MDCHC 40

chapter 40

I simply erased the thorny road called the scoundrel Unshow and that damned Aitley Count’s family, and instead planned for a direct marriage to the kind male lead Brian and his warm-hearted in-laws, the Devonshire Ducal family!

That was the brand-new “flower path project” I had devised for Daniel.

For that to happen, of course Daniel and Brian had to fall in love.
And for them to fall in love, they first had to meet.

‘It feels a little early, but since there’s also the childhood-friend route, it’s important to not even give Unshow a chance to step in!’

“ I wonder if the children are playing well.”

I pretended as though the thought had just come to me and craned my neck toward the door.

“Does Young Lord Brian usually get along with other children? Is he shy, or perhaps are there any snacks he can’t eat?”

“He isn’t particularly shy. He sometimes plays with his cousins, but this is the first time he’s meeting only strangers in an unfamiliar place…”

The Duchess of Devonshire glanced toward the door as if slightly worried. Even though she was a duchess, she was still, after all, a mother.

“Then shall we go and check on the children?”

The duchess nodded brightly.

The playroom I had prepared for Daniel was perfect for children. The bookshelves were filled, there were blocks and dolls to play with, and plenty of other toys as well.

Snacks, drinks, and fruits were set out on the side in abundance, and the children who had come with their mothers were happily playing there.

While the mothers had become somewhat familiar with each other, the children still hadn’t. Some faces were familiar, others vague, others entirely new.

Of course, the one who shone the brightest among them was Daniel.

‘Our Daniel is as beautiful and kind as ever today!’

I spotted Daniel playing with a very young baby and smiled with satisfaction. Since today was the historic first meeting with the male lead, I had put particular effort into styling her.

Her neatly braided pigtails were tied with blue ribbons, and she wore a peach-colored dress so adorable I wanted to pinch her cheeks.

“Is that the Young Lady of Winchester?”

The duchess, who had noticed Daniel’s beauty, asked me while gazing at her.

“Yes, that’s right.”
“What an adorable little lady.”

Perfect! First impression—success!

As expected, it was human instinct to open one’s heart to cuteness.

“Wasn’t it difficult for you, suddenly having a child? You’re still quite young, Countess of Winchester.”

She asked cautiously. Her expression made it clear that it wasn’t out of rudeness or idle curiosity. She was genuinely concerned for me.

Though her face was younger than the older Duchess I knew from the novel, her kind nature hadn’t changed. This Duchess, too, was warmhearted.

“Not at all. Daniel is so kind and sweet, I’m happier because of her.”

I answered with a bright smile. That was the honest truth, with no embellishment.

“In fact, I sometimes feel like it’s a blessing. I got this lovely daughter without morning sickness, without a swollen belly, and without the pain of childbirth.”

“Oh my!”

The duchess laughed as if amused by my “joke.” But I hadn’t been joking.

“All I think now is that I must raise her well. That’s why I attend gatherings like this. You should join more often too, Duchess. There’s so much useful information—about modern teaching methods, good tutors, or foods that are healthy for children.”

“Well, Brian is still so young, so I haven’t thought much about education yet…”

“It’s better to plan ahead. I was lucky to quickly find a good governess, but finding a capable tutor can be very difficult.”

“Is that so? I thought it was too soon…”

The duchess tilted her head, a little swayed.

Naturally, with the Devonshire family’s influence, they could acquire such information easily. But I wanted to build friendship with her—and I wanted Brian and Daniel to meet—so I coaxed her.

“By the way, where is the young Lord of Devonshire? I don’t think I’ve seen him yet…”

I trailed off as though looking around for him. Surely the male lead would already shine with a dazzling aura, but I didn’t spot anyone like that.

“The child whom Young Lady Winchester is playing with—that’s Brian.”

“What?”

I asked in shock. If she meant the one Daniel was playing with right now…

‘That’s a baby!’

The one who barely reached Daniel’s waist, toddling on unsteady legs—was that the male lead? The same Brian de Devonshire who would one day be over 180cm tall, with broad shoulders, a powerful chest, and long legs?

‘Well… his hair is indeed sparkling gold, and his eyes are green, but…’

He had chubby, mochi-like cheeks, rosy blush, plump arms and legs—and he was toddling around!

‘Wait, that’s right! Brian was the young-and-rich, tall-and-handsome, “gentle-by-day, wild-by-night” younger man!’

I had completely forgotten. Despite being younger, he was the dangerously charming male lead whom Daniel would end up calling “oppa.”

Brian was four years younger than Daniel!

‘Daniel is six now, so that makes Brian… two years old.’

“Young Lord Devonshire is… very cute.”

Guilt washed over me. I had tried to force some romantic spark between a six-year-old and a two-year-old. For a moment, I wondered if I was being an overzealous mother.

‘I rushed too much. I really need to fix this habit of obsessing over one thing and forgetting everything else. Sometimes being too proactive causes problems.’

As we approached the children, I reflected on myself.

“Hello, Daniel. Thank you so much for playing with Brian.”

The duchess spoke to her warmly.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Brian is just so, so cute.”

Daniel replied with a bright smile, holding Brian’s pudgy little starfish hand.

“Danyel, wuv!”

Brian also squeezed her hand and declared it as though making a proclamation.

‘Huh? Wait a second, what is this?’

“Hehe!”
“Ehee~”

The smiles exchanged between a six-year-old and a two-year-old were unbearably cute and heartwarming.

“How precious~”

The duchess looked at them with a fond smile. In my love-struck eyes, it looked just like the smile of a delighted future mother-in-law.

‘Wait… is this working?’

Amazingly, things were going according to plan.

The male and female lead’s romantic first meeting had taken place—albeit adorably so.

It was an unexpected summons. They called it an invitation, but no one could refuse the imperial palace. It was practically a command. The same went for me.

“What did Your Highness wish to see me about?”

After a table of dainty desserts, tea, some talk about trending sweets, light jokes about the Earl of Winchester, and Daniel’s recent growth, the conversation lulled, so I asked.

To be honest, she didn’t seem very interested in the earlier topics. Though she nodded and smiled, she probably would have nodded even if I’d said, “The Earl of Winchester has grown three centimeters taller! At this rate he’ll soon pass two meters!”

“Ah… well…”

But when it came to the main subject, she hesitated. She lowered her gaze, and—her cheeks reddened.

Wait. Did she just blush?

“Could it be… a matter concerning romance?”

In place of an answer, the princess’s face turned even redder. And I was thrown into dismay.

Even though this was my second lifetime, when it came to romance—my experience was still at zero.