"What? And what about the rest? Do you honestly intend to keep it for yourself?!"
"I deposited it in the bank." Adelina's voice remained perfectly level. "I'm afraid that if you acquire a large sum all at once, you'll squander it on some reckless business venture or investment scheme. I've established a deposit account so you can receive a monthly stipend without worrying about living expenses."
Adelina had made this decision based on her father's deeply ingrained habit of spending every last penny the moment money became available. The monthly payments distributed by the bank would be **considerable**, even by the kingdom's lavish standards. The budget was more than sufficient for Prince Roche to enjoy luxury and still accumulate savings. Given the initial amount Adelina had invested, her father could live comfortably like this for at least twenty years.
However, for Arthur—who had wanted the check for the **full** amount—the bank's monthly disbursements seemed like mere pennies.
"What the hell are you talking about? Who gave you permission to do this? Cancel it immediately, or I'll do it myself!"
Since there was only one bank in the entire kingdom, and it operated under direct royal oversight, Prince Arthur believed he could easily reverse his daughter's decision with a simple command.
"You can't do that. Even though you're listed as the beneficiary, the deposit was made in the name of the **Pembroke family**." Adelina withdrew another document from the desk drawer—one she had prepared alongside the check—and handed it to her father.
"Then **you** do it yourself and bring me the rest of the money!"
"I cannot."
"You dare defy your father? How dare you behave with such **disrespect**?!"
"It would be far more disrespectful of me to allow my father to face bankruptcy again. Moreover, it could be interpreted as disloyalty to Her Majesty the Queen, who has shown us such extraordinary care and concern."
The instant Adelina invoked the queen's name, Prince Arthur's face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. Only then did he realize his daughter's resolve was **far** stronger than he had ever imagined. He couldn't believe she'd conceived such a scheme on her own. The answer struck him immediately.
"The Duke of Pembroke—that **scoundrel**—put you up to this, didn't he?"
"No. This was entirely my idea."
"Ha! Who would believe such nonsense?" Arthur clicked his tongue in disgust and leapt to his feet. Of course, he wanted to settle the payment issue immediately, but the loan shark waiting at his own mansion forced him to reconsider his priorities. "Fix this before the first payment arrives, Adelina." Having delivered this imperious final command, the man stormed out of the room.
The girl released a long, weary sigh as she watched her father's retreating figure. She hadn't expected everything to proceed so smoothly—but now her head throbbed with a dull ache.
"Madam, are you quite alright?" The butler's worried voice drifted through the open doorway. It seemed her father hadn't even bothered to close the door behind him when he'd left.
"Yes, everything is fine." Adelina turned with a practiced smile, doing her best to ignore the headache building behind her eyes—but what she saw made her freeze. "Why are there so **many** people here?"
Several powerfully built servants stood assembled before the door, their presence distinctly intimidating. In response to the girl's startled question, Mason offered only a mysterious smile.
Adelina blinked several times in bewilderment.
---
Alexio stepped out onto the terrace and, sipping coffee, observed Prince Roche's carriage as it rattled away down the drive.
"Sir." Mason's voice came from behind him, but the Duke didn't turn around. The butler, already accustomed to this behavior, continued with perfect composure. "Fortunately, the prince didn't raise his hand against Madam. The atmosphere became tense for a moment, but he apparently had urgent business elsewhere, so the conversation concluded quickly."
"I understand." Alexio's response was remarkably calm for someone who had deliberately stationed several burly men nearby out of concern that Prince Arthur might harm his wife. Mason studied his master's motionless back. Something was definitely **wrong**, but the butler couldn't quite identify what.
"I'm going to bathe." Alexio placed his empty cup on the terrace table and strode back inside.
Mason collected the shirt Alexio had discarded and followed, as there remained something important to report.
"Madam inquired about why so many servants were dismissed so suddenly."
"And?" Alexio paused at the bathroom threshold.
"I decided that Madam should know the truth, so I told her everything. If I overstepped my authority—"
"Not at all. You did precisely the right thing." Alexio replied and stepped toward the bath, but the butler followed close behind. "Mason?" The Duke glanced back in surprise. He **never** allowed others to assist him while bathing—especially since such tasks weren't even part of the butler's duties.
"She also asked about Young Master Luka," Mason said with unusual gravity.
Alexio merely shrugged with studied casualness.
"We're going to adopt him. Everything has already been decided."
"Yes, I'm aware. Madam mentioned she wanted to expedite the paperwork, and I advised her to discuss the matter with Simeon."
"Excellent work." The Duke glanced pointedly at Mason, silently communicating that he should leave—but the butler didn't budge.
"Sir. Have you explained to Madam **who** this child actually is?"
Alexio found himself unable to answer the question immediately. In truth, there had been no direct conversation between the spouses regarding Luka. Adelina had overheard everything from his discussion with Helena—meaning he had conveyed the information only **indirectly**, at best.
"I explained everything that was necessary."
"If you'll permit me to speak frankly... It seems to me there has been a significant misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" Alexio tilted his head, his damp black hair falling slightly into his eyes as he regarded the butler with newfound attention.
"It appears Madam believes Young Master Luka to be your **son**," Mason said quietly, voicing his careful observation.
"Hmm."
The elderly butler was startled by such a cryptic response.
"So you already knew about this misunderstanding?"
"I deliberately allowed her to believe it. After all, he'll soon be my son legally, so it can't truly be called a **lie**, can it?"
"**Absolutely not!**" Mason protested with uncharacteristic vehemence. "Even if you adopt him, he's still not your biological child!"
"To me, he **is** family."
"But these are fundamentally different things! After all, Luka is your **nephew**—"
"Mason. I told you—it doesn't matter." Alexio's interruption was firm, brooking no argument.
Of course, the Duke wasn't wrong. A servant should obey his master without posing unnecessary questions or challenging decisions. However...
"Wouldn't it be wiser to tell Madam the truth? I believe she won't oppose the adoption, even knowing the full circumstances."
"You met the princess for the first time **yesterday**, and today you've had only a brief conversation with her. Are you truly certain of that?" Alexio's gaze sharpened. "Can you **vouch** for it?"
"I'm merely speculating..." Mason trailed off mid-sentence.
The Duke simply shrugged, as if to say, *Well, you see?* and gestured toward the door with his chin.
"Leave me. I wouldn't want anyone to see me unclothed. Not even my butler."
Having received such an unequivocal dismissal, Mason offered a stiff bow and withdrew quickly from the bathing chamber. The man definitely sensed a **wave of change** approaching—but the feeling, like an ebbing tide, disappeared just as swiftly as it had come.