MDIHC 13

Chapter 13 …

Seeing Lord Winchester unresponsive, I wondered if maybe I was too far away for him to hear me properly. So I spoke up again.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I move to the seat beside you? I think we’re too far apart for proper conversation.”

“Go ahead.”

He must’ve heard me that time. At my glance, the maid who had been assisting at the table quickly moved the tableware.

Good. Now I wouldn’t have to practically shout, and I could see Lord Winchester’s expression more clearly. He didn’t show much expression, but at least now I could tell whether he was looking at me or listening to me.

Wait, hold on! This is too close!

I stopped short just before sitting down. The seat the maid had moved was right next to Lord Winchester’s. I had wanted to sit closer so we didn’t have to yell across the table—but this was too close.

“Please, sit.”

He looked at me as I hesitated. Even seated, his posture was so tall that we were nearly at eye level.

Those piercing blue eyes looked into mine, and the dignified tone in which he invited me to sit left me no room to complain about the proximity.

“Ah, yes…”

In the end, I sat down.

“When I said the dinner time seemed a bit late earlier, I wasn’t complaining—it was just small talk.”

“What is that?”

“Just casual conversation—like a greeting or chatting about recent events.”

Lord Winchester’s expression was subtle upon hearing my response. He seemed to understand, and yet not quite.

“I just thought if we had dinner a little earlier, Daniel might be able to join us. Kids go to bed early, of course, but I doubt he goes to bed as early as 7 p.m.”

“I was told at this time, he does go to bed.”

“Really? When was that?”

“About two years ago.”

“……”

I was at a loss for words. Two years ago counts as ‘last time’? Especially for a child, two years is practically a lifetime!

“It might have been three years ago.”

He didn’t even remember clearly—it had been that long!

“In any case, if we have dinner a bit earlier, Daniel might be able to join. Would it be too difficult to adjust the time? It must be lonely for a child to eat alone in this big dining room.”

“If you wish, I’ll ask Ethan about it.”

Ethan—ah, that was the man who had challenged me earlier. He must be Lord Winchester’s attendant.

“I assume breakfast would be difficult since you have early morning training? Daniel and I can have breakfast together. Lunch as well. Oh, and do you know if there are any foods Daniel dislikes or can’t eat? He said there aren’t any, but kids sometimes don’t realize those things. Also, if there’s anything he especially likes, I’d love to know.”

Lord Winchester paused at my words.

“…I’m not sure.”

After a brief beat, he responded. His expression was vague, his answer uncertain.

“Oh, it’s fine if you don’t know. I’m sure I’ll find out as we eat together.”

Feeling I’d asked too many uncomfortable questions, I quickly turned my attention to the plate in front of me.

“……”

“……”

As soon as I stopped talking, silence fell again. Another wordless meal had begun.

“Ugh! I hate this awkward silence! I feel like I should say something, but what do you say to someone who only gives one-word answers?”

I was internally panicking, scrambling to think of anything to talk about—

“Miss Naeri?”

Surprisingly, Lord Winchester spoke before I could.

“When you spoke about Daniel… your eyes… how should I put it…”

He seemed to be searching for the right word, his voice trailing off into the air. I also tried to recall how my eyes might have looked.

“…Like an overly enthusiastic apprentice.”

That was the phrase he finally came up with. I couldn’t tell if it was meant to be an insult or a compliment.

“Is that… a compliment?”

“It is not.”

What?! Then it was an insult?!

“I’m simply telling you what I saw. When you talk about Daniel, your eyes shine with intense passion and determination. Your face also looks more animated than usual.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Well, I suppose that’s understandable. People tend to get excited when talking about what they love. I resolved to stay calmer when talking about Daniel in the future.

“That’s… unusual. Don’t stepmothers usually dislike their stepchildren?”

“Excuse me? Says who?”

“No one in particular said it. Just common perception.”

“That’s such a narrow-minded prejudice! Not all stepmothers dislike their husband’s children from a previous marriage! Children are so adorable! And Daniel, especially, is so cute and lovable! The entire Empire should know it! Everyone must understand just how precious, adorable, and lovely our Daniel is!”

Had it even been three seconds since I resolved to stay calm when discussing Daniel? There I was, waving my fork around with wide eyes, passionately declaring Daniel’s cuteness to his own father.

“……”

Even the perpetually stoic Lord Winchester looked a bit taken aback by my outburst.

“Sorry. I may have gotten a bit too enthusiastic.”

I awkwardly apologized with a sheepish smile and quickly sat back down.

“Anyway, not all stepmothers dislike their stepchildren. At least I don’t. You really don’t have to worry about that.”

Clearing my throat to calm my tone, I added a sentence to wrap things up.

“That wasn’t a concern of mine.”

Unless I was seeing things, he smiled slightly as he said that. Unless the candlelight was playing tricks, his previously rigid face had softened for a fleeting moment.

It was like watching winter’s ice melt in the warmth of spring sunshine. I stared, mesmerized.

“…!”

“…?”

Suddenly, his large hand reached toward me, and I stiffened in surprise. But he merely picked up the salt shaker in front of me and looked at me quizzically.

“I thought he was reaching for my hand!”

Embarrassed by my ridiculous assumption, I felt my face flush. I had no idea why that thought had even crossed my mind.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

I wished he’d just ignored it, but Lord Winchester didn’t miss the change in my expression.

“Um… not really. Just feeling a bit warm.”

I fanned my face with my hand and avoided his gaze. The breeze made me realize just how hot my face had gotten.

“You must run hot. It’s still rather chilly in the evenings.”

“Y-Yes! I tend to run warm. My nickname used to be ‘Hot Lady,’ haha!”

Awkwardly laughing, I gulped down some water, hoping it would cool down my flushed face.

“I see.”

As if he fully understood, Lord Winchester nodded, completely unaware.

It wasn’t our wedding night. Not officially.

But figuratively—metaphorically—it might as well have been. Though whether that night would become “the” night remained to be seen.

“Hoo…”

I let out a soft breath as I grasped the doorknob. My damp, freshly bathed hand looked pale under the dim light.

There was no attendant to assist with my bath tonight either. Even Mrs. Ferede hadn’t waited outside my door this time—perhaps believing I could find my way on my own. The hallway was empty. Beyond the door, Lord Winchester waited alone in the room.

“It’s perfectly normal for a married couple to share a bedroom.”

That was meant to calm myself—but it only made me more nervous. And then I remembered that moment earlier… when Lord Winchester had smiled.

It was a sight no one would believe if I told them—like a mirage in the desert.

“Maybe I imagined it?”

Even I started to doubt myself. A man as emotionally distant and terse as he was smiling like that? Unthinkable.

“But there’s no way my imagination could create a smile that beautiful.”

That wasn’t the smile of a heroine’s father—it could’ve belonged to the male lead himself. It was more handsome than any celebrity I’d ever seen, enough to charm every woman in the Empire.

“Stop! Get a grip! Why are you thinking about this now of all times? Just go in!”

I shook my head vigorously, ridding myself of such thoughts, and firmly gripped the doorknob. Before I could think any further, I flung the door open.

“…!”

As the door opened, the night breeze swept across my face. And there he stood—right where the wind began.

By the window overflowing with starlight, Lord Winchester stood with a glass of wine in hand. His dark hair fluttered gently in the night breeze.