Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 82

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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 82
From that day forward, I could confidently call Aiden “Father.”
Once Lucian and I began calling Aiden “Father,” the servants increasingly treated him as though he had become the Duchess’s husband.
He even joined us at the evening meals where the Papiope household gathered—what more need be said?
An irreversible atmosphere had taken root.
It had started as a pretend romance, meant to last only until the rumors died down.
Now, abandoning the charade had become impossible.
And truthfully, that was what I wanted.
“I wish they’d just go ahead and get married like this.”
It was clear that not only the Duchess, but Aiden as well harbored genuine feelings.
I couldn’t just sit idle.
“I need to create opportunities for them to spend time together, rather than doing nothing.”
Since Aiden was my personal guard, he had no reason to see the Duchess except at meals.
In other words, they had no chance to grow closer, no matter how much they might wish to!
I needed to arrange time for just the two of them.
With that resolve, I went directly to the Duchess.
“Mother, the weather is lovely—would it be possible for our family to go on a picnic this weekend?”

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Though it was a sudden proposal, the Duchess enthusiastically agreed, and the picnic was smoothly arranged.
Grandfather couldn’t join us, as he was away at the Papiope Territory.
Our destination became the Rocky Valley, located near the Capital.
Though autumn meant the water would be cold, I chose it because I wanted our family to enjoy ourselves peacefully in a place without crowds.
But then…
Just as we were about to depart by carriage, Elysion arrived at Papiope to visit me.
I had intended to arrange another time with him, but the Duchess suggested he join us at the valley.
And so Elysion ended up coming along to the valley with us.
An uninvited guest had inserted himself into our family outing, but it was fine.
As long as I could give the Duchess and Aiden time together, that was all that mattered.
I was standing alone, gazing at the valley and contemplating how to create a moment for just the two of them, when
Elysion suddenly appeared beside me and asked,
“Tania, what are you thinking about?”
“…I was wondering if diving into the water would be too cold.”
“Why not just dip your feet in first?”
I carefully removed my shoes and lightly touched the water’s surface with my toes to check the temperature.
Then I quickly pulled my foot back.
The water was frigid—like ice. Even from that brief contact, my entire body trembled.
“Is it cold?”
“Yeah. But it seems doable.”
I climbed onto a rock and jumped into the water.
Splash―!
“Ugh! It’s freezing!”
I plunged in boldly, but the moment the water engulfed me, I knew this was a mistake and scrambled right back out.
My mind snapped awake, and for an instant, I thought my heart had stopped.
Elysion chuckled softly and wrapped a towel around my body.
“Ha, you should have gone in slowly.”
“I figured it was better to get the shock over with, so I decided to jump right in.”
Just then, Lucian appeared in light clothes suitable for swimming and smirked at me.
“What’s this? Tania, couldn’t you wait and just had to jump in?”
“Brother, don’t go in. It’s absolutely freezing.”
“Don’t be such a baby.”
Ignoring my warning, Lucian strode into the cold water with confident steps.
And he let out a delighted exclamation.
“What? It’s actually refreshing. You’re seriously trembling because you think this is cold?”
“Well, I dove in all at once, so it was brave.”
“What does that have to do with being a baby about it?”
“If I’d gone in slowly like you, I wouldn’t have been so cold.”
“Sure you would have.”
At Lucian’s sarcasm, I laughed prettily and moved down from the rock I’d been sitting on, dipping my feet into the water.
Then I kicked hard, splashing water everywhere.
“Argh!”
“Oh, brother, sorry. I didn’t know the water would splash that far.”
It was an apology devoid of any genuine remorse.
Lucian heard my insincere apology and calmly shook the water droplets from his hair.
His uncharacteristic response filled me with an ominous feeling.
Strange. By now he should be raging and furious…
Sure enough, Lucian bared his teeth in a grin.
“This is fun.”
It was the laugh that heralded the beginning of war.

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From the right, Elysion’s magical torrent erupted into the air.
From the left, a water hurricane rose up, born from the sword energy that Aiden had unleashed.
And at the center of it all stood Lucian, summoning wild animals to use as a Friend Shield.
“All three of you, stop this right now!”
But my voice couldn’t reach them as they clashed with fierce intensity.
I had started the water play with Lucian first, but it was truly nothing more than playful splashing.
That the situation had escalated to this point was entirely Lucian’s fault.
Until Lucian grinned and splashed water at me, it was what you might call ordinary water play.
Until he splashed water at me.
Lucian drenched me in retaliation, soaking me thoroughly.
Already drenched to the bone, I accepted the water without resistance.
When I didn’t react as dramatically as he’d hoped, he seemed to find it boring and deliberately splashed water at Elysion, who stood beside me.
At that, Elysion smiled darkly, looking at Lucian as if asking whether he could handle the consequences.
There was no way the prideful Lucian would back down.
In the end, the two of them launched into a full-scale water battle.
But why was Aiden involved, you ask?
At first, Aiden was just a spectator like me, not participating in the water play.
However, as Elysion and Lucian’s fight intensified and the spray spread wider, he tried to stop them.
The problem was…
Lucian, delighted to see Aiden, blurted out that he’d always wished to play like this with his father.
Unable to disappoint Lucian’s hopes, Aiden was practically forced into the water battle.
And then, as the three of them splashed around together, Aiden caught the fever too.
Which is how we ended up like this.
The Duchess, who had been surveying the forest, approached the rock where I sat and spoke to me.
“Mother, do you think we should stop them?”
“Well, they won’t die from it.”
My original plan had been to create time for Aiden and the Duchess to spend together, but…
Something had gone terribly wrong, yet I decided to find meaning in the fact that the Papiope family was here playing together.
“Tania, aren’t you going to join in down there?”
My body wasn’t sturdy enough to join in. It was obvious I’d just end up swallowing water.
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait until the spray settles down a bit before deciding whether to join or not?”
“If you went between them, the situation would end in an instant. They all cherish you dearly.”
“I’m fine being with you, Mother.”
“Our daughter speaks so prettily. It’s good for me too—coming out to play with family like this refreshes my mood.”
The Duchess closed her eyes and savored the gentle breeze that drifted past.
I leaned close to the Duchess’s ear and whispered softly.
“By the way… Father’s health really isn’t good, is it?”
“Hmm?”
Only then did the Duchess’s eyelids open, her gaze turning toward Aiden.
Aiden had already shed his cumbersome shirt and was vigorously splashing through the water.
Each movement of his upper body caused his well-defined muscles to contract and relax in perfect rhythm.
The Duchess found herself captivated by the sight for a long moment before realizing my presence beside her, prompting an awkward cough.
“…Ahem! One can certainly see the fruits of rigorous training.”
As she spoke, a faint blush crept across the tips of her ears.

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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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