The Adopted Princess Hopes to Escape the Genre - Chapter 36
Neither of us spoke as we walked through the hallway, nor even when we reached the front of his room.
Standing by the door, I let go of Kaiden’s hand and spoke.
“Go inside and rest now, okay? I’m busy, so I’ll be going first.”
It didn’t feel right to ask him to play together after what had just happened, so I decided to leave instead.
Kaiden hesitated, his lips moving slightly, and just as I took a step away, he murmured in a low voice.
“…Where are you going?”
I rolled my eyes around, searching for an excuse.
“Uh… I have plans with Rashid.”
Of course, that was a lie.
“Rashid?”
“Yeah. Baccharis’s young lord.”
Kaiden’s brows furrowed. His voice trembled slightly, as if he were suppressing anger.
“Why him?”
I found his reaction strange.
‘Are they on bad terms?’
Since I didn’t answer right away, Kaiden called my name.
“Lassetia.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t get too close to him.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, so I just nodded silently. Finally, Kaiden’s knitted brows relaxed.
With a small gesture telling me to go, he stepped into his room. I glanced at his firmly closed door before heading off.
As I made my way to Rashid’s room, I sank into thought.
‘Would a nine-year-old really react that way just from seeing someone hanging from a railing?’
Kaiden had definitely been acting strange earlier. It was clear he was afraid of something, but he seemed confused, as if he didn’t even understand why.
The moment he saw me hanging onto the railing, his pupils had begun to shake, and he had completely panicked.
Even when I kept calling his name, it seemed like he couldn’t hear anything. He had just stayed frozen, trembling all over.
I could faintly recall him muttering something about it being his fault.
‘Even when I reached out my hand, he kept staring at the floor.’
I shook my head, trying to clear away the thoughts that kept spiraling.
Since thinking about it alone wouldn’t solve anything right away, I decided to set it aside for later and forced down my worries.
‘But where is Rashid’s room?’
I glanced around, searching for his room, then stopped a passing maid to ask.
“Where’s Young Lord Baccharis’s room?”
The maid looked down at the small hand gripping her skirt before answering.
“Go straight down this hallway, and it’s to the left of the vase you’ll see.”
“Thanks.”
Having gotten my answer, I was about to continue on my way when Kaiden’s trembling face flashed through my mind again. I tried not to think about it, but it wasn’t easy.
In the end, I stopped walking, turned around, and approached the maid again.
“Bring Kaiden some warm tea or heated milk. Just tell him I sent it—he’ll understand.”
The maid seemed puzzled by my sudden request but quickly responded with a nod.
Even after our conversation was over, she didn’t leave. Instead, she hesitated in place before asking me a question.
“My lady, shall I escort you to Young Lord Baccharis’s room?”
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
‘What’s with that look? Why does she seem so eager?’
I didn’t answer right away and took a slight step back, but the maid clasped her hands to her chest, looking at me with a pleading expression.
“Please, allow me to escort you!”
Because she was so desperate, I had no choice but to nod.
The maid, having secured my permission, immediately took the lead, occasionally checking to see if I was following properly.
Sure, my body was seven years old, but she was treating me like a baby. It was honestly embarrassing. Of course, no one knew my soul was actually twenty-four.
The walk wasn’t long, but during that time, the maid chattered nonstop.
“I’m so happy that you’ve come to the duchy, my lady!”
“…Why?”
“The young masters barely speak, and let’s not even mention the duke. After the mistress passed away, the atmosphere was already cold, but after Lady Rose disappeared, it got even—oh!”
She trailed off awkwardly, glancing at me for a reaction.
“Anyway, having such an adorable young lady here makes the duchy feel so much brighter and livelier!”
She went on and on, showering me with flattery, claiming that I had purified the atmosphere and made the duchy more cheerful.
‘If she took an MBTI test, she’d probably get EEEE. All capital letters.’
Completely drained by her overwhelming extroverted energy, I barely managed to reach Rashid’s door in a half-zombified state. I pushed her away, telling her to go do her actual job now.
“My lady! My name is Ali! Please call for me again! If you summon me, I’ll come running anytime!”
Only after forcefully introducing herself and sending me one last, lovesick gaze did Ali finally leave.
“Wow… she really drained me….”
