Don't Obsess Over A Married Woman - Chapter 35

“……So, why?”

Only after the situation had finally calmed down did I ask Kardiel again.

“Kar, the Academy’s university program is two years. If you enter at sixteen, you can inherit the duke title upon graduation and even advance to a central government position. This is an opportunity! It will be a glorious event that will go down in the history of the Daiern ducal family.”

Just imagine.

The figure of the youngest Academy graduate attending the Imperial Grand Council, dressed in blue and gold official robes, with confident steps!

At just 18 years old, the first and youngest in the history of the Empire!

Duke Daiern, Kardiel Diark Daiern!

“Stepmother.”

“Yes!”

But unlike me, who was extremely excited with anticipation and joy, Kardiel’s expression remained unchanged.

The child who had been eating silently soon called out to me and quietly put down his utensils.

“I will not enter the Academy.”

So why?

“I will study at home as I do now, and when the time comes, I will manage the Daiern duchy. That is enough for me. I have no intention of being greedy for anything more.”

“Kardiel.”

Haah.

My voice was about to rise involuntarily. I deliberately took a long breath to try to calm my excitement.

‘Don’t get angry. This is not something I should push through with stubbornness.’

Only after repeating this to myself several times was I able to slowly open my lips.

“That’s not a valid excuse.”

What on earth does he mean by that?

He has the talent and skills. There’s also abundant wealth that can support his studies as much as needed.

He has the status to silence those foolish individuals who might look down on special admission students who entered through recommendations.

It’s not like there’s some pathetic character alive opposing his studies. There’s absolutely no reason not to enroll.

Rather, this is a reward for Kardiel’s solitary studies, enduring pain and perseverance all this time.

Especially three years from now, it would be a golden opportunity to prevent the collateral nobles, led by Baron Baden, from daring to question Kardiel’s qualifications as a duke by bringing up his age.

And he’s kicking all that away just because he says he’s not interested?

“You just need to graduate, Kar. I’m not saying you must absolutely obtain a central government position and enter politics. You don’t have to do that if you don’t want to.”

“……”

“But that’s a decision for later. Right now, you should do everything you can within your abilities. You’re at an age to learn, not to make decisions.”

So to my ears, saying you’re not interested sounds like a spoiled complaint.

The right thing is to take on the challenge for now. Even if you refuse an official position later.

Once this moment passes, there won’t be another opportunity like this.

This very moment is one that won’t return no matter how much you wave your hands trying to grasp it after it’s gone.

Moreover, Kardiel is still only fifteen years old.

“No matter what you say, Stepmother, I have no intention of entering the Academy.”

“What?”

“I’ve finished my meal, so I’ll retire to my room now.”

“W-wait, Kardiel…!”

“Good night.”

With those words, Kardiel immediately left the dining room. It was useless even when I raised my voice belatedly to try to stop him.

‘My goodness.’

What kind of situation is this?

This was the first time I’d experienced something like this while taking care of the children.

For Kardiel, of all people, to cut off the conversation in the middle and just leave?

I was so stunned by this unbelievable situation that I could only gape.

Of course, Kardiel is a taciturn child whose thoughts are hard to discern.

But he has always been polite and mature.

A child who has never worried me, always doing what needs to be done without me having to say anything.

A son so grown-up that he sometimes even became a source of support for me.

I swear, that Kardiel has never acted so selfishly and impolitely before.

Not even once…

So I don’t know what to do with Kardiel who has so coldly turned his back on me like this.

Did I do something wrong?

“Mother.”

My state must have been quite strange. I didn’t even notice that Chersion was already clinging to my waist.

“I’ll go see the young duke.”

Joseph lightly pushed back his chair and stood up. I shook my head.

“No. This is a family matter, so it’s right that I should resolve it. I’ll go see the young duke myself, so please finish your meal, Lord Joseph…”

Clang.

“Oh my. Please be careful.”

I tried to force myself to stand up, but ended up dropping my water glass and fork.

The servants approached and began picking up and cleaning the fallen items in place of me, who was still dazed.

Lord Joseph, who had been watching me, shook his head slightly and said,

“I’m probably the only one who can resolve this situation. So for now, Duchess, please just wait.”

