Chapter 49
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Chapter 49
Wait a moment.
"Edwin, isn't this outfit too small for you?"
"Pardon?"
Startled by my sudden question, Edwin merely blinked, chocolate still pressed between his lips.
"Your wrists are showing beyond the sleeves."
"Isn't that how they all fit? Everyone at the Orphanage wore them like this."
"Well..."
It was painfully obvious.
The Orphanage couldn't afford to purchase new clothes as the children grew, so they had no choice but to dress them in garments that had long since become too small.
But this wasn't the Orphanage—this was the Bellomen Duchy itself.
"Didn't Father buy you new clothes?"
"He did. Quite a lot, actually."
Edwin sprang from his chair and dashed to the Dressing Room, flinging open the wardrobe doors. Dozens upon dozens of pristine garments hung from the racks—unmistakably brand new.
"There are still so many I haven't even worn yet."
"So I see..."
I pressed my temples as I gazed at the gleaming array of new clothes.
Buying perfectly fitted garments for a child in the midst of a growth spurt—and so many of them at that.
Children Edwin's age grew like bean sprouts. Close your eyes for a moment and they'd shoot up impossibly tall before you could blink.
'You're supposed to account for that by buying clothes a size larger.'
Of course, the House of Bellomen had wealth in abundance. It meant they wouldn't stoop to the indignity of dressing a child in oversized garments merely to save a pittance.
'But buying dozens of the same size is simply excessive.'
Better to purchase a few larger garments in anticipation of his growth.
"This won't do, Edwin. Let's go shopping for new clothes."
"Right now?"
Edwin asked with a reluctant expression.
Of course, I knew exactly how to coax children in moments like these.
"Yes. You've grown so much you need a whole new wardrobe."
"I've grown?"
"Yes. Quite a lot."
As I nodded with a serious expression, Edwin's face brightened instantly.
I didn't stop there—I drove the point home.
"At this rate, you'll be an adult soon."
"An adult...!"
That thrilling word made Edwin bounce on his feet.
"At this pace, I'd say you'll be grown in five years—no, maybe even three."
"An adult in three years...?"
Edwin placed his hands on his cheeks, clearly delighted by the prospect of becoming an adult.
I seized the moment and gently pushed the boy forward.
"So come on, let's go get you some new clothes."
* * *
"B-brr, it's freezing."
"That's why I told you to wear a scarf."
"Scarves make me feel suffocated!"
"Don't come whining to me later when you catch a cold. Fair warning—I can't stand whiny men."
"A-a real man doesn't whine!"
"Children, please be quiet for just a moment."
I pleaded with the bickering children. They'd been rowdy since we left the carriage, and their noise hadn't diminished one bit.
"I have been quiet."
"Why did you come along, Duke?"
What was supposed to be a pleasant outing with Edwin had somehow expanded to five people, now including Claude.
'How did this even happen?'
It all started when I volunteered to cheer Edwin up.
'Wouldn't Edwin be happier if Amelia came along? He does like Amelia, after all.'
And so Amelia joined us.
'But if I only take those two, Lucian will get jealous... I should just bring Lucian too.'
And so Lucian joined us.
'Sister, couldn't we bring Uncle along too?'
'Wouldn't Uncle prefer to rest at home? His leg is inconvenient, after all.'
'It's not inconvenient at all. If anything, staying cooped up in the mansion has made my body stiff.'
'Since when have you been here?'
And so Claude joined us, bringing us to our current party size.
"This isn't home—it's outside. You need to listen to your aunt even better and make sure you don't bother other people."
"I always listen to you, Aunt."
"I don't think so..."
"Edwin, what did you say?"
"Oh, nothing at all."
For every word I spoke, ten more came pouring back at me.
"I'm going to get a nosebleed at this rate..."
"Gasp, blood! That's all because of germs!"
Lucian pulled a bar of soap from his bear-shaped bag.
"Why are you carrying soap around?"
For some reason, Lucian had recently become obsessed with germs and always carried a bar of dry soap with him.
