I Was Adopted by the Villain Grand Duke Who Killed My Favorite Character - Chapter 25
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(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 2/4 
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Gerard smiled awkwardly as he observed the Grand Duke gazing out the window. He had a good idea about whose presence had captured the Grand Duke’s attention.
‘He’s even hiding to watch.’
Even though that small child wouldn’t notice, he was concealing even his presence.
It was just like a parent following a child sent on an errand, full of worry.
‘Could it be?’
It was surprising enough that his proud lord was secretly watching someone else, but for that subject to be none other than the Grand Princess.
If he was concerned, he could keep her close and cherish her.
It seemed that he had been secretly protecting and caring for her for some time, but she was the only one unaware of it. No, it was closer to not consciously realizing it himself.
Ever since the Grand Princess nearly died from poisoning, he had been showing signs of anxiety, knowingly or unknowingly.
Gerard didn’t spare any advice for his lord, who was clumsy with expressions.
“If you want to gain the Grand Princess’s trust, first, you need to become a parent.”
“I’m already a parent on paper.”
“Paper isn’t enough. You don’t know how the Grand Princess actually feels, do you?”
“I’ll ask her again.”
“Since you’re going into town, why don’t you buy her a gift and ask?”
At the time of saying this, the Grand Duke’s mood didn’t seem too bad.
The problem came after returning from town.
Gerard, who had served the Grand Duke for a long time, noticed that his mood had subtly sunk. What could have happened during the outing to make him feel bad?
‘Did he fight with the Grand Princess?’
Whatever the reason, it was surely the Grand Duke’s fault. Gerard decided to muster up courage for the sake of the cute Grand Princess.
Clearing his throat with a ‘hem’, Gerard addressed the Grand Duke hiding behind the curtain.
“Did something happen in town, perhaps?”
“Nothing.”
“Was there a problem with the Grand Princess’s safety?”
At the hesitantly dropped words, the Grand Duke’s gaze, which had been fixed out the window, fell on him. He inhaled sharply at the Grand Duke’s even more displeased expression.
If there hadn’t been any danger, there would be no need to secretly watch over the Grand Princess.
“Useless talk.”
“If it’s a concern about the Grand Princess, I, who have become close to her, can listen.”
“You?”
“Yes. She even gave me cookies before.”
The Grand Duke’s face darkened further.
Cold sweat broke out as he felt he might have upset the Grand Duke with an unnecessary suggestion. As he was trying to laugh it off awkwardly, he tensed up at an unexpected question.
“What do you think parents are?”
“Aren’t they the ones who brought us into this world?”
“Is that all?”
His gaze grew notably cold, revealing dissatisfaction with the answer.
Was he not asking for the dictionary definition of parents?
Even trying his best to ponder on an answer, nothing much came to mind. Neither he nor the Grand Duke had many memories of parents.
“I suppose we could say parents are the ones a child loves most.”
“Then I can never become a parent.”
“Pardon? You mean You, Your Grace?”
“The Grand Princess will come to hate me. When she learns that I’m the one who separated her from her parent……”
“You’re talking about Stephanie.”
The Grand Duke didn’t allow Stephanie and the Grand Princess to meet even after Stephanie arrived. Gerard thought he was just waiting for the right time, but…
‘Was it intentional?’
Gerard shook his head, thinking there was no answer.
To separate her from her real parents in order to be recognized as a parent by the Grand Princess. Whatever made him think of such a method, it was the worst idea.
“The easiest way to gain the Grand Princess’s favor is to let them meet quickly.”
“I don’t need her favor.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
The Grand Duke, staring out the window, spoke in a tone that didn’t sound like a joke.
“Wouldn’t it be troublesome if she said she wanted to leave this place with her mother?”
What nonsense is this?
Gerard took a deep breath to maintain his composure in front of the Grand Duke. Competing for affection with her birth mother? Even if the Grand Duke had saved the Grand Princess…
‘That’s jealousy, isn’t it?’
Moreover, it was worse because he was unaware of it.
“I don’t think I can overcome the stubbornness of a child who doesn’t fear death.”
“Your Grace, do you think the Grand Princess……”
The Grand Duke cut off Gerard’s words with a wave of his hand and pointed to the window. Gerard, concealing his presence, looked out the window following the Grand Duke.
Stephanie, who should have been in her room, was standing in front of the Grand Princess.
“Why is she there……”
And here he thought she was being unusually obedient.
Unaware that the Grand Duke and he were watching, Stephanie approached the Grand Princess.
Gerard used magic to eavesdrop on the conversation taking place in the garden.
“It’s a different color after all. Your hair has a pink tinge to it, it’s very pretty.”
“Are you looking for someone?”
“Yes. Your hair gleamed with exactly the red shade under the sunlight I’ve been searching for.”
Why doesn’t she recognize her?
Even with the daughter she’d been searching for right in front of her, Stephanie uttered something irrelevant. While the Grand Princess might forget her birth mother’s face due to her young age…
‘Could it be that her appearance has changed too much?’
