Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 208

The miners’ representative said shamelessly,

“We just dug as instructed, exactly as we always do.”

“Didn’t I tell you to be cautious since the ground here is weaker than Kohlberg’s? You were assigned this task because you’re experienced miners!”

“With only 2,000 gold for the entire operation, do you expect us to be doing the work of mining engineers for cheap?”

The miner’s representative retorted without hesitation.

“I already suggested that we start by digging a small tunnel to assess things first, then gradually widen it with shovels. But you insisted on using explosives to speed things up because of the time pressure.”

Horst’s face turned pale.

It was true that he had given that order. Who would actually believe that they should dig with shovels and picks? He had thought it was just an excuse to demand higher wages.

From the very beginning, when the price was set as low as 2,000 gold per person, he had been sure that this was an attempt to increase profits through such methods. He still thought that the miner was trying to squeeze every last coin.

“Isn’t it a relief that no one got hurt? If there had been injuries or deaths, compensation would have been a lot more expensive, but at least you saved on that.”

The Arren miner foreman said brazenly.

The man’s name was Jacob.

* * *

Erich woke up later than usual that morning. The curtains were drawn, but it was already bright outside. Being winter, with short days, he had likely slept two hours longer than usual.

“Hmm.”

He didn’t have a particular preference for any season since he wasn’t sensitive to either heat or cold. Recently, however, he had come to think that winter was better in many ways.

Claire, who had been curled up close to him for warmth, snuggled even closer when he tried to move, rubbing her cheek against the back of his neck. Erich gave up on getting up for a moment and stayed still, reaching out to grab his pocket watch.

The dim light made it easy enough to read the time. Breakfast time had long passed.

“Claire.”

“…I want to sleep more.”

She muttered, her voice a mix of a sleepy mumble or perhaps a sigh.

Erich turned his body sideways, raising his head to look at his sleeping wife. He felt as though time had been cut off completely. He gently brushed her tangled hair aside with his hand.

But unlike five years ago, there was little care in his touch. He was planning to wake her once she had rested enough.

But she didn’t respond and seemed to fall back asleep.

“She must be exhausted.”

It wasn’t just because of yesterday. He knew she had been stressed ever since the Kohlberg mine incident.

Even when he told her it was fine, his reassurances didn’t seem to reach her. She wasn’t just worried that he might act impulsively, but also concerned about whether her own actions might cross a line she had set for herself.

Though she appeared calm on the outside, there were times when he could hear her tired sighs, as though something was eating away at her.

Even though Erich had told her to forget about the rest and leave it to him once the decision was made, Claire couldn’t seem to let go. Erich knew well that despite her acting like a shameless, materialistic person, she often struggled with reality and felt pain over it.

‘She’s a strange woman, really.’

That’s why, even though she didn’t need protection, he couldn’t help but feel concerned for her.

Erich shifted his position and, with a gentle hug from behind, pressed a kiss to Claire’s neck.

He didn’t intend to fall back asleep, but having the opportunity to spend such peaceful time together was rare. Elliott was probably being fed and looked after by Martha. By now, it was late enough that he felt more at ease.

As he enjoyed the sweet time, a hesitant knock came at the door.

Knock. Knock, knock.

It seemed he had to get up. Erich sighed. He couldn’t help but agree with Claire’s lament about whether this could even be called a honeymoon.

He made sure to carefully cover Claire with the blanket to keep her warm, and gently got out of bed.

When he opened the door, the butler was waiting, holding a robe. Erich donned it without question and asked right away.

“What about Elliott?”

“Young Master woke up early this morning. He seems a little upset.”

“I see.”

But Erich couldn’t take him to bed every day.

He then turned his attention to his aide. The aide, who had been waiting with the butler, cautiously stepped forward.

“We’ve received a report from the Gagern Mine. There’s been a collapse in one of the tunnels.”

“I see.”

Erich’s information network was a little slower than Claire’s. Claire heard things through Hermann, but Erich received updates through a separate route from miners.

The aide continued the report.

“There were no casualties. As for the material damage, we don’t have an exact estimate yet, but the rails, mine carts, and lighting systems have definitely been buried.”

“That’s unexpected. I didn’t think they’d do the work properly.”

The miner at Gagern Mine, Jacob, was the same man, Aaron Jacob, who had previously forced Arren miners into slavery at the Kohlberg Mine.

Claire had demanded that Jacob sign a temporary contract for Gagern Mine at a very low price. Of course, the miners he brought weren’t the same ones from before. While each had a name on paper, most of them had been miners from Kohlberg, and a significant portion of them were security personnel and guards sent by Klausener.

Among them was even Walter Meyer, who had repented for his mistakes.

[Make the tunnel collapse after the equipment is in place. It’ll be best if no one gets hurt. Ludendorff will be rushing it, so there will definitely be gaps.]

There were plenty of opportunities for mistakes.

[If you manage to collapse the tunnel without any casualties, I’ll cover the bail, lawyer’s fees, compensation, and damages. But be sure to understand, payments will depend on the success of the operation. If there are casualties, I’ll have you thrown in jail without hesitation.]

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