Surviving As An Obsessive Servant – Chapter 191 – Side Story Chapter 16

Author: Asternkm

“Darling, there’s a big problem.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

Edric immediately turned his attention to Lobel’s words.

From what he had read in books and heard from Tilly and other experienced mothers, postpartum care was said to be very important for mothers.

He had told the physician and maids to be especially careful, and while he mainly looked after Ethan himself, it might have already become too much for her.

Now, with practiced hands that had grown skillful over time, he was massaging her arms and legs when he stopped and asked,

“Where does it hurt? Should I call the physician? Or do you want to rest?”

“…No. It’s none of those.”

Lobel shook her head very seriously.

She even pressed her lips together like someone deep in thought.

‘Then what’s going on?’

As Edric blinked in confusion, Lobel pointed to the cradle.

It was where their angelic son lay quietly asleep.

Ethan Dencart had always been calm—he barely cried and slept well.

The only times he cried were when he was hungry, and even then, he would soon fall back asleep once fed.

That had made them both so grateful and proud, but just in case something was wrong, they’d even called skilled physicians to check him.

Of course, every one of them had said not to worry.

‘…And yet, she’s still worried about Ethan, huh.’

Only then did Edric understand Lobel’s dark expression.

So this was what a mother’s heart was like.

Come to think of it, his own mother had been the same way.

‘Even when I said I was fine, she still hated leaving me alone…’

But Edric’s guess turned out to be completely wrong.

“What if Father sees our baby and says, ‘You’re the first one not to cry when you see me!’ and then starts trying to give him everything?”

Alexis, being exceptionally capable, had been asked by the new Emperor, Louis, to advise him on state affairs even after retirement.

Though he’d refused most of the time, he sometimes visited the Imperial Palace as a consultant. But since that period overlapped with Lobel’s childbirth, he hadn’t yet met the baby.

So Lobel was very anxious.

After all, Alexis Dencart was exactly the kind of man who fit the role of a main character in all the novels she’d read—

handsome, well-qualified, mysterious, and with a touch of cynicism.

That’s why she was worried that when he saw the well-behaved Ethan, that “main character personality” might come out.

‘You’re the first one who isn’t afraid of me!’ —the classic obsessive protagonist line!

“Our baby’s really cute, right? I’m sure Father will fall for him too.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Then he’ll try to give him everything! To our baby!”

As he hugged his increasingly anxious wife, Edric offered a practical suggestion.

“But, darling… if he gives him everything, isn’t that actually a good thing?”

The Dencarts had even hidden the existence of the Elkatan trading company.

Even if the two of them didn’t know the details, their hidden wealth and power were enormous.

Before, it had been concealed to oppose the royal family, but now that things had changed, showing it to the world wouldn’t be a problem. So if things went as Lobel imagined, the Dencarts would only grow stronger.

Hearing her husband, who had become more realistic since becoming the head of the family, Lobel gasped.

“No, darling, why have you become so calculating? Money isn’t everything in life!”

“Mm, that’s true.”

“What if our baby takes after Father? Of course, Father is amazing, but still!”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“I mean, it’d be good for him to learn noble etiquette, elegance, high-level academics, swordsmanship, and even how to deal with or use people properly, but still…”

Lobel trailed off mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something.

…Right. Why hadn’t she thought of that before?

Maybe not his personality, but in every other way, there was no one who could rival Alexis Dencart.

Not even Louis, the Emperor, or Edric himself could match his dignity.

Lobel quickly corrected her thoughts.

“Darling.”

“Yes, Lobelia?”

“…Maybe it’s better if Father teaches him after all?”

Edric couldn’t help but laugh at how quickly his wife changed her mind.

And as always, his final decision followed hers.

****

“Father, you’re back?”

Alexis Dencart raised his straight eyebrows slightly.

Edric, as usual, only bowed in silence, but Lobel was acting overly enthusiastic today.

She hadn’t even fully recovered yet, and still, she came all the way to the entrance to greet him.

Her exaggerated smile and overly cheerful tone only made him more annoyed.

‘…She’s definitely up to something.’

And just as he suspected, Lobel quickly revealed her hidden intentions.

“Father, guess what? Ethan said he wants to see his grandpa!”

…Was that so.

