Chapter 250
Chapter 250
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 250
Chapter Title: Our Niece Is Too Cute (1)
“......”
I'd been worried Ashley might be asleep, so Emily and I slipped inside without making a sound, not even breathing too loudly.
“Kyaa~”
“Huh?”
Ashley, who had been happily squishing my sister-in-law's cheeks, spotted us and broke into a beaming smile, letting out an excited squeal.
Her hair had grown out enough to call it a proper bowl cut, and with her chubby little hands gripping my sister-in-law's locks tight, she shook her head back and forth.
And those round, plump cheeks, packed full of baby fat.
“So cute...”
Even after four months and all the changes, her cuteness hadn't faded—in fact, it had only grown stronger, shaking me to my core.
It was the kind of overwhelming adorableness that nearly had me pulling out my wallet to hand over some pocket money without thinking.
“Emily, how much pocket money do you think is right for a baby?”
“Come on, pocket money for a child who can't even talk or walk yet?”
“That smile and those cheeks feel like they should cost money just to look at.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“Guh...”
Of course, Emily shot down the idea before I could try, but in my mind, I'd just deposited ten silver into Ashley's account.
At this rate, I'd have enough saved up for a dress by the time she was toddling around—about a gold already.
A perfectly reasonable amount for pocket money.
“Sister-in-law, it's been a while. How have you been?”
After sufficiently admiring Ashley, I met my sister-in-law's eyes and greeted her—the one who'd brought this adorable child into the world.
She had been watching me fuss over Ashley with a warm smile and nodded lightly, her eyes crinkling in amusement.
“Of course. It's a bit lonely being apart from my husband, but Mother and the staff have been so attentive—I've been just fine.”
“Brother's in the wrong, then.”
“Wrong? He's a busy man, so I have to understand.”
My sister-in-law said she understood, but the corners of her eyes drooped ever so slightly.
She might understand intellectually, but her heart was clearly feeling the distance.
“When I get back, I'll kick his butt and send him to the estate.”
“Oh, you don't need to do that.”
“For Ashley's sake, we absolutely do. Kids need to see their parents' faces often.”
“Well, if it's for Ashley, I suppose I can't argue.”
I brought up the one reason Brother could never dodge, insisting he come no matter what, and her face brightened noticeably.
Sister-in-law really was too kind for her own good.
A little whining like this was more than fair.
“How have you been, Young Master?”
“Me? Always doing great, which is why I can come see Ashley's face and check on you like this.”
“Hee-hee~ The rumors say you're incredibly busy, though? Yet you thought of our Ashley first—thank you so much.”
Her lips were just about to soar skyward when she readjusted Ashley to face us.
“Ooh-, aaah!”
Ashley stretched her hands out toward us, mouth wide in a grin that proudly displayed her tiny front teeth to the world.
Last time, her gums had been perfectly bare, but now she had two on top and two on bottom—a whopping four teeth.
“It feels like just four months since I last saw her face, and Ashley's grown so much.”
Beyond the teeth and hair, she'd shot up at least ten centimeters and felt noticeably heavier.
“You think so too, Young Master? She's been eating her purees without any fuss, and her growth is remarkable—she's already over 70 cm!”
“Ooh~”
I had no idea what that meant exactly, but it sounded impressive.
Anyway, it meant she was growing strong and healthy, as far as sister-in-law was concerned.
“Ah!”
As we gazed fondly at the thriving Ashley, sister-in-law suddenly widened her eyes like she'd remembered something and stood up.
“Young Master, do you know what Ashley did last week?”
“What?”
“Watch closely?”
She grinned mysteriously, as if about to reveal something monumental, then laid Ashley on the bed and stepped back.
“Okay, Ashley, Mommy~”
Bending down so her face was a head's length above Ashley, arms spread wide, she called out sweetly while waving her hands gently.
No way—was she about to say something? Talk, even?
Would I hear 'Mommy' from her before Brother did?
“Gulp...”
“......”
Emily and I watched the two with bated breath, faces tense.
“Ooh...”
The tense moment.
Lying flat on the bed, staring blankly up at sister-in-law, Ashley furrowed her brow as if frustrated and wriggled around.
“Aah...”
Whimpering softly, she flipped her body with a twist, propping up her upper half precariously on her arms. Then, with legs and arms trembling, she pushed herself up.
