“A ‘Rowe’ with the same position as an adopted daughter! Are you saying we now have to serve a child of another species, not even a wolf, as a direct descendant!”

“Even if he marries the Earl of Boston, I never thought he would adopt that daughter too!”

The dining hall was filled with loud voices of discontent.

Everyone was rushing to protest against the adoption papers Jade had presented.

Rochenia found these collateral relatives pathetic.

In the end, they couldn’t refute Jade or change the already decided outcome, all they could do was make a fuss behind his back.

“The biggest problem among them is Earl Boston. He must have certainly used every trick to seduce the head of the family to make his daughter a Rowe. That’s why the family head made such a crazy choice!”

Rochenia sighed as she saw her elder brother raising his voice the loudest among them.

Although she stopped him because Emperor’s seal was on Blanche’s adoption papers, she was actually the most indignant.

This banquet was the first time to see Earl Boston.

She had never interacted with Boston because their species were different, and since the wedding hadn’t been held yet, she was curious what kind of woman she was.

Hearing evaluations about Earl Boston, she was told her personality was docile and timid, so she planned to tease her.

‘How did it turn out like this… They clearly said she was timid!’

But Earl Boston just quietly watched without even greeting. At first she thought she was scared, but that wasn’t it.

She even spoke down to her elder brother’s impatient questioning with confidence.

‘Moreover, if it’s a greeting to Earl Boston, he should also be polite. Or is that not so? You can speak informally to me since we’re both earls, but he’s your father.’

While presenting perfect logic.

She regretted underestimating Earl Boston too much and not making any special preparations.

“Oh, do you all know this story? I heard from a close friend of His Majesty the Emperor that the age for entering the academy will be adjusted to 5 years old.”

Rochenia, who had been pondering unable to just be on the receiving end, listened carefully to the conversation that just took place.

‘If it’s 5 years old… Earl Boston’s daughter will be entering soon too, right?’

Earl Boston’s daughter kept hiding and couldn’t show her face even once. Meanwhile, she seemed to have become somewhat close with Jade, touching his cheek without fear.

‘I already didn’t like that daughter very much, this works out well.’

As it happened, her nephew was currently attending the academy.

According to the adjusted age, quite a few children from the collateral families would be entering.

If they bullied the daughter to make her unable to adapt to the academy, and if it was done by the collateral relatives, Earl Boston might divorce Jade.

‘Even if something happens, it occurred within the academy so they probably can’t formally raise an issue.’

Rochenia endured today’s humiliation, finding a way to drive out Earl Boston and her daughter more easily than expected.

On a spring day when warmth permeated the air, Blanche received her acceptance letter to the academy.

Blanche, who had first heard from Jade and had been waiting for the letter to arrive, was very pleased.

“Mom, Ririn says she’s going to the Art Department!”

“Yes, I heard. Diel is going to the Economics Department, and Eschert to the Swordsmanship Department. Which department does our daughter want to go to?”

We were discussing with Blanche as there was an opportunity to choose which department to go to.

I thought she would choose the Art Department following her close friend Ririn. Since Blanche likes to draw.

“Hmm, where should I go… Oh! It’s Dad’s footsteps!”

Blanche, who had been rolling around pondering for a while, ran to Jade who had just returned from the palace.

“Da! ddy!”

Jade, who was handing his jacket to the butler at the entrance, stretched out his arms as soon as he saw Blanche.

“Miss Blanche, you’ll fall if you do that!”

The butler who tried to stop Blanche smiled contentedly, and Jade picked her up as if he couldn’t help it.

“Were you listening well to Mom?”

“Of course, Shu Shu is the kindest child in the world who listens well to Mom! Higher, higher!”

“Blanche, Dad’s tired.”

I tried to stop Blanche like that and gestured to Jade to put her down.

“I’m not tired.”

Jade instead threw Blanche up and caught her.

“Jade. You must be tired after going to the imperial palace since morning.”

“I was annoyed listening to nonsense, but I’m fine now. When I come home, you and Blanche are here.”

Jade’s face, as he continued to play with Blanche, looked truly happy.

“Oh right. Which department were Mom and Dad in at the academy?”

“Dad was in the Political Diplomacy Department, and Mom was in the Art Department.”

It was fun to be reminded of the time when I attended the academy with Jade.

