I Adopt The Male Lead - Chapter 36

“I greet the princess.”

Karina hurriedly bent her knees and greeted her.

Astrid sighed as she greeted her and turned her head to Andrea, her maid beside her.

“……Is that what he brought this time?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It’s so… dirty.”

“Princess, they can hear everything.”

Andrea’s graceful deterrence was to no avail.

Astrid slid toward Karina. It was a walk similar to Miss Terrace.

Even though it was well refined, a voice that could not hide its youthfulness came out from her mouth.

“Where were you going with this filthy look?”

Karina hesitated for a moment.

She knew that her answer would only make Princess Astrid angry, but she couldn’t help it.

“At the command of the duke, I was taking the children to the tutor.”

“A tutor?”

Astrid frowned

Looking at the serious expression of a girl who was only 12 years old, she almost laughed.

Of course, Karina, who was a sensible adult, endured it.

“Your Excellency did not hire any tutors except Miss Terrace, from whom are you going to learn?”

“It’s Ms. Terrace.”

“What……”

Karina answered calmly.

“I can’t believe it.”

“If it weren’t for his Excellency how dare we be educated by Ms. Terrace?”

“………”

Astrid, who had nothing to say, gracefully folded the fan and pointed at the children.

“These kids are so dirty! Hurry up, get them out of my face, wash them, put on new clothes then bring them back!”

Karina was surprised but she wasn’t upset.

The children washed often, so they were always clean.

So, it wasn’t about the children’s body.

‘The problem is clothes’

The children brought only a few clothes when we ran away from Lord Renke’s mansion.

Of course, Karina wanted to buy the children new clothes.

However, the remaining money had been used up when Roland was ill, so the children were still holding on to the few clothes they brought with them when we ran away.

Of course, no matter how pretty the clothes were at first, they will look shabby and old if you keep wearing them.

“Princess, my children wash every day. If it looks dirty, it’s because of the clothes.”

Astrid opened his eyes wide.

“Your clothes are dirty? Then shouldn’t you just wear clean clothes?”

“Except for the coat, they only have three clothes so that’s not possible at the moment.”

“They only have three clothes……?”

Astrid’s face trembled with astonishment.

“Now, if you dared to tell me a lie to buy sympathy…”

Karina shrugged her shoulders.

“Why would I lie?”

“……..”

“And, if they have clean clothes, why wouldn’t I let my children wear it?”

Silence passed.

Astrid just rubbed her lips with a puzzled face.

Karina let out her sigh.

Although she is a princess, she is only twelve years old.

There’s no way she can lose this argument.

“…Andrea.”

Astrid, who finally organized her thoughts, ordered the maid.

“Take these kids and pick up some of my old clothes.”

Karina was surprised.

It was because Astrid seemed to have an open mind, even though it was her old clothes she can’t imagine it being worn by common people.

Andrea, who seemed more surprised than Karina, looked really troubled.

“But princess, your clothes are too big for these children.”

“Aren’t there a lot of clothes I used when I was younger hanging in my closet? I can’t use them now anyway and it’s a waste to throw them away?”

“And this kid is a boy. You can’t put a skirt on a boy.”

“I bet I have pants, too.”

Karina watched Andrea and Astrid’s conversation and raised one hand.

“Excuse me for interrupting your conversation, but the children have to go to class now.”

Karina hesitated for a moment and added one more thing.

“And thank you for your thoughtful thoughts, princess, but you don’t have to give them new clothes.”

“Why?”

Astrid had a genuinely curious face.

“You’re afraid that I’ll ask for your loyalty every time I give you a present like the duke? I’m just giving it to you.”

“Because I want to take it.”

“You look dirty!”

Astrid exclaimed as if he was genuinely stunned.

Karina sighed.

“Princess, my children like to run around. If you receive the princess’ precious clothes, it will be destroyed in a week. All the decorations will be ripped off.”

Karina pointed to the brilliant bead decorations and delicate lace on Astrid’s dress.

“Of course, they can’t destroy the clothes they received from the princess, so they have to be careful all the time, but I don’t want to put those shackles on my children.”

Astrid’s answer came back a little slow.

She looked down at her own fancy dress, then looked at the children’s clothes, and then opened her mouth only after she repeatedly look at her own clothes.

“……I know very well what you’re trying to say.”

Melissa’s eyes, which had not been able to hide hostility since the moment she heard Astrid’s first word, eased.

Karina stroked Melissa’s hair silently.

She was not at all angry with herself, but the now seven and eight-year-old children must have been upset.

I should compliment her for holding back her anger.

“Then, can we go now?”

“…okay.”

Karina quickly grabbed the two children’s hands and dragged them.

After a while.

Roland opened her mouth quietl

“The princess is a bad person.”

“That’s right, She’s really bad.”

Melissa also spoke in a confident voice. Karina smiled bitterly.

“You can’t say that about the princess.”

“Still…”

“The princess just doesn’t know much about you. Like you guys don’t know much about the princess.”

Karina doesn’t believe that ignorance is a sin.

True sins are made when the actions do not change even though they are aware.

It was a sin that Karina knew the future of Melissa and Roland, but could not escape and remained cowardly in Lord Renke’s mansion.

“If she was a bad girl, she would’ve beaten me”

“…that’s what uncle does.”

“Uncle is not the only one like that there are other people too.”

Karina remembered Lord Renke’s guests.

They were not as cruel as Lord Renke, but they did not treat their servants well.

At least Princess Astrid seemed to be making an effort to understand Karina.

Finally, they arrived at the front door of the main building.

Miss Terrace was waiting for them. Karina hurriedly checked the huge wall clock in the front door.

“You still have 15 minutes left until my appointment……?’

Miss Terrace opened her mouth as if she had read her thoughts.

“I was worried that you might not have found your way, so I came out in advance.”

“You are very considerate.”

Miss Terrace raised one eyebrow.

“Madam arrived very early, so I didn’t have to wait long. Is there anything I should know about their education?”

“Hmm…”

Karina pondered her for a moment.

In fact, she knew nothing about the academic achievements of her children.

Roland or Melissa often boasted, but it was too complicated for her to remember, as she had never been properly educated.

“I think it’s best to ask the kids,”

“All right.”

It was when Karina turned around after seeing the children and Miss Terrace off,

Black hair fluttered behind the bending wall of the corridor.

Karina blinked her eyes.

Unless she’s misunderstood, the owner of the hem of that gorgeous dress that is sticking out on the floor…..

“Princess?”

“……..”

There was no reply from her, but her black hair didn’t go away either.

“Princess, do you have any business for me?”

Astrid slowly revealed her figure. Her dark hair gleamed in the sunlight.

“…you.”

Astrid opened her mouth with a tense expression on her face.

“Come over to my tea time.”