Chapter 91

* * *

Cheesier ran out as if fleeing and immediately hid.

Even if he hid, it was just behind the stable, next to a wall.

‘What a fool…’

He had completely misunderstood.

‘When Lilith said “let’s be a family.”’

When she kept suggesting that he become the son of this house, and he said he didn’t need a family like that.

Lilith had said,

“Oh, right. Not that. You, the family you create by your own will, your own family.”

“Imagine you meet someone you love later. Then you would get married, right?”

“Honey, Cheesier. I love you. I’m so happy. Let’s make our family happy for life.”

“…How about it? What I meant was a family like this.”

He thought it wasn’t bad.

If he could meet someone he loved, have children, and live happily together…

“Let’s definitely fall in love, Cheesier.”

The memory of being flustered when he saw Lilith’s serious eyes still lingered.

But…

‘Why did I misunderstand? What an idiot.’

She suddenly came to the training ground and suggested being a family. Yes.

Embarrassing, but to be honest, he had misunderstood it to be the family she talked about then.

“Honey, Cheesier. I love you….”

“A!”

Bang!

Cheesier, who shook his head violently, punched the wall above him.

His face was hot.

Thinking about it, Lilith had been inconsistent since the first day he brought him to this house.

‘Be my father’s son’—

‘I’ll become your family.’

“Huh.”

Cheesier, leaning against the wall, slumped down.

To Lilith, he was probably similar to Leon and Theo.

Lilith, who wanted to treat him like a real older brother, and he had foolishly misunderstood.

‘Still, it’s a relief.’

That he rejected Enoch’s proposal.

It was fortunate.

If Lilith became his sister…

‘Ah, that’s weird.’

Yes, it’s really weird.

Let’s not let it be known. Cheesier resolved to hide his misunderstanding.

If it were to be found out…

The thought of Lilith being shocked and disgusted made him feel dizzy.

“Wait.”

“Was the family you were talking about… this family?”

Cheesier bit his lip, recalling what he had said.

“Damn.”

He shouldn’t have said that.

With Lilith’s sharp mind, she might have mulled over those words and figured it out.

“Ha.”

Cheesier, tilting his head back, roughly wiped his face.

Then, he suddenly felt melancholic.

Recently, he had received an unexpected rank and felt incredibly happy.

He didn’t feel as awkward as before in this house, and he felt much more at ease with Lilith.

It was the first time in his life he felt such peace…

“Son.”

The father, who had never called him by name or given him a warm look in the six months they lived under the same roof.

That father, now, was pretending to be affectionate and calling him son.

He was indeed the one who brought Cheesier into this world. He could claim the rights of a father…

And, even if he went back, he wouldn’t live the same life as before.

He was now a Dos, who would bring glory to the family, not a bastard he wanted to hide.

‘I don’t like it.’

But he didn’t like it.

He wanted to stay here.

The wonderful and affectionate Enoch….

If he could call him father, it would be great, but…

‘No, that’s weird.’

Lilith….

His thoughts returned to the starting point.

No matter how much he thought about it, the conclusion would be the same.

Cheesier sighed deeply.

* * *

“Cheesier!”

I chased after Cheesier with my short legs.

He bolted as soon as he saw me.

‘Didn’t we have a similar situation before…?’

Maybe on my birthday.

Anyway, after Cheesier said he didn’t want to be the son of my father or my brother and ran away.

I thought deeply.

“Was the family you were talking about… this family?”

What other family could there be?

Then I remembered.

When I tried to infuse romance into Cheesier.

‘Really. Could it be. Is Cheesier also saying he doesn’t want to be my sibling?’

If Master Oscar saw me slightly hopeful, he would probably sneer, “Wow, you really think what you want.”

‘But what does it matter! I’ll ask him directly first!’

I had to catch Cheesier quickly and ask him what kind of family he was thinking of.

“A, come on! Stand there… Oh!”

Thud!

This damn clumsy legs.

The moment my step faltered, I fell flat.

“Ouch.”

I wiped my sore knees and got up—

“Are you okay?”

—Cheesier, who had run far away, came to stand in front of me with a surprised look.

‘Wow. From now on, when he runs away, I’ll pretend to fall.’

Then I can catch him easily. I thought this as I jumped up.

“Let’s talk!”

“...”

Cheesier looked at me with a trembling gaze.

“You.”

Why is this so tense?

I swallowed and asked.

“Didn’t you say you’d be a family when I suggested it just now…?”

“...”

“Hey, did you think of some other family at that time?”

Cheesier immediately countered.

“Is there another kind of family?”

“Huh?”

“A family is a family. What do you mean by what kind of family?”

“Eh?”

“Didn’t you mean for me to be your father’s son? You always said that.”

“Oh, yeah! That’s what I meant. But you….”

“I understood it that way too.”

“Oh.”

Pfft.

I heard something disappear inside me.

It was probably a sliver of perverted hope….

“W-well.”

I scratched my cheek, feeling embarrassed, and then shouted.

“Then!”

Then why?

“Why did you say you’d be a family and then suddenly say no?”

“You just said it out of habit, so I said okay. I didn’t think you really meant it.”

“Oh.”

All the strength drained from my body.

