
i really hope damien and lucia grow a bond and he can start smiling because of her

ATTENTION ALL, SPOILERS DOWN BELOW!
I think this is down enough to not bother the others. (⌒▽⌒)
So according to the novel, Damien will be a bit shy since he doesn't know Lucia but Lucia will straight away try to befriend him and make him her son in eyes of society. She even goes to war against a Madam of the North (who is trying to surpass her Manners' Tutor in terms of controlling the lady's side of power in the North). The Madam in question deliberately snubbed Lucia during her first big tea party as she introduces Damien to all and officially forcing the North to acknowledge a bastard as the future heir. (Her tutor and her granddaughter aren't at said tea party due to some small incident so that's why the Madam is trying to do a power grab).
Lucia stands her grounds and fights via polite manners the women who refuse to acknowledge Damien. Meanwhile, Damien realizes how much Lucia cares for him as starts to admire her. He also vows to protect her in his father's stead and is even more determined to become the Heir of the North (currently, je is going through the motions since the Duke isn't really a warm-friendly guy).
Of course, once the Duke realizes that Lucia is currently "suffering" (or so he believes because she is unhappy that the nobles won't accept Damien and not because of the failed tea party), he intervenes on the Men side of things. This is actually taboo since men and women have different ways of "fighting" and the opposite gender usually never intervenes but it actually cements the fact that the Duke is madly in love with his wife and would do anything for her.
Never go against the most powerful couple of the North.
And that's it for that arc! It's one of my favorites in the Novel so I can't wait for it to be illustrated ヾ(☆▽☆)
there’s so much second hand embarrassment but it’s so good