“…Probably?”

Suddenly, that word felt strange.

It was a very uncertain word for Lord Joseph, a returner who can know future events.

Ah, could it be? Because there are many people listening here…

“So don’t worry too much, Duchess. The young duke must have his own concerns and thoughts.”

“Pardon?”

“Sons sometimes have worries they can’t share even with their mothers.”

It was difficult for me to understand what he meant.

If not me, then who would he talk to? No one cares about and thinks about those children as much as I do.

“Just a moment, Lord Joseph.”

I stopped Lord Joseph, who was about to leave the dining room, and asked him as he slowly turned back to me.

“What do you think, Lord Joseph? I mean…”

About Kardiel’s admission to the Academy.

Even though it wasn’t a properly finished question, Lord Joseph answered.

“Of course, I agree with the Duchess.”

And at that moment, that one statement from Lord Joseph strangely reassured me.

‘Ah, is that it?’

It was then that I felt it for the first time.

That children need the existence of a ‘real father’.

Kardiel, upon entering his room, changed back into his training clothes and headed to the training grounds.

Late evening in November.

The chill that settled with the darkness seeped into his clothes. But there was no time to feel the cold.

Amidst the flickering light of torches brightly illuminating the surroundings, Kardiel simply swung his sword.

Once, ten times, twenty times, a hundred times.

In the same posture, with the same force, tracing the same trajectory…

‘Ah.’

It was then that a tingling pain dug into his shoulder. Because of that, Kardiel unknowingly let go of his sword.

Swish, thud.

The sword that slipped from his hand scraped the ground and bounced far away.

“……”

Kardiel bit his lip. He thought he had distributed the same force, but it seems his concentration had wavered at some point.

‘To make such a beginner’s mistake.’

It was as he was scoffing at himself for not shaking off distracting thoughts.

“You seem to have quite a lot on your mind.”

The body that was bending to pick up the sword stiffened. Kardiel’s gaze naturally followed the voice.

The beautiful man with hair that seemed to glow softly like moonlight in the darkness had footsteps that were completely silent.

“In that state, you’ll only damage your hands without any proper training, so it’s better to stop.”

Lord Joseph, who had approached unnoticed, kicked the sword away with his foot. Kardiel straightened up as he watched the sword move farther away.

“It seems you’ve come to persuade me to enter the Academy, unable to resist my stepmother’s nagging, but no matter what you say, my decision won’t change.”

“Before correcting your misunderstanding, the air is cold, so put this on first.”

There was no time to be on guard with sharp wariness. Before he knew it, a thick coat was draped over Kardiel’s shoulders and a soft fur muffler was wrapped around his neck.

The warmth enveloping his body, blocking out the bitterly cold air of reality, might have an almost magical effect.

Kardiel’s firmly set mind softened a little.

Putting aside his immediate resolve to drive him away, Kardiel decided to at least listen to what he had to say, considering the sincerity that brought him this far.

The rest area for the training ground manager was suitable for avoiding the cold wind of late autumn.

Only after confirming that no one else was inside did Kardiel turn on the lamp and find a suitable place to sit.

“By the way, all training has ended for today, you’re quite diligent.”

“……”

“I’m not unaware of the young duke’s feelings of wanting to become stronger quickly. And I understand the feelings of not wanting to go to the Academy.”

For a moment, it felt like something was about to burst out from within.

‘What does he claim to understand?’

Lord Joseph is an outsider.

Even if he is currently an aide trying to help protect the Daiern ducal family along with the new duchess.

He doesn’t know those hellish years.

He can’t imagine their anguish of being grateful just to safely end each day.

So what exactly does he claim to understand, and how?

“First misunderstanding. I didn’t say I understand the emotions of the Daiern people. I merely spoke of understanding the situation and position, so if you felt offended, please excuse me.”

“……”

“Secondly, I didn’t come because I couldn’t resist the duchess’s nagging. I came for consultation as the young duke’s learning supervisor. Honestly, you can’t deny that entering the Academy is a good opportunity, can you?”

In the end, he came to persuade. There was no difference in wordplay.

It was then that Kardiel’s blue eyes were about to show sharp anger.