Chapter 22

The next morning, both the Duke and the President really appeared at the breakfast table.

Diane kept her head down, determined not to make eye contact with Edward.

She didn’t want even a glance to connect with someone who harbored strange misunderstandings.

“Teacher, let’s go buy books today.”

“Oh, today?”

Diane, who had been staring at her plate, nodded and looked at Leon at his sudden suggestion.

Leon was a child who had read so many books that one wondered why he even needed a reading tutor.

Perhaps because of this, he was exceptionally clever and had a rich vocabulary for his age.

Maybe it was because in the spacious ducal residence, he had no peers and the adults were often away, so he spent his spare time mostly reading.

Most of the children’s books in the study were ones Leon had already read.

That’s why, during yesterday’s reading time, Diane had muttered to herself that they would need to buy more children’s books from the bookstore soon.

But she hadn’t expected Leon to suggest going to buy them together today, right away.

“Dad, are you going out today too?”

Leon now asked Adrian.

“Yes, today I have to attend a Privy Council meeting at the royal palace, Leon.”

“Is there a bookstore on the way to the palace?”

“Well…”

Adrian trailed off, sensing trouble, and at that moment both Diane’s and Edward’s gazes turned toward Leon.

“Wow! This is great. Dad, Teacher, and me all get to go to the bookstore together!”

Leon chattered, seemingly satisfied with their concern.

“What?”

Diane was the first to react.

She couldn’t understand how going to the bookstore led to that conclusion.

“Let’s go together! Teacher, you’ll come too, right?”

“Uh… that…”

Flustered, Diane looked to Adrian, who also wore a slightly troubled expression.

“Dad, you haven’t been home much lately. So today you have to listen to me. I want to go with you, Dad.”

Diane could sense how this would end from Leon’s words.

That clever child had pressed the Duke’s weak spot.

Yesterday, she had been unsure, but now she was certain.

Even Leon’s words yesterday had a clear intention.

Adrian Wale, who seemed especially soft on his son, would surely agree to go together.

“Then shall we do that, Teacher? I think it would be fine to ride out together in the carriage.”

As expected, Adrian spoke to Diane with an awkward smile.

She had no real choice.

Diane nodded, about to agree.

But at that moment, Edward set down his fork with a sharp sound, cutting her off.

“Go separately. Why should two grown adults tag along just to buy a kid some books?”

Diane stared at Edward, stunned by his interference.

‘It’s not that two adults are needed to buy books, it’s that Leon wants it that way.’

“Uncle, you aren’t coming with us, so don’t b*tt in.”

Leon’s words made Edward glare at his young nephew as if he was about to start a fight.

“Edward.”

Adrian called his brother, watching his son and brother’s standoff.

He did so to remind Edward of his request to be patient with Leon for a while.

But Edward seemed to have forgotten his brother’s request already.

“Fine, I’ll come too then!”

Judging by what he said, Adrian let out a helpless laugh.

Edward then drove in the wedge.

“Maybe I’ll ride your carriage for a change, Brother?”

At that moment, Diane barely managed to keep her face from twisting.

‘His brother’s carriage? Is he saying we’ll all ride together in one carriage?’

Breakfast had been uncomfortable, and now it seemed there would be more awkwardness after the meal.

‘I don’t like this. Not at all.’

She truly disliked it.

* * *

Whether it was a two-seater or a four-seater, the right seat in the forward direction was always the place of honor, a common rule in any country.

Edward, who boarded the carriage first, naturally sat on the right forward-facing seat.

“That’s my seat.”

Adrian, who was about to get in after his brother, frowned at Edward.

“What?”

Edward, who had sat in his usual spot out of habit, scowled at his brother’s words.

“That’s my seat. Move.”

“Hah!”

Edward snorted, trying to ignore his brother.

“Ed, this is my carriage, and that’s my seat.”

For Adrian, this was obvious.

He had no reason to give up his seat to Edward, who insisted on riding in his carriage instead of using his own two-seater or four-seater, which were available.

Just because Adrian was gentle and kind didn’t mean his authority as Head of Family was soft.

He had been the heir to the Dukedom since birth.

“If you don’t like it, take your own carriage and go by yourself.”

At Adrian’s final words, Edward glared at his brother for a moment but eventually moved to the left forward-facing seat inside. After all, it was Adrian’s carriage, and he had to ride together.

