It's a great joy, son," his mother said, smiling gently as she cut into her eggs.
Adrien stared at her with barely contained anger. "A joy? You're actually enjoying this? Is this funny to you, Mother?"
"Adrien," his father snapped, "do not speak to your mother with disrespect."
"Respect?" Adrien let out a hollow laugh. "We're talking about respect while you're forcing me into a life I didn't choose? My *lovely* family deciding everything for me like I'm a pawn on a board?"
"It's a marriage, not a death sentence," his mother replied, still annoyingly calm. "It's political, like every other family does. She's not a bad person. You can love her—or learn to love her."
"You two married for love," Adrien shot back. "You even threatened Uncle when he tried to stop you. And now you're telling me this is normal?"
His father folded his arms. "Do you love someone else then?"
"What? No—I don't," Adrien muttered.
"Then marry her," his father said simply.
"It's not that easy. What if I fall in love with someone later?"
"Then divorce her," his mother said with a shrug.
Adrien blinked at them, stunned. "You two are really… unbelievable."
The dining room doors swung open. Henry strolled in with his usual grin.
"My favorite couple!" he announced—then paused as he caught the tension thick in the air. "Uh… did I come at a bad time?"
"No, you didn't," Adrien said, pushing back his chair. "We're finished."
He walked past Henry, not bothering to look at his parents.
"They're coming today—don't forget!" his mother called after him.