Shane Blanchard and Adaline Bertrand's engagement was a matter of family agreement.
House Bertrand, one of the most distinguished families of the Delmez Empire, made this engagement a subject of discussion long before the official announcement.
Even if their betrothal had taken place in private, a union of such powerful houses would inevitably have attracted public interest. Moreover, the Imperial family unequivocally supported the marriage of these two families.
The Bertrand family owned lands rich in minerals and other resources, and also engaged in large-scale trade.
The imperial court suspected that their wealth concealed more ambitious intentions. Before this, it was proposed to become related directly to the Imperial family, but the Bertrand spouses politely rejected such proposals, citing various reasons. Instead, they proposed an alliance with the House of Blanchard.
However, Duke Blanchard is the Empress’s brother, so the union still strengthened family ties with the crown.
Shane understood all this even at the age of ten, at the age when the engagement was concluded. Therefore, he was absolutely indifferent to who exactly would become his bride.
Even their monthly tea parties did not arouse any enthusiasm in him.
[Is this my fiancé?]
[...Yes. His name is Shane.]
[So beautiful...]
[Adaline was a strange, unusual child.]
[She’s probably four years younger than me...]
She raised topics that not every adult could handle, and spoke with such awareness, as if she had long since left childhood, and then suddenly deliberately remembered: “Oh yes, I’m still a child!” and for some reason it was terribly funny.
[Sometimes Shane would catch her pretending to look away but actually sneaking a look at his face.]
[It seemed a little impudent to him, but nothing more.]
Shane was rarely interested in anything at all.
He was born with the opportunity to get everything he wanted, an excellent mind, impeccable manners, rare insight.
Nothing gave him real pleasure.
Even when he was among people, he felt lonely because he did not need their help.
[Boredom.]
The world seemed dull, monotonous, and meaningless to him.
[Adaline became special to him about a year after their engagement.]
His mother, weak and sickly since giving birth to him, died.
She was a princess married to a duke and had never been able to be truly close to her son.
[Those blue eyes... are the same as those of a reptile. Disgusting.]
[Shane is still a child!]
[Not like that! Do you think he's normal?]
[…]
[Please keep him away. He scares me.]
It was cruel to talk about your own son like that. But Shane wasn't surprised.
Adults often rejected children who seemed “different” to them.
He himself did not know whether he loved his mother.
Just as he didn’t blame her for not loving him.
She always looked at him distantly, from a cold height. They hardly spoke.
He knew that she gave birth to him. This was where their connection ended.
When she died, Shane didn't feel much sadness.
But he understood: he had to portray grief in order to avoid gossip.
Adalyn came to the funeral with her parents.
Silent, polite, reserved, she uttered the appropriate words of consolation.
But when she was left alone with Shane, she suddenly burst into tears.
And suddenly she hugged him tightly.
[So small... and so unhappy...]
[Um, what?]
[You don't have to pretend like you're an adult all the time. You can cry.]
He didn't cry. The tears just wouldn't come.
[But Adaline cried as if she had lost her own mother.]
Shane pulled back slightly and said:
[Adaline, quieter.]
[Hmm?]
[I'm fine. Honestly.]
He barely smiled.
[See? I even smile.]
He knew that Adaline sometimes looked at him thoughtfully. He tried to calm her down.
But instead she cried even louder.
[Why are you consoling me?!]
[Huh?]
[Stupid! You've grown up too early! hee-ing...]
[This is not true...]
[Why doesn't anyone hug you?! Come here, stupid. You’re still just a child...]
[But you are younger...]
Sobbing, Adaline hugged his neck again. Shane had to bend down, she was much shorter. But he was smiling.
He knew that this girl treated him like a child.
But this is the first time it has manifested itself so clearly.
[So tiny...]
His shoulders were already wet from her tears.
He gently stroked her back, thinking that if he let her cry any longer, she would simply dry up.
[How does she manage to cry so loudly?]
He himself did not shed a tear. Even after losing my mother.
But her small, warm palm squeezed his hand tightly.