Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 193 - Side Story Chapter 18

“So this is what they call a rattle.”

The nannies doubted both their eyes and ears.

They had known Alexis Denkart far longer than even the dukedom’s aides had. Ever since childhood, he had never been like other children—much like little Ethan Denkart now.

He rarely cried, and he never smiled.

Unlike Ethan, who sometimes laughed like a little angel, Alexis had always worn a cold, unreadable expression that made it difficult for adults to even approach him.

But now… his face had softened—just slightly.

“…He’s doing something now that he never did as a child.”

Just watching it made the nannies break into a nervous sweat.

The word “rattle” coming out of the Duke’s mouth was shocking enough—but what he did next nearly made their hearts stop.

That cold, solemn Duke… was shaking the rattle.
Seriously.

If someone had walked in, they might have thought he was examining a dagger coated with poison, not a baby toy.

Still, he gave the rattle a few more careful shakes.

“…It makes a sound.”

Then, as if he had just made a major discovery, he announced the obvious with a deeply serious tone.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“This sort of thing is too trivial for my grandchild. Isn’t there something else? A wooden sword, perhaps?”

“Wouldn’t that be… a little dangerous, Your Grace?”

In truth, Edric had already ordered one in advance, but none of them dared to mention it.

Still, Alexis was—well, Alexis.

Before anyone could stop him, he strode toward the toy basket. Then, without hesitation, he began rummaging through it.

His large, elegant fingers picked up one toy after another.

“……”

He didn’t say a word, but his expression clearly said: Too cheap. Too dull. Too unworthy.

While the nannies swallowed nervously, Alexis finally pulled something out.

A small, smoothly carved toy dagger—roughly the size of a rattle, but not small enough to swallow.

“This will do.”

His crimson eyes gleamed as he stepped toward the cradle.

Ethan, just seeing him approach, burst into a bright giggle.

Alexis seemed very pleased by that reaction.

Only someone like Louis or Lobelia had ever been able to meet his gaze without fear.

But Ethan hadn’t looked away once, even during their first meeting. If anything, he’d stared boldly right back.

“As expected.”

Alexis narrowed his eyes slightly.

“My grandson is certainly bold.”

“Yes… he truly takes after you, Your Grace.”

“Hoho. We couldn’t stop thinking about how much he resembles you as a child.”

“M-me too, Your Grace.”

Truthfully, their words were only half-true. In looks, perhaps—but in nature, the child was the complete opposite.

Still, the experienced nannies knew exactly what Alexis wanted to hear.

And, as expected, the Duke’s reaction was very favorable.

“Hmm. I see.”

When one corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly, the nannies nearly gasped. It was the first time they’d ever seen him smile.

They had lived through countless surprising moments in the Denkart household, but nothing quite like this.

At last, Alexis gently placed the wooden dagger beside the baby’s hand.

His movements were so careful, so delicate, that the nannies were deeply moved.

They had been the ones to raise Alexis themselves. For years, they had dreamed of hearing a child in the Denkart family laugh again.

But after Emily’s infertility and Alexis’s distant response to it, they had long given up on that hope.

They had once thought the Denkart bloodline might end altogether.

“And now, to see this precious, golden grandchild with my own eyes…”

One of the nannies, overcome with emotion, dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

“He’ll grow into a fine swordsman someday.”

“I’ve no intention of forcing such a bothersome task on my grandson.”

In other words — he had no plans to let the child take on any dangerous paths.

The boy’s very existence was a miracle.

After all, the man who had never shown emotion in his entire life was now learning how to show love.

And seeing that long-forgotten warmth bloom again in the Denkart family made every nanny smile through tears of joy.

 

****

 

 

 

 

 

After that, I couldn’t help but feel an odd sense of defeat.

Ethan, who used to babble “Haa-ung, haa-ung,” had now started saying, “A-bu, a-bu.”

At first, I thought it was cute and didn’t pay much attention, but as the days went by, I started to feel strangely… anxious.

“Ethan. It’s ‘mama.’ Say ‘mama.’”

“Haa-bu~ ha-bu~”

“No, not grandpa—mama. Look at mama. Say ‘mama.’ If it’s too hard, ‘mommy’ is fine too. Mommy’s smart enough to understand even that.”

“Haa-bu~ ha-bu~”

“……”

…Did the nannies secretly teach him to say “grandpa” when I wasn’t around?

Otherwise, there’s no reason he’d keep calling for his grandfather all the time!

While I was fuming over it, Edric picked Ethan up and smiled brightly.

