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Chapter 115
“If Diana loses her mind and tries to bother my wife, I’ll deal with her secretly then.”
Cedar settled his thoughts on Diana at that level.
Perhaps lulled by the sound of their conversation, Zik had completely fallen asleep.
Since he didn’t seem likely to wake even if Cedar put him down, he carefully lowered Zik onto the sofa.
Phew.
Why did he have to break a sweat over this? The cold sweat that never appeared even when facing monsters was now pouring just from putting a child on the sofa without waking him.
“Wow, Zik can just lie down and sleep now. I guess he’s growing up a bit.”
“…….”
Cedar didn’t affirm nor deny it. He wasn’t sure, but he hoped it was true.
Grow up quickly. Every single day, grow.
So, no need for mom. Give him to me.
When did Nelly and I ever get to spend quality time together?
Cedar suddenly felt a pang of sadness. They had finally confirmed their feelings for each other and wanted to grow closer, but continuous big events kept happening, preventing them from being together.
It was chaotic for a while. Between the funeral, the title succession, and also worrying about Grisha…
Moving from their familiar home to the Grenit Duke’s mansion made everything awkward and difficult.
The mansion was small enough that, no matter what, they would eventually have to see each other, but in the Grenit mansion, the couple’s bedrooms were far apart. Unless one deliberately went to see the other, it was difficult to run into each other by chance.
So I thought, now that the urgent matters are settled, it’s time to face my wife!
The true formidable opponent wasn’t the mansion—it was the child!
With Zik now in the picture, even when Cedar stayed at the mansion, he couldn’t monopolize Nelly as he wished.
Last time I sneaked into Nelly’s bedroom in the middle of the night, the bed was empty, and I panicked.
He had thought Nelly had disappeared, but she had quietly been sleeping in her bedroom.
Not just in her bed—Nelly had been sleeping in the small servant’s room attached to her bedroom.
Cedar felt sorry for Nelly, a space so small that it was almost impossible to squeeze into.
Now that she’s a duchess, how long will she continue staying in such a place?
Though the butler and housekeeper wanted to scold her, Nelly looked so young that they couldn’t bring themselves to do so. Cedar also felt sympathy for her.
He gently massaged Nelly’s arms, which hurt from holding Zik, and carefully asked:
“So, I hope my wife starts getting used to the mansion. How long are you going to stay in that tiny room?”
“It’s impossible. The room is too big, I can’t calm down in it.”
“What’s big about it?”
“It’s enormous. I’d rather have you switch me to a smaller bedroom instead of giving me a lecture.”
A lecture! Cedar’s words were meant to be genuine concern, but she called it a lecture, and it stung a little. He masked his feelings and subtly laid the groundwork.
“Well, there is a way…”
“A way?”
Cedar got straight to the point.
“How about sharing a bedroom?”
His heart raced like it would burst.
But he had to say it! If they kept sleeping in separate rooms, time would pass without them even holding hands.
If we at least share the bedroom, we can see each other when we sleep!
After much deliberation, he made his move. But Nelly’s reaction was lukewarm. She blinked her large eyes and asked:
“Who?”
“Who else would it be but me?”
“Not Zik?”
“Why bring him up now? I’m talking about who I’m talking to.”
“Other than Zik, who would I share a bedroom with? I already sleep with Zik.”
“There is someone. Think carefully.”
“There isn’t.”
“…Really? You can’t think of anyone?”
Cedar felt miserable. He wondered if his eyes were deceiving him as they welled up.
Is this how much space I take in my wife’s heart?!
Unsure where to release his emotions, Cedar thought maybe he should go out to the training field. At that moment, Nelly reached out and took Cedar’s hand.
“It’s a joke.”
A soft crescent-shaped smile appeared on her face.
She leaned close, and… touch. Her small lips brushed against his cheek.
Cedar’s eyes widened.
