Adelbard scratched his head, laughing nervously, clearly unsettled by the situation.
“Adi… Adeline, what do you want to do?” I asked, gently stroking her shoulder.
Adeline, her head bowed to the point where I couldn’t see her face, whispered in a small voice, “Nothing. I don’t want anything from him. I just… wanted to know the truth. That’s enough for me.”
“I see. Adelbard, we won’t be making any demands or claims. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us,” I said firmly.
Adelbard, who looked to be in his late twenties, stood with a faint look of relief and regret. “I’m sorry,” he murmured before leaving.
* * *
“Freddie, could you order some tea and snacks, please?” I asked after Adelbard left.
True to his word, Freddie, who had stayed quietly to ensure we weren’t alone with a stranger, handled the request without asking any questions. When the tea and snacks arrived, I offered them to Adeline, who slowly began to relax.
After regaining her composure, Adeline looked at me with determination in her eyes.
“Sister, I’ve made up my mind. I’m leaving the family too.”
* * *
With Adeline’s resolve firm, we began refining our plans to leave.
During this time, I sought advice from my superior at work.
“Would I still be able to keep my position if I relinquish my noble status?” I asked.
My superior, who was nearing fifty, listened as I explained my situation. He sighed deeply before offering an unexpected proposal.
“Technically, once you come of age, you can formally renounce your noble status through the proper procedures. But as a civil servant, having a noble background—especially as a woman—still gives you an advantage. You’re talented, Amanda, and your reform proposals have already made a difference. Losing you to commoner status would be a waste. So, how about this: I’ll adopt you as my daughter.”
“Pardon…?”
“My wife and I already have an heir, and our son is married with children. Most of the family responsibilities are already taken care of. By taking you in as my adopted daughter, you can maintain your noble status without complications.”
“Wait… this is too much—”
“Of course, we’ll handle it discreetly. You’ll temporarily renounce your noble status and, after a short time, I’ll officially adopt you. That way, we avoid unnecessary entanglements. Leave the details to me.”
“I… I couldn’t possibly impose on you like this!”
When I hurriedly tried to stop my superior from going through with his proposal, he gave me a mischievous grin.
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