Ive got to get going. Lets have dinner together when we have ti. Then, Anastasia, I pray for your recovery.
The duke rose to his feet. I cant believe hes leaving just like that.
I decided to be a little rebellious.
Is it because youre worried about ? Or it because of Adele?
When I asked why he wanted my recovery, the Duke gave a big smile.
Im worried about you, of course. Walls daughter is my child. Do you know how hurt I was the last ti you declared you werent going to visit the Duke in the future? Wall even hit with the shoes he was wearing.
He expressed those words with affection. I apologized mildly.
Im sorry.
Thats how the rebellious child inside died.
Im glad you made up with Adele now. Actually, I was pretty worried. Adele rarely gets along with people. They only get close to him because hes kind and friendly. He never told what he was thinking.
With a light lant, the Duke cleared his clothes. Only then did I seem to understand the duke a little.
Adele was kind, gentle, and polite because the Duke couple taught it to him steadily, and not because hes like that from the beginning.
Adele was just an obedient child.
So no one knew what he really was thinking.
Does he really like helping people with a noble heart or not?
I suddenly got curious.
Have Adele ever been angry with the Duke?
Never. Not even once.
The Duke shrugged his shoulders.
Thats why Im afraid of whats inside him.
I blinked my eyes. The duke smiled briefly.
Was I too serious?
No.
The Duke was about to go out, so I stood up. He gave a gentle pat on the head.
Thanks for listening. Are you lonely because your family is gone? Ill visit the Count more often from now on, as you seem to be relieved.
Huh?
You dont have to do that
Well, as a godfather, its a matter of course. Also, I just happen to have a good thing. Ill give this to you as a reunion gift. Its a tea set that even the imperial family wanted. It was sothing Penelope wanted so much during her lifeti, but ironically, she didnt own it until she died. I dont need it anymore. Its too precious for the royal family, but a gift for my daughter is enough. Ill see if theres anything else I can give you. You dont have to worry about anything. I have a great eye.
As far as I knew the identity of the teacup, I could never laugh it off. It was a treasure of a country that was now destroyed.
Even to the duke, who was rumored to have owned more money than the imperial treasury, it was barely worth years of hard work.
C-calm down.
The Duke didnt even listen to what I said.
Sit down. Ill call Adele.
The Duke went out as I staggered down on the sofa.
Good grief! This father and son, youre making peoples heads hurt too much!
I munched on chocolate to relieve my stress.
Adele returned about 10 minutes later, whether he had been quite far away or talked separately with the duke.
Youve been talking for quite a long ti. Did you feel uncomfortable?
My mouth has beco loose.
Welco back. The Duke is always cheerful.
It was a double entendre, but Adele didnt mind.
Thats how you can wrap up your personality. Others say its luck.
Pfft.
I almost burst out laughing but Adele didnt seem to notice.
When they were fighting for ownership over a newly discovered diamond mine, I heard the Marquis spat that to my father as he passed by him.
You an Marquis Claude?
I covered my lips with the back of my hand. Of course, its the villains father. Marquis Claude was famous for his dirty temper. Moreover, he was obsessed with the Duke.
The duke wasnt easy either.
Yes. Ash Cloud, whom we t at the Sky Lantern Festival a few days ago, is a direct descendant of him. I think Chichi* will be held after 15 days. Only the nobles who have not held the ceremony will be able to attend, so the Marquis heir will co
(T/n: I think its a term invented by the author.)
Co to think of it, there was such an event. Chichi was a party made for the underage children of aristocratic families, and the origin of it was a bit harsh and morable.
Anyway, its like a ball, so we can enjoy it.
We dont need to worry about ordinary people that day because it was held in places they couldnt even co near.
I could just ignore Ash, and Olga, who is unknowingly timid, was not the type to enjoy such a party.
I asked Adele because I was definitely going to participate.
What about Adele? If youre going, why dont you partner up with ?
Are you okay with ?
I beca a little playful again and asked.
If you want to go with soone else, Ill yield.
Sure enough, Adele turned to with a serious expression.
I absolutely want to go with Anastasia.
Youre so passionate.
I was inwardly proud. I was worried that Adele would be passive, but he seems to have been inclined.
He reassured with a firm voice.
I will never let the sa thing happen this ti. And even if such an accident happens
Suddenly, his red eyes glead faintly.
No, did I see it wrong?
Im not going to stay put.
Y-yeah.
Adele finished his speech softly and I nodded vacantly.