Thinking about it, it made sense.
The Princess had changed so much while staying at the mansion that she could be mistaken for a different child. Her once dull hair now shone with luster, and she had gained a lot of weight.
It wasn’t strange that she couldn’t recognize her immediately.
“Um… Your Grace?”
He called out to the Grand Duke anxiously, but the Grand Duke remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the window.
‘Why did Stephanie go out…’
He expected a harsh reprimand for disobeying the order to monitor her. But surprisingly, the Grand Duke lightly passed over Stephanie’s transgression.
“Later, take that woman back to her room.”
“Understood.”
“It’s not too late to let her know later that the person she met today was her daughter.”
“…Yes.”
Gerard stared at the Grand Duke’s back before leaving the office.
‘Paying attention is a good sign, right?’
Usually, at this time of year, the Grand Duke was too busy preparing for the anniversary to pay attention to anything else. Probably, as the date approached, his nerves would become sharper.
Eccentricities like this would likely decrease.
Unable to stop the Grand Duke, all he could do was hope that no unnecessary trouble would befall the Grand Princess.
***
Only the Grand Duke and I were in the spacious dining room.
At first, I was surprised by the size of the dining room and the enormous variety of dishes, but I gradually got used to it. However, today this place felt a bit uncomfortable.
‘I should apologize.’
I glanced at the silent Grand Duke while diligently moving my knife. Although I blurted it out in anger, calling him a fool seemed a bit harsh.
“Grand Duke, I’m sorry about earlier……”
The Grand Duke, who had been languidly resting his chin on his hand, cut off my apology and asked.
“What were you doing in the garden?”
He must have seen me wandering around the garden through the window.
‘It’s awkward to say I was preparing a gift.’
I had gathered the best of the herbs I’d collected and tied them like a bouquet. I decided to play dumb, just as I had with Sen.
“I was playing with dirt?”
“Is that so? Didn’t you meet anyone?”
“How would you know that?”
“……”
Wrinkles formed on the Grand Duke’s previously smooth brow. His hand slipped from his chin, and he looked at me with a bewildered expression.
I clicked my tongue at the Grand Duke’s unusually shaken gaze.
I wasn’t particularly trying to interrogate the Grand Duke. He could have just honestly said he saw me meeting someone.
“I met a person looking for someone.”
“How was it meeting them?”
Even when asked how it was, I didn’t have any particular thoughts.
We just exchanged a bit of conversation because she was earnestly looking for someone. But if I had to say what lingered in my mind about the meeting with the woman…
“I’m a little envious.”
“Of what?”
“The expectation of being able to meet.”
Even the fear of how the other person might have changed was enviable. The one I want to see is now in a place I can no longer reach.
The red hair I’m looking for only exists in my heart.
“I don’t expect anything anymore.”
“Have you never thought that someone who misses you might come looking for you?”
“I have. But it’s impossible.”
“If you could see them, what would you do?”
Meeting again with someone who has died.
If such a magical thing were to happen, what would I do? First, I would want to touch her cheeks with both hands to confirm her warmth.
And then, I would want to place my hand on her chest to hear her heartbeat.
To make sure all this miracle wasn’t a nightmare.
“……I’m sorry.”
At the Grand Duke’s sudden apology, I raised my head, and a droplet fell onto the plate.
Plop.
Another droplet that had rolled down my cheek left a mark on the plate. As reflected in the polished plate, I was making a very unfamiliar expression.
“I thought I wasn’t sad anymore.”
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“I know. I just realized I haven’t let go yet.”
“I’ll make sure you meet them someday.”
I slowly shook my head at his gruff words of comfort.
“You don’t have to do that.”
I appreciated the sentiment of wanting to do the impossible for my sake. But even the Grand Duke couldn’t go to the afterlife while alive.
“I’ll achieve the meeting with my own power.”
The day this endless life ends will be the day of our reunion.
‘I wonder where the original story is now.’
When I reviewed the timeline previously, due to Luke’s incident, I realized a considerable amount of time remained. The rebellion occurs 10 years from now.
The key was when the fact that I’m not the Imperial Princess would be revealed.
‘We won’t be able to meet again.’
I don’t know what I’ll be reborn as, but I won’t be by the Grand Duke’s side. While hoping the future would proceed as in the original story, I felt regretful.
“I’ll always support you, Grand Duke.”
“You said something similar before. What are you supporting me for?”
The Grand Duke couldn’t possibly guess that I, a young child, knew about the rebellion.
“You must have had a reason to save me. I’m supporting that reason.”
“It will harm the Imperial family.”
“I don’t care. The Imperial family doesn’t matter anyway.”
“Is that so, for you?”
The Grand Duke’s eyes sank as he quietly studied my face. He looked at me gloomily without touching his plate.
I pondered how to give the Grand Duke a gift while chewing the grilled fish in my mouth.
‘The day of the anniversary would be best.’
On that day, the Grand Duke would surely appear at the Duchess’s grave. I wanted to convey my own form of comfort to him.
m.
