the palace? Does that feel like losing to the very thing that drove you to jump into the sea?”

“Wouldn’t you prefer it if I just died?”

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