Under her curious gaze, Ethan took the quill, and within moments, he had gone through all the reports, writing the results neatly in the margins.
Sophia's jaw dropped. "Oh my God… how wonderful! You really have a knack for management!"
Before he could say anything, she leaned forward and captured his lips in a deep, grateful kiss. When she finally pulled back, her eyes sparkled.
"If you'd told me this earlier, I would have left everything to you from the start."
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a bit much."
"Who says it's too much?" she countered, smiling brightly.
"I really don't like managing territory," she said honestly. "Better for you to be the Baron and take over administration."
"Stop joking.."
Sophia laughed softly, resting her forehead against his. "If you keep showing me talents like this… I might just do it."
...…
Ethan thought she was joking, but his smile faded when he noticed the surprised expressions of four people standing nearby.
"My Lady… what did you say? I might have misheard it," Randall said, rubbing his ears as if to make sure he heard correctly. The others were staring at Sophia with the same wide-eyed look.
"Yes, me too…" Nina spoke, her tone showing she was just as shocked.
Sophia took a deep breath, her eyes calm but determined. "From today, I want Ethan to take over all the administrative work."
The room fell silent for a moment before the protests began.
"No, My Lady, it is too soon. Please don't be hasty," Oliver said quickly, shaking his head.
"Yes, we cannot do that," Nina agreed, her voice firm.
Ethan laughed awkwardly, trying to ease the tension. "Yes, Sophia… you shouldn't make things difficult for others."
Sophia simply looked at them all and smiled faintly. Then she placed her hand gently over her stomach. "I am not making an impulsive decision. I am doing this because I am pregnant. Soon, I will have no energy to deal with such things."
"What?"
Their voices rose together in shock. Ethan jumped to his feet, moved closer to her, and knelt down. His hands rested gently on her belly as his eyes searched her face. "You… why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I wanted to give you a surprise," Sophia said softly, her cheeks turning pink.
Oliver's expression softened. "This is good news…"
"It is a joyful occasion," Nina added warmly.
Sophia's smile widened as she looked at Oliver. "Then?" she asked, as if waiting for their final decision.
Oliver sighed. "My Lady, I am not opposing because I do not trust Sir Ethan. My worry is that his studies are still incomplete. Managing the estate is not simple. It took you ten years to master everything. For him…" His voice trailed off with meaning.
Ethan understood. If not for the knowledge he carried from his past life on Earth, any ordinary person would find the task overwhelming.
Sophia's tone turned steady. "Do not worry about that. Do not underestimate him. He knows far more than you think."
Oliver looked at Ethan, clearly surprised.
"I am not versed in what you imagine," Ethan admitted, "but I am good at mathematics and a few other things."
"Huh… where did you learn that?" Oliver asked, curiosity in his voice.
Ethan was ready for this. He had prepared an explanation long ago. "I grew up in an orphanage on the edge of the Ruthiana Kingdom. It was funded by the Atlas Empire, and they taught basic knowledge to all the children there."
It was true enough, except for the fact that Ethan had never actually been there.
Oliver nodded without suspicion. He had checked Ethan's background before. The previous Baron had even wondered if Ethan's refined appearance and manners hinted at some hidden danger. But in the end, he had decided Ethan was simply a man born with certain unusual traits that had caused him to be abandoned.
There were even chances of him being an illegitimate child alas they haven't met anyone with such foreign features.
"Then… as you wish," Oliver said at last. Nina also gave a small nod of agreement.
Randall grinned. "I have no problem with it as long as you keep getting stronger. We cannot have a weak Lord."
"For that, we need to check his aptitude and prepare resources," Oliver reminded.
"No need for now," Ethan replied. "I feel I am close to awakening and breaking through."
"For real?" Randall's eyes widened before he pulled Ethan into a hug. "Damn, we are getting one good news after another."
"Randall, mind your manners," Oliver scolded sharply.
Randall stepped back with a sheepish grin. "I sometimes forget you're a Baron now. Hahaha."
The matter was settled, though Ethan was not given full control of administration right away. He first had to pass certain tests and receive proper guidance.
From that day, his life became a constant cycle of training, studying, learning about the territory, and caring for his wife. It was intense, but he endured without complaint.
Months passed quickly.
Then, the day came when Sophia went into labor. Ethan paced the hallway outside, his steps restless and uneven. His hands curled into fists, then loosened again. His chest felt tight, his heart pounding with every muffled sound from the room.
"Don't worry," Oliver said calmly, standing beside him. "The midwives are from the Church of the Goddess of Nature. Your wife is in good hands."
Randall stood on his other side, giving him silent support.
Nina had gone in with Sophia to help.
Ethan's mind was a storm. He wanted to rush in, but he forced himself to stay where he was. Every moment felt longer than the last.
Then, before he could gather his thoughts, a clear chime rang in his mind.
[Detected the birth of the host's first child.]
[Testing a child's aptitude and preparing rewards.]
His heart skipped a beat.
"Finally,it's here."