Chapter 44

“Which part is difficult?”

“That we can make the Ainel mansion into a place full of fun and happy things.”

“It is not difficult. As long as you don’t leave Leah alone.”

“Noel, you know my personality surprisingly accurately, so you must know it’s difficult for me.”

“Aha.”

Only then did I realize what kind of difficulties he had.

“I understand, Rupert. Obviously, you have high self-esteem, are arrogant, easily angered, and have a high and defensive mind wall, making it difficult to approach. Besides, you even remarked that our daughter would grow up on her own as long as the material environment was met—”

Rupert acknowledged these long bad words with a deep heart.

“That’s right, Noel. Will I be able to make the mansion a happy place?”

He spoke bluntly, “Actually, I still don’t know how to make my daughter grow well.”

I sighed at the negative words.

“I will add your shortcomings again. You have low self-esteem and a tendency to be self-destructive in a strange way.”

“Stop attacking me,” he grumbled.

In the end, I decided to understand Rupert. Because he grew up in a poor environment.

Besides, the current Rupert isn’t confident in himself at all.

‘He’s working hard after all, should I comfort him?’

“Still, I don’t think it’s impossible.”

“What?”

I approached him.

I can properly see Rupert’s face now.

“You can make a happy place for our daughter.”

“I don’t know.”

I sighed.

“Stop that skeptical tone. You are not a plague. You’re not someone who can only hurt anyone or just make other people unhappy. Stop defining yourself like that. It’s really frustrating.”

Despite my outspoken words, Rupert didn’t seem angry.

He just stared at me as he smirked.

I hope what I say now doesn’t sound like I know about his curse.

“Besides, it seems to me that you are just scared now.”

“What?”

“About putting others in your heart.”

“……”

“Of course, I don’t know why you’re like this. There must be some reason for this. Still, isn’t it a waste to think that you’ll never be able to make anyone happy in your life?”

I held his hand carefully on my lap.

“Stop being afraid of loving someone, Rupert.”

His mother died because of love, so it is natural for him to be skeptical.

But you can’t be tied to your parents’ lives forever.

It didn’t happen because you wanted it.

I looked into his eyes and smiled.

“Because you are someone who can truly love.”

Please pretend to be deceived and trust me.

“……”

Instead of a somewhat stiff answer, Rupert raised his hand which I wasn’t holding.

Then he reached out to my cheek.

Unlike usual, it felt like he was being very careful.

‘Ugh……’

I rolled my eyes in awkwardness.

I didn’t expect this kind of situation.

“Are you touched now?”

As if to come to his senses, he quickly reached his hand away from my cheek.

“……a little bit.”

But his other hand held mine tightly.

“I grew up being told to be the worst person ever.”

I was a little surprised. It was the first time Rupert had told me the story of his personal past.

“I thought it would be impossible to be a decent person for the rest of my life.”

“……”

“But just now, thanks to your words, I feel like I’m a decent human for a little while.”

I refuted a little bit.

“Well, but you have an annoying personality……”

“……haha.”

It was a short low laugh.

At the same time, Rupert’s face softened for an instant.

It was a fleeting moment, but I watched it carefully.

His very faint smile.

“Well, I guess not right now. Anyway, thank you, Noel.”

“I didn’t expect to hear thank you from you.”

“I never thought the day would come when I thanked you.”

Rupert then let go of my hand and stood up.

“I thought of how to convince Leah.”

Then the subtle atmosphere between us was broken.

I exhaled the breath I had held in.

“What is it?”

“She sent me a letter with a picture.”

“I know. I don’t know for sure because she said it was a secret. But what was it about?”

“A picture of everyone having fun except me.”

It wasn’t as great as I thought.

As soon as he received the letter, Rupert came, so I thought there would be something special.

“Did you come all the way here after receiving that?”

He replied dissatisfied.

“She also drew Leander.”

Oh, did she?

“Anyway, how are you going to convince Leah?”

“I’m going to draw. I’m not confident with words.”

“Really?”

“I told you, I’m the only one not in Leah’s picture. I will try to convince her by replying to the letter I received last time. What do you think?”

“It’s not bad. I just never thought that you would do that.”

Rupert chuckled.

“I even wore a doll costume.”

I was a little impressed.

“Honestly, I was surprised. Until recently, I was very frustrated that you couldn’t be a good father.”

“I don’t remember you getting frustrated.”

“Did you suddenly get some insight into being a good father in your head?”

Rupert’s answer to my question was really simple.

“Isn’t it enough to do what I normally wouldn’t do?”

Well, that wasn’t entirely wrong.

***

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The next day, the method Rupert had thought up ran into unexpected difficulties.

I bit my lower lip hard.

“……pfft, pfft.”

“Noel, just laugh.”

I sneaked a glance at him.

“Aren’t you going to be angry?”

I’m in trouble if he suddenly gets angry and goes back to how he used to be.

“Not really.”

He sighed.

“I didn’t even know I was at this level.”

Rupert was terribly bad at drawing.

I giggled at the crumpled circle.

“Ahaha, you are good at swordsmanship, cooking, and sewing, but why are you drawing like this?”

“It’s my first time.”

“You said you’d learn anything quickly!”

Seeing that he wasn’t angry, I decided to laugh as much as I could.

‘I’m going to make fun of you when I have a chance!’

Looking at the crooked drawing, I laughed once more.

“Actually, I think Leah draws better.”

“……”

Rupert doesn’t seem to have anything to say about his drawing.

He made a face contemplating what to do, then accidentally broke the crayon he was holding and made a confused expression.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

Why? I’m sure Leah will like it, too.

“If you can’t do it, you can’t give up so quickly! Show patience as an adult!”

Besides, I was very happy to find Rupert’s unexpected weakness.

“Noel, looks like you’re having fun.”

He had a very sullen face.

Normally, it would have been scary, but it’s only funny in this situation.

“Okay, keep on drawing and relax your face muscles.”

“……”

I laughed shakily beside him.

It is human nature to want to make fun of someone who can rarely be made fun of.

“If you don’t finish it, I will spread this to the knights. I don’t think it’s bad to approach your subordinates with my friendly image.”

“Stop it, the noisy ones will get louder.”

Rupert, who said so, picked up a new crayon.

“I’ll finish it, but I don’t know if Leah will like this.”

“It’s okay, that’s much better than your frightening frown.”

I giggled and continued to tease him, and Rupert looked at me dissatisfied.

Of course, I don’t care about this anymore.

“Next time we have a disagreement, instead of playing a game, let’s settle it by drawing.”

“No way.”

With a firm answer, he continued to draw seriously.

Well, regardless of that serious attitude, the picture gradually got messed up.

“Ahahaha…… Oh, my stomach hurts. I’ll help you now. If it gets worse, I don’t think Leah will recognize it.”

I teased Rupert until the grudge I built was gone, and then I started helping him.

And a nice picture was finished.

“The result is better than I expected.”

“Thanks to my help.”

He looked at me a little strangely.

“Before the masquerade, you didn’t want to go back to the mansion, but surprisingly you’re willing to cooperate now, Noel.”

“I’m not going to be childish about what I’ve already decided.”

“Is that so?”

“If you keep repeating what you did in the past, it will be a little different.”

“That won’t happen.”

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“I hope you don’t change your mind.”