Obviously, It’s My Child

He never thought of his nieces and nephews as particularly lovable. In fact, he found children to be very difficult, and people around him took it for granted and cautioned the children to be polite towards a Rommel noble.

Was Elliot lovable because Erich thought him to be a child born between him and Claire? Or was it because of his innocent nature, smiling purely and embracing him calmly?

The Rommels often had a prejudice that the Arren were frivolous, hot-tempered, and overly emotional.

Erich did not judge people based on regional prejudice. However, receiving Elliott’s unstoppable embrace, he wondered if there was a difference between natural instincts.

Otherwise, perhaps it was a difference in education. Even if Claire asked Elliot to call her Auntie, he could see enough how much she loved the child as she raised him.

But now, he couldn’t accept Elliot’s pure gratitude.

“I didn’t buy it for you.”

Eric solemnly declared. That’s right. By all means, it wasn’t like that.

Claire told him not to give the child too many presents. So Erich bought the whole thing from the toy shop and donated it to the hotel.

Soon, this was the property of the Innenhof Hotel, not Elliot. It was just a space for the children of the guests to play.

At least, technically speaking.

He told them to make a new set of all the same toy furniture and send it to Delford, but he hadn’t given it to Elliot yet, so that’s another matter.

Elliot chuckled, as if he had thought so too.

“Okay.”

“…Was Claire very angry?”

Erich wasn’t particularly worried. It would be true.

But Elliot whispered, lowering his voice as if he was denying what he thought to himself.

“She wasn’t angry, she just snorted ‘hmph’ like that.”

Elliot’s imitation was genuinely convincing. Erich didn’t have the habit of laughing out loud, so he only smiled.

“Did you come to see Auntie? Let’s go.”

“No. I came to see you.”

“You can’t lie.”

Elliot said in an admonishing tone.

“Why do you think I lied? It’s true.”

“I know everything. Uncle likes Auntie.”

“Well…”

Erich looked at Elliot with a slightly perplexed feeling. Although it was meant to be rumored, he also understood Claire’s concern for the child.

He was careful not to let Elliot be the center of rumors, but he honestly couldn’t even guess what the kid would think about it.

“Uncle, are you really going to marry Auntie?”

“You don’t want me to?”

Last time, his aunt was even mad at him the other day.

However, Elliot tilted his head at Erich’s cautious question.

“I like Uncle.”

To Erich’s ears, that word was exactly synonymous with ‘I wish you were my father’.

So he said in a good mood.

“If you’re all done, shall we go eat something delicious together?”

“Aren’t you going to see Auntie?”

“I said I came to see you, didn’t I?”

Elliot widened his eyes.

“But Aunt said I shouldn’t follow people just because they’re buying me something to eat.”

“You don’t have to leave the hotel. Or, how about calling your nanny?”

“Really? Then can I have that hot chocolate?”

“Unless Claire forbids it.”

“It’s okay! If the nanny allows it, I can eat it!”

Elliott struggled to get down. He seemed to want to run quickly and call the nanny.

“I will take you there.”

Erich said while holding Elliot in his arms. Even if it was in the hotel, he was concerned about the child wandering around alone.

When he opened the door, one of the two hotel workers waiting in the playroom followed. They had been instructed to take good care of Elliot.

And in front of the elevator on the third floor, they bumped into a tall man.

“Ah, it’s Grey.”

Elliot said, a little shy.

Erich frowned. What is the lawyer doing here? If he was going to visit Claire, he wouldn’t have gotten off the third floor.

However, he would have been no business for young Elliot. If he’s just a simple legal advisor.

When he threw a cold gaze, Grey responded with an emotionless silence.

There was silence for a while.

“Uncle, put me down.”

Perhaps feeling the harsh air of the two clashing men, Elliot again expressed his intention to get down.

Eric lowered his body and carefully put Elliott’s feet on the ground.

“I’ll go find Nanny.”

Elliot slipped into the elevator. After confirming that the hotel employee entered behind him, Erich raised his gaze and realized that Grey, who had stepped aside, was checking on Elliot as well as him.

“What are you doing here?”

Erich broke the standoff first and asked.

He was aware that he must look overly displeased. A legal advisor was only a legal advisor. They were involved in all sorts of secrets of their employer, and they often tend to become close friends. But even so, they were only employees.

But it bothered him. It may be because Grey was tall and slender, combining his abilities with culture and intellect.

In fact, except for his attractive appearance, the rest were naturally necessary skills for a lawyer.

However, was he really just a legal advisor?

He already knew of Grey’s career. The fact that he had completed his studies under the patronage of the late Baron Delford, and that he had been a legal advisor to the Delford family ever since, and that he had an office in the capital.

This meant that there was a high possibility that Claire continued to interact with him while attending the academy.

Erich had never heard anything like that from Claire.

He suppressed his displeasure, but asked the question in an intimidating manner. Erich was conscious of that fact and was surprised at his own actions.

Grey did not flinch. He dared to ask again while maintaining the same eye level as Erich.

“I’m the one who’s supposed to ask. Your Grace is behaving like a hoodlum.”

“What?”

“Aren’t you deliberately spreading rumors? All the while knowing that Claire would be troubled.”

One of Erich’s eyebrows rose.