Ch.BONUS385. Wife’s Domain (1)

“Hmm…”

In a bustling commercial district lined with shops, a man—no longer a boy but now a husband—was lost in thought as he looked around the various stores.

While his purpose of buying something was clear, he seemed unable to make a decision.

And for good reason—it truly wasn’t easy to come to a conclusion.

Throughout most of his life, which had been filled with fierce struggles, his period of romance hadn’t been very long. It was merely a brief healing time when he could momentarily divert his attention.

‘When we wore matching rings, Reni definitely liked it… but hmm. I have no idea what kind of design she prefers.’

That’s right.

Despite being married and even having a child, Junon still worried about how to properly care for Renias.

Even buying a simple accessory required this much deliberation.

“You’ve been pondering for quite a while.”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

“No, no. It’s understandable. It’s normal to spend time deliberating when it’s for your beautiful wife, isn’t it?”

The elder of Seiren, who was once coldly abandoned by the empire, had now become a major shareholder in an accessory market.

Though surprised at first, one would eventually accept it as natural.

After all, the Seirens, skilled in amplification techniques and precision work, were quite good at making such things.

“But standing outside looking around for so long is a bit much.”

“Pardon?”

“Take a look around you.”

The elder glanced around Junon’s surroundings. Following his gaze, Junon looked around and realized the reason for the elder’s concern.

He had become a celebrity. Almost everyone on the street recognized him.

If he spent half a day or a full day just standing outside the shop deliberating over accessories, it would certainly cause trouble for the shop owner and shareholders.

After explaining that it was nothing serious, just selecting a gift for his wife, the stares finally dispersed somewhat.

“But this is unusual. What brings you to a place like this? I was under the impression that Renias doesn’t particularly care for accessories.”

It wasn’t just accessories. She preferred modest clothes over flashy ones and didn’t particularly enjoy standing out.

Well, if she did want to stand out, she preferred to do so as “Junon’s wife.”

When it came to bragging about her husband, there was no one more devoted.

“I’ve done something recently that makes me feel sorry toward Renias.”

“Something to feel sorry about?”

“Yes. I realized that since Blea was born, the time I spend with Renias has become notably shorter. So I wanted to give her a gift while apologizing… but Blea seems to like me too much.”

“I see, so that’s the situation.”

The elder nodded with an “Mmm.”

He had seen it once before—the Junon family out in the market with their child.

At a glance, they looked like a happy family enjoying their blessings. But the child seemed somewhat excessively attached to her father.

Young people might not notice, but for the elderly, it raised subtle questions and concerns.

Typically, the first face a newborn sees is the mother’s, and the embrace that responds to their cries is also the mother’s.

It’s generally normal for a child to respond more affectionately to the mother who holds them constantly, rather than to the father who returns home after working as an academy professor.

“Isn’t there someone around who could give you advice?”

“Well… there are people, but…”

It would be awkward to call them.

That’s what Junon said.

“Both as a husband and as a son-in-law of the duke’s family. If I reveal how ignorant I am about my wife, I’ll feel like a sinner in my own way.”

“I don’t think they would see it that way.”

“…No, they would. If I’m in this state, my mother-in-law and father-in-law would, ha, haha…”

After mentioning his in-laws, Junon seemed to lose his soul.

The elder tilted his head at the sight before breaking into a smile.

Because someone who could help had just appeared.

“What’s going on, Grandfather?”

A young woman with hair now grown past her shoulders, no longer hiding her brown hair but showing her natural black hair, looked back and forth between Junon and the elder before asking.

“I think you need to help us, Senia.”

“Huh?”

Senia’s eyebrows quirked up.

The two of them entered the shop, and shortly after…

*Drip*

A sip of tea that was meant to be light fell back into the teacup in a stream.

With an expression of utter disbelief, Senia let out a deep sigh.

“You two… really. Have you not changed at all since then?”

She briefly considered what might have happened at the tea party she couldn’t attend due to her schedule today.

About three seconds.

That was all the time she needed to figure everything out.

