Yeah. The second part ppl are assuming grooming bcz he picked up this child that gave his life light and meaning. It doesn't show grooming. In the original timeline Alois grows up and kept coming back to him despite his introducing him to the world. We are not shown grooming in the later timeline when the 20 y.o. duke saved Alois. He just wants his light. Now, we don't know what his intentions are. It could just be pure love for another person not in the sexual or romantic sense. Ppl are assuming grooming because the younger Duke has already had a taste of the older Alois. So I get where they're coming from. But whether this is the case of grooming or not we don't know.
Hmmm the author seriously playing on the line between pedophilia and grooming... but I think this is not exactly that
You see, the Duke didn't like Alois like that when he was kid. Grooming maybe but those are the situation...
Anyway I wish it was longer ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