NOVEL NEXT After chatting and catching up with the boss, we finally returned home.
It makes sense since we had just come back from our trip, and the boss couldn’t keep bothering Charlotte all the time.
It was only natural.
Of course… she seemed a bit sad before we left.
In the end, we brought Charlotte back home.
“Charlotte, it’s been a while since we’ve been home, right?”
“Yeah!”
“How was staying at the hotel with Grandma?”
“It was fun!”
“Really?”
Holding Charlotte’s hand, we returned home.
Since we spent most of the day with the boss, we wanted to have dinner as a family.
It had been a while since Charlotte was home, and not just her, we felt the same.
We wanted to spend some cozy time together.
“If only Charlotte could have gone on the trip, it would have been so much fun. Are you upset?”
“I’m fine!”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah.”
“You could see so many sights, and it was way more fun than here, right?”
“Really…?”
“Yep, Daddy loved it too. He said he really wanted to come with you next time!”
“Really?”
“Did you see Mommy lying?”
Even though Charlotte said she was fine, it was obvious that taking her along would have been the best.
Though the purpose of this trip didn’t allow us to just take her along.
Even if we said it was like a honeymoon, Charlotte was still our daughter.
It was a parent’s instinct to want to take her along.
“I’ll definitely bring Charlotte with us next time.”
“Yeah!”
“Hehe…”
With Charlotte sitting on my lap, we chatted like this.
It felt so good to talk and spend time with Charlotte after such a long time.
We were just sitting on the sofa, chatting away.
“Mom… your neck is red!”
While we were talking on the sofa, Charlotte suddenly exclaimed loudly.
“Uh, what?”
“Here, it’s red!”
“…Huh?”
Charlotte suddenly started poking at my neck.
Why the heck is my neck red…?
“Ah.”
After a brief moment of thought, I remembered why Charlotte was saying that.
For several embarrassing reasons.
Reasons that weren’t really suited to show a child.
Though, it wasn’t like I hadn’t shown it to her before.
“Red!”
“Charlotte…? How about we stop touching Mom’s neck? She’s just feeling a bit sore.”
“It’s sore!?”
“Yeah. I think it’s from coming back from a cold place. Hmm… should I have worn a scarf?”
“A what?”
…I began to divert Charlotte’s attention to something else as much as possible.
My red neck was all because of Corbin.
And not just because of Corbin but because of… that… um…
Anyway, I definitely couldn’t just show the marks on my neck to Charlotte, so changing the topic was super important.
Well, Charlotte had likely seen most of it since she was already sitting on my lap.
“Mom, are you okay…?”
“I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt. Just a little itchy.”
“Really…?”
“Yep, our Camellia doesn’t need to worry.”
Was it because our Charlotte is so kind?
Luckily, Charlotte didn’t pay too much attention to the marks on my neck, and instead, started to worry about me.
What a relief…
I was honestly surprised that Charlotte brought up something I’d been trying not to think about.
Especially since the mark was from that wild time at the hotel.
How was I supposed to explain that to little Charlotte…? Honestly, I really didn’t know how.
“Daddy!”
“What is it, Charlotte?”
Suddenly calling for Corbin, who was doing the dishes.
What’s this about?
She was just worried about me and now she’s calling Corbin?
Charlotte got off my lap and, hopping down from the sofa, marched over to Corbin.
What’s going on…?
“Charlotte, what’s up? Why are you dragging me…?”
“Mom’s hurt!”
“…Huh?”
With his apron still on, Corbin was pulled from the kitchen to the living room.
Now Charlotte was holding his hand and pointing at me.
…She’s so sweet.
“Mom’s neck is red!”
“…And that’s what happened.”
“…Lindera, are you really hurt?”
“…I’m not hurt, it’s really nothing.”
Sure, there was a red mark on my neck, but truly, it wasn’t a big deal.
It didn’t hurt, and it was just a mark left over, after all.
“…Ah.”
“Do you understand what happened now?”
“…Hmm.”
Corbin stepped closer, worried at first, but finally seemed to grasp the situation.
He understood why Charlotte suddenly blurted out that my neck was red.
In many ways, he was getting a better grasp of the current situation.
“Corbin.”
“Sorry.”
“Let’s not do that again, okay?”
“Yeah, that sounds good… I didn’t think it would turn out like this.”
…I learned a lesson.
An important one.
No matter how many different tools you use for sex, it’s best not to use anything on places like your neck that show very clearly.
