Everything was as Sercia said.
Although Theodore and Selphius looked through all sorts of newspaper companies, they couldnt find a single person who knew anything about a reporter nad Ash.
And the extras completely disappeared from the Capital the following day, as if it had never existed or been gossiped about.
Nobody ntioned the extras nor did they make sarcastic remarks to .
I could feel firsthand the power of the Lapileon family.
Ive talked with every newspaper company to not write any more articles or extras about you, so sothing like this wont be happening again.
You talked with them? Are you sure you talked?
Im ashad that you were hurt like this because of the Lapileon family.
Its fine. And I dont think I was hurt. If anything, I like it.
You like it?
Through this incident, everyone will clearly know that Im a person of the Lapileon family.
As I timidly laughed, Theodore gazed at . Then, instead of talking, he offered the pudding that had been set in front of him.
Eat it.
All of a sudden?
Theodore, youre not going to eat?
I dont like it.
Even though you devoured two of them yesterday?
My taste buds changed today. Eat.
So suddenly? W-Well, if you say so
T-Thanks. Ill eat it well.
Nodding briefly, Theodore chewed on the crumbly baguette and stared at Selphi.
Selphi.
Selphius, who flinched in surprise, gripped the pudding in front of him, alert.
This is my pudding.
Not the pudding Are you going to continue to stay in the Capital like this?
At Theodores question, Selphius dawned a shocked expression as if hed been struck by lightning and put down his dessert spoon.
Are you going to chase away again?
Crumpling his face, Selphius looked down at the pudding in his hands. He passed it to Theodore and asked, If I give you this, will you not chase away?
No.
Pushing Selphius pudding away with his hand, Theodore raised an eyebrow crookedly.
Its not about the pudding If youre going to stay in the Capital, well have to register you for the Academy.
The Academy?
As if he couldnt believe what he was listening to, Selphius pinched his own cheek.
Ouch This isnt a dream?
You kept talking about how you wanted to go to the Academy, so thats what I thought, but I guess not. Then Ill get you a tutor
No, no! No!
Shouting loudly, Selphius stood up from his seat. The childs face was full of excitent and thrill. As if he couldnt believe it on Theodores words alone, Selphius stared at .
A-Am I really going to attend the Academy? Really?
Seeing him like that, I couldnt help but burst into laughter.
Yeah. You really are.
Wow!
At tis like this, he really seems like a kid.
But Why so suddenly? Your Excellency the Grand Duke always opposed attending the Academy.
To be honest, I still think like that. Selphi, if you make a single mistake by being careless, our whole family could et disaster.
With a displeased expression, Theodore laid out his grievances.
Before, you almost killed the Grand Duchess.
T-That was a mistake.
And once, you couldnt control your emotions while arguing and bled at the entrance of the residence. This happened twice.
Th-That!
Selphius was at a loss for words. He, who had been happy, suddenly lost his spirit and his shoulders drooped downwards.
Since were sending him to the Academy, lets send him on a good note Selphi, the reason were letting you stay in the Capital isnt to create a new prison for you to stay in.
Locking Selphius up in the Capital residence was no different from the countryside.
.But.
Selphius slumped back into his chair.
Whatll happen if I hurt soone like His Excellency the Grand Duke said?
Yeah? Then Selphi, are you going to live the rest of your life without other people? Do you want to go off to so distant island where no ones around?
Selphius shook his head as he stabbed the salad in front of him with a fork.
Selphi, you didnt hang around others in the countryside until now. Thats why you need to learn how to live among everybody else from now on.
Are you going to live alone for your entire life because youre cursed?
Theodore, who had gotten angry while dissenting about sending Selphi to the academy, had eventually given way because of this question.
Since, regardless, we need to live together.
Furthermore, youre the heir who will continue this household. Thats why you, more than anyone else, need to learn how to endure and be careful.
I lightly tapped Selphius shoulder, who looked listless.
And in the rare case that an issue occurs and you bleed, its fine as long as they dont consu it. Normal people dont see blood and want to consu it.
Really?
Instead, promise to always carry a handkerchief and styptic dicine with you. Also promise that in the case you ever bleed from an injury, to imdiately apply the styptic dicine and wrap it with the handkerchief before coming back.
*TL/N: Styptic dicine is dicine that stops bleeding.