Then he had the nerve to tease, “Oh, he’s saying ‘dad!’”

…Right. If you just drop the “ha,” it does sound like “abuji” — father. Somehow, Edric got the “father” title practically for free.

They already looked identical — all three of them — and now even the titles were taken from me.

‘I’m the only one left out…!’

Feeling left behind, I sulked in silence.

“Step aside, both of you.”

Then, before I knew it, Father had returned from the Imperial Palace and was standing right between us.

He smoothly took Ethan from Edric’s arms and held him close. I was about to protest, but then I stopped.

Because my son looked utterly peaceful in his grandfather’s embrace.

He was always a quiet child, but I’d never seen him so content, his tiny face full of calm happiness — except when he was in Father’s arms.

‘It’s amazing… even babies can tell who truly loves them.’

Judging by his wet hair clinging to his forehead and neck, Father must’ve come straight from the palace, barely drying off after washing up.

‘He’ll catch a cold if he keeps doing that…’

And apparently, he’d even quit smoking his favorite cigars — something he used to light in his study.

His two aides, who had long wanted him to take better care of himself, were deeply grateful to Ethan for that.

No one in House Denkart could deny that Father truly adored his grandson.

‘…Well, when you think about it, it’s not so bad. Thanks to him, I actually get time to go out on dates or visit my family.’

Sure, we had excellent nannies, but leaving the baby behind was always nerve-wracking.

With Father personally watching over him, I finally felt I could relax.

In any case, when he was on our side, there was no one more reliable than Alexis Denkart — even the Imperial Court treated him cautiously.

“Haa-bu~ ha-bu!”

“You heard that, didn’t you.”

“Yes, I did. Apparently, our little darling loves Grandpa more than his own mom.”

“Good. Now leave.”

…And yet, sometimes he was just so infuriating.

That smug look on his face — as if he was bragging — instantly killed the warm feeling I’d just had.

Still, I had plans to visit my parents that day, so I let it go.

When I arrived home, I couldn’t help grinding my teeth as I thought of those three generations who looked like carbon copies of one another.

‘Just you wait. I’ll have a daughter who looks exactly like me.’

“Oh my, do you think that’s something you can just decide?”

My mother looked at me with mild disbelief when she overheard my muttered declaration.

I felt a little hurt.

She hadn’t been like this before I got married — but ever since then, she’d changed somehow.

Probably because I didn’t inherit the family trading company like they’d hoped.

“And if you do have a daughter, it’d be better if she looks like Edric, not you.”

…Well. She wasn’t wrong about that.

Edric was beautiful — dazzling, really — and even now, he looked almost too perfect.

Compared to me… yes, it’d be better if she took after him.

Still, it stung a little to hear it from my own mother.

“…Mom, I am your daughter, right?”

“Don’t you ever look in the mirror?”

“…Sigh.”

She barely looked up from her paperwork, her tone dry and indifferent — just like Father used to be.

‘Work expansion or not, this is a bit much…’

Life is unpredictable, though.

It turned out Father had taken more interest in us than anyone expected.

Granted, it seemed mostly to make sure Ethan was being properly cared for… but still.

While I was watching the growing pile of documents, my mother chuckled softly.

“Well, isn’t that a good thing? Honestly, the former Duke Denkart must have been lonely. No siblings, lost his parents early… it’s no wonder he’s so attached to the child.”

Our family had always been warm and close, but the Denkarts were different.

The author of the original story must have really hated them — those two men had grown up starved of love.

Thinking of that, I let my irritation fade away.

“You’re right. That’s why I’m trying not to be upset about it.”

So, after pulling myself together, I went home with Edric, who had just finished a chess game with my father.

According to Wayne, the nannies had already been dismissed — Father was personally watching over Ethan again.

But… couldn’t he at least turn on a light?

When I opened the nursery door, I couldn’t see a thing. Heavy blackout curtains covered the windows.

It was almost comical — that such a large man was sitting alone in the dark with a baby — but a little eerie, too.

“Father, we’re back—”

Thankfully, Edric switched on the light from behind me, illuminating the room.

And I froze.

Father was asleep on the sofa beside the cradle.

Ethan was fast asleep in his arms.

‘…How can he sleep like that? And not even wake up?’

His strong arms — which I’d never seen soften, not even for his own sons — were holding the baby with perfect care.

And on his face was a gentle smile.

The first I had ever seen — full of peace and happiness.

Even standing right there, it was hard to believe what I was seeing.

So Edric and I just stood quietly for a long time, watching in awe.