Chapter 59: Friend or Foe?

“Laurier, long time no see.”

“Hello Grandmother!”

As usual, Mother’s partial to Laurier. She gave a delighted smile to Laurier’s greeting first before looking my way.

“She’s as cute as I remember… Callis, can I keep her?”

“Haha, Mother. Though, I’m sorry, but that joke isn’t one I can laugh at?”

Without letting Laurier know, Mother and I were fighting a silent battle. As usual, I can’t let my guard down around her. Still, because I had something to say, I gave a bow before speaking.

“Mother, thank you for coming.”

“It’s no problem at all. I’m happy to come anytime for the sake of my cute grandchild and daughter-in-law.”

“Is your son not cute as well?”

“Oh? Did you want me to call you cute?”

“No, not at all.”

“Fufufu…” we laughed at each other. Looking at us with a puzzled look, Laurier tilted her head and asked.

“Father’s cute?”

“Thank you, Laurier. However, ‘cute’ isn’t a word that suits your father. ‘Cute’ is a word better suited for you and your mother.”

“Okay!”

Laurier replied with a beaming smile. Oh dear, my daughter is too cute! Mother also looked at Laurier with her cheeks slackening. At times like this, I can really feel the blood connection between me and her. Then abruptly, she spoke.

“By the way, have you decided?”

“Decided what?”

“The child’s name. Your father and I have come up with some suggestions, but… should we say them?”

“Well… I want to talk with Sasha to decide.”

To be honest, I’m not good at naming. No, I don’t mean that I have no naming sense, but rather, I’m troubled over how and what I should name my own child.

Not only does the name change depending on if they’re a girl or a boy, but it’s also a matter of who will succeed the house. If Laurier says she wants to, then I will need to groom her future husband accordingly. However, if she says she doesn’t want to, then it will fall to this child to become the heir. Even so, I don’t want to force them if they’re against it.

Of course, it’s important to keep the house alive, but if the person in question doesn’t agree, then I want to choose another path. My children’s happiness comes first. The house comes second… Well, that kind of thinking probably makes me a failure as a noble, but it can’t be helped.

After all, even though I’ll do my best to encourage one of them to take over, if neither of them wants to, in the worst-case scenario, I could simply adopt a child on the premise that I’ll make them my heir.

Well, anyway, before I decide something like that, I need to take care of Laurier’s situation first. My fight won’t end until the Otome Game destruction flags are completely broken!

The line “My fight has only just begun!” that some manga end on crossed my mind, but in reality, I don’t think I’ll ever be fully relieved, so I’ll just have to keep worrying and continue doing my best for the happiness of my family.

Incidentally, Mother began monopolizing Laurier while she was here, so for now, I approached her to work out a compromise and regain my all-important father-daughter time.

Boy, or girl~? Boy, or girl~? What will it be~? What will it be~? We’ll find out very soon~! We’ll find out very soon~! I can’t wait to see~. I can’t wait to see~. (Tune)

:3