To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 119

“You care too much about your wife’s opinion. Every little thing, you say you’ll ask Marissa or that you need her permission. You’re the head of a noble house! A patriarch! You’ll lose all authority like that.”

“Cliff, do you really mean that? From where I stand, you’re the one constantly worrying about your wife’s opinion.”

“That’s different. Rene is an angel. Of course I care about what she thinks.”

“You’re still blinded by love.”

As Graham watched his friend’s bright smile while talking about his wife, he once again repeated to himself that it was the right decision to keep the past a secret. It had been the right choice—but even though he kept telling himself that, a small part of him felt uneasy. At times, it was hard to hide that discomfort on his face.

“Graham, thank you.”

“Hm?”

Not knowing Graham’s thoughts, Cliff suddenly expressed his gratitude. Graham looked at his friend in confusion, then awkwardly turned his head away when he saw the trusting look in Cliff’s eyes.

“I’m able to live this happy life because of you.”

“That gave me goosebumps. What’s with the sudden cheesy talk?”

“Remember what you said back then? About my parents that it wasn’t my fault. After hearing those words from you, it felt like something heavy inside me was lifted.”

Cliff turned away, thinking Graham was just feeling shy. His face as he stared out the window was filled only with happiness and gratitude.

“And if I think about it, I was able to marry Renee thanks to you too.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“You might not remember, but the place where I met Rene it was in that region mentioned in a book we read together after we became friends.”

“Not just the place, but I also started to trust people again because of you. Before I met you, even if I’d run into Renee, I wouldn’t have spoken to her. I didn’t trust anyone and thought talking to strangers was a waste of time.”

“You really connect everything back to me, huh.”

The more Cliff spoke, the quieter Graham’s voice became, and his gaze slowly drifted away from his friend.

“Master! My lord! Where are you?”

Just before Graham’s head turned completely from guilt, the butler’s urgent voice called from outside. At the sound of urgency, both Graham and Cliff, who had been on the balcony, looked at each other and quickly moved toward the butler.

“What is it?”

“My lord, the Countess she’s gone into labor. You must go to her right away!”

At the Pardens’ house, twins—a boy and a girl—were born. At the Lloyds’ house, a daughter was born. Once the babies had grown a little, both families gathered together. During that meeting, Ian showed rare childlike curiosity.

“Her name is Aisha?”

“That’s right. Her name is Aisha. And this one is Arthur.”

The twins were lying in their cradles, wrapped in white blankets. They were both small and adorable. But the boy, with blond hair and blue eyes just like his father, only stared at the girl lying in the pink cradle, wearing a bonnet with frills and ribbons.

“You said they’re twins, but why is Aisha smaller?”

Ian looked back and forth between Aisha and Arthur with a frown. Marissa looked at the curiosity in the four-year-old’s eyes and answered kindly.

“Aisha was born a little weaker than most babies. That’s why she’s smaller.”

It wasn’t the first time someone asked why Aisha was small her own brothers, Edward and Daniel, had asked before. But Ian’s next words were quite different from theirs.

“Did he steal all her food in the womb or something?”

Ian finally looked at Arthur for the first time—but not kindly. His gaze was full of suspicion. It looked like he might start interrogating Arthur at any moment.

“Ian, you’re very interested in Aisha, huh?”

Surprised by Ian’s unexpected question, Marissa looked puzzled. Cliff stepped in. He gently patted Ian’s head and lifted him up so he could see Aisha more closely. As Ian stood on tiptoe and looked at Aisha, his eyes sparkled for a moment.

Ian had never shown this much interest, even in his real sister, Sophia. Cliff also found this side of his son unfamiliar. But children are pure, aren’t they? Cliff thought Ian was just worried about the tiny baby and spoke in a soothing voice.

“She looks even smaller up close, right? But don’t worry too much. She’ll grow strong and healthy soon.”

“She’s not my little sister. My little sister is Sophia.”

But once again, Ian’s answer was beyond what the adults expected. He glared at his father when the words “little sister” were mentioned and wriggled in Cliff’s arms as if to say “Put me down.” Cliff set Ian down, confused, and spoke with a slightly serious tone.

