Special Side Story – Episode 1

Time flowed like water.

Before she knew it, six years had already passed since she gave birth.

And in that time, Elze came to experience many new things.

For example…

‘Hmm, how should I put this.’

Sitting at the dining table, Elze couldn’t hide the strange expression on her face as she looked across from her.

‘I never imagined I’d actually witness something like this in my life.’

Crispy croissants, fresh salad, assorted jams, juice and milk, eggs, and perfectly crisped bacon.

Across the lavishly set table, Dante was fretting over a child.

“Jeremy, you have to eat the broccoli too.”

That’s right.

Dante was now watching his son like a hawk, eyes blazing, to make sure he didn’t get picky with his food…

They named the child Jeremy.

He had Dante’s jet-black hair, and the radiant amber eyes he inherited from Elze.

Just as Elze had hoped, Jeremy grew up surrounded by love, without a shadow of hardship.

Especially since the two of them hadn’t had any children after Jeremy.

The successor to the Marquisate of Offenheir was only Jeremy.

‘Honestly, I think I wouldn’t mind having one more.’

However, after witnessing Elze’s labor firsthand, Dante was adamantly against having a second child, so for the foreseeable future, Jeremy would be raised as an only son.

Still, Elze sometimes thought that simply loving a child might not be enough to raise one.

And the reason for that was…

“But still–”

Just then, Jeremy puffed out his cheeks and started whining.

“But I don’t like broccoli.”

With that tiny complaint, Dante’s expression melted like ice cream.

‘Uh-oh, this doesn’t look good.’

At the same time, Elze furrowed her brow slightly.

At this rate, it was highly likely he’d say, “Alright, don’t eat the broccoli. Daddy will eat it for you!”

And it wasn’t without precedent either…

Eventually, Elze, who had been quietly observing, stepped into the conversation.

“Listen to your father, Jeremy.”

“Eeeh…”

Jeremy pouted, on the verge of tears.

Elze added firmly,

Then Dante, visibly flustered, glanced over at Elze.

“Uh, Elze? He’s still little, so…”

“No.”

Elze drew the line without hesitation.

“The younger he is, the more he needs to eat a balanced diet. Don’t you agree?”

At the same time, Jeremy sensed that he would have no choice but to eat the broccoli.

It made sense—because in this household, the strongest person was Mom.

No matter how much Dad adored him, he had never once disobeyed Mom’s words.

“Heeeng…”

In the end, Jeremy, looking thoroughly glum, stabbed a piece of broccoli with his fork.

Then, with a look of utter disgust, he put it in his mouth.

Each time he chewed, his round little cheeks bounced up and down.

He looked so adorable that even Elze, whose expression had been stern, couldn’t help but let a faint smile tug at her lips.

“Good job, Jeremy.”

To cheer up the droopy Jeremy, Dante spoke in an upbeat tone.

“If you finish all of that, shall we go ride the swings together?”

“Really?!”

Jeremy’s eyes sparkled like stars in an instant.

Of course they did—because his favorite thing to do was ride the swings.

Well, from Dante’s perspective, he was confident he could keep things safe, so that’s why he was suggesting it.

But from an outsider’s point of view, it always looked a little risky.

Dante flashed a playful wink.

“Have you ever seen Daddy lie to you, Jeremy?”

“Nope!”

Shouting joyfully, Jeremy began stuffing the remaining broccoli into his mouth like he was on a mission.

At the same time, Dante winked at Elze.

‘See? I can handle our son pretty well now, can’t I?’

So give me some praise.

That meaning was written all over his wink.

Elze let out a breath of laughter and moved her lips silently.

‘Yes, you did really well.’

At that reply, a bright smile bloomed on Dante’s face.

And Elze, quite suddenly, thought that Jeremy’s smile looked exactly like Dante’s.

* * *

After finishing breakfast,

Elze sat on a garden bench, watching Dante and Jeremy play excitedly.

“Waaaah!”

Elze, watching from behind, called out in warning.

“Don’t push him too high. What if he falls?”

“Of course not. Do you not know who I am?”

Dante replied with confidence and went right back to pushing the swing with enthusiasm.

Elze let out a soft chuckle.

Well, it was that Dante, after all.

As proof, even after playing with Jeremy dozens of times,

Dante had never once left a single scratch on their son.

‘Well, Jeremy enjoys it so much anyway.’

Still watching the two of them, Elze took a small sip of fragrant black tea.

The warmth of the liquid sliding down her throat felt pleasant.

And just then—

Someone greeted her in a friendly, composed voice.

“Good morning, Madam.”

Elze turned her head without surprise.

A neatly dressed young man bowed politely as their eyes met.

Elze responded warmly.

“Ah, Liam. You’re here?”

It was Liam, Dante’s personal aide.

A lot had happened between them in the past, but those matters had long since been resolved.

“Don’t just stand there—why don’t you have a seat?”

Elze offered him a spot.

But Liam playfully declined in a voice loud enough for anyone to hear.

“No, thank you. What if His Lordship ends up scolding me again?”

Elze was well aware of how overly protective Dante could be when it came to her.

So she didn’t insist further.

At the same time, Liam murmured in a voice tinged with emotion.

“Honestly, it’s impressive.”

His gaze was fixed on Jeremy, giggling happily, and Dante beside him, his face practically melting.

“I never imagined His Lordship would be so playful with the young master.”

“More! Higher!”

Jeremy pleaded with Dante.

And the way Dante looked at his son was impossibly gentle, like soft down.

Liam shook his head in disbelief.

“If someone had told me back then that I’d see a sight like this, I’d have laughed and told them they were crazy.”

“Oh, same here.”

Elze smiled faintly.

“To be honest, I thought Dante would be annoyed by a child.”

But her prediction had been completely wrong.

Dante had changed so much from how he used to be.

Elze once wondered if he was really that busy with work lately, and considered offering a bit of help if he truly needed it.

So she asked what he was doing.

[Since I don’t know much about children,]

Dante had replied with a grave look on his face,

[I thought I’d start by studying.]

Elze had unconsciously glanced at the title of the book he was reading.

《101 Ways to Be a Good Dad》

… The absurdity of that moment was unforgettable.