As...as a mother-in-law?!
Haruka Yuzan was startled, lifting his head in some astonishment to look at the elegant and noble lady before him, wondering how she could say such words in such a tender tone?
However, Lady Otome seemed not to notice anything amiss; her bright, large eyes curved into beautiful crescent shapes as she smiled and said, while caressing her cheek,
"Of course, though we could hire a nanny, it's better to keep the child close by. You and Yumeko are still in school, and if everything is left to me alone... the pressure would be too much..."
Her gentle demeanor was truly comforting and pleasing to the soul.
"So, Mr. Haruka, please be sure to take safety precautions, okay? I don't want to become a grandmother so soon... Taking care of kids, although fun, is really exhausting, you don't know, when Yumeko was little, that...."
Otome Yumeko, who was already a bit shy, became totally restless when she heard Lady Otome was about to speak about her childhood.
Although Haruka Yuzan was curious, he was even more surprised by his mother-in-law; really... are all mothers in the world the same?
Whenever they talk about their children, there are always endless stories to tell.
"Oops, I talked too much, Yumeko, you wouldn't mind, right...."
The smile of the beautiful woman bore no hint of apology on her graceful and lovely face.
Haruka Yuzan cleared his throat twice, taking advantage of the pause in the mother-daughter conversation to quickly offer his own little suggestion,
"Um, Aunt Akemi, don't worry, until I am able to take responsibility, naturally, I won't... with Yumeko,"
He remembered the last time he met with Lady Otome, they had broached a similar topic.
It was clear that the Otome family placed great importance on the continuation of the family line.
However, it always felt a bit off when considered in relation to Lady Otome herself.
"Mm-hmm, I trust your character, Mr. Haruka,"
With the young man's assurance, Lady Otome also breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the conversation between the two left Miss Otome beside them feeling dissatisfied, "No! It can't be ! We'll arrange our own affairs, and even if we have children in the future, there's no need for you to intervene; Haruka and I can manage it on our own."
Otome Yumeko's words once again redefined everyone's perception of her obsessive and frenzied character.
Any entanglement with Haruka Yuzan, Miss Otome would never entrust to others, not even her own parents!!
Lady Otome couldn't help but call out softly, worry filling her beautiful eyes. This kind of obsession... it was bordering on pathological.
"Yumeko, how can you speak like that?" Read full story at novel-fire.ɴet
Seeing the moodiness of Miss Otome about to flare up again, Haruka Yuzan put on a severe front and scolded,
With him there, Miss Otome was always , occasionally prone to mood swings and jealousy; maybe... this was the price of happiness....
In the astonished gaze of Lady Otome, Otome Yumeko began to look pitiful at an observable rate, losing all her former assertiveness and appearing like a frail girlfriend,
"I understand... but, but Haruka, I really can't help it..."
Her arms wrapped around Haruka Yuzan's waist, she appeared small, pitiable, and helpless.
Truth be told, seeing his daughter , he didn't know whether to be happy or sad at the moment.
On one hand, he was happy that his daughter had found someone she liked.
But... if she liked him to this extent... it was indeed troublesome... although he had some understanding, her attitude could not be justified by those merits alone...
This Haruka Yuzan, what extraordinary qualities did he have?
The atmosphere gradually shifted.
Pale stone-paved lakes dotted with blooming lotus flowers, their delicate petals slowly unfolding in the morning dew's glow, created a scene so beautiful it lifted one's spirits.
Inside the small courtyard by the lake,
People chatted over tea, and finally, in Otome Yumeko's wistful gaze, Lady Otome announced the end of the afternoon tea.
"Well, our afternoon tea ends here; I'm off to beautify myself. Yumeko, Shimizu, would you like to join me?"
With that, the beautiful woman playfully winked at the two lovely young ladies.
Chiba Shimizu gently shook her head, "Thank you for the hospitality, but I'll pass."
On the other hand, Otome Yumeko wasn't even listening to her mother; she was entirely leaning against Haruka Yuzan, her face a picture of bliss, unrecognizably different from her previous impatience.
"After all, she has grown up. She used to cling to her mother when she was small; now she doesn't even give a glance."
Watching this scene, Lady Otome couldn't help but wipe her eyes with a finger, feigning a fragile and wounded demeanor that seemed very "pitiable."
However, this act had no effect on Otome Yumeko; rather, it was completely futile.
"Alright, since the gathering is over, Haruka and I will take our leave; there are matters to attend to later."
Having said that, Miss Otome began to pull Haruka Yuzan to his feet, ready to leave.
Watching the beautiful woman's surprised look, Haruka Yuzan also coughed twice, and respectfully bade farewell,
"Aunt Akemi, Yumeko and I will be leaving now; we won't disturb your beauty routine."