LUCIA

Chapter 37 Father and Son

As they walked through the garden, Damian continuously stole glances at Lucia.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"It's kind of...amazing. You aren't afraid of his Grace..."

"Is there any wife that's afraid of her husband? Damian, when you grow up and get married, would you like for your wife to be afraid of you?"

Damian shook his head. However, the young Damian was yet to fully grasp her meaning.

It was a huge shock to Damian that Lucia could treat the Duke whom he saw as someone on the peak of a distant mountain, very comfortably.

In Damian's eyes, Lucia was a small, gentle herbivore. On the other hand, the Duke was a large, ferocious carnivore.

The boy was confused at the fact that the two beings, who in normal circumstances could not match each other, were seemingly a perfect fit.

"And here. Repeat after me. Father." (Lucia)

"...Father."

"Good job."

Lucia subconsciously reached out to stroke the boy's head. Damian was surprised and reflexively moved away and Lucia was also surprised and withdrew her hand.

They stopped walking and awkwardness filled the air.

"...Sorry, my body moved on its own...did I upset you?"

"Ah...no. I was just a little surprised."

Damian had never had such close contact with anyone else before.

"I'm not upset or anything..." (Damian)

"When a child does something praiseworthy, one can compliment and also pet them. I won't do it if you don't like it."

Damian hesitated a bit then spoke in a tiny voice.

"I don't...hate it."

"Really? Then, is it okay if I pet you right now?"

Damian nodded. Lucia slowly stretched her hand towards the boy as though saying, 'I'm not your enemy' and stroked the top of his black hair. Maybe because he was very young, his hair was much softer than she'd imagined.

She stroked his head a few times before withdrawing her hand. She felt excitement as though she was given a present because she had finally accomplished what she'd been wanting to do ever since she laid eyes on the boy.

'When will I get to pinch his cheeks?'

Lucia began to walk with a joyful heart and Damian quickly followed, walking beside her.

"Lucia."

"Hm?"

"Earlier, in the dining, why did you get angry?"

"Huh? That...I wasn't angry...that was...umm that is to say..."

Lucia didn't want to explain it nor did she know how to explain it so she began to rack her brain on how to naturally shift the topic. Just at the moment, she finally recalled something she'd been forgetting.

"Ah! Damian, you don't have a tail-coat to wear to the party. I didn't think of that. Do you happen to have anything?"

"I do not."

"Right. There's no way you would, you were at school all the time."

"Lucia, I don't have to attend..."

Damian wanted to use this chance to one way or the other, remove himself from this occasion. He'd already had his fill of the women's gazes in the horse-riding field.