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Chapter 42
“Are you deaf? Don’t contaminate the child’s head with your filthy hands—move away.”
“When I first saw you, I thought you’d changed….”
Claude looked at him with a dazed expression.
“If you can’t move it, I’ll just cut off that hand of yours…”
Alex’s harsh words trailed off. He had almost said something crude in front of the child because of that irritating man. His annoyance seemed to grow as he looked at Claude.
“Your Grace!”
Eloise looked up at him with shining eyes.
“…Huh?”
Alex’s voice trembled slightly under the child’s gaze. The girl often said things in unpredictable ways, making him uneasy. Sure enough, the next words from Eloise froze him completely.
“You must be really close friends with the Count!”
“That man is just an academy peer, nothing more, nothing less.”
Alex’s usual gentle gaze at Eloise hardened unusually. Claude, observing this, looked almost amused, as if he had discovered something entertaining.
“I’ve always thought of him as a dear friend….”
Claude’s eyes drooped, and Alex’s expression twisted as though something unpleasant had been forced upon him. He barely held back from saying something crude, taking a deep breath to soften his expression. He worried Eloise might be shocked.
“Don’t be too upset. Your Grace also considers the Count a precious friend!”
But Alex’s efforts were in vain. Eloise’s next words made him freeze again.
“…Really?”
“Yes, Count!”
Eloise nodded brightly. Alex’s face turned ashen, unable to refute her, while Claude turned his head as if he couldn’t bear to miss such a fun scene.
“Ah… I see. Heh, alright then.”
Claude, barely holding back his laughter, glanced over both Eloise and Alex. This was a once-in-a-lifetime amusing moment—he couldn’t let it end easily. With a light tone, he began.
“But… Count, that’s upsetting. You can just call me Uncle. Since she’s the daughter of a dear friend, there’s no need for such formality.”
“Is it really alright to go against the set title?”
Claude glanced at Alex, who still hadn’t recovered from his pale complexion. Then Claude delivered the final blow directly at Alex.
“Of course it’s alright! In fact, I really want that. Because I want to become close friends with you too.”
Claude’s last words dropped the playful tone he’d maintained throughout the conversation, becoming serious. Although his purpose was to tease Alex, this part was genuine. He liked how the child had such an effect on Alex.
“Uncle… that’s absolutely not going to happen.”
Alex said firmly, but despite his tone, there was clear anxiety that the child might nod in agreement.
“Then… must we continue calling me Count so stiffly?”
Without replying to Claude, Alex turned his head toward Eloise.
“Darling, just call him Count,” he said.
“Count?”
Eloise raised her voice in surprise at the casual dismissal of formalities.
“Of course. Titles are just words—you can call them however you like.”
“That hurts, Count,”
“You expect me to care about your feelings?”
Eloise stared at Alex in unfamiliar surprise. He was acting completely informally—he must be really close friends with him.
“Hmm….”
Claude smiled meaningfully, his eyes narrowing.
“That’s how it should be… after all, the child legally belongs to me, the current head of Swinton. So you must know that, right?”
“What!”
“Eloise, want to try calling me Dad?”
“You bloody…!”
Alex shouted, unable to contain himself any longer. He realized he had almost spoken harshly in front of the child. When he looked down, Eloise’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“Darling… were you really startled?”
Eloise quickly spoke over Alex, who wanted to apologize.
“Count… I didn’t know you weren’t just close friends with Uncle but were extremely close friends!”
Alex’s ears twitched in disbelief. The title change from Count to Uncle was one thing, but what he couldn’t tolerate was the next part: extremely close friends.
‘I’m extremely close friends with that guy…’
Claude, delighted, spoke behind the pale Alex.
“So, you’ll call me Uncle?”
“Of course! You’re so close with the Duke, I want to be close too.”
“I want to be close as well.”
“Really?”
“Of course, it looks great—your expression completely drained, and Eloise so happy.”
Claude gestured toward Alex with his chin and patted Eloise’s head. Eloise looked at Alex worriedly.
“Your Grace, are you alright?”
“Well….”
Alex, still too shocked to respond, was answered by Claude instead.
“I’m just a little sad we can’t stay longer. We have to go deal with the beast attack.”
“Uncle, will there be many dangerous beasts?”
Alex raised his voice, unable to bear the title again.
“Hmm… that title might not be good in public,”
Since it was a decision by the child, Alex couldn’t force her not to say it. But he could ensure it wouldn’t be used in public.
“You don’t need to worry—public places might be better, right?”
Claude leaned back in his chair, deciding it wasn’t necessary to go into detail in front of the child.
“….”
Alex sighed deeply, contemplating. Showing closeness to Claude might help the child. The thoughts people would naturally draw were obvious.
“Right, whether in public or private, it doesn’t matter.”
Eloise, listening to Alex and Claude’s conversation, tilted her head.
“Public places mean parties? Even there, shouldn’t I still call you Count?”
Alex shook his head, signaling she needn’t worry. There was nothing good in calculating human value anyway.
“Darling, it’s fine. You really don’t need to worry. I’ll vouch for you—after all, we’re extremely close friends.”
Eloise’s eyes widened at the casual reassurance Claude gave. It seemed to relate to her position among the nobles.
“Yes! Then I’ll keep calling you Uncle.”
“Smart girl.”
Claude patted Eloise’s head and lightly tapped Alex’s shoulder.
“Now, straighten that face and get up. It’s time to work.”
“Your Grace, please take care,” Eloise said worriedly as Alex stood.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”
Alex smiled, indicating there was nothing to worry about, then turned toward the sounds of clashing wooden swords.
“Focus on them. Let’s leave it at that for now.”
“Yes.”
Alex nodded at Claude’s prompt. He had been lingering, reluctant to leave the children’s side, which had already delayed them.
“Hey, you half-witted one.”
Later, as they left the Adren garden, Alex scowled at Claude’s call.
“You’ve completely abandoned manners and etiquette, haven’t you? Anyway, there’s no child now, and I don’t care.”
“Want some advice from someone more experienced with children than you?”
Claude lightly waved off Alex’s remark and gestured toward the children.
“…What is it?”
‘He’s changed a lot,’
Claude had seen how much Alex had suffered at the hands of monsters called “parents.”
‘He’s become a parent…’
Knowing how much Alex had suffered and wanting him to become a good parent, Claude spoke with a small piece of advice.
“Even if they’re young, you can’t say nothing. You need to explain things properly.”
Alex, knowing Claude was a good parent himself, bowed his head at the advice.
“Thank you.”
“Being thanked for minor advice feels weird, but don’t worry. From what I’ve seen, you’re a good parent.”
Alex gave a light laugh and said again.
“Thank you.”
“Alright.”
Claude looked up at the sky, smiling contentedly as he watched Alex, who was more relaxed than before.
‘Giving him the title was definitely the right choice.’