Understanding right away, Alexis replied bluntly,

“Did you adopt a child you had somewhere else? I’ll allow you to add him to the family register.”

At those words, the cheerful mood instantly froze over.

Even Denian, who had been about to leave after finishing his official duties, stiffened in shock.

Lobel was even more flustered.

“N-no! What do you mean I had a baby somewhere else? That’s such an awful thing to say!”

Even if it was a joke, that was something she couldn’t let slide.

Her smile vanished completely as she glared at him.

Alexis, however, replied flatly,

“The child you gave birth to couldn’t possibly be speaking yet, so I asked. If you’re adopting, do as you please.”

“Haah… Honestly, I can’t say anything in front of you, Father.”

Leaving Lobel, who sighed as if the world were ending, and Edric, who was trying to comfort her, Alexis turned away.

He knew she wasn’t the type to stay upset over something like this.

‘She’ll collect herself soon enough and come at me like a fighting hen.’

As he walked down the long corridor, he thought about the new addition to the Dencart household.

The heir who would one day succeed Edric Dencart — he would grow up properly and inherit the title when the time came.

The Dencart family’s long curse was gone, so it wouldn’t affect him, and with his parents — especially his mother’s — strong personalities, nothing bad would happen to him.

So there was really nothing for Alexis to worry about.

And yet, Lobelia Dencart’s persistent nature still found a way to bother him.

During lunch, she kept glancing at him with a burdensome look, as if she had something to say.

‘…Time to leave.’

Sensing her intentions, he rose from his seat — but she immediately called out.

“Father, please wait!”

Of course, Alexis wasn’t the kind of man to stop just because someone told him to.

He ignored her completely and started walking away as if he hadn’t heard, but suddenly, something blocked his path.

“Just wait a moment, will you?”

“…Annoying.”

“Not twice, just once! Please, just once! Can’t you just close your eyes to it and meet Ethan? Aren’t you even a little curious about your first grandchild?”

He had never even been curious about his own son, so why would he be curious about a grandchild?

But Lobel ignored that obvious fact and looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

Her gaze was so burdensome that Alexis unconsciously looked away.

He’d thought that after breaking his curse, he’d be free from such nuisances — but apparently not.

A new trouble awaited him in the Dencart household, one far more troublesome than any curse.

‘…If I refuse, she’ll only bother me more tomorrow.’

With that in mind, Alexis finally headed toward his son and daughter-in-law’s chambers.

It was the first time something like this had ever happened.

The thought felt strange to him.

He himself had always disliked anyone entering his private chambers, so he had never imagined he would willingly go to his son’s.

Yet his son and daughter-in-law were both beaming as they led him there.

Was introducing a grandchild really such a joyous thing? He couldn’t understand it.

And there was something else he couldn’t understand.

‘…It’s quiet.’

That surprised him.

He’d expected noise — after all, newborns cried often — but the walk there was entirely silent.

Of course, the servants would be careful because of the baby, but he hadn’t expected even the baby to be so quiet.

It was the same even after they opened the door to the room.

The older nannies standing by the cradle were smiling warmly as they looked down at the baby.

Their smiles seemed so genuinely happy that Alexis found it odd. Why were they smiling like that while working?

And so, half-forced, he found himself standing before the cradle.

“…Small.”

“Hehe, of course he’s small now. But later, he’ll grow up tall like you and Edric. Look closer! He’s such a sweet baby. So quiet. Ah, I guess that’s one thing that’s different from you and Edric.”

“…”

The nannies had a hard time holding back their laughter at Lobel’s honest comment.

But Alexis ignored her chatter and focused on the child.

Short, bright blond hair, soft rosy cheeks, tiny chubby hands and feet wrapped in gloves and socks…

He could faintly smell milk — a scent he hadn’t encountered in a very, very long time.

And then, the baby opened his eyes. Under the sunlight, they shone a pale green with a faint trace of violet.

But that wasn’t what startled Alexis.

The baby was staring straight at him — just as he once had.

“He already recognizes his grandpa! Look, he’s saying, ‘Hello, Grandpa!’ Hehe, isn’t he smart? He’s going to be so bright and clever!”

“…”

Bright, clever — such words didn’t quite suit a newborn.

Ignoring the noisy Lobel, Alexis looked at the baby and said,