The Adopted Princess Hopes to Escape the Genre - Chapter 21
Theodore stepped down from the carriage first and extended his hand to me again. Despite that, all I could see was a cute 12-year-old kid. After all, mentally, I was still a 24-year-old adult.
I chuckled lightly and took his outstretched hand. Theodore tilted his head, his face puzzled by my reaction, as if trying to decipher some mystery.
Ignoring his expression, I stepped out of the carriage without a word and turned my gaze toward the bustling streets of the downtown area.
The sight before me was a lively cityscape filled with crowds of people and a variety of shops lined up in rows.
It seemed this world wasn’t strictly modeled after medieval Europe, as elements of modern architecture and fashion caught my eye here and there.
At the center of the square stood a fountain that looked like it belonged in a museum, surrounded by children running around, street vendors selling snacks, and upscale boutiques lining the streets. It was a scene straight out of a typical romance fantasy.
As I gawked at the unfamiliar scenery, my eyes darting from one spectacle to another, Theodore grabbed my hand to refocus my attention.
“Lassetia, make sure to hold my hand tightly so you don’t get lost.”
Without a word, I tightened my grip on his hand. Though my mental age was 24, my body was that of a 7-year-old. Playing along with his whims wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
In my previous life as the eldest daughter, I had a younger sister who was just a year apart from me. As a result, I lost my rightful chance to indulge in childish whims early on.
With two younger siblings under me, I was always the one to take care of others and make sacrifices, rarely on the receiving end of such attention.Perhaps that’s why Theodore’s attentive care left me feeling strangely conflicted.
“We’ll stop by the dressmaker first.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Theodore’s shoulders seemed to lift at my use of “Brother,” his mood visibly brightening as he led me by the hand toward the dressmaker’s shop.
We came to a halt in front of a shop with a sign that read “Shreia.”
Theodore instructed the attendants to remain outside, and the two of us entered the shop alone.
The moment we stepped inside, a woman greeted us warmly.
“It’s been a while, Young Master. Is this the new Young Lady you’ve brought with you?”
“Yes. I trust you’ve prepared dresses for her?”
The woman, likely the owner of the shop, smiled knowingly at Theodore’s question.
“Of course. However, I believe we’ll need to measure her sizes again. Shall we just look at designs for today?”
Theodore gave a slight nod at her suggestion and gently nudged me forward.
“Julie, bring the measuring tape and take her measurements.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The employee, called Julie, retrieved a measuring tape and began to take my measurements, turning me this way and that as she worked.
While Julie measured me, Theodore stepped away and began conversing with the Madam.
“Young Master, I had sent a catalog to the Duke’s residence. Why did you visit in person instead of sending someone?”
The Madame spoke while gently covering her mouth with a fan.
“While I appreciate your personal visit, this might not be entirely beneficial for the new Lady’s reputation.”
As she said this, she subtly glanced at me. Her words made me try to ignore the subject, but my attention kept wandering back to her statement.
“I thought you cherished the new Lady quite a lot, but perhaps I was mistaken.”
“Me?”
“Usually, the heir of a duke wouldn’t visit a dress shop in person for an adopted child.”
“I’m merely following my father’s decision.”
The expression on Theodore’s face as he spoke remained as stoic and indifferent as ever.
For some reason, my chest felt a slight pang.
How fickle the human heart is. A moment ago, I was balking at Theodore’s seemingly unconditional affection. Despite finding it strange that he cared so much for someone he’d just met a day ago, hearing someone suggest that his actions might lack sincerity left me feeling uneasy.
So this isn’t a childcare story after all….
“Maybe it’s not….”
“Pardon?”
Startled by my muttering, Julie, who had been measuring me with a tape, suddenly looked up.
“It’s nothing. I was just talking to myself.”
“My Lady, please speak casually with me. I’m just a worker here.”
“Okay, I will.”
Julie soon finished taking my measurements and guided me to a sofa before stepping away.
