The Softest And Cutest Of The Dukes - Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

Upon seeing Rafi talking while holding the black animal, Erica hit Jerome’s chest and tightly grasped his clothes.

How adorable. Captivated by the fatal cuteness, Erica momentarily felt the desire to give birth to a child, but when she looked at Jerome’s face, she managed to regain her composure.

“It would be nice to leave them alone for a while. It’s been a long time since my wife came out and fell asleep, so I don’t want to wake her up.”

Duke Tigris’ wife used to spend her time only in her room, not engaging in outdoor activities until Rafi arrived. After miraculously giving birth to her youngest daughter and losing her life, she collapsed. 

The Duchess of Tigris, upon seeing a child resembling her daughter, quickly ignited the determination to move forward. And this was the result. They went on outings, and today they fell asleep in the garden with their granddaughter and great-grandchildren. 

Duke Tigris, who couldn’t bear to wake them up because they seemed so peaceful, requested Duke Panteur’s permission.

“This is the first time I have seen my mother-in-law like this.”

“I apologize for that. When your wife was alive, she wanted to visit Duke Panteur’s estate, but I prevented her…”

At first, he cut off contact when her daughter said she was going to the Panteur’s estate, not following his intentions. Then, due to pride, he not only prevented himself but also his wife from going there.

After her daughter’s death, Duke Tigris regretted it, but he was so resentful of his child who left her parents first that he didn’t even attend the funeral.

“There’s no room for pride in front of your children, in front of the people you love. Ironically, you don’t realize that until you experience it.”

Duke Panteur, seeing his daughter sound asleep, spoke calmly, and Duke Tigris nodded.

“When Rafi wakes up, you can meet her, and we can move on to other things.”

“Thank you. By the way, what is the black animal Rafi is holding?”

The black animal, seemingly unaware animal, was dozing off in her daughter’s embrace.

“Rafi picked it up when we went on an outing last time. Daniel even said he would bring another one with a pedigree instead, but she insisted on raising it, so we had no choice but to allow it.”

“I see. Hmm…”

Duke Panteur, who had a suspicious expression, stared intently at the animal in his daughter’s arms. It looked like a kitten at first glance, but it resembled a leopard hiding its claws.

“If you’re not going to stay here, then come inside. If you keep staring like that, Rafi might wake up and cause a ruckus.”

Duke Tigris, upon seeing Duke Panteur’s chilling gaze, intervened to prevent his wife from waking up.

“I looked at them with such gentle eyes, and this is how you repay me? Is that so? Erica and Jerome?”

“Yes, our father’s gaze is as soft as coffee with milk. Isn’t that right, Jerome?”

“Of course. Every time I see him, I feel a burning warmth. Ahem! Let’s move to another place. We might wake up my sister-in-law and Duke Tigris’ wife if we keep chatting.”

In response to Duke Panteur’s gradually heated gaze, Jerome coughed and reached out his hand in the opposite direction. It was only then that the elders began to move. 

They walked silently for a while before entering the reception room, where tea and fruit were brought to the table by Daniel and Helena, who had personally brought them.

“Yes, it’s my first time meeting you in person, Uncle, as well as Duchess and Duke Aquila! I am Daniel Tigris. And this is my wife, Helena Tigris.”

“Ah, yes, it’s my first time meeting you in person. Previously, while I was communicating with my daughter, you suddenly appeared and took her away.”

“I remember that. There was a planned outing at that time, so I had no choice but to take her with me.”

Duke Panteur stared piercingly at Daniel, who had interrupted the communication with his daughter. 

Under his gaze, Daniel couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat.

“Thanks to our little Rafi, we’ve been so happy all this time. Since Rafi arrived, even Grandma has gradually regained her health.”

“Is that so? Well, that’s fortunate, but she can’t stay here forever. After all, we made a promise with Father to let her stay here for a week.”

Duke Panteur swiftly interrupted Helena’s words and spoke. No one didn’t know that he had come to take Rafi away after the promised week had passed. As a result, silence filled the reception room once again.

“Son-in-law, why don’t you keep Rafi with us a little longer? My wife loves her so much, and I’m afraid she might fall ill again if they are separated.”

“It’s a pity, but if that’s the reason, I suggest not leaving Rafi here for the rest of her life.”

Jerome and Erica, who couldn’t intervene in the conversation of the elders, opened their ears while sipping their tea.

“It’s impossible?”

“Yes, it’s impossible. Father clearly stated that he would honor the promise in the beginning, didn’t he?”

After saying that, Duke Tigris, who brought Rafi here, sighed softly. Then he asked for alcohol instead of tea. Duke Panteur looked at him with a gaze that seemed to question why he was drinking alcohol in broad daylight.

After a while, Harold brought the alcohol and glasses and quietly set them on the table. With a gentle smile, Harold carefully uncorked the bottle. A moment later, a distinct yet sweet aroma filled the air.

“Ah! Grandfather is this… Isn’t this?”

Daniel, smelling the alcohol, widened his eyes and asked. In response, Duke Tigris nodded his head up and down.

“It’s a bottle of wine that has been sleeping in the palace cellar for decades, thanks to a good story I told.”

“No, you probably extorted it with threatening words.”

“Extortion? No! I simply asked the emperor because I felt sorry for the wine that couldn’t see the light of day and was rolling around in the cellar.”

“I saw it back then. You didn’t just ask, you practically robbed it while shaking the emperor by the collar.”

Even from Daniel’s words, it was clear to see Duke Tigris’ character. Jerome burst into laughter at the sight of him shaking the emperor rather than being afraid.

Minnestra, is a wine made two hundred years ago. It wasn’t just one or two people who coveted this wine, which was said to be one of the rarest remaining wines in the world.

