My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 219: Father and Son

"You two..." The duke's voice cut through the moment, bringing us back to reality.

I released Aria from the hug, feeling a twinge of embarrassment as the duke addressed us. "Oh, right, excuse me, Father," I replied quickly, guiding Aria to take a seat nearby.

Aria's cheeks flushed red, and she looked visibly flustered as she apologized to the duke. "Forgive me, Your Grace," she said, bowing slightly. It was clear that she was addressing him formally, her nerves palpable in the air.

I took a seat opposite the duke, directly facing him. There wasn't much space, and Aria attempted to squeeze in next to me, but finding it too crowded, she reluctantly returned to her seat on the sofa next to the duke. Though disappointed, she seemed to understand the situation and didn't press further.

As we settled into our seats, I couldn't help but feel a sense of tension in the air.

It was clear that despite the warmth of our reunion, there were still unresolved issues lingering beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, the duke's gaze shifted between Aria and me, suspicion evident in his eyes. It was clear that my embrace with Aria had caught him off guard, but her subsequent behavior seemed to only deepen his surprise. Perhaps he never imagined such a scene unfolding before him.

Aria's demeanor betrayed her true feelings, despite her attempts to maintain a poker face.

The way she looked at me, with a hint of adoration in her eyes, and the subtle signs of nervousness, like the slight reddening of her ears and the unconscious smile that tugged at her lips whenever she glanced in my direction, spoke volumes.

It was evident to anyone paying attention that Aria harbored feelings for me.

"It seems the two of you have gotten close...." the duke commented, breaking the tense silence that had settled over the room. His words were measured, his expression unreadable as he observed us both intently.

Aria appeared too nervous to speak, a surprising shift from her typically confident demeanor.

It struck me as odd, considering her nature, but then again, her relationship with the duke hadn't been particularly close, based on my recollections of their interactions.

In our family, with the exception of Lilliana, the duke was more of a figurehead, a patriarch and authority figure rather than a father in the traditional sense.

"Well, a lot can happen in the academy, you see," I interjected, offering an excuse to fill the awkward silence. "Our misunderstandings were resolved after we talked things out," I added with a forced chuckle.

In reality, our reconciliation had involved more intimate activities than mere conversation, but there was no need to divulge those details to the duke.

Afterall I can't exactly say 'We fucked and worked things out right?'

What mattered was the present, the fact that Aria and I were on good terms now.

My explanation seemed to give the duke pause, his expression shifting slightly as he considered my words.

It was clear that he found it difficult to believe, especially given Aria's previous animosity towards me.

But for now, it was enough that we were able to sit together in relative peace, bridging the gap that had once divided us.

"I see..." the duke responded, his tone somewhat neutral. It seemed that he wasn't inclined to delve further into the specifics of our reconciliation, which was a relief.

He had never been one to pry into his children's affairs, and I suspected he was already well-informed about our circumstances in the academy, likely through Lilliana's watchful eyes.

"So, why did you call for me, father?" I inquired, redirecting the conversation back to its original purpose.

Over the years, Adrian had grown closer to his mother, his features bearing a striking resemblance to hers.

The duke's heart clenched at the thought of Adrian's mother, a memory he had long tried to bury resurfacing in his mind.

Despite his efforts to forget, the memory lingered, a reminder of a past that continued to haunt him.

"Hehe~ Freddy the baby just kicked!" her voice echoed with joy, her hand gently resting on her growing belly.

"I guess my child is as feisty as his mother," the duke added playfully.

"Who are you calling feisty?"

The duke couldn't help but reminisce about the happier times, remembering the radiant smile on her face as Adrian kicked inside her growing belly.

Everything had seemed so perfect back then, before his own foolish choices had shattered their happiness.

If only he had made different decisions.

Perhaps things would have turned out differently.

Maybe she would still be by his side, and their family would be harmonious, just as his first wife had wished.

But dwelling on such thoughts was futile.

The past was set in stone, and all he could do now was face the reality before him.

Reaching into his coat pocket, he retrieved a letter and placed it on the small table in front of them.

Aria and Adrian looked at the letter with curiosity, their expressions reflecting a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

Adrian opened the letter slowly, his eyes widening slightly in shock as he read its contents.

"Adrian Vulter Tellus, by the orders of the emperor, I'm here to take you back to the empire," the duke said aloud, his voice steady as he absorbed Adrian's reaction.

Then, with a calm demeanor, he looked back at the duke, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"How about a no?" Adrian said casually, his words hanging in the air, the room falling into a stunned silence.

The duke's mind reeled at the audacity of Adrian's response.

Did he just casually ignore a royal order?

Not just any royal order, but one issued by the emperor himself.

If Adrian weren't the hero, the duke would have been well within his rights to order his execution on the spot.

The absurdity of the situation was almost too much for the duke to comprehend.

Adrian's nonchalant refusal, delivered with a smile, bordered on sheer recklessness.