Please Marry My Son (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 11

“Are you all right? There’s been a lot of noise—what happened?”

The butler opened the door, saw the two of them, and froze with his hand still on the doorknob.

“Oh, Butler. A book fell.”

“A book?”

The butler glanced at the books scattered across the floor, then looked at the two of them and nodded.

“Oh, a book. I see. Then I shall take my leave.”

The butler bowed politely and quietly closed the door.

“……?”

“……!”

After staring at the closed door for a moment, the two looked at each other in confusion.

Still standing close together, Eric immediately picked up one of the fallen books and handed it to Alicia.

“So—ah. Was this it?”

“Yes, yes. That’s the one.”

“Then take your time reading it. I’ll wait outside.”

“I will.”

Eric hurried out of the study, and Alicia placed the book she’d received back onto the empty shelf.

“Goodness, what a shock.”

Alicia fanned her flushed face and looked up at the bookshelf.

The book she’d meant to take was still sitting on the shelf above.

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“Butler! Butler, wait a moment.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“It seems you’ve misunderstood something, Butler.”

“It’s quite all right, Young Master. There’s no need to feel embarrassed in front of me.”

“Huh?”

“You may be a bit rougher than expected, but a man needs that kind of vigor, after all.”

“Rough? Me? What are you talking about?”

“You’re handling things well on your own, but perhaps because I’m getting old, I couldn’t help but nag out of worry. Please forgive me.”

“Handling things well? What on earth are you apologizing for all of a sudden?”

“I’ll make sure not to disturb you two no matter what sounds come from your room from now on. That way, you’ll be comfortable even during your honeymoon—”

“Butler!”

“Oh dear. I’ve gone and meddled again. What’s wrong with me at my age? My apologies, Young Master.”

The old butler apologized so politely that Eric couldn’t even explain himself. He simply stood there, dumbfounded, watching the butler’s retreating back.

He thought it would’ve been better to just get properly hit by the book and pass out then.

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“Lila, hold still and get dressed. Edward, grab Ryan.”

While Alicia was dressing Lila, Edward caught Ryan as he tried to dash off.

“Just throw something on. Even if we dress them nicely, our brother-in-law won’t even notice.”

“Hurry up and get them dressed. We’re running out of time.”

“Why are you fussing so much over family? Just do it like usual—whoa!”

Edward caught the clothes Alicia tossed toward him.

“Sister, you’re not listening to me, are you?”

“Eric will be here soon. Where’s Emma?”

“She’s helping downstairs. Hey, hold still a moment.”

“Waaaah—”

Grumbling all the while, Edward skillfully dressed Ryan, who twisted and fussed in his arms.

“Seriously, why won’t they listen today of all days?”

“I told you to just leave them be. As long as they can tell boys from girls, that’s enough, right?”

“Do you really want to present your siblings in such a mess in front of Eric, whom you claim to admire?”

“Why does it matter? It’s not like I’m a mess myself.”

“Edward.”

“Still, it really has been ages since Brother-in-law visited.”

Eric had been very busy lately.

Because of preparations for the joint knights’ training—one of the empire’s largest upcoming events—he’d been staying at the barracks so often that even Alicia hadn’t seen him in a long time.

He’d said he finally had some free time tonight and would come for dinner, so they’d tried to dress the children properly—and this chaos ensued.

Just as they finally finished dressing them after a long struggle, Eric arrived.

“Edward, keep a close eye on the kids. Don’t let them wander off.”

“As if they’d listen just because I tell them not to.”

Avoiding his sister’s stern glare, Edward grabbed each twin by one hand.

“Sije—. No go, no eber—.”

“You have no choice. Otherwise, our sister will kill us.”

“Edward.”

“See? Sister’s mad already.”

“Hiiing. Scary.”

“I’ll tell Brother-in-law everything when he comes later.”

“You little tattletale.”

Avoiding Alicia’s reproachful look, Edward took the twins and went into the room.