“It’s Minnestra. It must have been difficult to acquire.”

Jerome smiled broadly as he looked at the wine. It was a wine that anyone who had tasted even a drop of alcohol would long for.

“It was difficult to acquire indeed, but when I asked the emperor, he provided it. Well, my son-in-law, why have you been silent since earlier?”

Seeing that Duke Panteur was only glaring at Minnestra, Duke Tigris nudged him and said.

“I’ve stopped drinking.”

“What do you mean, father?”

Erica asked as she looked at Duke Panteur. Until they moved to the Aquila Estate, her father always had wine in his hand. Of course, even after that, her mother used to worry about him drinking excessively. 

“Since you left.”

Erica was surprised to hear that her father, who used to drink alcohol so frequently, had quit drinking since she left.

Upon Duke Panteur’s remark, the atmosphere in the reception room turned awkward. Jerome, who was excited about the prospect of tasting the Minnestra, lowered his head.

Duke Tigris blamed himself for his inadequate thoughts, as he had planned to entice Duke Panteur by offering him alcohol.

“Father…”

“Why are you acting like that?”

“No, it’s nothing, just… I’m sorry. Everything I said to you earlier…”

“Did the scent of the wine intoxicate you even though you didn’t drink? You’re talking nonsense.”

Erica, who cautiously held her father’s hand, who had suffered enough to abstain from alcohol until now, bit her lip. Duke Panteur, who comforted Erica’s shoulder differently, made Duke Tigris envious.

“I was planning to give it as a gift to the man who would marry our Seraphina.”

Upon Duke Tigris’ words, Duke Panteur nodded his head. 

“In that case, please give it to me.”

Duke Tigris nodded his head, thinking that he might scatter it at Seraphina’s tomb. He handed the Minnestra. Duke Panteur, who received it, poured it into an empty glass.

“You said you quit drinking, didn’t you?”

“Since it’s the first gift from Father, let’s drink it right away. Isn’t that right? I also want to have a drink after a long time.”

Duke Tigris also poured Minnestra into his glass. The color that resembled crushed rubies and its sweet fragrance captivated the attention of those around.

“What about me, Father?”

“This is an adult conversation. You can sit this one out.”

“Father! I’m also an adult. I gave birth to a son older than my sister.”

“Well, I also have two sons in the age of marriage. Hmph!”

Duke Panteur, hearing Jerome and Daniel’s words, seemed surprised but still poured them some wine.

“They said it’s a tradition for the father to pour the wine.”

“Oh, I see. I guess I never taught you that.”

Without a chance to teach them anything, Duke Panteur poured wine into Erika’s glass, who had become a Duchess. Then Helena smiled and shyly offered her empty glass. Unintentionally, the atmosphere among them became more harmonious than before.

“Our granddaughter is amazing. Hahaha, she let our eldest great-grandson and Princess Sylvester have some freedom. She was hopping around with those short legs, alone.”

“Our Rafi can do anything.”

“That’s right. She can do anything. She even had a peculiar talent for healing her bedridden grandmother. And she’s got a way of words…”

Duke Tigris and Duke Panteur, who had been sworn enemies until now, conversed like true father-in-law and son-in-law. They talked about the same topic.

“Our Rafi loves sleeping in my clothes. Once she falls asleep clinging to me, she doesn’t let go of my clothes. Thanks to her, I ended up taking off my clothes while she was still on them.”

“Haha! I see. Next time, I want to sleep with Rafi too. It’s always impossible for me to sleep with her alone because of her grandmother.”

“Why don’t you two sleep together? With Rafi in the middle. But it’s a shame we have to take Rafi away, so you don’t have time for that.”

“Oh, come on, son-in-law! Don’t say that, give us a little more time.”

When playing tug-of-war with Rafi in the middle, Jerome shared the remaining Minnestra with those who were not treated as adults.

“This has a wonderful fragrance. By the way, have you ever touched the cheeks that are like a sticky rice cake?”

“Of course. How could I not? The soft and chewy texture is beyond words. By the way, do you call them sticky rice cakes and sweet rice cakes there? We call them soybean powder-coated rice cakes.”

While Jerome and Daniel were talking, Erika had a small conversation with Helena.

“Our sister loves it when we read her fairy tales. But her perspective is different from other children.”

“Of course. She’s my little sister.”

Using Rafi as an excuse to drink more, they continued to enjoy wine and engage in conversations. The three families, who were initially cold and distant, gradually warmed up as they gathered together.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

It was a small voice that could have been easily buried in the noise filling the reception room. However, everyone instantly fell silent and turned their attention to the door, which slowly began to open.

The small sweet rice cake, who used knocking on the door as a form of communication, stood there with a bright smile. Seeing her face, everyone smiled back.

“Rafi, come here!”

When they all stretched out their arms for her to come to them, Rafi glanced at the reception room and then jumped into Duke Panteur’s arms.

“You said you’d be back in a week, why didn’t you keep your promise?”

With a slightly intimidating expression, Duke Panteur scolded, but Rafi smiled and replied.

“Rafi didn’t want to go, so Rafi didn’t go.”

“Then why didn’t you come?”

When it comes to lying, it’s more convincing if you make it grand. Rafi puffed up her cheeks and, with rolling eyes, said,

“If Rafi didn’t go, Father would come here, right? He doesn’t want to worry about his child wandering outside.”

Duke Panteur, who completely contained Rafi’s warmth within his embrace, felt relieved. He wished they could just go back like this. However, Rafi’s mouth couldn’t stay still.

“Father and Grandpa will talk, so it’s going to be great. Hehe, I’ll go and sit there, okay?”