Sensing the hidden meaning in those words, the director hastily waved his hands. Duke Adrien was asking if they had ever abused Rosette.

“No! We teach them not to be picky eaters, but we don’t force them to eat things they can’t.”

“Have you ever forced a child with allergies to eat something?”

“What kind of adult would do such a heinous thing!”

The director forgot that the person in front of him was ‘that’ Duke Adrien and became angry.

“I understand what you’re concerned about, Your Grace. But I’m offended that you suspect me like this. I swear to God, I’ve never done anything wrong to the children.”

Duke Adrien had met many people in his life. His ability to judge people was just as accurate.

Right now, the director was telling the truth.

“Then do you have any guess as to why the child did that?”

“Perhaps she wanted to look good in front of you, Your Grace?”

“Then how did that child know about the allergy?”

“That, I don’t know.”

This time too, the director seemed to be telling the truth. It seemed pointless to press him further. Duke Adrien stood up.

“I’ll be going for now. If anything else comes up, I’ll visit again.”

After leaving the director’s office, Duke Adrien went to find the child named Jane he had seen earlier.

“Child.”

“Huh?”

At his signal, his aide took out some snacks that had been prepared in advance and gave them to Jane.

Jane hesitated for a moment before accepting the snacks and handing them to a child standing behind her. The child who received the snacks ran off to share them with the other children.

Then Jane asked.

“Is Rose doing well?”

“You must miss Rose a lot.”

“Yes, very much. But I’ll endure it. Because I want Rose to be happy.”

“I see.”

Duke Adrien hesitated for a moment before asking.

“Is the director treating you well?”

Fortunately, Jane answered with a bright smile, without any suspicion.

“Yes!”

“Is there anyone bullying you like before?”

“No!”

“I see, alright.”

“Please send my regards to Rose!”

“I will.”

Duke Adrien finished his brief conversation with Jane and returned to his carriage. Unlike adults, children are not skilled at lying. There was no hesitation or falsehood in Jane’s answer that the director was treating them well.

However, Rosette’s behavior still bothered him. If not here, where had that child been forced to eat shrimp?

“Joseph.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Keep a close eye on the orphanage from now on.”

“What concerns you, sir?”

“The condition of the children.”

That was enough of an answer. Beyond the carriage window, his aide Joseph bowed his head in understanding.

“Oh, and don’t serve shrimp with meals for the time being.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Having finished his conversation, the Duke closed the window. He wanted to go see Rosette and the children right away, but he had a lot of work to do due to the backlog of tasks and adoption procedures.

He headed towards the imperial palace, leaving his regrets behind.

‘Regrets, how odd of me.’

Even as he thought this, Duke Adrien unknowingly smiled.

* * *

“Adoption, you say?”

The Emperor asked. He sincerely thought he had misheard the Duke’s words.

Duke Adrien repeated the same words with an expressionless face.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I intend to adopt a daughter.”

“What wind has blown suddenly? I know adoption has been spreading like a trend among nobles as part of their charity work, but I didn’t expect even you to do so.”

“It is sudden, but I’m not adopting with a frivolous mind.”

“Then?”

“It’s just, from the moment I first saw her, I felt drawn to her. She seemed pitiful, and I found myself wanting to keep her by my side and take care of her.”

The Emperor observed Duke Adrien’s face with a curious expression.

Duke Adrien was actually famous for being cold-blooded, known for his coldness. The only people he treated warmly were his three children and his disciple, Joshua.

Yet here he was, smiling as he talked about the child he was about to adopt. It was clear evidence that he had already fallen hard for that child.

“Moreover, despite her young age, she’s already capable of using healing magic, showing exceptional magical ability.”

The Emperor, who had been listening casually to the Duke’s story, reacted.

“Magic? She can already use healing magic, you say?”

“Yes.”

“If what you say is true, a great talent will be born. Very tempting. She might even make a good match for Max.”

“It’s premature, Your Majesty.”

“Premature? You know well that royal marriages usually happen early.”

“……”

Duke Adrien didn’t answer. He didn’t want Isabel, the daughter he cherished more than his own eyes, and Rosette, who would soon become his daughter, to be caught up in such political storms.

But since he couldn’t answer like that, he changed the subject.

“Anyway, I’m here to start the adoption process, so please grant your permission, Your Majesty.”

Although aware that he was changing the subject, the Emperor pretended not to notice.

“What’s there to not allow? Make sure to complete the adoption process as soon as possible.”

“Thank you……”

Before the Duke could finish his words of gratitude, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

“Your Highness, His Majesty is receiving Duke Adrien……”

“I know that. Step aside!”

The sound of an argument could be heard outside, and then the door burst open without permission. A boy in his early teens walked in, almost running.