With a much brighter face, Selphius nodded his head passionately. Theodore, who was listening to the conversation with his arms crossed, massaged his forehead.
You heard her, Selphi? Be thankful to the Grand Duchess. Shes the one who actively pushed for you to attend the academy.
Theodores gaze, which was aid towards , was hot rather than stinging.
Ill really be careful. Ill be good! I wont run, and instead, walk very lightly!
Ignoring Theodores hot gaze, I looked towards Selphius plate, which was still far from empty.
Hurry and eat your breakfast for now.
And dont avoid the vegetables.
I put the vegetables that Selphius had pushed to the edges of his plate onto a fork. With pained sounds, Selphius began a staring contest with the vegetables.
Did you decide which academy Selphi will be attending?
Noble families usually attend Delfanil Academy, so itd probably be best to send him there.
So did you attend that academy as well?
At my words, Theodore stopped what he was saying and closed his mouth. His face was filled with affliction.
I didnt attend an academy.
Huh? Then
Suddenly, I thought of the past abuse Sercia had told about. She said shed lived in a storage room with no light.
Oh yeah, Sercia said she was abused by her mother when she was young. Then did Theo too?
Seeing his face crumpling from recalling an unpleasant childhood mory, I quickly changed the subject.
Oh yeah, Im eting the lawyer you introduced to today.
The conflicted expression on Theodores face disappeared. After a mont of silence, he stared at before briefly repeating.
Thats good.
So Im planning on going to the lawyers office today.
Going? Why?
Selphius furrowed his eyebrows, as if he couldnt understand at all.
If you need sothing from them, just tell them to co. Why would Your Highness the Grand Duchess go personally?
I wouldve never guessed that reply. You high-ranked, powerful heir.
It was obvious he couldnt understand. After all, others ca to him his entire life, so he never had to move sowhere himself for work.
I wanted to go out with you to the office, Selphi
At my words, Selphius eyes widened.
With ?
Yup. I wanted to drop you off at the academy youll be attending so you could explore it beforehand. And I was planning on visiting once I finished my conversation with the lawyer.
It almost seed like there was a tail wagging behind Selphius back.
Now that I think about it, sotis its a good idea to visit people too. Check that the carriages wheels are in good condition while were at it.
Really?
Yeah. And since its dangerous to go out alone, Ill go with you.
Him being so easy to read was cute to death.
Then hurry and eat without leaving any leftovers.
Once I pointed at the plentiful vegetables left on his plate with my eyes, Selphius lips resolutely protruded before lifting his fork.
If its too much, you dont need to take care of Selphi. I can take him to the academy
Youre busy preparing for the festival. Its a festival happening in the Capital hosted by the Imperial family, so there must be a lot you need to prepare for.
Theodore didnt reply. That silence was an answer in itself.
Its fine, I feel reassured if I go out with Selphi.
Although we were a contract couple to an extent, I could do this much.
After I smiled widely, Theodore tightened his lips into a straight line, before handing a baguette to .
Why a baguette.?
Eat it.
But isnt this your breakfast?
I dont eat baguettes.
Werent you happily eating a baguette earlier?
Pushing his own baguette and pudding to , Theodore silently only ate salad.
* * *
Your Highness the Grand Duchess, this is so difficult. Im not sure what it ans.
As soon as we left the lawyer office, Rebecca grabbed her head, shaking it.
To be honest, sa.
I get that Im competent, but law terminology is just too difficult.
The part that I did understand was simple. There are three circumstances in which my step-mother and Reina can sue for being ineligible for the inheritance.
The first was falsifying the will, the second was if Id used the will as a ans to blackmail soone, and the third was if Id murdered my father.
Although all three circumstances were not true, I had no way of telling what the others would sue for, so it was better to be safe than sorry by preparing beforehand.
Rebecca, please check on my family often. If sothings strange, tell .
Yes, dont worry. Ill make sure to do that!
Looking at Rebecca burning with passion, I awkwardly laughed.
Rebecca had said that after one amasses a big fortune, even if you were on good terms with your family, your relationship with them could go astray. To Rebecca, whose familys wealth had declined rapidly, it seed like she had experienced that before.
Now were going to et Young Master Selphius, right?
Yup.
Then, should we go see His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue before we go to Young Master Selphius?
Statue?
There was a statue of Theodore here?
Seeing my widened eyes, Rebecca looked at with an incredulous expression.
