The Adopted Princess Hopes to Escape the Genre - Chapter 30
It was a languid afternoon.
The quiet of the study was broken only by the scratching of a pen, the rustling of paper, and the sound of steady breathing.
Soon, a knock echoed, shattering the stillness.
Knock-, knock-.
The pen came to a halt, and the Duke Delphinium’s gaze shifted from the document he had been focused on to the door.
“It’s Theodore. May I come in?”
The Duke set aside the document he was working on and gave permission to enter.
The large door to the study swung open, revealing Theodore. Though his expression was its usual stoic self, there was a trace of unease and urgency beneath his familiar face.
The Duke furrowed his brow slightly at Theodore’s appearance, moved to the sofa, and casually remarked.
“You seem to be in a hurry.”
“Do I?”
Caught off guard by the Duke’s comment, Theodore immediately composed his expression.
The Duke, observing his son, called for the maid standing outside the door.
He instructed her to prepare tea before turning his attention back to Theodore.
“What brings you here in such haste?”
“Must I have a reason to visit my father’s study?”
“That’s not necessarily the case, but today, you seem to have one.”
The Duke of Delphinium observed his eldest son standing before him. At just 12 years old, Theodore already exhibited traits beyond his years.
While the Duke admired his son’s precocious maturity, it also brought a pang of guilt, it felt as though it was his fault. Yet, he couldn’t deny that Theodore’s efforts to act like an adult in his presence, despite his young age, were endearing. It brought a small smile to the Duke’s face.
If Theodore were to realize his father found this side of him cute, he would surely be upset. Hastily, the Duke stifled his emerging laughter and raised hand to hide his curling lips.
Unaware of his father’s thoughts, Theodore hesitated, fidgeting with the hand resting on the sofa. He mulled over his words, choosing carefully what he wanted to say.
As his hesitation grew, the silence stretched. Theodore kept his eyes lowered, focused on the table, while his thoughts swirled. Just as he parted his lips to speak, the sound of a knock interrupted the moment.
Knock-, knock-.
“Who is it?”
“I’ve brought the tea, Your Grace.”
“Come in.”
A maid entered, skillfully placing cups and pouring freshly brewed tea onto the table. Steam swirled up from the cups, the fragrance filling the room.
After sliding the teacups to the Duke and Theodore, the maid left swiftly at the Duke’s silent signal.
The Duke picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and spoke.
“Let’s discuss this over tea.”
“Yes.”
As Theodore reached for his cup, the Duke stopped him with a gentle caution.
“It’s hot, so be careful.”
“Yes.”
“So, what is it you wanted to discuss?”
At the Duke of Delphinium’s inquiry, Theodore hesitated, his lips parting slightly as he deliberated. After rolling his eyes in thought for a moment, he finally spoke.
“I heard you’ve arranged an etiquette tutor for her.”
“Yes, I have.”
“But why…!”
Theodore’s voice rose abruptly.
“What seems to be the issue, Theodore?”
The Duke’s steady gaze fixed on his son, his expression darkening slightly. If Theodore’s discontent stemmed from harboring ill feelings toward Lassetia, the Duke was prepared to reprimand him without hesitation.
Realizing the shift in his father’s demeanor, Theodore faltered. He clenched his eyes shut briefly before reopening them, resolved.
“Regardless of her origins, she is now the Delphinium household’s young lady. Moreover, you were the one who brought her here.”
The Duke found himself momentarily at a loss for how to respond to his son’s sudden statement.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I heard that Countess Heinés is in charge of Lassetia’s etiquette training. Is that correct?”
“It is.”
The Duke sipped his tea calmly, watching Theodore closely. The younger boy’s mounting frustration was evident, especially in contrast to the Duke’s composed acknowledgment.
“There must have been other options besides Countess Heinés.”
Theodore said, his irritation becoming more pronounced.
“If word of this gets out, it might harm her—”
The Duke interrupted, cutting Theodore off mid-sentence.
“So, what you’re trying to say is that I brought her here on a whim and have since ignored her. Is that it?”
“Ugh.”
The Duke’s words hit their mark, causing Theodore to avert his gaze.
Seeing his son’s reaction, the Duke felt a mix of exasperation and relief. At least it seemed Theodore was getting along with Lassetia better than he had initially feared.
“If that’s the case, then why did you personally take Lassetia to the dress shop? You could have just had her choose from the catalogs at the mansion.”
“…….”
At the Duke’s pointed question, Theodore remained silent, his eyes fixed on the teacup in front of him. Watching his son closely, the Duke spoke again in a low, gentle voice.
“My reasons were the same as yours.”
Theodore’s eyes snapped up to meet his father’s. His expression betrayed his surprise at the unexpected admission.
“You mean… for her sake?”
“Yes. Lassetia is only seven years old. She has only been here for three days. Do you really think a child like that could adapt to life at the imperial palace right away? She needs someone to guide her properly before she goes.”
“But if others find out, they’ll definitely talk behind our backs.”
“Perhaps if she were an adult, rumors would spread. But she’s just a child of seven. Besides, the plan has always been to send her to the palace after she’s learned the basics of etiquette.”
The Duke’s calm explanation seemed to finally convince Theodore, who nodded his head in understanding.
“You’re well aware of Countess Heinés’s character. She’s fond of children, which is why I specifically assigned her to this role.”
“…I believe I heard that the Countess recently lost a child. That’s truly unfortunate, but considering her warm and caring nature, it seems she’ll be able to make Lassetia feel comfortable.”
With his misunderstanding of the Duke cleared up, Theodore’s face brightened noticeably.
“That child is quite wary. I only hope that, slowly, she’ll start to find her place in the ducal household.”
As he listened to the Duke, Theodore thought of his new younger sister. Her actions were bold and unreserved, yet an inexplicable wall always seemed to surround her.
“Time will take care of it, won’t it? That child needs time to adapt and to accept us.”
