The Male Lead’s Father Refuses to Break Off Our Engagement

Chapter 31

 

When she returned to Adelhard the mansion, Evelia first told the butler that a guest named Erin Launer was coming.

As for Samuel and Aria, she said she got help from them.

‘Because it’s the truth.’

Fortunately, the butler didn’t ask for more details and said he would let me know when Erin came.

“Wow, is this the residence of Duke Adelhard? It’s much bigger than our house!”

Aria, who entered the drawing room, looked around the inside with her eyes wide open.

“Aria. You must sit still.”

Even when Samuel stopped her, Aria didn’t listen. Evelia stopped Samuel from punishing the child.

“It’s okay, she’s excited because she hasn’t been out in a while, but let her be. She’s just a kid.”

“Thank you.”

And with that, while Aria peeked around every corner, the butler announced Erin’s arrival.

Seeing Evelia sitting in the drawing room, Erin was surprised once again.

“I was wondering if you were here, but you are.”

“Welcome.”

Evelia greeted Erin warmly.

“Aria.”

Samuel called his younger sister who was hiding behind his back. Aria, quickly noticing that Erin was a doctor, replies.

“No!”

“Aria.”

“I hate the doctors! They hurt me every day!”

“It won’t hurt. just listen to me, and when we’re done, I’ll buy Aria’s favorite dessert.”

“Really?”

For some reason, Aria seemed interested in dessert. Evelia added quickly.

“Yes. I’ll ask the butler to serve some dessert while you’re being examined.”

Aria rolled her eyes and then hesitantly moved in front of Erin.

Erin, who has a strong passion for learning, began examining Aria with a face full of curiosity.

“Your pulse is weak. What did the doctors diagnose until now?”

“Each of the doctors said differently, but the most common thing I heard was that the bronchi were weak.”

Erin tilted her head slightly.

“It sounds like you’re having a little trouble breathing, but I don’t think it’s a bronchial problem. What medications have you been giving her lately?”

“I’ve fed her several herbs, but most recently a decoction of Talan flowers.”

Samuel glanced at Evelia’s face, but she pretended not to see.

“If it’s the Talan flower, it’s only found in the Kingdom of Cesia. It has a mana component, did it work for her?

“Yes. It was the most effective of all the herbs she ate.”

Erin rubbed her chin.

“That’s weird. Talan flowers are mainly prescribed for young priests when they catch a cold….”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I understand for now. Since it worked for you, I’ll give you the Talan flower whenever you have a problem in the future. I’ll do a little more research and write a prescription later.”

Erin wrote something quickly in her notebook and left the drawing room.

It was when Samuel looked back at Evelia with a face full of questions.

“Lady Evelia, where have you been….”

After waking up from his nap, Ruth poked his head out into the drawing room looking for Evelia.

The child smiled broadly at Evelia, then was surprised to see that there were guests.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know you had guests!”

Evelia gestured to Ruth, who was about to run away.

“It’s okay. Come on in.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Ruth walked hesitantly, observing his surroundings. Then, remembering the tutor’s words that the heir of the Duke’s family shouldn’t hesitate even in front of the Imperial family, he proudly straightened his back.

In an instant, Ruth’s mood changed. In front of Evelia, the child who had been hesitant was standing with a fierce face.

‘I’m surprised. Now that I see you, you really do look like Cassis.’

On the other hand, I was a bit worried. Just like Cassis did when he was young, Ruth seems to kill his emotions in a way that was typical of the Heir class.

‘I can’t do that.’

After deciding to take a look at Ruth’s class later, Evelia introduced the child to Aria and Samuel.

“Say hello. This is my friend… Samuel Denoa, and his younger sister, Miss Aria.”

At the point where she said ‘friend’, Samuel laughed mischievously.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Evelia tried to avoid his gaze and pushed Ruth’s back toward Samuel.

Ruth was still a bit clumsy, but greeted Samuel with a better manner than when he first met Evelia.

