~Chapter 52~
What Grand Duke Lux said about how quickly children grow was truly right. Even though only six months had passed, there had been so many changes in the children.
On a beautiful day, the children went on a picnic together. They spread a blanket by the lakeside, and Ruby watched as the children played.
“Can I go and look around over there?” Calix asked.
“Don’t go too far,” Ruby replied.
Calix, who had been receiving constant sword lessons, had grown taller and much stronger. But he still hadn’t matured completely. However, his serious expression during training showed that he was gradually becoming more focused.
He had also finished etiquette lessons and started studying imperial subjects. Although he still wasn’t very interested in the lessons, he no longer skipped them or treated the teachers disrespectfully. Ruby was just grateful that Calix was attending his lessons.
Sasha, too, had grown. Her cheeks were less chubby, and her pronunciation had become clearer. She had started her own training and chose the mace, which Calix had highly recommended. At first, she started with a light club, but now she could handle the mace as if it were an extension of her hand.
Surprisingly, Sasha also showed an interest in her studies. Her lessons expanded from simple math to more complex subjects like imperial history, and she displayed a great deal of focus for her age.
While Ruby was watching Calix and Sasha, Maria suddenly tugged at her sleeve.
“Mommy,” Maria called.
Maria, the one who had grown the most of the three children, had started to walk on her own. She couldn’t speak in full sentences yet, but she could express herself with simple words. Her body had grown, and Ruby could no longer carry her for long without feeling the weight.
“Are you hungry, Maria?” Ruby asked, taking a bowl of fruit from the picnic basket.
Ruby fed Maria small pieces of fruit, noticing that she was now teething and could chew on small things.
“Is it good?” Ruby asked.
Maria nodded happily. Despite her limited speech, Maria understood most things.
Ruby had always thought Maria would be more intelligent than the other children, and she was pleased to see that her predictions were correct.
“Are you giving this to me?” Ruby asked as Maria offered a piece of fruit.
“Thank you,” Ruby said, taking the fruit and eating it with a smile. She lovingly squeezed Maria’s cheek, feeling a deep sense of affection.
Ruby recalled the first day Maria spoke. Maria had babbled a lot, but the first clear word she said was “Unni” (sister) — a simple, but precious word that made Ruby burst into tears. She had always longed for her parents to see Maria growing up, but they weren’t there to witness these moments.
Calix and Sasha also cried that day, and they comforted each other in their sorrow. Grand Duke Lux had to step in and stop them from crying, and he took Maria from Ruby, holding her calmly as the family began to settle down.
“Children grow so quickly,” Grand Duke Lux murmured, watching them. Ruby agreed.
Lux had been spending more time with the children recently. He didn’t just meet them during meals anymore; sometimes they went shopping or attended performances together. This made the children more comfortable around him, especially Calix and Sasha, who no longer found him distant.
Ruby smiled faintly as she watched Lux’s attention on the children.
“Children really do grow up fast, don’t they, Grandpa?” Ruby said.
Lux looked at Ruby and gave a short laugh. “You’re one to talk, aren’t you? You’re still a child yourself.”
Ruby realized, as she often did, that she was still only ten years old. She had taken on the responsibility of caring for the children so much that she often forgot about her own age.
“You’ve grown too. Your hair’s gotten longer,” Lux added with a smile.
Ruby laughed lightly. “At my age, growing my hair long isn’t a sign of growing up,” she joked.
Ruby had become poised, with the etiquette training she had undergone, and now she carried herself with the dignity of a noblewoman. To anyone meeting her for the first time, it would be hard to believe that she came from a poor background. She was soon going to debut as a proper young lady, and Lux couldn’t help but feel a pang of discomfort at the thought. He felt strange about Ruby’s growth.
Lux quickly changed the subject. “How is the Cardonia Territory project going?”
“It’s going well. The buildings are finished, and now the workshops are just waiting for tenants,” Ruby replied.
“Do you think creating an arts district will actually work?” Lux asked, still uncertain about Ruby’s idea.
Despite his doubts, Lux had supported Ruby’s project financially, and the construction had been completed ahead of schedule.
“Now what? Do you think people will actually come to see the workshops?” Lux asked.
“Well, we will be producing high-quality jewelry, but if we just leave the workshops as they are, no one will know that the products are of good quality,” Ruby explained.
“So what’s your plan?”
“We need to promote it. Let people know that high-quality goods are being made there,” Ruby said, her eyes shining as she spoke.
Lux was curious but still unsure about how Ruby would pull it off. Ruby leaned closer to him, as if sharing a secret.
She whispered something into his ear, and Lux was so surprised that he pulled back to look at her.
“Do you think that’s possible?” Lux asked, skeptical.
“Wait and see. I’ll show you how it’s done,” Ruby said confidently.
Lux couldn’t help but admire her confidence. “You never hesitate, do you?”
“Of course I do. I just have more confidence than others,” Ruby said with a smile.
Lux was curious about where Ruby’s confidence came from. Ruby looked at Maria, who was sitting on her lap, and then answered, “It’s because I have people who believe in me.”
“Do Calix and Sasha help you?” Lux asked, confused.
Ruby shook her head. “No, they don’t need to. They’re my family, and they give me strength just by being here with me.”
Lux was still unsure who Ruby meant. Ruby looked back at him and smiled.
“The future that hasn’t happened yet is helping me,” she said mysteriously.
Lux didn’t understand, but Ruby simply smiled.
“I’m a blessed person. I have my siblings supporting me, and my grandfather cares about me.”
Lux’s face softened, but he quickly masked it with a serious expression.
Ruby smiled at him and said, “Thank you for accepting us, Grandpa.”
Lux’s face turned away from Ruby as he looked at the children again.
Ruby thought, maybe it was time to call this place “family.” She didn’t want to disappoint Lux and silently made a vow to keep going.
