Published: August 15, 2025
In a room bathed in gentle spring sunlight, the cries of a baby echoed.
“Waa... eh, eaan. Eaaaan.”
The infant screamed loudly, eyes turned upward. This baby's name was Elisabeth, a six-month-old girl.
“Eh, uh, uh...?”
Holding her was my maid, Mio. She looked down at the wailing infant in her arms and muttered to herself.
“She’s not hungry... right? Her diaper’s not wet either...”
Mio flipped Elisabeth around and checked her all over. Always calm and capable, the chief chamberlain was clearly flustered, which made me smile.
“Fufu, I think she’s probably just cranky because she’s sleepy.”
“Does Lady Lisa cry just because she’s sleepy?”
“Yes. Aren’t babies like that?”
Mio tilted her head at my words. I stretched out both my hands.
“Come here, Lisa. Let’s go to sleep.”
Relieved, Mio immediately handed Lisa over. I held the baby upright, letting her lean against my chest, and gently patted her back.
Almost instantly, Lisa stopped crying. She made soft, meaningless murmurs and closed her eyes. Within seconds, she began to breathe quietly in sleep.
Lisa rarely falls asleep unless someone is holding her. But once held, she falls asleep quickly, so maybe she’s a calm baby after all.
Mio sighed deeply at the sight of my daughter and bowed to me.
“I’m sorry, Lady Marie... I’m no good at babysitting.”
“Not at all. Just giving me a moment to drink tea is enough. Thank you.”
Even though I said that, Mio seemed unconvinced.
Normally, in noble families, even for an important heir, the parents never raise the child themselves. Specialized wet nurses or skilled attendants take on the childcare.
But Lisa was born abroad, and the only attendants nearby were clerks from the Granado Trading Company or sailors. So my husband, Cyrus Granado, and I had no choice but to get through the newborn stage ourselves. Maybe because of that, Lisa was very shy around strangers. She would fuss unless either Cyrus or I was nearby, and would absolutely refuse to be held by anyone else.
That said, though brief, Mio’s ability to hold her and entertain her when she was in a good mood made her an outstanding wet nurse. Though she didn’t seem to realize it herself, I thought she was excellent.
Hearing this, Mio shook her head.
“I’m just ashamed of my lack of skill. Handling such a soft, tiny thing is unfamiliar to me.”
“Oh? Didn’t you help raise Lord Cyrus too?”
When I asked, for some reason she looked distant. Then she let out a cynical smile.
“At that time, master was already two years old. Not exactly a baby, and I was still very young myself, so I was more like a playmate... The young master was tough, too.”
Tough meaning he was physically and mentally healthy and didn’t cause much trouble... right? It doesn’t mean she handled Lord Cyrus roughly and he escaped without injury!
Mio and Lord Cyrus have such a long and deep relationship that you could almost call them step-siblings. When they were children, they didn’t live here in Dilz Royal Capital but in the southern duchy—at Duke Alfred Granado’s private residence, not Granado Castle. Imagining how they lived there makes me smile. Surely they were adorable children back then. Not that they’re not adorable now, of course.
Just as I was thinking this, there was a light, rhythmic knock on the door. I called out for them to enter, and Mio went to open it.
“Hello~ Sorry to intrude~”
Two familiar faces stood on the other side. I exclaimed happily.
“Elder sister Anastasia, Lord Ruifeng!”
I stood up and was about to put the baby in her crib when Lord Ruifeng stopped me, waving casually.
“No need. Please keep holding the baby with both hands.”
I thanked him and sat back down, lightly bowing my head.
“It's been a while, both of you. Since I left Dilz... is it already a year and a half?”
Anastasia waved her hands energetically.
“Yes, yes. When I heard you were back, I wanted to come right away, but things were hectic here too. Sorry about that.”
“Not at all. I’m the one apologizing for not attending your wedding parade—I read about it in the newspaper. They said you’re the most beautiful royal couple in the world.”