The director, realizing the implied meaning behind the duke’s words, quickly waved his hands in denial. Duke Adrian was essentially asking if he had ever abused Rosette.
“Absolutely not! We teach the children not to be picky eaters, but we would never force them to eat something they can’t tolerate.”
“Not even if a child had allergies?”
“What kind of monster would do such a thing?!”
For a moment, the director forgot he was speaking to *the* Duke Adrian and snapped in anger.
“I understand what you’re concerned about, Your Grace. But this line of questioning is insulting. I swear before God, I have never done anything untoward to these children.”
Duke Adrian had met countless people in his life—he knew how to read them.
The director was telling the truth.
“Then do you have any idea why she would do such a thing?”
“Perhaps… she wanted to impress you?”
“And how would she have known about the allergy in the first place?”
“That… I don’t know.”
Again, the director seemed sincere. Pressing further would yield nothing. The duke rose from his seat.
“I’ll take my leave for now. Should anything else arise, I’ll return.”
After leaving the director’s office, Duke Adrian sought out Jane, the girl he had spoken to earlier.
“Child.”
“Huh?”
At his signal, his aide handed Jane a small bag of sweets they had prepared in advance.
Hesitating for only a moment, Jane took them—then immediately turned and gave them to another child behind her, who ran off to share them with the others.
Then Jane asked,
“Is Rosie doing okay?”
“You miss her a lot, don’t you?”
“Yes. Very much. But I’ll endure it. Because I want Rosie to be happy.”
“I see.”
The duke hesitated before asking,
“Does the director treat you well?”
Fortunately, Jane answered without a trace of doubt, beaming.
“Yes!”
“And no one bullies you like before?”
“No one!”
“Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”
“Please tell Rose I said hi!”
“I will.”
After finishing his brief conversation with Jane, Duke Adrian returned to his carriage. Unlike adults, children were terrible liars. Jane’s answers held no hesitation or deceit—she truly believed the director treated them well.
Yet Rosette’s behavior still troubled him. If not here, then where had she been forced to eat shrimp?
“Joseph.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Keep a close eye on the orphanage from now on.”
“What exactly concerns you?”
“The children’s well-being.”
That was answer enough. Through the carriage window, his aide Joseph bowed in understanding.
“Ah, and one more thing—omit shrimp from meals for the foreseeable future.”
“Understood.”
With those final words, the duke closed the carriage window. Though he longed to visit Rosette and the children immediately, the backlog of duties and adoption formalities left him with no time to spare. Suppressing his reluctance, he set off for the imperial palace.
‘How strange—to feel such reluctance.’
Even as the thought crossed his mind, Duke Adrian found himself smiling faintly.
“Adoption?”
The emperor’s voice was laced with disbelief. For a moment, he wondered if he had misheard.
Duke Adrian repeated himself, his expression unreadable.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I intend to adopt a daughter.”
“What brought this on? I’m aware adoption has become something of a fashionable charity project among nobles lately, but I never expected you to follow suit.”
“It is sudden, but this isn’t some frivolous whim.”
“Then?”
“She simply… moved me from the moment I saw her. Pitiable, compelling—I found myself wanting to keep her close, to care for her.”
The emperor studied the duke’s face with fascination.
Adrian von Ardrian was infamous for his cold detachment, a man whose warmth extended only to his three children and his disciple, Joshua. Yet here he was, smiling as he spoke of this child. Proof enough that he was already utterly charmed.
“Moreover, despite her youth, her magical aptitude is extraordinary—she’s already capable of healing magic.”
The emperor, who had been listening idly, perked up.
“Magic? She can cast healing spells already?”
“Yes.”
“If what you say is true, a prodigy has been born. How tempting. She might even make a fine match for Max.”
“It’s too soon for that, Your Majesty.”
“‘Too soon’? You know better than anyone that imperial marriages are arranged early.”
“……”
The duke fell silent. He had no desire to see his beloved Isabelle—or Rosette, who would soon be his daughter—swept into such political currents. But voicing that refusal outright was impossible, so he deflected.
“In any case, I seek Your Majesty’s permission to proceed with the adoption.”
The emperor, recognizing the evasion, chose to indulge him.
“Why not? Have the formalities expedited.”
“Thank you, Your—”
Before the duke could finish, chaos erupted outside. Raised voices, the scuffle of guards—then the doors burst open without permission.
A boy stormed in, silver hair like moonlight and golden eyes blazing with the imperial bloodline’s intensity. Joshua Ernheart, the crown prince of the Empire, still in his casual shirt and trousers as if he’d dashed straight from his chambers.
