Lupe, in his rush, had proposed to Inseréa right in Ferio’s office—right ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) there, in front of both Ferio and Leonia.
The beastly father and daughter were stunned.
It was the worst proposal imaginable.
Anyone could tell he was about to get slapped and dumped on the spot.
‘That was so touching!’
But Inseréa said yes.
‘Let’s do our best together!’
She even cried.
Her endless admiration for Voreoti, now mingled with loyalty as a secretary, had grown deeper and stickier over ti.
What the beast duo had deed the worst proposal had, in fact, been the product of Lupe’s ticulous calculation after closely observing Inseréa.
‘...These maniacs.’
Ferio imdiately kicked both of them out of his office for daring to make a marriage pact in front of him.
But no one congratulated them more than he did.
He gave them a massive sum as a wedding gift, along with a carriage, expensive fabrics, and vintage wine that had been aging in the cellar for years.
And just last autumn—
A baby was born to the couple.
The eldest son of the Ricoss family, born exactly one day after Leonia’s birthday.
“Our Lupe must’ve loved Voreoti from the mont he was born. Just look at how he avoided being born on the young lady’s birthday.”
Inseréa bead with pride.
“What could he possibly know?”
Leonia snorted.
“Don’t dump that kind of pressure on a baby.”
“I would never.”
Inseréa clenched her fists, more serious than ever.
“Of course, I want our Lupe to love Voreoti with all his heart.”
Lupe would one day beco the next Lord Ricoss and serve Leonia. So it wouldn’t hurt if he grew up with that loyalty.
But she wanted that feeling to co naturally.
“I just... I had such a hard ti.”
Inseréa thought of the family she hadn’t visited in years.
Ever since becoming a mother, she couldn’t understand her parents. How could they have treated such a small, helpless child that way?
“I want to let Lupe do everything he wants.”
“Unni...”
“Of course, I’ll still teach him every day how amazing Voreoti is.”
Inseréa was determined to raise him into an excellent secretary.
“Haha...”
Leonia laughed awkwardly but didn’t worry too much.
Inseréa genuinely cherished her child. She would never let him go through what she had.
And now, Inseréa had Lupe.
Not to ntion a supportive father-in-law.
“Actually, my father-in-law ca over yesterday.”
Inseréa whispered like it was a secret.
“He changed Lupe’s diaper himself and even gave him a bath!”
“He did it better than , I was shocked,” the nanny added with a sheepish smile.
“Wow, that old man...”
Leonia clicked her tongue.
That sleazy old bastard turned into a completely different person when his grandkids were around.
“He’s so good to and Lupe.”
“Well, I an...”
Leonia had to admit that was true.
As annoying as he was to work with, he was the best grandfather a kid could have.
The Marquis of Pardus was completely smitten with his new grandson, visiting every chance he got.
Lupe had worried that Inseréa might feel uncomfortable about it, but surprisingly, father-in-law and daughter-in-law got along perfectly.
‘He loves Voreoti just as much as she does...’
Leonia realized how much the Marquis of Pardus and Inseréa were alike.
Bonded by their love for Voreoti, the two got along famously.
“Leo.”
At that mont, Ferio walked in.
He’d just washed up; his ssy bangs still damp. The nanny gasped, face flushed.
“Dad.”
“My Lord.”
Inseréa started to rise, but Ferio waved her back down.
“How’s your health?”
He asked first, as he always did since she gave birth.
“Thank you for asking. Thanks to your care, I’m much healthier than before.”
“Childbirth is no easy thing. You’ve done well.”
“You’re so kind, My Lord.”
Ferio’s brow twitched at the complint.
It was strange hearing soone besides Leonia call him kind.
“Anyway, what brings you here?”
Unable to think of a proper response, Ferio moved on.
“I wanted to show Lupe to the young lady and talk about returning to work.”
“You still have maternity leave left, don’t you?”
“I do, but...”
Inseréa hesitated.
“Lupe’s doing well with the nanny, and I’m starting to miss working.”
Ferio studied her for a mont, then replied.
“No.”
He told her she would return only after taking her full leave. His voice made it sound more like a command.
“Otherwise, the other staff might feel pressured not to take theirs.”
Inseréa didn’t hold a high position, but marrying Lupe had made her the Lady of House Ricoss.
She was also from a count’s family by birth.
If soone of her status skipped maternity leave, others might feel they had to do the sa.