"Put that away in your bag and hold Amelia's hand."
"H-hold hands?"
Lucian jumped like a fish freshly pulled from water.
"Yes. That way you won't lose her."
Having the children hold hands was a preventive measure. If they were holding hands, at least they wouldn't scatter in different directions.
"D-don't make me..."
Lucian began squirming like a pretzel, clearly embarrassed at the prospect of holding Amelia's hand.
"Then hold Edwin's hand instead of Amelia's."
"I'll just hold Lia's hand."
Lucian grasped Amelia's hand without a shred of embarrassment, as if he'd never been shy about it in the first place.
"Did Edwin hold Amelia's hand too?"
"Yes."
Edwin answered with flushed cheeks.
"Good. Amelia, don't let go of Edwin's and Lucian's hands."
"Yes. But Sister."
"What?"
"Aren't you holding hands?"
"Me?"
"Yes."
Amelia nodded.
"We're all holding hands while we walk, but if you don't, it's unfair."
"That's... I suppose?"
"Right! It's unfair!"
"Lucian, it's unfair, not uncomfortable."
Fair point. From a child's perspective, it would naturally feel unfair if the person who told them to hold hands didn't do so herself.
As an adult, I should set a good example for them.
"Fine. I'll hold hands too. Whose hand should I take?"
"Not ours."
With both her hands already clasped by Lucian and Edwin, Amelia pointed with her chin toward Claude.
"Uncle's hand, please."
"What?"
I was taken aback by Amelia's unexpected suggestion.
She wanted me to hold whose hand?
"Uncle doesn't have anyone to hold hands with. He'd be lonely if he's alone, so wouldn't it be okay if Sister held his hand?"
"That might be a bit difficult..."
"Why?"
"Uncle and I are both adults. Wouldn't it be strange for two grown-ups to walk around holding hands?"
"Why is it strange for adults to hold hands?"
Amelia asked with innocent, guileless eyes.
"Uncle has trouble walking anyway."
"That's..."
Faced with that pure, untainted expression, I found myself unable to continue my explanation.
"Perhaps it would be best to do as Amelia suggests, my lady."
"Duchess."
"It's not a concept children would easily understand."
Claude, who had drawn near, whispered into my ear.
"And from the children's perspective, they might feel discriminated against."
"Ah...."
I gazed at the three children standing before me.
Amelia with her pouting lips, Edwin watching her carefully, and....
"Wow, what a delicious smell!"
Lucian, who seemed utterly oblivious to everything.
"Fine."
I nodded reluctantly.
"Hurry! Hurry and take it!"
Why did Amelia seem so excited about this... was it just my imagination?
"Wait a moment, Amelia."
I needed to mentally prepare myself for this.
Despite appearances, this was the first time in both my past and present life that I would hold hands with an adult man.
"Huff, hah."
I was repeating deep breaths to calm my inexplicable nervousness.
Warmth touched my hand, which had grown cold from the winter wind.
"Oh...!"
Startled by the sudden contact, I instinctively tried to pull my hand away. But a stronger force enveloped my hand, preventing any escape.
"If you don't take it right now, she'll definitely sulk. She may not look it, but Amelia is quite good at pouting."
"Ah...."
I lowered my gaze.
Claude's large hand completely covered mine. His hand was so enormous that my own hand was barely visible beneath it.
"When she sulks, it typically lasts at least three days. Even after those three days pass, I still have to watch her mood carefully. I wonder if her narrow-mindedness comes from my father...."
Claude said something, but I barely heard him.
I was captivated by the warmth enveloping my hand and the firm, calloused texture of his skin.
Were men's hands always this large, this firm, and this warm?
"Young Lady?"
"Oh, yes."
At Claude's call, I trembled slightly. Though I'd done nothing wrong, I felt like a child caught misbehaving.
"It's cold out. We should head into the Clothing Shop soon."
"Ah, understood."
With my hand clasped in Claude's, I led the three children toward the Clothing Shop.
So focused was I on our joined hands that I failed to notice Amelia's knowing wink.
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