“Hello, Sir Denoa. My name is Lucius Adelhard.”

Samuel let out an exclamation of admiration, then bowed with his right hand clenched into a fist to his chest, bowing in the manner of a knight.

“Nice to meet you, Prince Adelhard. My name is Samuel Denoa. But how did you know I was a knight?”

Ruth hesitated, then explained in a sharp voice.

“First of all, you have a large physique and have muscles all over your body.”

“Hmm, what else is there?”

“I noticed that you have a callus on your right hand, typical of someone who holds a sword.”

Ruth, who was talking seriously, suddenly smiled at Evelia.

“I have too!”

The child proudly showed Evelia his right hand. His attitude was 180 degrees different from when he was dealing with Samuel.

Evelia gave the child the compliment he wanted.

“You must be practicing your swordsmanship diligently. You are doing well.”

“Yes, hehe.”

Samuel interrupted again.

“There are many people who have learned the sword, even if they are not knights who have been knighted. People from aristocratic families, in particular, learn the sword from an early age.”

“Yes, it is.”

“By the way, the young master called me ‘Sir Denoa’. Why did you think I was knighted?”

“I saw in the Nobility Encyclopedia that Samuel Denoa, the eldest son of the Denoa family, had been knighted.”

“Oh, have you read the Encyclopedia of Nobles too? Is that what Duke Adelhard is teaching you already?”

“It’s not like that.”

Ruth’s face, which had been serious as if he had put on a mask, loosened up again. The child twitched his fingers in embarrassment.

“I thought I had to learn that to become a perfect nobleman.”

Samuel looked at Evelia in pure admiration.

“You’re really smart, young master. You’re a truly coveted talent.”

However, Evelia couldn’t be genuinely delighted with Ruth’s cleverness.

‘He was trying to become a perfect nobleman.’

Or, to put it another way, Ruth didn’t think of himself as a perfect aristocrat.

Ruth was already a more perfect aristocrat than anyone else, with Adelhard’s blood and Cesia’s royal blood.

‘No, what does that matter?’

He is still Cassis’s illegitimate son in the public eye.

Ruth was just as perfect as he is now.

Still, since Ruth’s eyes were shining brightly, I praised him.

“Good job. The fact that you read the Noble Encyclopedia and that you memorized Sir Denoa’s name.”

“Hehe.”

I’ve felt it before, but Ruth seemed to really like compliments.

Evelia was promising that from now on she would praise him even the smallest things, but a clear voice interrupted between the three of them.

“Noble encyclopedia? Do you read anything like that?”

It was Aria. The child frowned and shook her head.

“That stuff isn’t interesting.”

Ruth quickly exclaimed as if making an excuse.

“No! I read other things, too!”

“What are you reading?”

“Uh, so….”

“Have you read the adventures of a baby bird?”

Ruth nodded his head up and down eagerly.

“Yes! Of course!”

Only then did Aria’s face turn to interest.

“Really?”

“Yes! It’s my favorite fairy tale!”

“Oh, me too.”

“Really? Ah, by the way.”

Ruth quickly straightened himself up.

“Hello. My name is Lucius Adelhard. Everyone calls me Ruth. You can call me Ruth too.”

“I am Aria Denoa. By the way, how old are you?”

“Seven years old.”

“What? me too.”

Aria tucked her hair behind her ear and said softly.

“Okay. Since I like you, I’ll make you a special friend of mine.”

“Aria.”

Samuel touched his forehead. Either way, Aria raised her chin arrogantly with her arms crossed.

“I…”

Ruth’s ears turned red.

“Are you going to be my friend?”

“I’ll be your friend.”

“Can I really be your friend?”

“Yeah, because I said so!”

Ruth bowed his head. Aria sidled up to him and leaned down to see Ruth’s face.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’ve never had a friend before.”

Not only his ears, but also Ruth’s cheeks quickly turned red.

“I really like it.”

“This is a secret.”

Aria whispered softly.

“You’re my first friend, too.”