Silver hair like moonlight and golden eyes, evidence of the strongest imperial bloodline. It was Joshua Earnhardt, the First Prince of the Earnhardt Empire.

Moreover, he seemed to have rushed out of his room, dressed only in a light shirt and pants.

The Emperor, still seated on the throne, scolded him.

“Prince, what is this rude behavior!”

However, Joshua, as if he hadn’t heard, looked around absently before spotting Duke Adrien and widening his eyes.

“Master!”

Then he ran to him and hugged him. Neither the Emperor nor Duke Adrian could scold Joshua further for his rudeness. Because Joshua, desperately hugging Duke Adrien, was shedding tears.

“You’re safe, Master.”

After a moment of silence, Duke Adrian laughed loudly.

“Of course I’m safe, Your Highness. You’re greeting me quite intensely today.”

“What about Daniel, how is Daniel?”

“Daniel is doing well too.”

Joshua let out a deep sigh and straightened his posture. He wiped the tears from his cheeks with a disciplined hand and composed his expression.

It was the perfect face of a prince, with no trace of the disheveled appearance from moments ago. He bowed to the Emperor.

“I greet the sun of the Empire.”

“Enough with the greetings. Now, what’s this all about?”

“I apologize for showing such an unsightly appearance, Father.”

“I asked what happened.”

“I had a brief nightmare.”

“A nightmare?”

Duke Adrian intervened to lighten the mood.

“Did Daniel and I get hurt in your dream, Your Highness?”

“……”

“They say dreams are the opposite. We’re both healthy without a scratch, so don’t worry.”

“…Yes. I’m glad to see that.”

“Since you’re here, sit down.”

At the Emperor’s suggestion, the Prince sat down. At his gesture, a waiting attendant brought formal attire. Joshua, hastily putting it on, asked.

“By the way, I hadn’t heard you were coming to the palace today. What brings you here so suddenly?”

“Ah.”

Duke Adrian answered with a slight smile.

“I came urgently to apply for an adoption.”

Joshua raised an eyebrow.

“Adoption? You mean the adoption process for which family?”

The Emperor laughed loudly as if he had heard an amusing joke.

“The Adrien family, of course.”

“The Adrien family… adopting?”

As Joshua replied skeptically, Duke Adrian jokingly said,

“Why? Are you saying I’m not qualified to adopt, Your Highness?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just a bit… sudden…”

“Yes, it’s sudden for me too. It was such a sudden decision.”

The Emperor interjected.

“It seems a magical princess will be born into that Duke’s family.”

Joshua, still looking bewildered, replied.

“Isabel, who has no affinity for mana at all, couldn’t have suddenly blossomed in magic, so I assume the newly adopted child…”

“Yes, they say the child has a talent for magic.”

Joshua, lost in thought for a moment, asked Duke Adrian again.

“Master, what sudden wind has blown for you to adopt? If you’re interested in magical ability, couldn’t you just sponsor the child?”

“There were various circumstances, but somehow I wanted to keep that child by my side and protect her.”

Joshua didn’t respond for a long time even after hearing the answer. Just as the Duke was about to speak again, he said,

“I’m curious about that child. How she managed to change your heart so much, Master.”

Duke Adrian laughed heartily, as if just thinking about Rosette made him happy.

“She’s a cute child. Though she still has much to learn, I’m sure.”

“It would be good to have a capable magician in the Duke’s family. To prepare for any unforeseen events. Anyway, I’ve seen you now, Master, so I’ll be going. I’ll visit Daniel soon.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Joshua hugged the Duke once more before leaving the audience chamber.

The Emperor clicked his tongue as he watched him go.

“Making such a fuss over a mere nightmare. Still a child. When will he grow up?”

“Well…”

Duke Adrian murmured, recalling Joshua’s expression from moments ago.

“He seems to have become much more mature since the last time I saw him.”

“Mature, you say.”

The Emperor grumbled disapprovingly.

“Can he inherit the throne like that?”

Joshua Earnhardt was the only legitimate heir born between the princess of the Kingdom of Ibern, famous for magic, and the current Earnhardt Emperor.

He showed exceptional skill in swordsmanship, to the point where Duke Adrian, a Sword Master, personally taught him. He also inherited some ability from his mother’s side, showing some aptitude for magic.

He was also said to be highly intelligent, receiving praise from renowned scholars.

However, the Emperor, who should have been proud of him, always disapproved of Joshua. Even though Joshua was the only one who could inherit the throne, he hadn’t been appointed as Crown Prince even now at the age of ten.

Some speculated it was because he didn’t love the Empress, whom he had married for political reasons. But the Emperor didn’t have another woman either. So his disapproval of Joshua was simply perplexing.

But Duke Adrian didn’t say anything about that. He simply remained silent in his seat before leaving the imperial palace.