Thought It Was 'The End', Only to Return to a Changed Genre - Chapter 234
Jeff bringing Ashad along had been a rather impulsive decision. While going through accounting records, he had gotten frustrated and decided he couldn’t live like this forever. On a whim, he had rushed to the nearest orphanage, and that was how it started.
At the time, the reason Jeff was in the Kingdom of Brubewein and overwhelmed with work was all connected to the events involving Adeline, which made Adeline feel a sense of responsibility toward Ashad.
Adeline gently patted the back of Ashad’s hand. Watching this, Jeff commented,
“Be careful, Ashad. You’d better make sure Adeline doesn’t even so much as touch you when the Duke of Blanchard is around.”
“Brother, could you stop making my husband sound like some kind of delusional lunatic? No matter how jealous he gets, he wouldn’t—”
“Trust me, I know what I’m saying. That creature—oops, I mean, that man—your husband, sometimes glares at me just for standing too close to you. Isn’t that right, Lisa? Uncle didn’t say anything at all.”
“……”
“Ashad might be only sixteen, but he’s got that prematurely old look about him. Honestly, younger men are probably the bigger threat than us old geezers, don’t you think?”
Ashad, who had been quietly minding his own business, was now inexplicably being insulted.
Unable to refute this, Adeline changed the subject.
“Why are you giving a fountain pen to a child this young?”
“She’ll need to start practicing her letters soon, won’t she?”
“Do you think she can even hold something like that properly? And what’s with the safe key and account certificates?!”
“There’s not much in it, don’t worry. Just a little allowance from her uncle since I haven’t been around.”
Glancing at the numbers on the documents, Adeline clicked her tongue and set them aside to return later.
“Just give her cash instead.”
“Coins and bills are dirty for a child to handle. Gold coins would be too heavy for her little hands.”
“Then why not give her a piggy bank instead of gold coins?!”
“An uncle has to maintain some dignity, Adeline. How could I give her small change?”
“Oh, for the love of— Stop wasting money like this!”
Jeff jokingly referred to the family as ‘possessive spirits’, but in Adeline’s opinion, that description was an understatement.
Genevieve, who had declared herself Lisa’s godmother before the child was even born, led the charge. Lloyd was practically glued to Lisa, providing round-the-clock care. Edwin showered her with gifts at every opportunity. Patrick and Mia sent thoughtful letters and presents from afar. Even Lucian occasionally showed up out of nowhere to play with Lisa and take naps.
Naturally, the gifts Lisa received were nothing short of jaw-dropping.
Lisa already owned a significant amount of property under her name. They claimed it was just pocket money and not to worry, but when the so-called ‘pocket money’ consisted of land deeds and buildings. The staggering scale would just leave someone laughing out of disbelief.
Who gives buildings as an allowance? Were they insane?
“This is making me anxious. All the conditions are falling into place…”
“What conditions?”
“The conditions for forced celibacy.”
Far in the future, Adeline could already see herself struggling with the idea of her future son-in-law. She wondered if such a candidate would even exist.
“Even if one appears, what then?”
“It’s just… I’m terrified of what’ll happen if Lisa ever gets a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend?”
Jeff scoffed.
“There’s no such thing in Lisa’s future. Lisa, remember this: all men are wolves.”
“Don’t fill her head with strange ideas,” Adeline scolded.
Jeff, who lived a carefree and uninhibited life himself, was in no position to talk. He was the most free-spirited and egalitarian person Adeline had ever known. His open-mindedness and lack of prejudice sometimes made him seem like he’s from another world.
Though he had his moments of impulsiveness and whimsy, his bold decisiveness and ability to take action were unmatched.
It was because of these traits that he was able to turn Brubewein—a kingdom that seemed to have no business prospects at all—into a thriving hub for his ventures.
“I’m not the only one, Adeline. Do you think your husband would ever let Lisa have a boyfriend?”
“……That’s… true…”
Adeline’s complexion turned slightly pale, and she cast her eyes downward in a gloomy silence.
*
A few days later, a marriage proposal was made for Lisa Kylie Blanchard.