“Ta-da!”
Her body tilted backward bit by bit until—thud—she plopped down on her bottom. Ashley flashed a proud smile up at sister-in-law.
“Ashley can sit up on her own now, starting last week! Impressive, right?”
Sister-in-law scooped her up immediately, patting her proudly and beaming like the sun itself.
“...?”
I hated to disappoint her childlike joy, but my immediate thought was, 'And...?'
I'd heard babies sit up and roll over in no time.
Four months ago, she'd even managed to roll with a little help from Brother.
That was four months back—by now, I figured she'd be standing.
“Young Master.”
“Eek...!”
Frozen in mild disappointment and deflation at her excitement, Emily shot me a fierce glare and jabbed my side hard with ventriloquism-mumbled words.
“Wow!”
Her sharp, silent warning to react properly hit home, and I burst into admiration on reflex.
“Wow! Lady Ashley, that's amazing!”
“Right? Truly incredible. I was so shocked, I couldn't speak.”
Emily followed up praising Ashley, and I clapped like a seal, chiming in enthusiastically.
- Clap clap clap!
The room filled with the sharp sound of my hands slapping together fast and hard.
“Uncle must be shocked too, seeing how happy he is for Ashley.”
“Kyaa~”
My delayed reaction and even later claps felt fake, but thanks to her innocent smile and my usual demeanor, sister-in-law and Ashley took it as me being too stunned to respond right away—and they loved it.
My side stung from Emily's elbow, but thanks to her, I kept up my doting-uncle image.
“Ooh!”
Thrilled by the praise and applause, Ashley let out a short, sharp babble and reached for Emily.
“Ooh! Daah!”
Fists clenched tight, she leaned forward as if trying to get to Emily.
“Hmm? Want to go to the nice lady?”
Sister-in-law tilted her head at the sight and approached us.
“Kyaa~”
As if that was exactly right, Ashley's voice grew louder the closer she got to Emily, her squirming intensifying.
“Emily, do you know how to hold a baby?”
“Yes, but... is it okay with you, ma'am? What if she cries from being held by a stranger...”
“Our Ashley doesn't warm up slowly to people. You're so kind—she'll love you. Don't worry, just try holding her.”
Emily eyed Ashley anxiously, but sister-in-law ignored it and placed her into Emily's arms anyway.
“Ah, w-wait... Uh...!”
Emily fumbled, gently placing her left hand under Ashley's bottom and right under her neck.
She quickly laid Ashley against her chest, turning her head to the side so it wouldn't bury into her clothes, and patted her back lightly.
“Aah?”
Lying on Emily's chest, Ashley blinked her wide eyes.
“Kwaa~”
With her tiny hands, she pressed on Emily's chest, then grinned and hugged her tight.
“Haa...”
“Lady Ashley?”
Squinting her eyes and yawning hugely, Ashley blinked slowly before closing them entirely, surrendering her body to Emily's chest.
“Uh... Is this okay? She just closed her eyes...”
“She's just taking a nap—don't worry.”
Patting Emily's back with a smile, sister-in-law gazed at Ashley with a hint of wistfulness.
“More than that, it looks like our Ashley really likes Emily. I've never seen her fall asleep this fast.”
“Oh...”
At sister-in-law's words, Emily's lips quivered as she gently stroked Ashley's hair.
She seemed pleased that the baby liked her, but glanced cautiously at sister-in-law, worried she might take offense.
“If naps are this effective, it must be even better at night, right?”
“Not sure about 'effective,' but it should help with sleep.”
“Young Master, couldn't we leave Emily here? Just a month—no, half a year...”
Contrary to Emily's concerns, sister-in-law eyed her own personal baby sleep aid with clear greed.
She's still young, so Ashley probably kept everyone up at night against her will...
“No.”
As regrettable as it was, Emily was off-limits.
Sending a regular maid would be one thing, but Emily was beyond that—personal secretary, lady's maid, and impulse-control device all in one. Replacing her would take three staff members, and without her, my social and daily life would grind to a halt.
“Ahh...”
No one in our family was unaware of that, so sister-in-law just sighed wistfully and nodded, saying no more.
Her eyes did look a bit like a child who'd had a toy snatched away, but I gritted my teeth, pretended not to notice, and fixed my gaze on Ashley—drooling all over Emily's chest, soaking it.
“......”
A little jealous...