Chapter 38: The Duke’s Regret part 1

“Why are you asking such a thing? If there had been a child Tiana was close to, wouldn’t we have already heard about it? She never mentioned anyone because there was no one to mention. Do you really think she would have gone all this time without inviting someone from the monastery if there was anyone she wanted to see?”

“Which is why I’m asking now.”

“Dear, stop pressuring Tiana. Just being able to visit the imperial palace before her debutante is already impressive enough.”

“What pressure? Can’t a father ask his daughter a simple question?”

“Enough, Tiana. I’ll have some pastries and warm tea sent to your room, so go and rest. You must be tired from your visit to the palace today. I’ll be heading to bed soon as well. Let’s talk again in the morning.”

The Duchess completely ignored the Duke’s words.

“Oh… Alright. Rest well.”

Dott stood up sluggishly. Normally, she would have made a polite excuse like, ‘It’s fine, Mother,’ or ‘I’m alright,’ but today, she simply couldn’t.

If she said anything unnecessary now and the topic of the monastery came up… No. She couldn’t let that happen. Please, just let this conversation end here.

As the Duke’s daughter, her face turned pale, and she hurried out of the room as if fleeing. The Duchess, who had been holding back her words, spoke up the moment she was gone.

“Could that mage, Fay, have bullied our Tiana?”

“How can you say such a thing?”

“Why not? She’s a mage! It’s already unbelievable that she lived in a monastery while being one. Who’s to say she didn’t secretly torment our Tiana with magic?”

Before the Duke could scold her for her reckless words, Kassel immediately intervened.

“Mother, Miss Fay was known for her diligence at the monastery. She was never lazy with her duties. She only learned magic after she entered the Mage Tower, which is precisely why she’s drawing so much attention now.”

For some reason, he found it difficult to mention that he had personally taken Fay to the Mage Tower. It wasn’t a secret, yet he hesitated to bring it up. He wanted to keep that summer memory to himself. A moment known only to him.

Duke Klein nodded.

“I’ve already spoken with a representative sent from the Mage Tower, my dear. But do you know what’s even more surprising?”

“What is it?”

The Duchess, who had little interest in orphaned children, idly stirred her tea with a teaspoon.

“The Eina candidate I originally intended to bring home wasn’t our Tiana. It turns out that the Mother Superior had already chosen someone else. That person was none other than the mage, Miss Fay. Isn’t it wonderful how fate works?”

“What?”

“The girl who was supposed to come to our family ended up in the Mage Tower instead, became a mage, and now, after all this time, has crossed paths with us again. Almost as if it was meant to be.”

After Fay was acknowledged as a Drakan Rider by the Crown Prince, her past was thoroughly investigated.

Fay had anticipated as much. In fact, she had no intention of avoiding it, knowing it would only put more pressure on Dott. A thief always fears their own guilt, after all. She had written letters to Mother Superior Beryl and Priestess Cheryl, instructing them to reveal only that she had been left at the monastery as a child.

Nothing about Tower Master Lord Baroah from the Mage Tower. Nothing about the belongings left with her. Nothing about her injuries when she arrived. However, she hadn’t told them to keep quiet about Dott, Dorothea, and their past friendship.

As the Duke made a comment that was more affectionate than expected, the Duchess snapped curtly.

“That’s enough.”

“They’re about the same age. It’s hard to believe they wouldn’t know each other.”

The Duchess set her teaspoon down and adopted a stern expression.

“Dear! I don’t want to know about any of that. Our Tiana suffered immensely before we found her. Why should she be shackled to such a wretched past?”

“Why are you so agitated?”

“Did that mage say something? Did she claim to know what Tiana went through at the monastery?”

Duke Klein smiled faintly and shook his head.

“She never said a word about it.”

“Hmph, I don’t care. Drakan Rider or not, however talented a mage she may be, what would someone like me know about that? All that matters is that from now on, no one will ever harm our Tiana again.”

“You’re jumping to conclusions. Who is going to harm her?”

“Well, whatever the reason that mage didn’t end up joining our family, it was for the best. We found our real daughter, and she’s managed to catch the Crown Prince’s attention, setting herself on a path to success.”

The Duchess’s expression soured as she uttered the words ‘crown prince.’

Ever since they had reunited with Tiana, she had asked all sorts of questions to gauge her daughter’s intentions. A spring debutante was ideal, and life at the Duchy was comfortable, but she was of marriageable age. More than a noblewoman’s duty, Tiana’s happiness had to come first.

Ideally, the Duchess wanted to keep her daughter by her side forever, but despite her husband’s suggestion of a live-in son-in-law, she was firmly against the idea.

If Tiana was to have a proper marriage, then the best time was immediately after the debutante. A grand introduction, followed by swift negotiations for a match, ensuring no one dared find fault with her. And as her mother, she would make sure to play the role of a devoted and protective parent.

‘The Crown Prince has been emerging from seclusion since the Harvest Festival… but my daughter certainly has high standards. Very fitting for a noblewoman. Yes, it’s been three years since Lady Lâtel’s broken engagement. By now, it should be fine.’

Much to her surprise, the man who had caught Tiana’s interest was none other than Crown Prince Sillas.

……

(T/N: I love the exchange between the Duke and Duchess, kind of like any ordinary loving couple 🥰)