I Unintentionally Cured the Grand Duke’s Insomnia - Chapter 6

0.3 — Plan A, Avoiding The Death Flag (2)

“So, can’t father talk to mother about it?”

“Me?”

“I think mother would listen to father a little more.”

My words seemed to put a lot of strength on my father’s shoulders. I was rather worried when I could see him smiling confidently as if I did not have to worry.

…Was this the right choice?

Still, I smiled, pushing my anxious heart away while father stood up as though saying to trust him. The more confident he became, the more strange anxiety took place in my heart.

ﾟ･ : * ✧ * :･ﾟ

“Say that again.”

My hand, which was moving as I was eating stew, stopped in the air when I noticed the frozen atmosphere. Meanwhile, my mother stared at father with her cold, stern eyes before raising her voice once more.

“Are you talking about delaying Lia’s debutante one more year?”

“Li, Lina—I mean…!”

“Baroness Jo Malone, whom I met today, told me that her daughter will have her debutante this year.”

“….”

“…Even though she’s two years younger than our Lia.”

My mother’s words did not deviate from my expectations.

A little startled at her mother’s words, my father glanced at me. Seeing that, I secretly nodded my head to him, mouthing, ‘Let’s keep convincing.’

Mother, who was glancing suspiciously at his busy gaze, opened her mouth first.

“Don’t you understand what I mean? Our Lia is already twenty years old.”

“Of course, I know. I know that well. Though that’s because Lia has been so sick for the past ten years…”

“That’s right. It hurt so much.”

Replying to him, she then tapped her lips with the napkin she had placed on her lap. A cold sweat ran down my back, embarrassed by my mother’s attitude, which was stronger than I expected. If this was the case, it seemed like Plan A, to delay my social debut does not seem to be successful but now a failure instead… Shall we step back and come up with a new strategy again…?

“Of course, I now believe that our Lia will no longer be sick. I think it’s probably the same for Lia and you as well.”

“Th, that’s right.”

“Although I want other people to know that Lia is no longer sick and no longer in pain.”

“….”

“So, I hope that Lia can have a happy family like everyone else.”

There was no wavering in the expression on my mother’s face as she expressed her opinion in a resolute voice. Her clenched fists somehow showed her determination. Father also squinted his eyes, as though surprised by mother’s vigorous opposition than he had expected.

It seemed that this operation was a failure…

Thinking that, I winked, indicating that it would be better to end it at this point, although my bewildered father seemed to have misunderstood my wink. He nodded his head with a determined face, cleared his throat, and opened his mouth once more.

“Still, I don’t think it matters if we delay it for another year or so…”

My eyes trembled anxiously this time at the sound of father’s cautious voice. At the sight of my stubborn father, the atmosphere became precarious as though he were walking on thin ice.

“I mean, it’s two years late, anyway. Even if it’s one year later—”

Though he eventually shut his mouth while he spoke calmly at my mother’s gaze. The special sauce spread over the steak was smeared on his father’s cheek, who turned his head towards me to apologize for not being of any help.

Mother, breathing a shallow sigh at father’s face, who seemed far from solemnity, lifted a napkin and wiped his cheek. Her hand that was wiping contained an unhidden displeasure.

“That’s right. Two years late.”

“….”

“It was two years late, therefore, there would be no need to delay it by another year.”

“….”

“There’s no reason for that.”

“Li, Lina.”

“Do you understand what I mean now?”

My mother, who overpowered father at once, turned towards me this time. As I met her sharp gaze, I swallowed my saliva slowly.

“What do you think, Lia?”

“Yes…?”

“Do you want to make your debut next year instead of this year?”

At mother’s question, I glanced at my father. He nodded his head as though conveying to me to express my feelings to her directly. At that, I painted a smile on my face and ignored him.

“Of course not.”

“….?”

“In fact, I really want to debut this year because I think it’s been delayed a lot already.”

“Li, Lia—?”

I smiled brightly, pretending not to notice my bewildered father and continued my following words.

“Mother is right. It can be done this year, so there’s no need to postpone it until next year.”

“….”

“Thank you so much for your concern, mother. I’m very much looking forward to this debutante.”

I am sorry, father…

Though there is no need for both of us to be scolded.

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