Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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Erich knocked on Claire’s dressing room and curtly said to the maid who cautiously poked her head out.

“Is she still preparing?”

“Ah, she’s almost done.”

The maid said so and moved out of the way.

Erich sighed. He himself was also late, but he didn’t know that Claire’s wasn’t finished dressing up yet.

“I didn’t know you were the kind of person who’d take a long time for something like this.”

He grumbled as he stepped inside and paused. along with his words.

Claire, who had been putting on her earrings for the last time, turned around.

“Sorry. I changed my mind in the middle.”

“Oh.”

“What’s wrong?”

The little curly hairs fluttering over her exposed neck and elegant shoulder line shone. It was like there was gold dust sprinkled on her brown hair, and was scattered here and there.

Claire tilted her head, shaking her chandelier-like diamond earring with a single tap.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Pretty.”

No, she was beyond beautiful.

Erich had to fight his desire to pull her to the bedroom, while at the same time resisting the urge to take his jacket and put it on her, wrapping it up all the way to her neck. Talking about the way a woman dresses was an impolite thing to do.

Seeing his tightly closed lips, Claire said with a smile.

“Thank you for your compliment. I did my best. I don’t want to be compared and hear ‘that woman really deserves it’.”

“It’s my decision, who dares to talk about qualifications?”

“That attitude of yours is the problem.”

Claire poked a finger in his chest.

“Of course, it’s not because of my face that you fall for me, but people don’t think so. They say the duke chose me over Lady Schneider because his eyesight went bad.”

“Who said that?”

“Then you didn’t fall for me, but you took off your signet ring?”

Claire replied in a mirth-tinted voice. Of course, it was because she knew that what Erich was trying to deny was the part of falling for him.

“I know Iris is a great singer, but I don’t know about her face.”

Erich’s index finger ran down Claire’s diamond necklace once, then lifted it up slightly.

“You are prettier.”

“You must be crazy.”

Claire slaps him on the back of his hand. A fire rose on his face.

“I am an objective person, right? I know better that even all the flowers of society can’t compare to you.”

“I don’t think so.”

Erich spoke without agitation, with a blunt face.

“As you said, you didn’t catch my eye just because of your face, but I can’t deny that you’re pretty.”

“You’re really crazy.”

Claire burst out laughing and slapped him on the arm again. Her cheekbones went up even as she thought it was absurd.

“Still though, thanks for making me feel better.”

“I don’t tell pointless lies.”

“Would you mind?”

Claire held out her hand.

Erich was going to take that hand and escort her, but before that, her hand reached his chest.

“Except for the combination of our faces, we got along well in many ways.”

Through his shirt, she could feel Erich’s chest muscles tense. As Claire playfully moved her index and middle fingers over the expanse as though they were walking, and Erich grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t make me an irresponsible person.”

He said in a restrained voice and pulled her hand. He wrapped his arms around Claire’s slender waist and lowered his head, but just before their lips met, Claire covered his face with one hand.

“No. My makeup will get ruined.”

“It can be fixed.”

“You’ll ruin it, but I’ll fix it? No way.”

“Then I will fix it.”

“It wouldn’t be funny if you said something like that if only you knew how to do it.”

Claire laughed in disbelief. In the end, Erich could only kiss her palm.

He took a deep breath and took her hand as their arms were linked.

It had been a long time since a banquet was held at the Klausener Duchy.

Invitations were sent out mainly to relatives, vassals, and families with close ties, but several people invited themselves ‘plus one’, thus, the large banquet hall was filled with quite a lot of people.

Ding dong. Dang dong.

The sound of the piano getting plated by the performer resonated.

The chamber orchestra was tuning by plucking their instruments, but it felt more like part of the musical than a mere cacophony of sounds.

Of course, apart from the beauty of the melody, it was not so well received by the guests.

“What? Is the orchestra still not ready?”

“It’s not like the Klausener Duchy to receive guests like this.”

“The fiancée hasn’t started managing the household yet, and the Elder Madam isn’t in favor of this engagement, so it’s a given.”

Their whispers were mingled with concern and curiosity.

“It’s not that I don’t understand the Elder Madam’s side. She’s a baron, and one from Arren even.”

“How nice would it be if there was even one great princess? Or someone like Duke Ernst.”

“It is a pity. Even if you consider Count Ernst’s branch family, there aren’t any decent daughters there.”

“There are plenty of noble ladies from Rommel, but why must it be an Arren.”

On the other hand, there were those who scolded such voices.

“It’s the Duke’s decision, so let’s not talk about it carelessly.”

“Didn’t he manage to pick a good lady?”

“With Baron Delford, he can safely entrust Klausenner internal affairs to her. Frankly, the Elder Madam was too much of a waste.”

“He has to marry a noble anyway, but if she is a lady of Rommel, what will he do with the heir! Didn’t Frederick the Great make the Rommel-Arren succession law in preparation for such an occasion?”

Marquis Belf passed such a conversation in displeasure.

‘Hmph! She’s a country bumpkin who only knows how to count money!’

But this too will end soon.

In a few hours, Claire Delford could never be considered the next Duchess. No, even worse, she wouldn’t even be able to show her face in high society.

This was their plan for today.

First, Louisa would give Claire a drink. Concerned about how the girl shouldn’t get drunk easily, Lousia was going to give her a sedative with a sweet sparkling wine.

When Claire starts to doze off, she would have a maid take her to the garden. There was a pergola that could be used for a tryst.

And from there, she intended to bring a man there with a forged letter or something.

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