‘Renias has a bit of an obsession with Junon… and according to Grandfather, Junon is always holding Blea…’

After being so determined not to lose him to other women that she married him and had a child…

Ah. Her daughter has stolen her husband!

Yes. Renias was probably craving Junon’s love.

‘Hmm, but this could turn into an interesting situation if used well.’

Renias would love anything given by Junon. Even if she wasn’t particularly fond of adornments, considering how she had sought out Charlotte to choose pretty dresses to impress Junon at social gatherings and balls, that was especially true.

But right now, this wasn’t what she needed.

“How much time do you usually spend with your family after coming home from work?”

“Hmm? Well… most of it, I guess?”

“And most of that time is spent playing with Blea, right?”

“Ah…”

Just as she thought.

“Then go home. Don’t bother buying anything.”

“But that seems…”

“She’d love anything you give her, but what you two need right now isn’t an accessory.”

“Then what?”

“Go home and honestly tell Renias you’re sorry. That should be enough.”

Of course, it probably wouldn’t end there.

No. Perhaps even before Junon could honestly apologize, she might catch him off guard.

Senia smiled mischievously, anticipating something entertaining was about to happen.

***

In the end, I returned empty-handed.

Contrary to my opinion that I should buy something more here, Senia insisted I go home empty-handed.

I’m not sure why she came to this conclusion, but… it was a reason I could somewhat understand.

That a simple apology for not realizing sooner would be better than any gift.

And that from now on, I should teach Blea to adjust her time so Renias wouldn’t feel neglected.

Either way, it was right.

‘Yes. Blea shouldn’t just look for her dad all the time.’

With a firm resolve, I opened the door and entered the hallway.

Renias had already returned home much earlier, having finished her tea party.

“Oh, you’re home early? I heard there was a meeting among professors.”

“Yeah. It ended early.”

That was a plausible excuse, so I let it pass.

I was about to speak directly to Renias, but Blea quickly turned her head, escaped from her mother’s arms, and crawled toward me.

“Dada.”

“…”

I know I shouldn’t pick her up now.

If I indulge her whim, the same situation will just repeat itself.

So this time, I need to be firm with Blea…

*Growl*

Huh?

What’s that growling sound…

But it didn’t seem to be coming from Renias’s stomach.

“Uuugh. Dada.”

It was Blea’s stomach.

But somehow, regardless of her stomach growling, Blea’s expression didn’t look very good…?

Puzzled by the situation, I glanced at Renias, and she…

“My, our Blea must be very hungry?”

With a fox-like smile, she picked up Blea.

And soon after…

Renias slightly lowered her dress, revealing her fair skin.

“Uuung…”

*Suckle. Suckle.*

“That’s right. That’s right.”

Blea hurriedly crawled to Renias, and I was startled by the sight.

‘Could this be…’

While a mother breastfeeding her child is a perfectly normal act, what kind of expression had Blea been making just moments ago?

She had been pouting as if something was bothering her.

And although I know that as her father, she likes me more than Renias, that wasn’t the case right now.

Renias had deliberately been withholding breastfeeding from Blea until now.

Why would she do that?

It seemed unnecessary to starve our daughter like that…

But the sight wasn’t unpleasant to watch.

The scene of her feeding our daughter.

Soon after, having filled her stomach, Blea’s eyes began to blink slowly, unable to resist the sleep that was overtaking her, and she fell asleep.

“Shall I take her to the cradle?”

“…Yes.”

Renias must have wanted to spend time with me like this.

That’s what I think.

But.

“Oppa…?”

*Slide*

The strap of her dress, which she had pulled back up after nursing, slips down.

There’s no need to expose her chest again. Blea is already asleep.

Yet that dress strap is sliding down.

“Oh, Oppa?”

It’s because I’m the one touching her clothes.

“…!”

As I press my body against hers, Renias’s eyes widen, then soon take on a satisfied blush as she asks.

“What are you doing, Oppa?”

I guarantee she’s pretending not to know.

How could she not understand when she’s acting so provocatively?

My wife is definitely not a rabbit.

She’s a fox, a fox indeed.