Chapter 90. His Highness the Grand Duke is Romantic

However, he hesitated to talk about his miserable past in front of Yuelina just to compete with an eleven-year-old child.

Letitia…

How dare that little one try to monopolize Yuelina’s affection by using misfortune.

He had heard that the princesses of Esolin Kingdom were quite clever.

But he hadn’t expected even Letitia to be able to use that small head of hers.

Theo felt like he’d been blindsided.

He watched with cold eyes as Letitia followed behind Yuelina.

From afar, Letitia looked like a baby bird following its mother.

The child focused intently on each of Yuelina’s actions and copied them.

When Yuelina pulled weeds, Letitia followed suit.

Yuelina gave a thumbs up at the weeds in Letitia’s tiny hands.

Yuelina’s bright smile was full of affection.

Just as Letitia didn’t miss any of Yuelina’s actions, it was clear Yuelina was also very mindful of Letitia.

Yuelina was careful, worried that Letitia might get hurt.

Her already small steps were even slower today…

Theo could easily notice her consideration.

Eventually, watching Yuelina smile brightly, Theo found himself unconsciously grinning.

Well, at least Letitia was a hundred times better than Asarim.

At least he didn’t feel the urge to tear her limb from limb.

Come to think of it, how small would a crow-tit’s chick be?

If it’s annoying, couldn’t he just chase it away with loud noises?

Theo shook his head slightly to chase away the strange thoughts that suddenly came to him.

The odd fantasies that appeared whenever he saw Yuelina were starting to return.

She must have really come home.

Theo started to calm his heated heart while regulating his breathing.

Letitia, following his crow-tit wife around, was truly like a chick.

A fragile chick that might die from shock just from his glare.

Being anxious about a chick following Yuelina around would be crossing a point of no return.

So he had to be careful.

* * *

Yuelina suggested to Theo that they have dinner with Letitia.

Theo treasured his meal times with Yuelina so much that he didn’t want to share them with anyone.

But this woman didn’t know that yet.

Since she had been busy running around with Letitia while the sun was up, that chick must be hungry too.

Theo told Yuelina that would be fine.

Besides, Letitia ate so timidly, almost as if she wasn’t there, so she probably wouldn’t be much of a disturbance.

However, unlike the previous day, Yuelina sat next to Letitia and personally took care of the child.

She cut the bread on the table into small pieces and served sea bass onto the side plate.

Though Theo was sitting at the same table, he was strangely overwhelmed by a feeling of complete isolation.

Yuelina and Letitia laughed cheerfully while talking about tending the garden that morning.

Moreover, Yuelina and Letitia had even gone to a ‘Tea-Pie’ gathering together for lunch.

His wife, who had said she would introduce him to her friends, had taken the chick Letitia instead of him.

But unable to bring himself to be jealous of a chick, Theo silently kept drinking his wine.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, I won’t be able to tend the garden with you tomorrow morning. I need to visit the Bios villa.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. They said they’ll explain about the field trip at the villa.”

Yuelina looked at Letitia with a worried expression before turning her gaze to Theo.

Theo couldn’t hide his joy at receiving Yuelina’s first glance during the meal.

“Theo.”

“Yes. Tell me anything.”

“Where is the Bios villa? Is it far? Will Letitia be okay going alone?”

All of Yuelina’s rapid-fire questions were out of concern for Letitia.

Theo, now irritated, stabbed at the bread on his plate with his fork as he spoke.

“The villa is near the dock, in an area full of noble townhouses, so it’s safe.”

“That’s a relief! Letitia, do you need anything prepared?”

“No, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. You don’t need to prepare anything for me.”

“Should I pack some snacks?”

“Ah, no, please!”

Letitia waved her hands while glancing at Theo.

Theo was starting to get annoyed by Letitia’s furtive glances at him.

He felt like he’d been cast in the role of the mean person who intimidates her.

Of course, he’d like to give her the cold shoulder…

But he was enduring it well with a composed face for Yuelina’s sake.

However, it felt like that tiny little one could see right through his heart, making him feel oddly guilty.

“Theo, I’ll be right back from the kitchen.”

“The kitchen?”

“Yes. I asked for something.”

Yuelina got up and left.

Theo was left alone with Letitia.

He filled his empty wine glass with an indifferent expression.

“So. How long are you planning to stay?”

Theo asked Letitia with a disinterested face, then paused.

For some reason, it felt like he had asked this same question to someone else before.

“I’ll return once I finish writing my report, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

“…I see.”

“I’m sorry about yesterday, Your Highness. Because I was uncomfortable, Her Highness the Grand Duchess helped me with my bedding. You must have been quite concerned?”

At Letitia’s mature voice, Theo shook his head, trying to appear nonchalant.

“These things happen.”

“Thank you for understanding, Your Highness. I was able to sleep well because Her Highness told me many stories.”

“That’s good.”

“Her Highness said she also felt very strange when she first came to the principality.”

“……”

“But she said she adapted easily thanks to Your Highness’s consideration.”

Theo’s ears perked up at Letitia’s words.

This was the first time he’d heard of Yuelina talking about him to someone else.

Letitia flinched when Theo’s body leaned toward her. However, she continued speaking.

“Her Highness hasn’t seen snow yet, but she made me a Snow Person.”

“A Snow Person?”

“Yes. She tied a pillow with a string and drew eyes, nose, and mouth with a pen.”

Theo smirked thinking about the pillow Snow Person Yuelina had made.

As expected, she was his wife who made people happy in strange ways.

In contrast, Letitia’s eyes widened.

This was the first time she had seen Theo’s smiling face directly.

When expressionless, he looked fierce and cold, but with a small smile, he looked quite gentle.

Letitia gathered her courage and spoke again.

“Her Highness said she’s excited about experiencing many firsts in the principality. Like making a real Snow Person, riding a sleigh, or ice skating.”

“Yes. Since it hasn’t snowed in the principality yet.”

“Yes. And you haven’t held the wedding ceremony either.”

Theo’s face, which had been listening to Letitia with a gentle expression, immediately hardened.

Letitia’s body trembled.

Just seeing Theo’s cold face made her knees weak.

But Letitia had to speak firmly.

She needed to repay her debt to Yuelina who had been so kind to her.

“I heard at the Tea-Pie gathering. That Her Highness hasn’t had a wedding ceremony yet.”

Theo let out a small sigh.

Now even a chick was reproaching him for not having held a wedding ceremony.

“I’ve heard that sometimes wedding ceremonies are omitted in political marriages.”

“What?”

“Since Your Highnesses’ marriage was political.”

Theo spoke with a composed face at Letitia’s words.

As Letitia said, Theo and Yuelina’s marriage was arranged by the Bios Empire.

But for the current Theo, his marriage with Yuelina was far from political.

“We’ll have it, the wedding ceremony. It’s just been delayed a bit.”

“I see. I hadn’t heard that from Her Highness.”

Of course Letitia couldn’t have heard about it.

Because Theo hadn’t yet talked to Yuelina about the wedding ceremony.

“I’m going to talk about it today, so don’t worry about it.”

Theo planned to immediately suggest having the wedding ceremony soon when Yuelina returned from the kitchen.

It was quite an impulsive thought, but he couldn’t delay any longer when even a chick was pointing out the wedding ceremony.

But suddenly, Letitia clapped her hands to get his attention.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke is romantic.”

“?”

Theo tilted his head.

What part of my answer was romantic?