To be honest, Genevra had never considered the possibility of her proposal being rejected.

Although she brought it up with a smile, deep down, she felt as if she were vomiting blood. After all, she knew how much William loved Larisa.

She had decided to support their love this time and had to give up like this.

However, if William’s feelings were sincere, if he could genuinely let go of this child to protect Larisa, she thought she should respect that.

But…

“I don’t want to.”

“Okay, I knew… huh?”

“Giggles!”

Taken aback, Genevra questioned Larisa, who was innocently laughing.

“You don’t want to?”

“No.”

“Why, why?”

“Well, you see…”

Larisa whispered in Genevra’s ear. The child’s breath tickled.

“William might marry me.”

“He said he wouldn’t?”

“Oh my, William is as handsome as a prince. What if he wants to marry me later?”

True. Genevra laughed sarcastically.

“You said you didn’t want to get married anytime…”

“For now, but who knows later?”

“So, you’re keeping William as insurance?”

“What’s insurance?”

“There’s something like that.”

It was absurd but amusing. Larisa’s words made all the worries and contemplations she had irrelevant.

To adopt Larisa against her will? William’s elaborate plan had become utterly useless.
“I wonder how William would react if he hears this.”

Genevra felt better and started eating the stew. Naturally, when she began feeding Larisa, who was sitting on her lap, the servants, who were listening in, were shocked.

“Master William has never fed someone like that…”

Genevra nonchalantly ignored the comments.

“Eat well and grow quickly.”

“Yum, yum.”

“What should I give you next time?”

“Meat!”

“You know how to eat.”

Watching Larisa eat well, Genevra had a thought. Regardless of the decision William made, ultimately, everything depended on Larisa’s hands.

Just like Genevra couldn’t beat her beloved son, William couldn’t beat Larisa, the one he loved. Even though she denied it, it would eventually turn out that way.

If that’s the case… the solution is simple. There was no need to try hard to persuade William from the beginning. It was a matter of gaining Larisa’s favor, protecting her, and pouring everything into her.

Genevra had an epiphany.

William, returning home with a heavy heart after a week, was surprised to see Genevra coming out to greet him while holding Larisa. It was the first time Genevra had come out to greet him like this.

Larisa reached out and exclaimed, “Welcome back, Professor Siod. Come on, William!”

“Uh, uh…”
Larisa grinned. William didn’t embrace her as he used to. Even the atmosphere between Professor Siod and Genevra felt awkward.

Instead of hugging William as usual, Larisa embraced Genevra and entered the dining room. Throughout the way, it was strange that Professor Siod didn’t say a word.

“Professor, are you feeling unwell?”

Siod answered with a smile, “How did you know? Impressive. The professor’s heart hurts right now.”

“Why?”

“Because of someone who hurt me.”

Sharp-minded Larisa instinctively looked at Genevra’s face. Genevra subtly turned her head, avoiding eye contact.

Inside the restaurant, William, Siod, and Genevra were silent. Since Genevra was also quiet, Larisa observed the reactions of the three.

Since none of them seemed to speak first, Larisa sighed heavily.

“Did the three of you have a fight?”

“What? No.”

“No.”

Despite William and Genevra immediately responding, Siod remained silent. Larisa sensed that Siod was firmly upset by observing him casually continuing his meal.

It was the first time Larisa had seen Professor Siod upset. In Larisa’s opinion, Siod had always been a very generous person, so seeing him upset felt like a significant matter.
Larisa glanced back at Genevra. As their eyes met, Genevra flinched and lowered her eyelashes. It was evident that Genevra seemed to be at fault.

Larisa sighed heavily. No one was stepping forward in this situation. Was it her turn to do so? Placing her hand on her hip, Larisa spoke with a stern voice, like an elementary school teacher.

“The one who made the mistake should apologize first.”

Spluttering, William, who had been drinking water, began to cough. William was also a perceptive boy. He had a sense that Professor Siod was angry.

But was it the mother who should apologize? William glanced at Genevra. Surprisingly, Genevra’s eyelashes were trembling.

‘This is not good.’

William, who thought that his mother was definitely upset, quietly pulled his chair back. He had planned to jump up with Larisa if things went awry, but an astonishing event unfolded.

“…I’m sorry.”

It was such a surprising event that even Siod, who was skillfully chopping with a knife, missed a beat.

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

The servants who were bustling around hesitated and stepped back, sticking to the wall. An unprecedented event had occurred. The esteemed Genevra Rodante was apologizing…!

Even Siod, taken aback, asked, “What?”

He didn’t plan to revengefully ask, ‘What are you sorry for?’ Siod, unknowingly, blocked his mouth and stammered.