Had she unintentionally kissed him? She blinked, then muttered, cheeks slightly flushed:
“Is this the first time I’ve kissed first?”
“……Not the first.”
Though he wanted to protest, his desire to stay close to her made all words die in his throat.
Cedar cupped her face with both hands and kissed her desperately.
His large, hard hands seemed to swallow her tiny face.
His heart felt like it was everywhere—not just in his chest, but in his hands, ears, pounding chaotically.
The mood broke when Cedar slid his hands to Nelly’s slender waist.
From behind, a small sound of crying came.
“Boohoo.”
“Oh.”
The faint cry stopped both Nelly and Cedar in their tracks.
It was Zik.
That brat!
Though he cried with his mouth, his silvery eyes showed no tears.
Could such a tiny being really cry to deliberately interfere?
While Cedar was puzzled, Nelly picked Zik up.
Instantly, his crying stopped. Seeing that, Cedar’s suspicion only grew.
Holding Zik, Nelly smiled brightly.
“So, shall we all sleep together from now on?”
“All three of us?”
“Isn’t that what you meant earlier when you said we should share the bedroom…?”
“Oh, right! Exactly! That’s what I meant!”
Though not her intention, Cedar nodded quickly.
He noticed Zik pouting at him.
That kid…
The master bedroom was big enough for all three to sleep comfortably. At first, they placed Zik in the middle, but Cedar worried he might get squashed, so they swapped positions, putting Zik safely on the inside.
“Still, it’s better to use a crib just in case.”
“Does he have a crib?”
“Of course.”
Even if not, Cedar would make one. Anything to prevent the little one from falling.
Zik scowled as if he knew Cedar’s secret intentions. But Cedar ignored him. A baby’s eyes couldn’t bother him.
Nelly, with a radiant smile, muttered:
“Now that I think about it, I do have memories with Diana.”
“What?”
Unexpectedly, she brought up Diana. Cedar tilted his head.
Nelly shared a simple, ordinary memory:
“Was it during a thunderstorm? Or lightning? I crawled into her bed because I was scared. I remember desperately trying to act brave even though I was terrified.”
A kind and gentle story, just like her.
Cedar felt a pang in his chest. He hugged Nelly tightly.
“You don’t have to act brave anymore. I’m here.”
Even his heartfelt reassurance didn’t make much impact.
Nelly blinked, then quietly asked:
“You’re not scared anymore?”
“……Yes. I was too late. I should have met you when you were a child.”
“You do know that’s physically impossible, right?”
Cedar frowned, wondering what words could move her heart.
He even thought it might have been easier to just rush to kiss her.
Hearing Cedar’s frustrated groan, Nelly chuckled softly and whispered:
“Thank you.”
That night, Nelly dreamed.
The place was the tiny servant’s room. She immediately recognized it in her dream.
Ah, it’s the room in the academy.
She couldn’t tell Cedar—he would probably burn down the academy—but the reason she kept crawling into the small room was that the academy had given her a room exactly that size.
Having spent most of her childhood squished in such spaces, she found it hard to sleep in large rooms.
But why am I dreaming of this…? Ah.
She heard the sound of rushing water. The room filled with dampness, and distant thunder rumbled.
It must be because I mentioned being scared of thunder earlier.
At home, she could cope with her fear, but at the academy, she knew it would be impossible.
She would wrap herself in blankets and count slowly, waiting for the rain to pass…
“Hey, what are you doing?”
A deep voice startled Nelly awake. She reflexively reached out but touched nothing and panicked. The room was no longer cramped.
“Go back to sleep.”
A large arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a soft, plush bed.
His body radiated intense warmth. Her chilled, tense body immediately relaxed.
Thanks to him, she quickly returned to reality.
It was just a dream. This is reality.
The cold, scary servant’s room was no longer her place.
Nelly exhaled in relief. Feeling safe, sleep gradually returned.
This warm embrace… this was now the place where she truly belonged.