“It’s a leader’s job to set an example.”
Lupe himself was planning to take paternity leave soon.
“But aren’t you busy?”
Inseréa had heard Voreoti was extrely busy lately.
“I am, but not so much that I need to steal your leave.”
Ferio told her to take care of herself until then, and Inseréa nodded.
“Dad.”
Leonia ca closer.
“Wanna hold him?”
“Hold what?”
“What do you an ‘what’? Lupe, obviously.”
Right, Lupe? Leonia cooed, cuddling the baby.
“Does our little wolf wanna get a hug from the Duke?”
Speaking in a babyish voice, she gently swayed him, and Lupe giggled, waving his arms.
He really looked like he wanted to go to Ferio.
“No, I—”
Ferio was about to refuse.
“Oh my, that would make Lupe so happy!” Inseréa blushed like she was about to get hugged.
“He’ll grow up strong and healthy, blessed by the Duke’s grace!”
“Grace” felt like such an awkward word, but Ferio reluctantly took the baby in his arms.
His face was stiff, but his hands were steady and skilled.
“You’re good at this, Dad.”
Leonia was impressed.
“I’ve been raising you for years.”
He acted like holding a baby was nothing.
“....”
Lupe was calr than expected. He just blinked up at Ferio.
“He really is your future minion.”
Not even crying at Ferio? Leonia was amazed.
“Watch your mouth.”
Calling a baby a minion?
Ferio pressed on her foot, and she flinched, gritting her teeth. The baby giggled.
Ferio soon handed him back to Inseréa.
“You only raised from when I was seven.”
“Three months or seven years, sa difference.”
“It’s not the sa! He still wears diapers!”
“So did you.”
Don’t you rember? Ferio asked.
“You peed the bed once.”
He brought up her one and only accident.
“Kara said even your accidents are on another level.”
He still rembered the blanket flapping on the line.
“Why would you say that?!”
Leonia shrieked at the humiliation.
“Ah!”
Too late—Lupe had heard and jumped in surprise.
“Waaah!”
The nanny rushed to hold him, but he wouldn’t stop crying until he was back in Inseréa’s arms.
The Voreoti pair left them alone to calm the baby, and Leonia apologized.
“It’s Dad’s fault.”
“It’s yours.”
“You teased !”
“Kids grow up like that.”
Ferio shrugged. Peeing the bed wasn’t a big deal.
“Did you ever wet the bed?”
“No.”
Ferio answered imdiately.
“Lie...”
“Ask Kara if you don’t believe .”
He claid he’d never made a mistake in his life. The word didn’t exist for him.
“You’re so annoying...”
Leonia grumbled, changing the subject.
“Wasn’t he cute, though?”
“Puppies are cute too.”
“I told you not to switch words like that.”
She shook her head at the weird phrasing.
“You’ll only stop when you have your own kid after getting married.”
“Are you trying to marry off?”
Ferio asked, annoyed.
“No?”
Leonia replied instantly.
“That’s up to you.”
“Then why bring it up?”
“I don’t want you to give up on love or marriage because of .”
Since taking her in, Ferio hadn’t dated anyone.
He still got love letters and proposals, and even though he was over thirty, he remained perfect.
So even said fatherhood had softened him, made him kinder.
Still, he never got involved in any romantic rumors.
“You should date.”
Leonia strolled into his office like it was her own.
“Are you going to waste that face and those muscles? That would be a tragedy for humanity.”
“Shut it.”
Ferio lightly flicked her forehead.
“If nothing else, let draw you shirtless just once.”
“You don’t want your inheritance?”
“Oh no, Father, you’ll catch a cold!”
She gently draped her indoor cape over his shoulders, pretending to fuss.
“Long life to you, Father,” she added with a sugary grin.
“Enough with the flattery.”
“It’s called filial piety.”
“If I get any more ‘piety,’ I’ll drop dead.”
He tossed the cape back onto her shoulders.
“You used to beg to be more affectionate.”
Leonia snorted.
“Now you’re bringing up the past? That’s rich.”
“Hmph.”
“Anyway.”
Finally, Ferio got to the reason he brought her here.
“We’ll probably have to go to the capital soon.”
“When?”
“Within the week.”
He pulled sothing out.
“An invitation arrived.”
Leonia scowled at the yellow envelope.
“The First Prince’s sixteenth birthday banquet is this spring.”
She swallowed hard.
‘Finally...!’
The original story had begun.
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