Chapter 41
“Edwin, have you been well?”
I brushed past the startled retainers and strode toward Edwin.
“I should’ve visited more often, but I couldn’t. I’ve been so busy these past few days.”
“It’s okay,” Edwin replied, nodding as if he understood everything.
“Adoption is a complicated process. It’s natural to be busy.”
“Thanks for understanding, Edwin.”
I gently patted his round head. As expected of the original male lead, he had a generous heart.
“But Edwin, what were you talking about with the retainers?”
Although I asked Edwin, my gaze was fixed on the retainers.
“They just greeted me. And they said they would support me…”
“Ahem.”
A loud cough interrupted Edwin’s words.
“Since Lady Rilfrey is here, we will take our leave.”
Avoiding my gaze, the retainers bowed to Edwin and quickly left the room.
Normally, they wouldn’t care whether I was here or not.
If I hadn’t saved Claude’s life, if I hadn’t found Edwin and raised my status, they wouldn’t be acting so cautiously around me.
‘How opportunistic.’
I glared at the spot where they had been standing. It was obvious why they had come here now.
‘They’re clinging to Edwin because it seems like the duke is considering him as his heir.’
Count Benjamin was well known for disapproving of Lucian. The other retainers with him were the same.
They constantly doubted and tested Lucian’s abilities.
‘If only doubting was all they did.’
My dislike for Count Benjamin stemmed from something else entirely—he was an extreme opportunist.
He had no problem flipping sides in an instant, clinging to power like a sycophant when it benefited him. If things turned against him, he was quick to escape like a slippery eel.
Because of his sly nature, Count Benjamin was eventually abandoned by Edwin in the original story.
‘Since he’ll be discarded anyway, there’s no need to worry about him.’
Still, knowing that some people were already rallying behind Edwin made me uneasy.
Would this really drive a wedge between Edwin and Lucian?
At the same time, I felt sorry for the innocent children being caught up in the adults’ power struggle.
“Big sister.”
Edwin’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Hmm?”
“Um…”
He fidgeted with his small hands before finally speaking.
“Thank you.”
“…Huh?”
His words were so unexpected that I was momentarily speechless.
“For finding my father.”
Without waiting for my response, Edwin continued.
“If you hadn’t invited me to this mansion, I would have never met him.”
“It was just a coincidence.”
“Still, you scolded that bad orphanage director, and you shared good food and nice things with us.”
For the first time, Edwin’s tense expression softened.
“So, thank you.”
“…”
“You’re my benefactor. Oh, and Lucian too.”
“…”
“If Lucian hadn’t allowed me to stay here, I wouldn’t have met my father.”
I couldn’t find the words to respond.
I felt touched by Edwin’s sincerity, guilty because I hadn’t helped out of pure intentions, and sorry for Lucian.
“Big sister?”
“…Thank you for saying that, Edwin.”
If the duke had said something like this, he would have been trying to manipulate me somehow. But because it was Edwin, I simply felt a heavy weight in my heart.
“I’ll listen to everything you say while I’m here! Anything!”
“Then, will you promise me one thing?”
Since Lucian was still my top priority, I decided to be a little selfish.
“Promise me that you’ll get along well with Lucian.”
I held out my pinky finger.
“Yes. I promise.”
Edwin smiled brightly and hooked his finger around mine.
“This is unbelievable.”
Claude sighed, rubbing his face with his hand.
“Edwin is Duke Belloman’s son? No, before that—Duke Belloman had an illegitimate child?”
Nothing about this situation was ordinary. If this news spread, the social circles would be in chaos.
But Claude had a bigger concern.
‘Lucian… is he okay?’
He recalled the way Lucian had looked at the duke kneeling before Edwin.
Lucian’s eyes were filled with unfamiliarity and longing.
‘He must be devastated.’
And that would be the best case scenario if he only felt devastation.
Not only had Lucian lost his father’s affection, but now he had a rival for the position of heir. He was probably anxious about being cast aside.
Duke Belloman was exactly the kind of man to do such a thing.
“Haa…”
Claude let out a deep sigh.
Even though this had nothing to do with his own family, he couldn’t stop worrying.
It was all because of Lucella.
Lucian was the child she loved the most.
And Claude…
“Uncle, I’m going out for a bit.”
A clear voice snapped Claude out of his thoughts.
He looked up to see Amelia holding a bunch of toys in her arms, ready to leave the room.
“Where are you going?”
“To Lucian.”
She struggled to reach for the doorknob.
“That idiot is probably a mess right now. I need to go and set him straight.”
“You’re right. That’s a good idea.”
Claude reached out and opened the door for her, since her hands were full.
“Go and cheer him up. He always listens to you.”
“Yep.”
Amelia nodded firmly and stepped out.
Claude silently watched her tiny figure waddle away.
Then, as if sensing his gaze, Amelia suddenly turned back.
“Uncle.”
“Yeah?”
“This is your chance.”
“My chance?”
“A chance to make Lucella like you.”
“Hey!”
Claude instinctively raised his voice but quickly looked around. Luckily, no one was in the hallway.
“If you’re so embarrassed, you shouldn’t make it so obvious.”
Amelia shook her head at him.
“Uncle, they say that when a woman is struggling, she tends to develop feelings for the person who stays by her side. Lucella must be having a hard time right now, so why don’t you do something for her?”
“Where… where did you learn that?”
“From a book.”
“What kind of book are you reading?”
“Does that even matter right now?”
Amelia glared at him.
“Lucella is struggling. Are you just going to leave her alone?”
“No.”
Claude shook his head.
“Then go to her.”
Amelia’s gaze turned serious.
“Of course, earning points with her is important… but I just don’t want her to suffer alone.”
“……”
“She was there for me when I was struggling. Now it’s your turn to be there for her.”
“You understand what I mean, right?”
As she added those words quietly, Claude nodded.
“And, Uncle.”
“What now?”
“I don’t think pretending to be sick is always a bad thing.”
“……”
“Anyway, I’m going!”
After saying something cryptic, Amelia ran down the hallway without looking back.
“Sigh, I really can’t handle her.”
Claude turned away from her retreating figure and started preparing to meet Lucella.
I sat at my desk, planning my next steps.
For now, arranging a meeting between Edwin and the Duke was done.
Not only did I become Edwin’s benefactor, but I also managed to put the Duke in my debt—an unexpected bonus.
I was worried about Lucian, but at least he didn’t seem to hate or bully Edwin like in the original story.
If Lucian kept growing like this and Edwin’s feelings toward both of us didn’t change, then Lucian could avoid becoming the villain.
‘The real problem is the people around them.’
It was more common for the people around someone to cause trouble than the individual.
The cunning retainers of the Duke’s household were already trying to divide them.
‘It was even worse in the original story.’
Blinded by power, the retainers quickly turned Lucian and Edwin against each other.
“How can such a violent and foolish person become the head of House Belloman?”
“A lowborn orphan of unknown origins becoming the heir? That would be a disgrace!”
Those who supported Edwin criticized Lucian’s character, while those who supported Lucian attacked Edwin’s bloodline.
The children, already not fond of each other, naturally fell under their influence.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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