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4: bow and arrows

4: bow and arrows

Cordelia and Jennette had seen their fathers' interaction with each other and they couldn't help but share a glance.

Cute!

"Nereus—"

"Don't move. It's almost done."

The young painter Nereus brought finally finished after thirty minutes... which was far from what Nereus said as almost done. By the end of it, Anastacius felt sore all over as he set the baby sheep free.

Before it left, however, it snuggled up against his leg before scurrying away.

Anastacius couldn't help but throw that little thing a look of defeat.

He marched towards Nereus and actually pinched the other's side. "You dimwit! How was that quick?! I had to stay still for an hour and a half!"

"You could have left but you didn't. Wouldn't that be your fault, Anastacius?" Victory was written all over Nereus' face, causing the former emperor to resemble a bristling cat.

Nereus' triumph turned into a silly smile and Anastacius ended up rolling his eyes.

These two single fathers were like children in that moment that everyone, not only their daughters, stared at them in amusement.

Jennette received the painting of her father after it was dried and she couldn't help but hug it. This was the first picture of him, after all! Next time, she should get one with the both of them in it!

"Jennette," Cordelia popped up beside her with a smile. "Let's go. Uncle and dad said we should head to the inn since the sun's already setting."

"En!" The brunette slid her hand into Cordelia's and the both of them caught up with their fathers.

The inn Nereus found was one of the best inns in Arcathain. On top of having a personal bathrooms for each bedroom, the furniture in the rooms were of luxurious brands. When Anastacius asked how much did a night's stay cost, he was a bit gobsmocked.

The room they would be staying in had four bedrooms, one for each of them. The money spent was enough to buy at least three high class carriages back in Obelia.

Anastacius, who had gotten used to the simple life, found it difficult to believe that Nereus, who didn't have a single job, could afford such a room.

But of course, he didn't ask. That was the man's personal business, after all. It wasn't within Anastacius' rights to pry into Nereus' privacy.

"Delia!" Jennette called out excitedly as she finished organizing her stuff in her room, skipping into the living room and jumping onto Cordelia's back. "Let's take a bath together!"

Cordelia, who was about to reply on instinct, choked back her affirmation. "That, I—" the girl scratched the back of her head in awkwardness. "I'm not really comfortable taking a bath with others."

"Is that so?" The oblivious Jennette simply smiled and didn't ask further. It was only her father who noticed the anomaly im Cordelia's answer.

When he realized where his thoughts were headed to, Anastacius shook his head. For some reason, ever since he met Nereus for the first time, he became a bit distrustful in every little thing again.

Take Cordelia for example.

He had known that child for a couple of months now but for some reason, the way she looked while rejecting his daughter's invitation seemed a little odd in his eyes. Were Nereus and Cordelia hiding something?