***

“This is an outfit that Madame Dwellen ambitiously prepared. The colorful patterns engraved with gold thread, and……”

“This is a silk fabric that looks like the night sky of Monsieur Dubois that can definitely save Claude’s jewel-like platinum blonde……”

At the Ambrosia mansion, servants began to have heated discussions with Claude in the middle. This was because the costumes for attending the Imperial party had not yet been decided. When servants heard rumors that Young Lord Ambrosia was attending the party, they chose some of the merchants rushing into the mansion like a flood. Among them, there was a famous designer who said that other nobles could only be met by making an appointment several months or years in advance. However, Ambrosia’s mansion couldn’t be easily accessed no matter how famous the merchants and business owners were without the permission of the Duke. They had to go back without even seeing Claude’s toes. Of course, they went back, leaving behind a sample of the outfit Claude might have liked.

“I hope you make a final decision between these two outfits. Young Master Claude will definitely stand out no matter which one you wear.”

Ronda was also excited, so she said with a subtly excited voice. Madame Dwellen and Monsieur Dubois were designers who were called the two great mountain ranges in the Crombell Empire. From generation to generation, Madame Dwellen had been in charge of the Emperor’s costume, and Monsieur Dubois had been in charge of the Empress’s costume. It was safe to say that all the clothes worn by the royal family came from the heads of those two. As such, the noses of the two designers were high enough to pierce the sky, and whether or not people appeared in costumes designed by them during the social season became a measure of their ability. Aside from the two designers’ hard work, there were already more than 20 child costumes sent to Ambrosia for Claude’s costume. Sarah even asked the Duke to lock the Ambrosia’s door because they sent new designs as if they were competing with each other every day.

“This is like a kitten, this is like a puppy. Ah……What should I do?”

In any case, it was decided that Claude would wear one of Madame Dwellen’s costumes and Monsieur Dubois’s costumes when attending the party.

“Nanny, can’t we just wear anything?”

“No! It’s a very important place to decide on Young Master Claude’s first impression.”

Busily putting the two costumes on Claude’s body, Sarah was deeply troubled.

“I think Madame Dwellen’s outfit would be good. Even just looking at the colorful patterns and jewelry, you can see that a huge amount of money has been put into each and every jewelry! It’s a perfect way to show Ambrosia’s status!”

“I think differently. Compared to Madame Dwellen’s costume, Monsieur Dubois’s costume has a neat feel, but that’s why Young Master Claude’s appearance will stand out even more! The costume is just helping!”

As Sarah couldn’t make a decision easily, the servants were busy recommending clothes they liked. In her mind, she wanted Claude to wear Madame Dwellen’s costume for one day and Monsieur Dubois’s for the other day, but Claude only attended the party for one day. Ethan would never allow more than that, so Sarah swallowed her disappointment and had to choose one in the end.

“Nannyyy……, I’m sleepy..”

Claude, who had changed clothes several times, rubbed his eyes and muttered that he was tired. Seeing the faint cries come out, he looked like he wanted to sleep, but he was sad that he couldn’t sleep.

“Come here, Young Master Claude. I’ll hug you.”

“Uh ung……”

Claude approached Sarah with his arms stretched out. Not only the servants but also Sarah grabbed the heart at that cute appearance.

“Uicha. Our dear Young Master Claude, you have worked hard. We’ll decide from now on.”

“Umm.”

Claude laid his arms wide in Sarah’s arms and rested his cheeks comfortably on her shoulder. Sarah closed her eyes for a moment and trembled at the weight and warmth of the droopy child.

“Our Young Master Claude is cute too…… I want to hold you like this for the rest of my life.”

“Then, Young Master Claude’s costume……”

“I think it would be better to take a little nap first and then decide later.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Ronda nodded and took all the servants out of the room.

“Hi……”

In the room that had regained the silence, Claude smiled a little as if he was in a good mood and buried his nose in Sarah’s neck. Sarah ruffled Claude’s soft hair, holding her breath and smiling. These days, she had been living very happy days.

‘I think I’m completely relaxed now.’

Claude often asked Sarah to touch him first these days. He asked for a hug first, rubbed his nose on the nape of Sarah’s neck, and fell asleep only when he was in her arms before going to bed. Seeing Claude, who had tried to be obsessively mature like an old man, finally acted like a child, and seemed to be emotionally stable, Sarah was grateful and proud of him.

‘The Duke is no longer afraid to touch Young Master Claude.’

Ethan faithfully kept his promise to Sarah to have breakfast with Claude every day. It had become a daily routine for Ethan to gently stroke Claude’s hair before going back to the office after eating. It was still too much to hug or hold hands, but it was a big step for Ethan, who was afraid to even approach Claude. When Ethan stroked Claude’s hair for the first time casually, he said this looking at the surprised Sarah.

‘Didn’t you ask me to believe you? So I decided to trust the great magician by my side.’

He smiled slightly, showing Sarah’s ring on his finger. The trust and kindness Ethan had shown that day were still vivid, as if she could reach out and grab it.

“It was so nice……”

A pleasant laugh escaped from Sarah’s lips as she recalled that time. Every time the Duke gave her his trust little by little, she felt an unknown sense of accomplishment. With a smile, Sarah patted Claude’s back a couple more times and soon put the child down on the bed. Claude quickly fell asleep and was breathing out evenly.

“Uh um.”

As Sarah’s body temperature moved away, Claude, who fell asleep, tossed and grumbled. When she covered the child with a blanket and held his small hand tightly, his face loosened gently and he fell into a deep sleep.

“Our cute Young Master Claude.”

Sarah sat on the bed and watched Claude sleep for a long time.

“He’s so cute and adorable, but Dieline……”

In ‘Flower of Darkness’, it was written that Dieline’s whereabouts were unknown, and there was no story after that. Perhaps Dieline would never come to see her child, just like the fate of the character ‘Dieline’ in her novel. But was it really okay for Claude and Dieline to live without seeing each other for the rest of their lives? Claude became more and more lovable the more she poured out her affection. He was originally a child who should have lived happily in his mother’s arms. Her heart ached every time she saw the child brightened up so much just by the affection of his only nanny.

“…….Don’t you miss Young Master Claude?”

Sarah continued to pursue the whereabouts of Dieline and Hugel Ambrosia. Hugel Ambrosia rejected Dieline who came to him at first, but soon accepted her. The two of them were living in a distant foreign country. They ran a small business together, and a girl, Claude’s younger sister, was born between the two. The child’s name was Chloe. She was a child who was not born with any of the characteristics of Ambrosia, only resembling Dieline.

“……”

When Sarah heard the news, she stopped looking into Dieline’s life. Perhaps Dieline would be happy with her husband and her beautiful daughter. Claude’s presence would have been buried in her heart. So now the only person Sarah had to care about was Claude. Only Claude, unaware of the existence of his mother, who would forget her and live happily, was the one Sarah had to protect.

‘Someday I’ll tell Claude the truth, right?’

Sarah fiddled with Claude’s hair, as she recalled the day to come. She had to raise him by showing him pretty things and making him feel loved enough. That was how she raised Claude so that he wouldn’t be hurt when he found out the truth. With that determination, Sarah raised her body.

“Good night, my baby.”

A faint smile spread across the child’s lips as he kissed Claude’s forehead. Looking at it painfully and lovingly, Sarah closed the door of Claude’s room.

“Lady Sarah!”

Then May, who was waiting for her outside the door, approached quickly. She looked like she had something to say.