Actually, that night, having not just choker but even a real collar left marks was bound to happen.
“Should we put some ointment on it?”
“There’s no need, it’s not that serious.”
“Really…?”
“Yep, I promise.”
It really wasn’t that bad.
There was no need for ointment; I figured I could just cover it up a bit with makeup next time we went out.
…Definitely no chokers or collars from now on.
Looking from the perspective of raising a child, it felt a bit too violent and fetish-y.
*
“Mommy…”
“Charlotte, are you sleepy?”
“Yeah…”
After dinner, we were all together watching TV.
Even though it had been a while since we were together, things hadn’t changed that much.
We were just enjoying a fun show like we usually did.
As we watched, Charlotte started to snuggle in closer to me, indicating she was getting sleepy.
Am I her bed or something?
“Shall we head to bed now?”
“No way…”
“Then what do you want to do?”
She looked so sleepy, yet didn’t want to go to bed.
What to do?
“Do you want to stay on the sofa longer?”
“Yeah…”
Charlotte settled into my arms, using them like a pillow as she got cozier.
It seemed she was sleepy but also wanting to spend more time with us.
How cute.
“Then just relax and lie down.”
“Mhm…”
Before long, Charlotte’s eyes closed in my arms.
It seemed she’d been sleepy for quite some time.
Though she felt a bit heavier than before, it was still manageable for her little size.
If Corbin had been lying on me like that, I’d be struggling, but Charlotte was light enough.
At only 2 or 3 years old, a baby in an adult’s arms wouldn’t be heavy enough to be exhausting.
“Yawn…”
“Hehe…”
What a sight.
So cute.
It’s undeniable that a cute little baby is much more pleasant to look at than fully grown adults.
Especially since our Charlotte was among the cutest babies ever.
It made these thoughts come easily.
“Corbin.”
“Yes, Lindera.”
“Isn’t Charlotte just the cutest?”
“That’s true.”
“I’m kind of worried about how she’ll be when she grows up.”
“…She’s not even 5 years old yet.”
“Still, worry is worry. What if she gets too much attention from other kids?”
“Well… I guess she’ll manage just fine?”
Corbin, showing no sign of concern about our lovely daughter.
How can he not be worried about such a cute child?
I genuinely feared for Charlotte when she starts school.
She’s definitely going to catch the eye of everyone, regardless of gender… why is he not worried?
“Why aren’t you worried?”
“Uh… Is it a big deal if kids are interested in her at school?”
“?”
“Isn’t it normal for kids to do that?”
“…Oh.”
Seeing Corbin speak so casually about it, I started to connect the dots.
…Sigh.
“Never mind. I’ll just stop talking to you, since you probably won’t understand anyway.”
To Corbin, my concerns were clearly beyond his comprehension.
This is what happens when you’re born with certain privileges, I guess?
He’s already getting attention from agents now, given how handsome he is, so I can only imagine how it was in school.
Girls on the bus or in the street probably couldn’t take their eyes off him.
I’m sure girls in class were glancing at him from every angle.
It was obvious.
It wasn’t just my imagination; I could feel the agents on the ship staring at Corbin whenever I was around.
“Corbin is… um…”
“…?”
“Forget it.”
“…Suddenly?”
“People who’ve always been handsome often don’t realize it.”
“…Huh?”
Corbin responded with genuine confusion.
Wouldn’t it be uncomfortable for him if people gave him so much attention?
Especially in places like school or public spaces where everyone’s staring at you, I would feel uneasy.
“Corbin.”
“What is it?”
“How did you interact with other students when you were in school?”
“…Huh? Why do you want to know that?”
“Just curious.”
I knew Corbin hadn’t dated anyone, but still, I wanted to know.
How did he manage all that?
“Come on, just tell me.”
“Umm… After school, I just went straight home.”
“…Seriously?”
“Yeah. I just went home and played games.”
“…Did you not hang out with friends or girls at school…?”
“Too lazy.”
“…….?”
What.
Uhh…
…Seriously?
I was left dumbfounded after hearing Corbin’s answer.
It made no sense at all.
Why wouldn’t such a tall, handsome guy mingle with others just because he was lazy?
Honestly, if I looked like Corbin, tall and handsome with a nice voice, I’d definitely be hanging out with other girls often.
“…That’s truly unbelievable.”
“…Huh?”
This is why good-looking guys have it rough.
Even though it’s good that Corbin didn’t hang out with girls when he was younger, I couldn’t help but find it a bit hard to believe.