The emperor’s voice boomed from the throne.
“Prince! What is this disgraceful behavior?”
But Joshua paid no heed. His wide eyes darted around the room before locking onto the duke—and then he ran, throwing himself into Adrian’s arms.
Neither emperor nor duke could scold him further. Not when the crown prince was trembling, tears streaming down his face as he clung to his teacher.
“You’re unharmed… Master.”
After a beat of stunned silence, the duke laughed warmly.
“Of course I am, Your Highness. Though I must say, your concern today is… unusually fervent.”
“What about Daniel? How is Daniel?”
“Daniel is doing well too.”
Joshua exhaled deeply, straightening his posture. With a composed hand, he wiped the tears from his cheeks, his expression smoothing into perfect regal composure—as if the earlier disarray had never existed. He bowed toward the emperor.
“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
“Enough with the formalities. Now, explain yourself.”
“My apologies for the unsightly display, Father.”
“I asked what happened.”
“…I had a nightmare.”
“A nightmare?”
The duke interjected lightly, trying to ease the tension.
“Did you dream that Daniel and I were injured, Your Highness?”
“……”
“They say dreams are the opposite, no? We’re both unharmed and in good health, so there’s no need to worry.”
“…Yes. I’m glad to see that’s the case.”
“Now that you’re here, sit down.”
At the emperor’s suggestion, the crown prince took a seat. With a wave of the emperor’s hand, an attendant waiting outside hurried in with a formal robe, which Joshua draped loosely over his shoulders.
“I hadn’t heard you were visiting the palace today. What brings you here so suddenly?”
“Ah.”
The duke smiled faintly.
“I came to submit an adoption petition.”
Joshua’s eyebrows shot up.
“Adoption? For which family’s proceedings?”
The emperor laughed, as if this were some delightful joke.
“Naturally, for House Ardrian.”
“House Ardrian… is adopting?”
Joshua’s voice was tinged with disbelief. The duke chuckled dryly.
“Why? Do you think me unworthy, Your Highness?”
“N-No, that’s not it. It’s just… rather sudden.”
“Yes, even for me. It was a rather impulsive decision.”
The emperor cut in.
“Seems the Ardrian duchy is about to welcome a mage princess.”
Joshua still looked dazed.
“Isabelle has no affinity for mana, so it’s not like she suddenly awakened to magic. Unless… the newly adopted child is the one—”
“Indeed. The girl is gifted.”
Joshua fell silent for a long moment, lost in thought. When the duke began to speak again, he finally replied:
“Master, what exactly prompted this? If it’s her magical talent you’re after, sponsorship would suffice.”
“There were… circumstances. But above all, I simply wanted to keep her close. To protect her.”
Joshua didn’t respond immediately. Just as the duke was about to speak again, he said quietly:
“I’m curious about this child. How did she manage to sway your heart so completely?”
The duke’s smile widened, as if merely thinking of Rosette brought him joy.
“She’s adorable. Though she still has much to learn.”
“Having a capable mage in House Adrian would be advantageous. A precaution against unforeseen events. At any rate, I’ve seen you now, so I’ll take my leave. I’ll visit Daniel soon.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
Joshua embraced the duke once more before exiting the audience chamber.
The emperor clicked his tongue as he watched Joshua leave.
“Making such a fuss over a mere nightmare. Still so childish. When will he ever grow up?”
“Hard to say.”
Duke Adrian murmured, recalling the expression Joshua had worn moments ago.
“Though, if anything, he seemed far more composed than when I last saw him.”
“‘Composed,’ you say?”
The emperor grumbled, clearly dissatisfied.
“I wonder if he’ll ever be fit to inherit the throne.”
Joshua Ernheart was the only legitimate son born between the emperor and a princess of Ivern, a kingdom renowned for its magic. He had shown exceptional talent in swordsmanship—enough that Duke Adrian, a Sword Master himself, had taken him on as a personal disciple—and had inherited some of his mother’s affinity for magic as well. His intellect was extraordinary, earning praise from renowned scholars.
Yet, despite all this, the emperor never seemed pleased with Joshua. Even now, at ten years old, Joshua had not been formally crowned crown prince, despite being the sole heir to the throne.
Some speculated it was because the emperor had never loved his politically wedded empress. But there were no other women in the emperor’s life, either. His coldness toward Joshua remained a mystery.
Duke Adrian, however, chose not to voice these thoughts. In silence, he remained for a moment longer before finally taking his leave of the imperial palace.
TY! ✨