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“You came earlier than I expected?”

“I came straight from the knights’ barracks.”

“You look tired. Are you still that busy?”

As they walked into the mansion together, Alicia asked with concern, and Eric smiled, saying he was fine.

“Then you should’ve just rested. We could’ve had dinner another time.”

“But it’s been so long since we last saw each other. How is your mother’s health?”

“She’s feeling quite well today.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

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After greeting the Countess of Lancaster and stepping out, Alicia asked cautiously,

“Would you like to rest a bit?”

“Is that alright?”

Eric’s face immediately brightened upon hearing this.

Seeing how exhausted he must be, Alicia gave him a sympathetic look.

“Of course. There’s still plenty of time before dinner.”

“Then I’ll excuse myself for a bit.”

But the room Eric followed Alicia into was unexpected, leaving him flustered.

“Is this possibly—”

“Yes, my bedroom.”

“You can’t possibly mean for me to sleep here?”

“The other rooms haven’t been used in a while, so they’d be uncomfortable.”

‘This seems even more uncomfortable.’

Eric stared blankly at Alicia’s bed, then shook his head.

No matter what, he couldn’t possibly sleep here.

“I can lie down anywhere, as long as it’s somewhere to rest.”

“Yes, so just get comfortable.”

‘Is she really not bothered at all? Is it fine to put a strange man in her own bed? Or am I the weird one for thinking this way?’

For a moment, Eric’s mind was in turmoil.

“Oh, right—should I bring you Father’s nightclothes?”

“Ah, well—”

“That’s probably best, isn’t it? Just a moment—I’ll bring fresh bedding too.”

After Alicia left the room, Eric stood awkwardly in place, unsure whether to sit or lie down.

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“Here you go. Nightclothes.”

“Thank you.”

“They might be a bit small, but it’ll be more comfortable to sleep in these.”

Alicia placed the pillow and blanket on the bed and handed Eric the nightclothes.

“Rest well. If you’re still asleep by dinner time, I’ll come wake you.”

“Um.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Are you really sure it’s alright… for me to sleep in your bed?”

“Then where else would you sleep?”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“It’s fine. I’ve let friends sleep in my bed before.”

“No, still—”

“I really don’t mind at all, so please relax. Sleep well.”

Alicia gave a bright smile and left the room. Eric stood there, holding the nightclothes, staring blankly at the door she’d just exited.

‘She doesn’t mind at all? Because she’s done it with friends, it’s fine?’

Of course, that might make sense for a friend—but Eric didn’t consider himself in that category.

Honestly, they weren’t even in a position to be just friends, and above all, he was a man.

‘Am I the only one worrying about this? Is it really okay?’

Still conflicted, he reluctantly changed into the nightclothes, as if resigning himself to it.

‘This still feels wrong.’

After standing by the bed for a moment, he picked up the pillow and blanket and lay down on the sofa instead.

It wasn’t a long sofa, so stretching his legs was difficult, but this felt more comfortable anyway.

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“Aaah!”

Startled by the sudden impact on his body, Eric bolted upright without thinking.

“???”

Bewildered, Eric looked up to see Ryan grinning on top of him and Lila beaming from under the sofa.

“Hyung-ah!”

“Oppa!”

He’d been so startled just now that he nearly flung the children away.

Grateful his reflexes hadn’t fully kicked in, Eric calmed his racing heart.

“Ryan? Lila?”

“Nap together—”

Wriggling, Ryan burrowed into Eric’s arms.

“Jjoba. Jjoba.”

“Why not sleep here?”

Lila tried to climb onto the sofa, tilted her head in confusion, then pointed to the bed and asked,

“I just… felt a bit awkward sleeping there. But are you two going to sleep too?”

“Yeah!”

“With me?”

“Yeah!”

“Here?”

“No! There!”

Seeing the twins confidently point to the bed with wide grins, Eric was flustered.

