In the Doghouse - Chapter 131
“I’d love to gift Eddy a pony so he can start learning to ride early. Richard, do you know anything about horses?”
“Yes, well. I know a bit.”
“Do you know of a good stable? I’d love to find him a gentle, well-bred horse… maybe even a white one, if possible.”
“I’ll look into it,” he replied shortly, pushing his food around his plate.
There was a hint of sharpness in his tone, and Courtney couldn’t help but notice it.
Courtney examined Richard’s demeanor more closely and realized he was acting unusual. His plate, like hers, was hardly touched. Had she talked on and on about something he wasn’t interested in? She fell silent, embarrassed.
The only sound in the quiet dining room was that of cutlery clinking against plates. Richard knew full well how pathetic his behavior was. Unable to bear the silence he had caused, he finally spoke.
“Courtney.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“My attitude…”
Richard faltered, not knowing how to explain. Courtney had been overjoyed to see her nephew, and here he was, acting distracted and withdrawn. And the reason was embarrassingly childish: he was jealous of a child receiving her love.
He felt foolish. Even to him, his reaction was anything but mature.
Courtney, however, was at a loss. Tilting her head, she tried to understand.
“What do you mean? Ah… actually, I’m sorry if I rambled too much about something you weren’t interested in.”
“No, it’s not that,” he replied, clearly struggling. Frustrated, he rubbed his forehead.
He wanted nothing more than for Courtney to be happy, to do whatever she desired. If helping her nephew brought her joy, then no expense, be it money or time, would feel wasted. After all, anything important to her mattered deeply to him.
And yet, he couldn’t help but feel envious of that boy receiving her boundless affection, her care.
And strangely, his jealousy wasn’t simple—it stirred up bizarre thoughts he would never dare admit to anyone. Shamefully, the idea of being as dependent on her as her nephew, or even becoming as helpless as a child himself, fascinated him. In a strained voice, he finally confessed.
“I know how much you care for your nephew, Courtney.”
“Yes… still, I did get carried away. I’m sorry.”
“No, I mean, it’s just that…”
He trailed off, feeling trapped in his own emotions.
Confused, Courtney noticed his face turning redder and redder. Before she could press him further, he seemed to surrender to the inevitable and revealed everything.
“I was… envious.”
“What?”
“I was envious of Edvard… because he receives all of your love…”
He bit his lip in embarrassment. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at her, wanting to vanish on the spot.
Courtney blinked in shock. Did he actually say what she thought he had? Her husband, a grown man, was jealous of a small child.
She wondered if he even understood the concept of familial love. For a moment, she doubted his grasp on reality.
But then she began to see the bigger picture. With the way he’d reacted to Sir Bassen before, it seemed that Richard would jump to jealousy over almost anyone. It was as if his jealousy knew no bounds. She gave him a disapproving look.
“Are you always like this? Jealous of anyone who gets my attention?”
“It… seems like it…”
Though she’d intended her comment as a rebuke, Richard didn’t even attempt to deny it. He lowered his head, looking rather defeated.
His jealousy didn’t discriminate between people, animals, or even objects—it all boiled down to his desire to occupy her mind entirely, a desire he knew was unrealistic.
His envy of Edvard had a simple root: Courtney had never shown such attachment to anyone else before. The thought had crossed his mind that he wanted to be her child, her dependent, if only to receive her devotion. Rational or not, he couldn’t shake the idea.
Courtney sighed in exasperation.
“Are you serious?”
Richard’s head drooped even lower, his face as red as his ears.
Watching him sulk like this, she couldn’t help but find the situation somewhat endearing. His pouty expression even reminded her of Edvard’s occasional tantrums. She found herself marveling at his childlike nature, almost laughing in disbelief.
“You’re truly immature. Are you a child?”
“It seems I am…”
He looked utterly defeated, not a word of defense in him. Courtney hid a smile. For some reason, she found his jealous streak rather cute. After all, who else had ever cared about her this intensely? His devotion, even if irrational, somehow pleased her. No one had ever loved her so wholeheartedly before.
“Just eat your dinner,” she said with a sigh and a bemused smile.
“Yes…”
Richard obediently focused on his plate, relieved she hadn’t completely dismissed him. He knew she thought his jealousy was ridiculous, but at least she hadn’t grown upset with him.
Focused on his plate, he didn’t see the mischievous glint in Courtney’s eyes or the sly smile on her lips as a playful thought crossed her mind.
