The Adopted Princess Hopes to Escape the Genre - Chapter 31
As Theodore responded bluntly, Duke Delphinium felt his heart settle. He looked at his eldest son with a gaze full of quiet sorrow, the boy who had never once complained despite the sudden decision forced upon him. With a sigh that felt like a confession, the duke finally spoke.
“I owe you all an apology. Deciding on such an important matter as adoption on my own… it wasn’t right.”
“Well… I suppose I was angry at first. Rose’s disappearance was a significant shock to me, even as a child.”
“……”
“The thought of having a new sibling before I had even fully let her go… it felt strange.”
Duke Delphinium parted his lips as if to say something, but he could not bring himself to speak, overwhelmed by a wave of guilt.
“At one point, I wondered if the gods had sent this child as a way for me to atone for losing Rose. But it was only after someone told me that it would be unfair to both of them that I finally came to my senses.”
A faint, self-deprecating smile appeared on Theodore’s lips.
“I know you’re trying your best, Father.”
His gaze drifted toward the book sitting beside Duke Delphinium.
“You said you couldn’t leave her behind because she weighed on your mind. After meeting her myself, I think I understand. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve taken a liking to her or if there’s some inexplicable force at play… but I want to try to get along with her.”
At those words, Theodore placed both hands on the sofa, signaling that he was about to stand. It seemed he had finished what he came for.
Duke Delphinium watched him silently, then noticed that Theodore’s teacup remained untouched. The refreshments on the table also lay there, untouched by anyone’s hands.
“If you’re not too busy, why don’t you finish your tea?”
Theodore paused mid-motion, half-risen from his seat. He glanced at where Duke Delphinium sat, then slowly lowered himself back down onto the sofa.
“The tea has a pleasant aroma today.”
Duke Delphinium nudged the plate of refreshments slightly toward Theodore as he spoke.
Though he pretended otherwise, Theodore had a well-hidden fondness for sweets. His gaze lingered on the cookies, betraying his interest. He had always been drawn to snacks, but as the eldest son and heir to a duchy, he had long been burdened by the expectations placed upon him, forcing him to suppress such indulgences since childhood.
Even so, for some reason, he hesitated to reach out for them now.
Duke Delphinium, well aware of his son’s nature, spoke again with deliberate intent.
“If we leave the refreshments untouched, the maid who prepared them will be quite disappointed.”
Despite the subtle encouragement, Theodore only fidgeted with his fingers, still unwilling to take the first step.
“There’s too much here for me to finish alone. If you were to help me, it would make your father very happy.”
Duke Delphinium exaggerated his words on purpose, as if pleading.
“…I’ll help you this time, but you’ll have to manage on your own next time. I can’t always be here to assist you.”
Theodore responded with a serious expression and tone. Seeing his eldest son advising him so earnestly left Duke Delphinium both speechless and amused—it was endearing in its own way.
In the end, Duke Delphinium couldn’t hold back his laughter and let out a hearty chuckle.
“Haha. Alright. Thank you.”
Theodore looked bewildered at his father’s sudden burst of laughter but said nothing. Instead, he simply reached and picked up a cookie.
Duke Delphinium, pretending not to notice how eagerly Theodore was eating, reached out and gently ruffled his son’s hair. He couldn’t let this rare opportunity for conversation slip away.
“How was your outing with Lassetia?”
Theodore paused mid-bite and glanced at Duke Delphinium. His father patiently waited for him to swallow the remaining cookie in his mouth. Noticing the intent behind the silence, Theodore diligently chewed, swallowed, and even took a sip of tea before finally answering.
“It was enjoyable. Even though she must have seen similar sights before while living as a wanderer, she looked around as if everything was entirely new to her, unable to keep still. I suppose you could call it, innocence.”
“But for all that shopping, you two only spent 1,000 gold. Was that an amount you set for her?”
Theodore immediately refuted the assumption, almost indignant.
“Absolutely not. It seems she still lacks a proper sense of money. She appeared hesitant about spending too much.”
“Tsk. She’s been adopted into a ducal household, yet she’s hesitant about using money? There’s much to teach her. You should take care of it. She’d be more comfortable learning from someone her own age rather than an older adult.”
“Yes. I was already planning to take her out more often and show her other things as well as shopping.”
Duke Delphinium listened to those words with a relaxed smile as he lifted his teacup.
“I see. Did nothing in the jewelry shop catch her eye? The amount spent there was significantly lower compared to the dress shop.”
“There’s something I wanted to mention regarding that.”
Sensing the sharp change in Theodore’s demeanor, Duke Delphinium raised an eyebrow.
“What is it?”
“It seems there was a dispute between the jeweler and Lassetia. I’ve sent a servant to investigate, so we’ll soon have a clearer picture of what happened.”
“I’ll look into it myself as well.”
With a cold expression, Duke Delphinium rose from his seat. Watching him, Theodore hesitated for a moment, debating whether he should also leave. The duke glanced at his son, noting his hesitation, and spoke.
“Finish eating at your own pace. I have work to catch up on.”
At that, Theodore swallowed the cookie in his mouth and nodded.
“Yes. Leaving food behind is something only children do.”
The subtle insistence that he was no longer a child brought a faint smile to Duke Delphinium’s lips as he turned toward his desk.
The once-quiet parlor filled with the soft scratch of a pen, the rustling of papers, and the crisp sound of cookies crumbling.