Issothing different than usual? Or did I wear colored glasses* because I was paying attention to the Dukes words?
(t/n: an idiom aning looking at things with a biased point of view, or sothing like that.)
I almost let out an agonizing sound. Duke Friedrich must have assessed that Adele had no humanity and learned goodwill based on so experience and reason, but I found it hard to agree with that.
Adeles golden wave of voice contained pain, guilt, and fondness for . He looked at politely and gracefully.
When you threw up blood in front of and comforted even if youre shaking like you were about to die, I realized how precious you are to . How worthless are other people, by comparison.
(t/n: YOU FLIPPED THE SWITCH ANASTASIA, YOU FLIPPED THE SWITCH!)
My heart was pounding even though I knew clearly that he didnt really an it that way.
Im sorry. You must have been very upset.
Its not your fault. Its my fault. I have to fix it.
I raised my brows curiously.
Fix it? How?
There was a small smile that seed to appear on Adeles face. I asked more lightly on purpose to find out what he was thinking.
Are you trying to be a bad person who doesnt help anyone?
If I beco a bad person, Anastasia will hate , right?
I denied his childish question.
That cant be true.
Really? Can you promise ?
For so reason, Adele was a bit persistent this ti. I promised to ease his anxiety.
I promise, I wont hate you even if you turn into a bad person.
Then Adele felt relieved.
Thats a relief.
Unlike the blurred smile that always adorned his beautiful face, a clear smile blood this ti. Adele said with a playful expression.
Now I can throw away trash on the street with ease.
I thought he felt a little better, so I responded.
Are you going to throw candy wrappers now?
Ah. So cute. Oh, my god. I want to pinch you!
Im going to try sothing a little bigger than that.
Adele replied shyly.
I suddenly felt an ominous premonition.
Wait, youre not planning to throw away my drawing, are you?
It seed like only an hour or two passed, but the sun was setting before I knew it. I went to the dining room pretending to be overwheld by the dukes offer to eat dinner here.
The dining room ofDuke Magnus that boasted such splendor seed to resemble a chapel.
Golden candlesticks, statues of saints, and murals of gods enjoying the sacrant decorated the room.
I felt like I was going to have an upset stomach because of the stiff atmosphere. It was very different from the Counts residences dining room that exuded a cozy feeling. So Adele eats in a place like this.
The Duke ca first and was waiting for us. He made and Adele sit across from him and then said with a look of satisfaction.
I dont know how long its been since Ive eaten with you.
I examined the table with disgruntled eyes. There was a feast of green, purple, and red. In short, it ans all vegetables.
Fresh, crunchy, and tasteless vegetables were all dispatched by type. The only greasy food was the steak.
We prepared healthy food for Anastasia today
I spiced the steak at once. As soon as I tried to eat satisfactorily after spraying hot sauce and pepper with enthusiasm, my eyes t the Dukes.
Hmm?
Yes?
We looked at each other and tilted our heads. The Duke stared at my steak.
Anastasia, I think you sprayed too much spice.
I like to eat it like this.
Im crazy about sweet, salty, spicy, and stimulating food. The Duke frowned as I spoke calmly.
Im afraid your taste in food is starting to resemble Walls.
I giggled.
Daddy sends letters to the Duke, doesnt he?
Well, I do call them often. When I find and deliver information about the cure, Wall personally goes to the local area to get it. I heard they got so good dicine, but the preparation seems to be tough and ti-consuming.
Adele was still listening to our conversation. I was quite surprised because I didnt know the duke cared so much about .
I was bothering the Duke, too.
The duke spoke softly.
Dont be so upset. I was just worried about my daughter. Well, co to think of it, I used to call you Daughter in front of Wall and I almost got stuck in the clock tower upside down. Anyway, hes like a strong, stubborn child. Please keep it a secret to Wall.
I will,
I couldnt help laughing at my fathers temper.
Anastasias father, Count William Sinclair, was famous for being very beautiful. He wasnt handso but pretty. He was extrely pretty.
When a poet saw my father, he said, You are like a branch blooming in the moonlight. And the poet got hit.
My father had pure white skin, soft features, and dazzlingly transparent silver hair. He was only over 170cm tall, so he was often mistaken for a woman.
The Duke teased my father with it every ti, and so did other nobles.
In particular, thanks to the Dukes ad hominem attacks, my father beca cranky enough to kick the emperors tongue at every eting.
It was definitely extraordinary to see that none of the eting attendees can counterattack my father every single ti.
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