MCFATTKM

46

The Duke of Superion blinked, finding the situation hard to believe. No matter how many times he looked at his son, he seemed like he was crying.

'What is he doing? This child... Why is he behaving like this in front of a child?' The Duke sat opposite Carius and looked alternately at Lelia, whose mouth was covered with dessert powder.

He seemed to be wondering about the current situation.

Lelia, bewildered by the look, shouted without realizing it.

"Well, I did not! I didn't do that!"

"Hahaha... haha!"

But strangely enough, Carius now began to laugh out loud at the words.

When I was young, he used to fight with his sister, Elizabeth, and if their father came in, his sister would always say, 'I didn't do that! Carius just cried alone!'

Still, in fear of getting scolded, she would quickly approach Carius and give him a hug. 'I'm sorry, Brother. So, please smile!' she used to whisper.

"..."

Lelia looked at Carius with a strange expression as if she had seen a madman.

The Duke of Superion and the maid, Becky, who were watching Carius, had a similar expression.

***

Back in the room with Becky, Lelia lay on bed feeling restless. Becky brought a lot of desserts, including Maclia to Lelia's surprise,, but somehow it was out of hand.

[Is she sick?]

Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable when she thought of Carius, who was crying and laughing like a madman. Even though he hated her, he was still her mother's best brother.

['And from what I heard from my grandmother, I think they were much closer than I thought them to be...]

Lelia spent time with her sweet grandmother and grandfather, but they were very strict parents towards their children when they were young.

Maybe that was why she kept her heart drawn to her.

At first, she wondered, 'Why was he doing that being such a grown up man?' every time he cast her edgy glances at her.

However, in a way, his eyes seemed to be depicting someone who desperately wanted to protect something from her.

[Like an adult who hasn't grown up...]

Lelia rolled over her doll with a serious expression on her face, and then she got up from the bed again.

[Oh! I forgot. I have to do what I have to do.]

Lelia's gaze reached the basket containing her health recovery potion.

[I need to earn money quickly and recharge my crystals.]

She was just like that when she got up and went out with her basket.

She was smart

She heard a knock and thought it was Becky, but it was Carius who opened her door and came in.

Lelia squinted her eyes and looked at him.

He cried and then laughed, and then his eyes were red as if he had cried again.

"Sit down for a moment."

Carius spoke bluntly and sat down on the sofa. Lelia hesitated for a moment, then she walked across from it and settled down.

"What's wrong?"

"... I have something to say."

"..."