Chapter 648: Love in Many Forms ( 648 )
Main Dining Room – Armand Estate.
A full-course breakfast was laid out, yet the seat at the table’s head, Lord Garius’s seat remained vacant.
In his absence, Lady Fransesca sat confidently in his place, sipping her morning tea like a queen holding court. Her gaze swept across the table as she enjoyed the calm.
To her left sat Garcinia and Phenelopie, both poised and composed, chatting lightly about the current harvest and the recent reports from the border towns.
To her right sat Eridith, one hand rubbing her slightly protruding belly, the other playing with the edge of her napkin. Her usual radiant appetite was noticeably absent today.
Fransesca tilted her head and smirked playfully.
“My, Eridith~ No mood to eat?” she teased. “But it’s your favorite at.”
Eridith let out a small, dramatic sigh, eyes narrowed in mock annoyance.
“Mou~ Fransesca… I want soup.”
Fransesca chuckled softly and waved her hand casually. “Then go ask the chef to make you one. You’re eating for two, aren’t you?”
“Okay~” Eridith said, already standing and cradling her belly like a prized gem. “I’ll ask for extra mushrooms and mana herbs. Maybe spicy too~”
Fransesca smiled knowingly. “Make it mild. I won’t have you breathing fire in your sleep again.”
Garcinia and Phenelopie chuckled quietly, while the maids bowed and began moving to follow Eridith out of the room to relay her request.
Despite Garius’s absence, the dining room remained lively.
Fransesca gently set down her teacup, eyes drifting toward Garcinia, who had been absently slicing a piece of fruit.
“Garcinia?”
“Hmm? Yes, Fransesca?” she answered, straightening her posture.
“Where are Aelius and Athine? I haven’t seen them around lately.”
Garcinia let out a quiet sigh, pressing her fork down into her plate. “Perhaps still too busy with the trading routes and managing the rchant guild ties. Those two have been inseparable lately. Always together, day and night. You’d think they were glued at the hip.”
Fransesca chuckled softly, “That’s how a brother and sister should be. Strong bond, unwavering trust.”
Garcinia leaned back a little, eyes glancing toward the window with a distant look. “They’re both handso and beautiful… and yet not a single partner in sight. I’ve seen rchants and nobles alike misjudge them—thinking they’re husband and wife.”
Fransesca smirked and sipped her tea again. “Well… I don’t think I have any comnt on that. In the end, we can’t force them to like soone.”
“True.” Garcinia nodded slowly. “Still, I just hope they won’t shut themselves off from forming real connections outside that sibling bond.”
Fransesca smiled, motherly and calm.
“Let them take their ti. If love cos, it cos. If not… then as long as they’re happy—what more could we ask for?”
Phenelopie quietly added from the side, “Though if any woman tries to flirt with Aelius… I’ve seen Athine glare like she’s about to burn them.”
Garcinia hesitated for a mont, her fork pausing mid-air. “…What if they… umm… you know…” she glanced toward Fransesca, unsure how to finish the sentence.
Fransesca didn’t miss a beat. Her expression remained calm, motherly, composed.
“Well…” she said softly, setting her teacup down, “let them be. We don’t have the right to judge them.”
Garcinia blinked, surprised by how gentle yet firm Fransesca’s voice was.
“If that’s what you say…”
“We couldn’t and shouldn’t force them into sothing they don’t want. If they’re comfortable with each other, if that’s where they find peace—then leave them be.”
Phenelopie, quietly listening from the side, nodded slightly. Even Eridith, half-drowsy from her pregnancy fatigue, murmured a soft agreent.
Fransesca offered a small smile. “We’re their family, not their judges.”
Garcinia let out a long sigh. “Because that’s what everyone thinks too. Every town they visit, every eting they attend, soone always assus they’re a married couple.”
Fransesca chuckled softly, swirling her tea. “Well, they do look perfect together. Both elegant, charming, always in sync.”
“That’s the issue…” Garcinia rubbed her temples. “Even when I hint at introducing them to other nobles or promising candidates, they just look at like I said sothing ridiculous.”
“Maybe they simply don’t want to be separated,” Phenelopie offered with a gentle tone.
“They were raised together… always together,” Fransesca mused, placing her chin on her hand. “There’s a bond there that’s difficult for others to understand.”
Fransesca leaned back, eyes closed with a knowing smile. “In this world, love takes many forms. As long as they’re happy… that’s enough…At least your son and daughter didn’t build a harem like my youngest son does, Garcinia…”
Phenelopie let out a soft chuckle, eyes sparkling with quiet amusent.
Fransesca turned her attention to her, brow raised. “But what about your son, Phenelopie? I never see Heres with anyone. He doesn’t talk to our maids. There are plenty of beautiful won in the estate, not to ntion the talented staff from town and Armand City.”
Phenelopie smiled, almost mysterious. “That one, I don’t know. He keeps close to , helps with everything… but he did ntion he’s interested in soone.”
Fransesca’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Who?”
Phenelopie shook her head gently, lips pressed in a playful line. “He didn’t tell . That calm and quiet son of mine—never says much. Just smiles and listens. If he’s truly interested, I’m sure he’ll bring her ho one day.”
Garcinia leaned in, curious. “Maybe he just likes to take his ti. Or maybe he’s shy.”
Fransesca let out another sigh, swirling her tea. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t end up like what my eldest son brought ho. He already has two Lithia…”
Phenelopie blinked. “Oh… you an Harny, Lithia’s mother?”
Fransesca nodded, resigned. “Yes. Can you believe it? He managed to get both mother and daughter… Lucky for him, Harny was already a single mother. Still, what a ss.”
Garcinia tried not to laugh, shaking her head. “Marcellus always was bold, but I didn’t think he’d go that far.”
Phenelopie covered her mouth, chuckling softly. “Well, at least there’s never a dull mont in this house.”
Fransesca just sighed again, but there was a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips. “Sotis I wonder if we’re running a noble estate or a romantic farce…”
( End Of Chapter )
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