The Adopted Princess Hopes to Escape the Genre - Chapter 38
A child should receive love without any effort. Why should they have to struggle for something that should be a given?
This was exactly why I barely read those mass-produced childcare novels and regretful family stories. They always left me feeling uneasy. Even though I had grown up in a loving household, those kinds of stories made something deep inside me ache.
A child, desperate for love, suffering abuse and neglect until they die. Then, after being reborn, they desperately seek affection—or worse, just struggle to survive—forcing themselves to be cute, constantly gauging others’ moods.
If I had to live so miserably, clawing for affection like that, I’d rather not hope for anything at all. I wouldn’t even try.
Rashid seemed lost in thought at my words. He was about to say something, his face now clouded with uncertainty, when suddenly—
Knock-, knock-.
“Miss! It’s Ali!”
Rashid snapped his head toward me, his gaze questioning.
Did you call for her?
I quickly shook my head and hands in denial.
Receiving no response, Ali knocked again and called out.
“Miss? It’s your loyal maid! I thought you might be hungry, so I brought some refreshments!”
Her uninhibited behavior left me speechless.
‘Why is she so reckless?’
I sighed, pressing a hand to my forehead. After sneaking a glance at Rashid’s reaction, I finally answered.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and Ali entered, pushing a trolley laden with cookies and tea. Her face was as cheerful as ever.
In contrast, mine was less than pleased.
“Ali.”
“Yes, Miss!”
“I don’t remember asking for this.”
Regardless of her friendliness, her actions came off as disregarding my wishes.
Only then did Ali’s face shift into a look of realization.
“Th-that is…”
She hesitated, fumbling for words, but I raised a hand to stop her.
“I’d rather this not happen again. No matter what your intentions were, acting on your own like this can come across as ignoring my wishes.”
“Yes, Miss…”
Ali visibly deflated, but this was something that needed to be made clear from the start.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad seeing her so dejected.
And honestly, I was a bit peckish.
To lighten the mood, I shifted the conversation.
“Still, thanks for bringing the refreshments.”
Ali’s face instantly brightened. With just a few words, her energy returned, and with swift hands, she began setting the table with tea and refreshments.
She must have worked in the ducal estate for quite some time. Her movements were practiced, pouring tea with ease and placing a cup before each of us.
I took a sip and, feeling there was nothing more to discuss, told her she could leave.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers.
She clearly had something to say.
“Do you have something to tell me?”
Ali hesitated before finally opening her mouth.
“Actually, I heard there will be a banquet this evening, and I thought I should inform you….”
‘Did I misunderstand her?’
I had assumed she had just barged in with refreshments because she thought lightly of me. But maybe she had a reason.
Now that I understood her intentions, a hint of guilt flickered within me.
“Oh… So you weren’t just…”
“I ran into another maid who was supposed to tell you and took the task from her!”
Never mind.
She was just as reckless as I thought.
Any guilt I had quickly evaporated.
Ali, oblivious to the chill in my gaze, continued in an excited voice.
“Since Duke Baccharis and the young lord haven’t visited Delphinium in a long time, everyone decided to have a banquet together for dinner.”
“Father suggested this?”
I asked, as I blew on my tea to cool it down.
“Yes!”
At the mention of Duke Baccharis, Rashid flinched.
He really is sensitive about his father.
I set my teacup down and nodded at Ali.
“Got it. You can go now.”
Ali gave a quick bow before pushing her trolley out of the room.
Only then did I turn back to Rashid, who was still frozen in place.
“Shall we continue our conversation? You were saying something about why I, as an adopted daughter, don’t try harder to earn my family’s love?”
At my words, Rashid jumped.
“I never said it like that!”
His eyes were full of indignation.
I gave him an unimpressed look and muttered.
“Isn’t it the same thing?”
Rashid, as if he had read my lips, immediately exploded.
“No, it’s not!”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s just go with that.”
“It’s not about going with that—!”
I placed both hands on his shoulders.
First, calming him down seemed like a good idea.
“Listen, don’t get worked up. That’s not the important part. What matters is that you want to be recognized by the Duke, right?”
Though he still looked like he had a lot to say, Rashid eventually gave a small nod.
“Why?”
“…?”
Rashid tilted his head as if he didn’t understand the question.
“Why do you want to impress him?”
Rashid’s pupils wavered slightly as if he had never considered the question before. When he finally answered, his voice was weak.
“I… I’ve never thought about it. But if I’m useless and Father doesn’t love me, then one day, he’ll abandon me…”
“You’re saying the Duke doesn’t love you?”
“My mother died because of me…”
I quickly reached out and covered Rashid’s mouth before he could finish.
“Hey. That’s not it.”
Rashid’s eyes went wide in surprise at my sudden action.
“Did you personally kill the Duchess?”
“I-I… mmph—”
I gave him a brief chance to answer before covering his mouth again.
“From now on, if the answer is yes, nod. If it’s no, shake your head. Got it? Nod if you understand.”
Rashid nodded.
“Good. Did you kill the Duchess?”
