Chapter 56
When the shock is extreme, people often lose their words.
Beyond that, it seemed as if everyone had even forgotten how to breathe.
Something utterly unprecedented had happened.
Even the person being adopted was frozen stiff, as if they knew nothing. Miles, too, hadn’t been informed about the adoption announcement.
In a situation where no one could react right away, someone’s voice rang out.
“Is… is this really true? No matter what, I can’t believe you’re adopting someone unrelated by blood—not just any family, but the Plutó Ducal family! Isn’t your family known for valuing bloodlines above all else? There’s never been such a thing before!”
At those words, Rearwin gently folded the corners of his eyes.
“Crescent possesses something stronger than bloodline. Once Crescent was regarded as a gift from the god, her lineage became irrelevant. Nothing can take precedence over the will of Amas, the god.”
“…!”
“Hah.”
Only then did sighs of understanding echo here and there.
Technically, Crescent’s abilities were granted not by a god but by the system, but that fact was inconsequential to those who didn’t know.
Besides, hadn’t it been said she was a gift from Amas?
Nothing could be more powerful than that.
At that moment—
Clap…!
A small sound of applause came from somewhere. Following it, applause gradually swelled into a thunderous ovation.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
It was as if the hall, which was practically outdoors, was filled to the brim with congratulatory gestures.
The ringing blessings made Ruben and Rearwin smile more blissfully than anyone else in the world.
The only ones flustered were Crescent and Miles.
“They’re legally adopting me…?”
Crescent hadn’t entirely failed to anticipate this. Rearwin had informed her several times that she might be adopted.
Yet Crescent had never truly believed it would actually happen.
No matter how much of a gift she seemed to be from the god, the Plutó Ducal family had never, in its entire history, adopted a complete stranger.
“They’re adopting me?! This is insane. Impossible!”
Six long years had passed since she began receiving support from the ducal family.
She had let her guard down, thinking that if adoption were going to happen, it would have by now.
“Impossible…”
“Impossible…”
At that moment, Miles muttered in shock, equally stunned.
Startled, Crescent closed her mouth, and Miles flinched in surprise as well.
Seeing that, Rearwin smiled at Crescent.
“Surprised, Senti?”
“Y-yes…?”
“Yes, it’s quite shocking, isn’t it? I’m sorry we couldn’t tell you beforehand. But we wanted to declare our intention regardless of your wishes. We didn’t just want to say you are our daughter and granddaughter; we wanted to officially place your name in our family records.”
“….”
I see.
Crescent was still too shocked to respond out loud.
To have a formal, new family was completely different from just living together as her ward.
Her status would now be noble, and she would have to call Rearwin “mother.”
Soon, Ruben gestured, and the servants brought in a high platform. It stopped in front of Crescent.
Looking down, she saw a lavish-looking document.
At the top of the high-quality paper were the words: “Adoption Consent Form.”
“Crescent.”
At that moment, she heard Ruben’s voice and looked at him.
“Yes.”
“If you’re too shocked, you don’t need to sign it immediately. After all, what does a piece of paper matter? But if you’re okay with it, signing is fine. That way, you…”
Ruben stopped mid-sentence.
What was he trying to say?
Crescent pricked up her ears.
Ruben’s lips twitched, as if itchy.
“That way, you can call me ‘Grandfather’ instead of ‘Duke.’”
His gaze was not on Crescent but somewhere distant. Even after saying it aloud, he looked embarrassed and awkward.
Seeing his demeanor, Rearwin chuckled beside him.
“Father, you’re shy, aren’t you? You’ve been wanting to hear ‘Grandfather’ from your cute granddaughter all along, haven’t you?”
“No. I don’t care about that.”
“Eh, but you do―!”
“I’ll sign it!”
At that moment, Crescent exclaimed with a bright smile.
Ruben, Rearwin, and even Miles widened their eyes in surprise.
“Really?”
At Ruben’s question, Crescent nodded vigorously.
After all, she couldn’t refuse the formal adoption.
Since it had come to this, she would fully embrace her role as a daughter!
Even if the Plutó Ducal family later discovered the truth about her origins, she would strive to act in a way that was slightly understandable.
“Yes. I’m truly happy that you care for me this much. You’ve treated me well until now, so from now on, I’ll repay you as the Duke’s granddaughter and as the daughter of the Marquis and Marchioness.”
“Good heavens, Crescent. Thank you so much.”
Rearwin, overwhelmed with emotion, hugged Crescent tightly.
Crescent, embraced in his arms, felt nothing but happiness.
She deliberately didn’t think of anything that might make her hesitate, focusing only on how much they cherished each other.
“To think I can become family with such wonderful people…”
“It feels as if Amas himself gave me this gift…”
Crescent whispered dreamily.
The applause of the people poured down like sunlight once again.
Finally, Crescent took a quill and signed the Adoption Consent Form, her hand steady and decisive.
Crescent Dallas had now become Crescent Plutó.
The debutante ball had reached an even deeper level of splendor.
The centerpiece of the ball was, of course, the debutante’s dance and her partner!
Many people eagerly anticipated who Crescent would dance with first.
The first partner carried significant meaning.
Rearwin was determined not to let just anyone be Crescent’s first partner.
“That’s why I sent Metti ten letters in one day telling him to come home on the right date, and yet this brat still didn’t come!”
Rearwin’s anger boiled.
Crescent’s first partner would have been best suited if it were her eldest son, Meteor.
Her twin sons had been training at her maternal family estate since childhood, so they couldn’t attend the debutante ball.
Her maternal family had no sons.
In the end, she had no choice but to select a young man from another prominent knightly family.
She chose him purely based on his appearance.
Perhaps for that reason, Crescent’s movements harmonized quite well with his in a single dance.
“They’re truly a beautiful couple.”
“Being knights, their dancing has a unique elegance. Such grace…!”
The crowd reacted enthusiastically.
Crescent, too, tried her best in the dance.
“Ugh, I’m mixing up the steps. I’m glad I memorized them like a sword dance. Otherwise, I would have messed up by now.”
She imagined her dance partner as a humanoid sword.
Pushing and pulling the sword this way and that, spinning and turning with it—it was quite marvelous.
The seemingly endless dance ended before she realized it.
Crescent parted from her partner, bowed politely, and felt relieved.
Now came the dance with the other guests.
As the main character left the dance area, it quickly filled with other nobles.
When Crescent was left alone, young men eagerly approached her, hoping to request the next dance.
She was a bit flustered.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I think I need a short break; I’ve been nervous.”
“Oh? I see. Understood. We’ll wait here.”
“Thank you.”
With a polite, light smile, Crescent hesitated and stepped back.
At that moment, someone passing by stepped on her dress. She instinctively swayed and bent at the waist.
“Oh?”
Keep your composure, Crescent! Remember, you’re a knight!
Just as she was about to straighten herself, someone supported her back and gently pushed her upright.
“!”