‘Why do you want to sleep with me? Aren’t you shy at all? And why insist on sleeping there?’

Eric looked at the bed with a troubled expression.

Meanwhile, Ryan climbed down from the sofa with effort and, together with Lila, hurried over to the bed.

“Quick, quick!”

“Sleepy, sleepy.”

In the end, Eric gathered the pillow and blanket and awkwardly made his way to the bed.

“Lift me up~”

“Me too~!”

“Ah, okay. Just a moment.”

After arranging the bedding, he lifted the twins onto the bed. They excitedly settled in and gestured for Eric to join them.

‘Ah, whatever. No one else seems to care, so why should I?’

Eric finally lay down on the bed with a child on either side and pulled the blanket over them.

Though he briefly thought their squirming would be uncomfortable, he surprisingly fell asleep quickly.

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Knock knock.

Alicia knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.

“He really didn’t wake up, huh.”

She murmured, recalling how exhausted Eric had looked.

He didn’t have to come all the way here if he was that tired—what a diligent ‘fiancé’ he was.

Alicia waited outside for a moment, then quietly opened the door and carefully approached the bed.

‘Why are they sleeping together here? Edward was supposed to take them to play in their room…’

Flustered, she watched for a bit, then gently shook Eric awake.

“Eric? Eric.”

“Mmm.”

Eric turned over, shifting in his sleep.

“Wake up. It’s almost time for dinner.”

“Five more minutes…”

Eric mumbled drowsily, then suddenly realized where he was. He jolted upright in alarm.

“What time is it? Did I sleep long?”

His voice rose in panic, so Alicia quickly covered his mouth in fright.

“?”

Beside the bewildered Eric, who could only blink in confusion, Ryan and Lila woke up whining and started wailing loudly.

“Waaaaah!”

“Wooooah!”

Their cries were so loud it felt like his mind had gone half blank. Eric froze in place.

There had never been such chaos.

He wasn’t fully awake yet, and the children were crying and screaming—his ears felt like they’d burst.

“Ryan, Lila, it’s okay. Be good now. Shh, stop.”

“Let me take one.”

Eric stopped Alicia, who was trying to hold both at once, and picked up Lila.

“I’m sorry. They sleep well, but when they wake up midway, they get like this.”

“It’s alright. I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, though.”

Following Alicia’s lead, Eric gently rocked Lila to soothe her.

He comforted her sitting down, then standing up.

After a long while of cajoling, the twins gradually calmed down, and their crying began to subside.

“Phew.”

“That was tough, wasn’t it?”

The moment their eyes met, a relieved smile appeared on Eric’s face.

“Fully awake now?”

“Mm.”

“Good. Then let’s wash up and go downstairs, okay?”

“Mm.”

“Lila’s coming too, right?”

“Mm.”

“Then come on. Hold your sister’s hand.”

“Sije—”

Lila turned her head and hugged Eric’s neck tightly.

“Oppa will change and come down soon. Go with your sister first.”

“Coming soon?”

“Coming soon. Right?”

“Yeah. Mm. I’ll be right down.”

“Ooong. Okay.”

Lila asked to be put down and took Alicia’s hand.

“You can come down slowly. We still have a bit of time.”

“Hm?”

Eric suddenly checked the time.

Only about ten minutes had passed since he’d first woken up.

“No way. I thought I’d slept at least an hour.”

“Right? I always feel that way too.”

She must have spoken her thoughts out loud.

Alicia smiled at the embarrassed Eric and took the twins’ hands.

“See you latah—”

“Yeah. See you later.”

Eric awkwardly waved back at the twins, who were enthusiastically waving their tiny hands, then casually ran a hand through his hair as if nothing had happened.

Watching their small, wobbly backs as they walked away—still half-asleep—he couldn’t help but smile.

‘Ah, I should change and head downstairs.’

He picked up his clothes, looked up—and froze on the spot.

“……?”