Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 46
I walked toward the Reception Room, holding the Old Gentleman’s hand on one side and Grandfather’s hand on the other, nestled between them.
Fortunately, we hadn’t arrived late—the Duchess Papiope was not yet in the Reception Room.
While I was sipping the tea the Butler had brought, the Duchess arrived at the Reception Room right on schedule.
The moment I heard the Duchess’s footsteps beyond the open Reception Room door, I sprang to my feet and rushed toward her.
“You’ve arrived, Duchess Papiope!”
She chuckled softly and stroked my head.
“You came early, Tania.”
“Hehe. Both the Old Gentleman and Grandfather are inside.”
“Oh my, am I late?”
“No, not at all. Your timing is perfect.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
Only then did the Duchess’s gaze, which had been fixed on me, shift toward the interior of the Reception Room.
From her position, the Old Gentleman’s face was directly visible, so greetings would naturally be exchanged.
I turned my body away from the Duchess and prepared to walk back inside.
A few seconds passed like that.
By now, I should have heard the Duchess’s warm greeting.
When no voice came, I tilted my head to look at her, sensing something was amiss.
She stood entranced, her expression vacant as she stared fixedly at one point, and murmured softly:
“…Oh dear, he’s far too much my type. This is troublesome.”
It was such a faint whisper that only I, standing right beside her, could barely hear it.
?????
My mind flooded with question marks in an instant.
The Duchess’s gaze was naturally directed at none other than Aiden.
What? No, really?
In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through my mind.
What if.
It shouldn’t be possible, but what if.
If the Duchess and Aiden were to marry, then since I’m the Duchess’s daughter, wouldn’t Aiden automatically become my father?
There was only one reason I had hesitated about going to Papiope.
The fact that I could never call Aiden “father” for the rest of my life.
But if this impossible union between the Duchess and Aiden became reality…
Then I would be in a perfectly ideal situation beyond my wildest dreams.
Wait.
Does that mean I should support both of them?
I quickly assessed the possibility of the two of them together.
Setting aside the matter of his bent arm, Aiden was an extraordinarily handsome man.
A face untamed by anyone—raw, wild, and intense.
A perfectly sculpted physique that would surely captivate even the exacting Grandfather Declan.
And contrasting with that, a warm and gentle heart…!
The difference in status between a high-ranking noble and a commoner is a flaw, but what kind of person is our Duchess Papiope?
She wasn’t adopting distant relatives or children from other noble families—she held an Adoption Tournament, gathering commoner children and adopting the champion.
This meant that status could never be an obstacle to her affection.
As for the Duchess Papiope’s charm, what more need be said?
A capable woman possessing both the Empire’s foremost power and wealth.
Moreover, in her youth, she boasted such exquisite beauty that there wasn’t a single noble house that hadn’t sent her a marriage proposal.
Though she’d aged somewhat since those days, her beauty hadn’t gone anywhere.
The Duchess Papiope still radiated a brilliant, luminous beauty.
Of course, she bore the dubious reputation of being a spirited madwoman, but that would be resolved within days of directly experiencing the Duchess Papiope.
The moment I’d thought this far, I found myself swept up in wild delusion.
…This, this might actually work!
I never imagined I’d end up rooting for the pairing of Aiden and Duke Papiope.
I’d been staring at the Duchess Papiope with trembling eyes for who knows how long when she lowered her head and met my gaze.
“Child, did you hear?”
“…Yes? Ah, um, yes.”
As I stammered out my confession, the Duchess Papiope placed her index finger to her lips and narrowed her eyes with a smile.
“You’ll keep it a secret, won’t you?”
Seeing the Duchess Papiope’s reaction, it seemed I hadn’t misheard what she’d said about Aiden being too much to her taste.
I nodded vigorously, my eyes sparkling with excitement.
Of course, I’ll keep your secret. Absolutely.
After extracting my promise, the Duchess Papiope took my hand as though nothing had happened and led me into the Reception Room.
“Sit.”
Aiden, who had been standing since the moment the Duchess Papiope entered, only sat down after she gestured for him to do so.
I scurried to sit beside Aiden, and naturally, the Duchess Papiope and Grandfather ended up sitting across from us.
It was the Duchess Papiope who spoke first.
“Delighted to meet you. I’m Duke Papiope, Viviana Papiope Dilum. Thank you for accepting my invitation so readily.”
“The honor is mine to be invited to Duke Papiope’s Mansion. My name is Aiden.”
“Aiden, is it? I’ll remember that well.”
I observed the conversation between the two with great interest.
Perhaps that’s why I was paying such close attention after hearing that Aiden was the Duchess Papiope’s type.
I found myself reading too much into even her casual remark about remembering his name.
Regardless of whether my romance radar was active, the conversation continued.
“I’ve heard the general circumstances from Tania. Thank you for protecting a child with nowhere to go. Thanks to you, I was able to forge a connection with Tania.”
“Not at all. What I did for you was merely fulfilling the basic duty of being human.”
“There aren’t many who live by such human decency.”
“…Tania’s admission to the Talent Cultivation Institute and her victory in the Adoption Tournament were both accomplished by your own hand. I did nothing.”
“You’re quite a humble person. I like that.”
What is this clash of spear and shield?
I’d been lost in fantasies about the two of them becoming an item, but hearing their actual conversation, my fantasy burst like a bubble.
I’d forgotten because she was so endlessly kind to me….
The Old Gentleman was taciturn with everyone else.
Duchess Papiope crossed her legs without concern and took a sip of the tea the Butler had brought.
“Actually, I provide monthly stipends to the parents of the children I’ve adopted. It’s not quite compensation, but you understand.”
“I see.”
“Since Tania has no parents, I thought I might offer you a stipend as well, if you’re amenable.”
In that instant, the Old Gentleman’s expression hardened visibly.
“I absolutely cannot accept it. I’m not worthy of such compensation, and besides….”
The Old Gentleman paused, seeming to wrestle with whether to continue, before finally speaking with conviction.
“Just as you mentioned, Duchess, that compensation feels somewhat inappropriate—I too find that exchanging money in this manner feels like trafficking in a child rather than exercising guardianship.”
Caught off guard by the Old Gentleman’s bluntness, I glanced nervously at Duchess Papiope and Grandfather.
He could have simply refused, but why did he have to infuse it with such emotion? Really…!
Yet Duchess Papiope seemed rather pleased by Aiden’s resolute stance, her lips curving upward.
“I’m relieved. I’m glad someone like you is Tania’s guardian.”
Though the Old Gentleman knew his words were impertinent and had braced himself for it, he appeared taken aback by the Duchess’s approving response.
“….”
“Truth be told, I was worried when I heard that an unmarried male mercenary was Tania’s guardian. But my concern was unfounded. It was merely my prejudice.”
I straightened up as if I myself had been praised and spoke.
“I’ve told you many times that he’s a good person.”
“Yes. But I needed to confirm it with my own eyes. Only then could I truly set my mind at ease.”
Duchess Papiope smiled warmly at me before turning to the Old Gentleman and continuing.
“I apologize for my rudeness. Let’s forget about the regular stipend.”
“Thank you.”
“However, it remains true that you’ve helped my daughter, and I feel compelled to repay you in some way. Is there anything you might want?”
“There is nothing. Since I didn’t help with any expectation of reward, I’m already grateful simply for being invited here today.”
“Truly nothing at all?”
When she pressed further, the Old Gentleman, who had remained unmoved until then, finally revealed a small wish.
“If it’s possible, I would appreciate being allowed to see Lady Tania occasionally.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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