‘Jade, are you here again today not attending class?’

‘It’s boring since I already know all the content anyway. Larien, do you have outdoor class again today?’

I often had outdoor classes drawing pictures because I was in the Art Department, and every time I found Jade sleeping hidden in the bushes.

I used to approach Jade’s side to play or record his sleeping figure.

“Why did Mom choose the Art Department?”

“Well…”

Actually, it wasn’t me but ‘Larien’ who chose the Art Department. When I possessed her body, it was already the time of entering the academy.

“Your mom liked to draw me.”

“Jade. What…!”

“Isn’t that right? You always drew next to me whenever I was sleeping.”

Jade answered instead as I hesitated to reply.

‘I just drew because you were next to me, but it sounds like I enthusiastically liked Jade and followed him around!’

Blanche looked at me and giggled.

“Shu Shu thought Dad liked Mom more until now, but that wasn’t it! Mom likes Dad more!”

“Blanche, that’s not-”

“Hmm, then Mom doesn’t like Dad?”

When I couldn’t speak properly out of embarrassment at Blanche’s question, Jade whispered softly into Blanche’s ear.

‘What is he saying?’

I don’t know what he said, but Blanche’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a circle.

“Jade. Come down quickly after changing. There’s still time before dinner, so let’s have a snack before then.”

“Alright.”

“Dad! Today it’s cheese tart! You have to come down quickly!”

After sending Jade up to change, I asked Blanche.

“Blanche. What did Dad say earlier?”

“Dad said it’s a secret.”

“You don’t have to tell Dad that you told Mom.”

I put my ear close to Blanche, trying to persuade her because I was so curious.

“Dad said earlier…”

“Yes, Dad said?”

“No. Dad said he likes Mom more than Mom likes Dad.”

My heart started pounding rapidly and I hiccupped when I heard the unexpected words.

Seeing that, the quick-witted butler brought water and I tried to calm down while drinking it.

“Mom, Shu Shu decided! I’m going to the Political Diplomacy Department! Since Shu Shu will become Viscount Rowe like Dad later, I want to learn the same things as Dad!”

“I, I see.”

The hiccups stopped but my heart was still beating fast, so I couldn’t properly hear what Blanche was saying.

‘Dad likes more than Mom…’

For some reason, I couldn’t look at Jade properly all day because I was so fluttered by those words.

It’s already been a week since the entrance ceremony and becoming a student at Romer Academy with Mom and Dad’s encouragement.

During break time, Blanche was exploring the academy building with Ririn.

“Ririn, I’m so happy we became roommates together!”

“Me too, I was worried we couldn’t be roommates since our departments are different, but I’m glad.”

Then they didn’t see the boy coming from the front because they were looking around.

Blanche, who fell backwards on her bottom, barely got up with Ririn’s support.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t see where I was going.”

Mom taught her that when you make a mistake, you should quickly acknowledge it and apologize.

Fortunately, the boy didn’t seem to be hurt due to the difference in build.

Since only she fell in the first place, Blanche was planning to just apologize and pass by.

“You think just saying sorry is enough? Do you know who I am?”

However, the boy brushed off his arm that had bumped into Blanche as if something dirty had touched it.

“She already apologized. She didn’t not apologize, so do you have to go that far?”

Ririn frowned as she stood in front of Blanche.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“It’s Ririn Lerre. Why?”

“Lerre… you’re just a baronet family.”

The boy looked at Ririn and sneered disdainfully.

“Even if our family’s title is low, we’re a prestigious family with a long history!”

Ririn shouted with tears in her eyes, and the boy scratched his ear.

“So what if you have a long history. You’re still just a lower noble. I’m Emman Iskal. My father is Viscount Iskal.”

Even though he didn’t accept the apology, she was going to let it go since she bumped into him first, but the other party didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so.

“You know Iskal is a collateral branch of Rowe, right? I won’t let it slide like this next time, so watch where you’re going from now on.”

“My friend is ‘Blanche Rowe’.”

At Ririn’s retort, the boy glared at Blanche.

“Ah. So you’re that…”

Then he immediately narrowed the distance and came closer.

“That adopted daughter who doesn’t know her place? I heard about you from my aunt, but still. Do you think you’ve really become a ‘Rowe’ just because you were adopted by the Viscount?”