“Ian, you should treat Aisha like your little sister too. Look how small and cute she is.”

“No. She’s not my sister.”

“Why not? Don’t you like Aisha?”

“It’s not that.”

“Then why?”

Ian didn’t answer his father. His eyes stayed on the baby wrapped in the blanket—specifically, on Aisha.

“You can’t marry your little sister. So she’s not my little sister.”

The sulky boy had been silent, but after a while, he mumbled softly. At Ian’s words, not just Cliff but everyone in the room was left speechless.

“Oh my.”

“My goodness, Ian.”

“He already knows who his bride will be!”

The adults all smiled warmly and looked at Ian as if he were adorable. Cliff even clapped his hands, saying they should put the engagement in writing right away and fussed around excitedly.

“Who’s marrying who?!”

“Yeah! Who said she’s your bride?!”

Unlike the parents, Edward and Daniel were fuming. They stood between Ian and the cradle, blocking the way. But Ian ignored them completely and walked right up to Aisha, staring at her intently.

“Move! She’s my sister!”

“Daniel’s right. She’s our sister.”

“Says who?”

At that moment, Aisha opened her eyes and smiled brightly as her brothers surrounded her. In the same cradle, Sophia and Arthur, still in their blankets, wriggled until they were cuddled up together.

“Huh? Look at that. What are they doing now?”

“Oh my, how cute.”

“Two marriages in one family That’s a bit much…”

While the little boys squabbled, the adults laughed again at the heartwarming sight. At that moment, Ian ran over with serious eyes and spoke to Cliff.

“Father. I’m the firstborn of the Lloyd family.”

“Yes, you are. But why say that now?”

“I’m telling you that my marriage should come before Sophia’s.”

His words were calm and clear—hard to believe they came from a four-year-old. Both the Count and Countess of Parden, as well as the Marquis and Marchioness of Lloyd, opened their eyes wide in surprise before bursting into laughter.

“This kid!”

“Ian is really adorable.”

Graham didn’t return home until dawn. Most of the servants at the Count’s estate were already asleep. Only Marissa, the butler, and one maid came out to greet him.

“You worked hard today.”

Marissa spoke in a calm voice and turned slightly to invite him inside. As Graham stepped into the brightly lit home from the dark outdoors, he stared at his wife’s face.

“You… You’re the one working harder. I’m sorry.”

His voice was hoarse and full of fatigue. Her expression was normal, but the faint shadows under her eyes showed the tiredness he couldn’t miss.

“Just get inside already. You look like a mess.”

“Yeah.”

“How was today?”

“Same as yesterday. People yelling, pens flying around It’s worse because His Majesty won’t take a clear side on this issue.”

Graham had been busy lately. It had been ten years since he entered politics in the capital. From being treated like a newbie, he had now become a key figure among the nobles. As a leading member of the new noble faction, he faced daily political battles against the old noble group.

But even more exhausted than Graham was Marissa. The higher her husband rose, the harder she had to work behind the scenes.

“Oh my. Isn’t that her?”

“Yes, that’s the Countess of Parden.”

It started with whispers among the noblewomen of the capital. The number of new nobles had increased quickly over the years, but they were still a minority. And the women’s social circles were even more conservative and closed off.

“Looks like she’s off doing business again.”

“She still does that? How improper for a noble lady…”

In some ways, it was expected. Men could get involved in politics or economics, making it easier to integrate into noble society. But for women, opportunities were nearly nonexistent. Without invitations to tea parties or help from well-established noblewomen, they couldn’t even get a foot in the door.

On top of that, Marissa personally ran and managed a business—a concept unfamiliar to most noblewomen. Because of that, and her background, she was treated with disdain and shunned by the women of noble society.

“If we’re being honest, she’s a commoner. Even if she’s a countess, neither of her parents were nobles.”

“That’s true. Maybe that’s why she has no manners.”

“I’ve seen her call the Count by name in public, using informal speech. She can’t hide her roots. So low-class.”

“She doesn’t even try to change. Tsk…”

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