You didnt know? Since this festival is celebrating His Excellency the Grand Duke and His Majesty the Emperor, two statues were built in the plaza!
I-I see.
Did His Excellency the Grand Duke not ntion it?
Theres no way we would talk to each other about sothing like that.
M-Maybe I did hear about it
His Excellency the Grand Duke will be sad! Youre still newlyweds!
Slyly laughing at , Rebecca pulled my arm.
This way, Your Highness!
I have to act like I am Grand Duchess Lapileon to others, so I should go see it, shouldnt I?
Following Rebecca, I walked towards the plaza. Luckily, it wasnt far off from the lawyers office.
When I got there, there were floods of people in the plaza, and everyone was concentrated in one place.
Everyone must have co to see His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue since hes such a cool person!
To say thats the reason, isnt everyones reaction strange? And there are far too many people
I cant even see the erected statue.
Sensing the strange atmosphere, I made my way through the people. My footsteps stopped at the middle of the plaza, where the statue should have been standing.
What is this
My face hardened to stone. Rebecca, who was following behind with a smile, quickly changed to an expression of shock, before shouting.
W-Who dares to do this to His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue?!
Shattered pieces of Theodores statue littered the ground. It was wrecked to a point that you wouldnt be able to make out who it was. It was obvious soone had destroyed it on purpose.
Is this the work of the person who wrote the extra about ?
Staring at the fragnts underneath my feet, I told Rebecca,
Rebecca, call a worker right now and tell them to get rid of this ss.
Ah I got it!
And call the guard as well.
Yes, yes!
Rebecca was quick-witted. Without hesitating at my firm commands, she started running.
Those who had gathered to see the broken statue glanced at and slowly started to leave.
Just you wait. If I catch you
Shortly after, the guard that Rebecca had called ca running.
G-Greetings to Your Highness the Grand Duchess!
Since His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue is broken, make sure nobody can co near here.
Seeing Theodores broken statue on the ground, the guard was so surprised he choked.
I-It definitely wasnt like this when I was patrolling in the morning!
Then soone mustve broken it later in the day.
In such a large plaza, a place where masses of people pass through, they were able to break the statue without anyone knowing?
Feeling a strange sense of disharmony, I tilted my head.
Regardless of what the situation was, I had to dig further in what happened during that ti fra.
You must find and arrest the criminal who broke the statue of His Excellency the Grand Duke.
Yes!
With a loud reply, the guard quickly set up a barricade so that no one would be able to enter the plaza.
After watching him do that, I returned to the carriage and headed off to the academy, where Selphius was waiting for .
* * *
Children often lose their sense of ti and forget appointnts when having fun.
What am I doing here?
If you wait a little bit longer, theyll run out excitedly.
I heard they can start living in dorms starting from grade seven, right? Once they do, things might beco more lax.
My daughter hates dorms, so I dont think Im going to send her to one.
I definitely only ca to pick Selphius up.
I never thought that I would et Grand Duchess Lapileon here. I heard rumors that the Young Lord had co to the capital Will he be attending Delfanil Academy?
Oh my, then he and my child can beco friends.
I heard you received an incredible inheritance, as expected!
Why isnt Selphius coming to the place we promised to et at
Everyone, calm down. Look at her, poor Grand Duchess Lapileon is trembling because shes overwheld.
Oh, youre right As expected, Her Highness Princess Dahlia is so thoughtful.
and why is Princess Dahlia here instead?!
Surrounded by several noble wives, I saw Dahlia who was smiling more delicately than usual.
As soon as we made eye contact, Dahlia covered her mouth with a fan before kindly smiling.
It seems youre wondering why Im here.
N-No, not particularly
The young princess goes to this academy, and I promised to co pick her up today.
Young princess She must be talking about the Seventh Princess, who Theodore married in my previous life.
Ugh, I just had to get stuck between these wives waiting to pick up their young children!
There was sothing Ive been wanting to give to you, Grand Duchess Lapileon, so things worked out.
But I want to reject it though?
Although Dahlias voice was kind, her eyes were full of poison.
As if she had been waiting for this day, she gave sothing for everyone to see.
This is?
An invitation.
Pardon?
Seeing that I wasnt accepting it, Dahlia pushed it into my hand, smiling.
I wanted to invite you to the Palace.
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