I Didn't Lull You to Sleep Only for You to Be Obsessed With Me - Chapter 33
RP: Haebaragi_syk
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Chapter 17.2
Whether that thought showed on her face or not, Claude raised one corner of his mouth and gestured towards Asher, who was sitting beside her.
“Don’t you see how tense Asher is?”
Now that he mentioned it, the child had been subtly stiffened for a while. Despite the fact that he seemed to be trying to appear nonchalant, the hands he had placed on his lap were trembling slightly.
“Were you planning to send that trembling child alone?”
“He’s not alone.”
“Aha, so you were planning to send that child alone with just me?”
Thump.
Noticing Asher’s shoulders shaking at those words, April held her forehead. She finally understood what Claude meant.
‘Rather than being alone with Claude in the carriage, it’s better to be alone.’
Moreover, they were going to the imperial palace. However, they weren’t going to meet the emperor and only to confirm their blood relationship, even that could have been a burden on the child since he might be thinking about what he would do if he weren’t Claude’s relative.
So, perhaps he brought her along to consider the child.
This time, it was her oversight.
“Still, Asher follows you like an older sister. While I’m his guardian, you’re no less important as a guardian. This is an important day for him, so I thought it would be nice if we all went together.”
“I didn’t fully understand the Duke’s deeper intentions.”
With a sigh, April answered and held the child’s hand as Asher looked up at her hesitantly. Seeing her smile, he awkwardly followed suit.
“Asher, are you very nervous?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Really?”
“…To be honest, I’m a little nervous.”
“Really?”
“A little… well, quite a bit.”
Hehe. Saying so, he finally giggled. April squeezed the child’s hand, still trembling slightly, tighter before parting her lips.
“Do you like me coming with you?”
“I like it.”
Asher lowered his head and blushed.
‘Well, it can’t be helped.’
April had made up her mind and willingly accompanied the child.
̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊
The carriage that had been traveling through the city had arrived at the palace. As Asher looked out the window at the magnificent scenery, he already seemed overwhelmed. Even April, who had seen all kinds of palaces while traveling in Europe, felt slightly intimidated by the grandeur of the elaborately decorated palace.
Claude, on the other hand, seemed unfazed as he casually crossed his legs and gazed outside as if he were accustomed to it.
“Seems like we’ve arrived. Let’s get off.”
Once the carriage came to a complete stop, April and Asher followed Claude as they walked down the corridor.
The place he was heading towards was a large hall.
As the knights guarding the large doors politely greeted Claude as soon as they spotted him, he nodded to them and then walked inside. In front of the hall, there was a grand podium, and the ceiling depicted scenes of baby angels and goddesses singing. While Asher and April were staring at the ceiling in mesmerization, Claude strode toward the podium, where a man in priest attire was waiting.
“Asher, come this way.”
“Ah, yes!”
As the child dashed forward, he suddenly became conscious of his surroundings before he walked cautiously, lifting his heels. When Claude held Asher’s hand tightly in his, the priest took both of their hands and placed them over a bowl filled with water.
“Now, let’s confirm whether the two of you are related by blood.”
As the priest infused the water with divine power, it ignited with sparkling radiance. The luminescence inched up their arms and gradually swathed their entire bodies.
Observing this spectacle, April’s throat tightened as she swallowed a dry gulp.
Despite having already confirmed that Asher was Claude’s nephew, an unsettling thought gnawed at her at the potential for an alternate outcome. In the meanwhile, the effulgent light that had enfolded them faded, transitioning into a verdant glow emanating from the bowl.
In a deep voice, the priest declared.
“The two of you are indeed related by blood.”
“I thought so.”
While Claude responded casually, Asher was taken aback.
“Really?”
“Yes. Anyway, since we’re already at the palace, it might be a good opportunity to register Asher into the Winterville family officially.”
When he glanced at her with a questioning gaze as if asking if she wanted to go with him, April shook her head.
“I’ll go to the lounge for a moment.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh, my legs are a bit sore.”
April smiled, covering her heels with her skirt.
Since she didn’t have the proper attire to wear to the palace, she had to borrow the clothes and shoes from the previous duchess, but the shoe size didn’t fit well and it caused some irritation around her Achilles tendon. It seemed difficult to stand any longer, so she thought of taking a short break in the lounge.
Claude simply nodded in agreement.
“I see. Then, let’s meet here in an hour.”
“M-me too?”
Asher looked at April and Claude alternately with a bewildered expression.
“Of course. I need you to be there to complete the paperwork to register you.”
“But…”
Even if the child looked at her with pleading eyes, April couldn’t grant the child’s request this time.
“Asher, I’m sorry. Can you behave well while I’m gone?”
“Yes.”
After watching the two leave, April asked for directions from a guard and headed to the lounge.
Little did she know the unforeseen situation this decision would bring.
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