As soon as Adrian and Edward finished their pointless seat dispute, Leon approached the carriage holding Diane’s hand.

Leon stopped before getting in and spoke to his uncle Edward.

“Uncle, that’s my seat.”

Edward looked at Leon’s hand holding Diane’s and neither responded nor moved.

“Uncle, move.”

Leon repeated, and finally Edward scowled at Leon.

“Hey, Leon. Enough! Sit over there!”

“Ed, my son wants to sit next to me. This is my carriage, so you take the other seat.”

Adrian took his son’s side.

The Heads of the Dukedom were truly serious about seating arrangements.

Edward was so annoyed he wanted to get out of the carriage, but seeing Diane still holding Leon’s hand, he barely held back. He still had to ride in this carriage.

“Leon gets motion sickness. Ed, you sit over there.”

Adrian explained again.

Indeed, Leon could only sit in the forward-facing seat due to his motion sickness.

Since Adrian was Head of Family and it was his carriage, it was only natural for him to ask Edward, who insisted on riding along, to sit in the rear-facing seat.

Edward started to protest but stopped, then abruptly got up and sat in the opposite seat.

If Leon sat in the forward-facing seat, Diane would naturally sit in the rear-facing seat.

Seeing his uncle move, Leon jumped into the left forward-facing seat.

Diane, with no other choice, tried to sit in the only remaining rear-facing seat by the door.

“Teacher, not there! You have to sit next to me.”

Suddenly, Leon pointed to the seat next to him.

The seat Leon indicated was, of course, between Leon and Adrian.

Flustered, Diane didn’t sit and looked at the Duke.

The Duke also seemed a bit surprised.

“No, Young Master, I’ll sit over here.”

Diane tried to sit next to Edward again, but Leon protested.

“No! Teacher, you must sit next to me, no matter what.”

Saying this, Leon looked straight at Adrian.

Adrian felt like sighing.

“So, Leon, are you telling me to move over?”

“No, Duke. I’ll sit here.”

Diane said in confusion.

“No, Teacher. Leon wants you there, so I’ll move.”

Adrian easily gave up the seat he would never yield to Edward, just for Diane.

“Hah!”

Edward laughed out loud, making sure everyone heard.

Adrian ignored him and moved to Diane’s seat, and Diane had no choice but to sit next to Leon, where the Duke had been.

Edward watched the two swap seats with his arms crossed, finding it ridiculous.

It seemed his brother would give his son anything he wanted.

‘If my brother keeps this up, Leon will refuse to let him remarry unless he gets the woman he wants.’

The thought made Edward frown at Leon.

“Brother, aren’t you spoiling him too much?”

His tone dripped with sarcasm.

“If you don’t like my carriage, take yours, Ed.”

Adrian shot back.

Edward started to say more but suddenly fell silent.

His eyes were fixed on Diane’s shoes, diagonally across from him.

He had only ever seen her in slippers at home, so this was the first time since her arrival that he saw her in shoes.

‘Those are it.’

They were neat, light purple shoes without flashy decorations or high heels, looking comfortable.

He liked them.

They were clearly new, hardly worn.

He forgot about arguing with his brother and smiled in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, whether his father and uncle bickered or not, Leon paid them no attention.

His head was filled with a conversation he had had days earlier with Little Lance, the young stablehand who tended the horses as his father once had.

Little Lance, who still worked at the ducal mansion, was a twenty-year-old young man who managed the horses, called Little Lance to distinguish him from Big Lance.

<Young Master, you seem happy today.>

<I’m getting a mom.>

<Oh! Is the Duke getting remarried?>

<Remarried? What’s that?>

<It means he’s getting married again.>

<Um… yeah, that’s right! That’s it!>

<Wow, the Master must have met someone he likes. That’s great.>

<Dad’s feelings? No, it’s because I like her.>

<Of course! Young Master, your feelings matter too. But it’s more important for the Duke and the future Madame to love each other, Young Master.>

<Love? You mean liking each other?>

<That’s right, Young Master!>

<Love… do you have to love first to become my mom?>

<Absolutely! You have to love.>

<Um… how do you do that?>

<Well, um… love means wanting to always be together, wanting to see each other, wanting to be close, wanting to touch… things like that. Naturally, you want to get married too.>

Little Lance, thinking of Nancy the kitchen maid, spoke excitedly without much thought, and Leon listened with utmost seriousness.

He remembered what his dad had said, too.

That he would get a mom only if his dad got married.