“Then, Cheesier….”

“...”

“There’s no way. Do you want to go back to the house you lived in before? Are you going to call the conscienceless viscount your father?”

I weakly grabbed Cheesier’s arm and asked, and he remained silent for a long time.

Then, with a darkened expression, he said,

“I don’t know… I really don’t know.”

* * *

“Ugh.”

Axion, who came to deliver the boy soldier enlistment papers, frowned at the lifeless Enoch.

His handsome face was dark.

“You really look bad.”

It seemed Enoch didn’t even hear his provocation.

“Why are you like this?”

Axion sat down on the sofa and asked.

“Hey, Axion.”

“What.”

“Cheesier’s father came.”

“Onyx Viscount? I saw him. A conscienceless guy.”

“How can I watch him take the child? So I tried to register Cheesier in our family.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

Axion nodded.

“But Cheesier doesn’t want to.”

“...?”

“He said, ‘I don’t want to be your father’s son’ and left.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you hit him?”

“Are you crazy?”

Enoch immediately frowned.

“Then what’s the problem? Is there something about him you don’t like?”

Enoch seriously pondered Axion’s question.

Something he didn’t like….

Soon, Enoch’s eyes shook as if an earthquake had hit.

Axion, seeing this, chuckled.

“What is it?”

“I… maybe I pushed the kid a bit too hard.”

Enoch grabbed his head.

He recalled the days he taught Cheesier swordsmanship.

The child had amazing talent.

He followed well, and it was gratifying to see his interest, so he taught him without rest.

Even when he told him to take a break, Cheesier eagerly asked for more lessons….

‘Did he just pretend to be interested and keep learning because he didn’t want to show weakness?!’

Thump, Enoch’s heart sank, and his legs trembled under the desk.

He might have unintentionally abused the child….

He was only eleven years old, yet he made him wield a sword every day….

“Damn! I’m a piece of trash!”

“At least you realize it.”

“What should I do?”

“What can you do? If the kid doesn’t want to, you can’t force him to stay.”

“Then is it okay to send him back to his conscienceless biological father?”

“If there’s no other way, there’s nothing you can do.”

“Damn it.”

Just then.

Knock knock.

“Sir, it’s Cheesier. Are you in there?”

“Ah!”

Enoch jumped up.

“Come in!”

Cheesier, who opened the door carefully, came in, paused upon seeing Axion, and gave a small bow.

Then he said,

“I’m sorry for suddenly leaving just now. I was flustered.”

“Oh, no. You had a reason to be flustered. I was too abrupt. So.”

Enoch swallowed and asked,

“Have you thought about it on your own? Have you made up your mind?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, as I thought….”

“I’m really sorry. I don’t think it will work.”

“Why!?”

Cheesier bit his lip and took a long time to choose his words.

“Just… I’ve never thought about it before. Calling you father feels awkward too.”

“Oh, I see.”

Enoch pressed his brow tightly.

“I understand your feelings. It must be sudden. But you can adapt over time. I want to wait until you get used to it, but there’s no time. Let’s at least write the registration papers….”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“...”

Enoch’s shoulders slumped.

Axion, sitting on the sofa, only rolled his eyes and watched the two.

“Then… can you go back to the house you lived in before?”

“If there’s no other way.”

“Cheesier!”

Enoch shouted.

“Is it because of your father? Even if he’s your biological father, do you want to live with him?”

“No, that’s really not it.”

“Then what…!”

Enoch was frustrated.

Of course, Cheesier, who couldn’t tell the real reason, was equally frustrated.

Finally, Cheesier closed his eyes tightly and said,

“I’m really sorry. I think it will work as long as it’s not you, sir.”

“...?”

Enoch’s mouth gaped open.

“Ha!”

Axion burst out laughing.

Cheesier, seeing Enoch’s shocked face, didn’t know what to do—

“I’m sorry.”

—then ran out again.

“Hahaha! Ah, damn. What a show today.”

Axion let out the laughter he had been holding back.

Enoch, however, remained serious.

“Only if it’s not me…?”

“What did you do to the kid to make him say that?”

“Why, only me…?”

Enoch’s eyes narrowed.

After pondering Cheesier’s words for a while, he said, “Ah,” and nodded.

Then, after thinking for a while longer, he went to sit next to Axion.

“Hey.”

“Huh? What.”

“Are you not getting married?”

“Suddenly?”

“Are you not getting married?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to have kids.”

“You’re not the one who will have them.”

“What? Are you stupid? I mean I don’t want to make kids.”

Axion leaned back and added,

“I also don’t want to desert like someone else.”

“Hmm, yeah. I understand that.”

“But why are you asking me this out of the blue?”

Axion, looking at Enoch, paused.

His expression was lecherous.

“What?”

“Adopt Cheesier.”

“Oh!”

Axion’s eyes widened.

“Is that a solution?”

Enoch’s face brightened.

“What do you think? It’s a good idea, right? The kid said it will work as long as it’s not me.”

“Wow, really.”

“Hahaha!”

“Hahaha…!”

The two men laughed at each other.

“Hahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

Then, Axion, who had been laughing, suddenly stiffened and put on a serious face.

“...Are you crazy, really.”