Dear Ex-Fiancé, I Hope You Regret Everything - Chapter 42

Three years had passed since then.

My days remained busy with trade, managing shops, and fulfilling my duties as the Crown Princess.

“Ah! Shiny, you’re just so adorable today too!”

“Look! Such tiny nails on these little fingers, smaller than beads!”

Both Lord Skyford and I were utterly smitten with newborn Shiny. The infant stared back at the gleefully chattering adults with bewildered eyes. Eyes like glass marbles, untouched by the world’s impurities.

“Could you two please keep your voices down a little?”

Fonmi, looking somewhat tired, scolded us for our childish excitement.

“Oops… sorry. She’s just so cute I couldn’t help myself.”

“Since she’s Fonmi and Rannai’s child, she’s practically our child too.”

“Speaking of which, where is Rannai?”

Fonmi struggled to lift her postpartum-weary body.

“He was quite enthusiastic about working as a shop assistant at Yet Palette while I’m away. He’s probably stocking shelves right now.”

It seemed Fonmi had a dream. She wanted to work at a cosmetics shop.

Knowing this, when we started selling cosmetics imported from Ushina, I entrusted the shop management to her.

Originally quite skilled at makeup, she became popular not just for selling cosmetics but for patiently teaching application techniques, and the shop never lacked customers. It had become so popular that lines formed daily.

But…

“Still, what’s Rannai doing working at a cosmetics shop counter?”

The image of him – a somewhat burly candy artisan – recommending cosmetics to ladies was so peculiar I almost burst out laughing.

“No! Surprisingly, he’s quite well-received!”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“Don’t you think women appreciate a male perspective when choosing? Many women actually want to select cosmetics with their partners. Unfortunately, such men are hard to come by. Most either wait outside the shop or kill time at cafes.”

“I see!! I’ll keep that in mind when we open our second branch!”

However, I hadn’t heard that candy making or Candice’s supply had stopped, and I was concerned about Rannai’s health.

“…Having a child is challenging, but both Fonmi and Rannai seem more vibrant than ever now.”

“…Lady Iris, you’ll soon experience that too.”

I stroked my significantly grown belly.

“I really admire Fonmi. I want to meet my child soon, but honestly, my anxiety grows alongside that desire…”

“I understand. I was scared too.”

“So, it really hurts, doesn’t it?”

“It was incredibly painful! Not even comparable to when I fell from a tree and broke my leg!”

“…I never knew you were such a tomboy.”

“Ah…”

She blushed and covered her cheeks. I’d never seen her show emotions so openly before. Becoming a mother seemed to have changed her for the better.

“I wish I could take that anxiety away from you.”

A large hand covered mine on my belly from behind.

Strangely, peace settled in my heart.

“…Lord Skyford, you always dispel my worries. Just doing this is enough for me.”

“Iris”

As we smiled at each other, Fonmi interrupted.

“Ahem! It’s wonderful that you two get along so well, but please don’t flirt here!”

“Oh dear, what am I doing?”

Lord Skyford cleared his throat and gently wrapped his arm around my waist.

Since my back tended to arch painfully, he was probably being considerate.

My waist felt warm, and seeing Shiny who had fallen asleep without me noticing made me sleepy too.

Lord Skyford noticed and whispered:

“It seems she’s fallen asleep, so we’ll take our leave. Fonmi, you should rest while you can.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

After handing over the baby clothes as a birth gift, we left the room.

The moment the door closed, he whispered “I want to kiss you” in my ear, making me cover the tingling ear.

My heart pounded wildly.

“Wh-what’s this all of a sudden!?”

“I feel like carrying you and running home.”

“No! I refuse!”

I started walking briskly, and he chased after me.

“Hey, hey, are you sure you should be walking like that!? I’m worried.”

“I appreciate your concern, but the midwife told me to walk as much as possible.”

The request for a kiss was just an excuse – he was actually worried about me getting out of breath after walking just a little. Lord Skyford was so kind.

Seeing him, usually so confident, acting flustered was rather endearing.