Sedeloi’s thoughts, filled with pride as he remembered Cyrus, came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly, it felt like everything in front of him turned pitch black, then flashed brightly. Only then did he notice Arianthe’s cheek, slightly blushing, as she looked at him.

“What? Father. Is it okay?”

Although Arianthe grabbed his hand and shook it, Sedeloi remained silent. What should one say in response to such a question? No, more importantly, when did such a conversation even come up?

“Arianthe. Hmm, well… marriage is something we can think about much later. It’s not too late… according to Father’s thoughts.”

“When? When I become an adult?”

“Yes, when you become an adult.”

“But what if Cyrus marries someone else before that? Cyrus is three years older than me.”

Serious, Sedeloi thought. An abrupt sense of crisis engulfed him. It was understandable, as Arianthe seemed genuinely worried that Cyrus might marry someone else.

On the other hand, Sedeloi’s perspective was entirely different. He found it hard to even imagine Arianthe growing up, reaching twelve or fifteen years old, let alone considering marriage.

After contemplating, Sedeloi said, “If, Arianthe, as you said, Cyrus really likes you, he will wait until you become an adult before getting married. So, don’t worry.”

“Father, are you also waiting for Maiana?”

This was an even more surprising statement. For a moment, Sedeloi, who almost heard a sigh, looked down at his daughter with a widened face.

“What are you talking about?”

“Father likes Maiana. But Maiana also seems to like Father. That’s what I think. But why don’t you marry Maiana? Both you and Maiana are adults, so you can get married.”

Profound. Sedeloi thought. A sudden sense of crisis. After all, Arianthe was genuinely worried that Maiana might marry someone else.

Sedeloi, who was lost in thought, said, “If, as Arianthe said, Cyrus likes you very much, then you should wait until you become an adult. So don’t worry.”

“Did Father tell Maiana that he likes her?”

When Arianthe asked the question, Sedeloi, as if he had no confidence, replied, “Well, maybe I did.”

Arianthe’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“What did Maiana say?”

“Maiana…”

Suddenly, there was a scene that flashed through his mind. But that wasn’t all. Her voice. The unfamiliar yet enchanting voice that even in dreams, he never thought he’d hear, seemed to suddenly seize Sedeloi, leaving him unable to move.

Arianthe tilted her head with a mischievous smile.

“Father?”

Sedeloi lightly shook his head and looked at Arianthe, saying, “Maiana… Well, that’s a secret between Father and Maiana.”

Arianthe’s lips turned slightly pointed with mischief.

“I want to know!”

“Of course, you do. But some secrets must be kept, right?”

“Yes.”

Looking at Arianthe, who pouted cutely, Sedeloi, finding her adorable, said, “Some secrets need to be protected.”
“Alright, stop and go to sleep. It’ll be hard to wake up in the morning if you sleep too late.”

As Sedeloi uttered those words, Arianthe, as if waiting for them, yawned slightly with her mouth barely open. Without any sign of hesitation, Sedeloi picked up the child and headed towards the bedroom. In the silent room, engulfed in darkness as the lights went out, only Swan, making a faint rustling sound as she breathed, was quietly asleep.

Sedeloi carefully set Arianthe down on one side to avoid waking Swan. Perhaps enduring the urge to sleep until its limit, Arianthe, now seemingly half asleep, mumbled with her lips slightly smeared.

As Sedeloi covered her with a sheet, Arianthe, turning her body and grabbing a corner of his sleeve as if sulking, spoke up.

“Father.”

“Why are you doing this?”

As he responded in a whisper, Arianthe closed her eyes and mumbled as if in a dream.

“Jocelyn… you should stop Swan from being bothered.”

In the darkness, Sedeloi’s eyes blinked silently. After gently kissing his daughter’s forehead, who had fallen into a deep sleep, he looked down at the two children on the bed with a face filled with concern. And for a moment, he thought of the shadow that was lingering near the door, someone unidentifiable.

For the next two days, Arianthe did not budge from the study room even after classes were over, diligently working on her homework. It was because of Sedeloi’s promise to lift the ban on outings once the homework was finished.

Although Swan, who had become friends with Arianthe, wanted to play together, Arianthe’s determination to finish her homework could not be broken. Swan eventually went to the garden, holding a small storybook taken from the bookshelf.

Staying in the room, Sedeloi was constantly being chatted by Bridget, which wasn’t unpleasant, but it was somewhat burdensome for the shy boy who hadn’t completely overcome his shyness.

The Duke’s garden was spacious, with many trees, making it an excellent place to read anywhere. Whether Arianthe had become more familiar or for some reason, today, such thoughts of being expelled and returning to Madame Dupree’s house did not occur to him.