Chapter 94

"Why, why do you carry that?"

He was flustered.

Carrying a seal.

And it was in the front pocket of his sweat-soaked training uniform, as if it were precious?

It was as if he had always been prepared for what was to happen today.

"Hahaha!"

Father soon burst into laughter, as if the surroundings were about to be swept away.

Then, he draped his arm over Axion's shoulder and, looking at the marquis standing beside him as if mocking him, said,

"Sure enough, our deputy! He's a very thorough person, you know?"

"Move aside, I get it."

Axion, who had freed himself from Father, walked to the counter and began to stamp the seal on the document where only his signature was written.

Now it was too late to turn back….

The marquis, who had been watching this with a pale expression, lunged at Father.

"Marquis Rubinstein! What kind of outrageous behavior is this?"

"Outrageous? That's a bit strange, isn't it?"

"I am Cheshire's biological father! The one who passed on his rank to him!"

The marquis looked as if he was about to cry.

"Not even a demon would do such a thing! With me, his biological father, standing right here, you're going to take the child away?"

He seemed to be grasping at straws, appealing to the employees who were watching in silence.

"Does this make any sense? Separating a father and son right before their eyes, is this really, really right?"

"Sorry, but I have to interrupt."

Father interjected.

"I've been taking care of the child until now. And I'm legally and procedurally adopting him to someone who can be a good stepfather."

Unlike the marquis, who was sobbing and making a fuss, Father spoke in a voice that was coldly rational.

"Just by seeing how the child signed his name on the document without a second thought, even with his biological father right in front of him, doesn't that answer the question?"

Father smiled and added,

"Greedy to the point of admitting to abusing the child himself. What a shame, not acting your age and putting on a show."

"…"

"What's there to brag about? Are you trying to elicit sympathy here?"

The employees, listening to Father's smooth words, nodded timidly in agreement.

"Let's not make this any messier. If you really want to play the role of the biological father."

Father stepped close to the marquis.

"Never show that disgusting face to the child again."

His voice was fierce.

The surroundings were silent.

The marquis glared at Father with bloodshot, tear-filled eyes.

"…, the adoption has been approved."

The silence was broken by the voice of our counter clerk.

She, sweating in the tense atmosphere, timidly clapped her hands.

"Congratulations on the birth of a new family~!"

At her words, Father, who had been wearing a frightening expression, broke into a bright smile and opened his arms to Cheshire and Axion.

"Come on, let's go home now!"

* * *

As soon as they stepped outside, Lilius grabbed Cheshire and asked,

"Cheshire! Are you really okay with this? You've always said you don't want a family… but it's okay with Uncle, is it?"

Lilius looked bewildered.

Cheshire was equally flustered.

An explanation was needed at this point.

Even though the adoption was already completed, it was a bit too late to correct it, but…

"Princess, understand Cheshire. It's all Father's fault. He's been too harsh in training Cheshire. It was too much, even for me."

"Is, is that really the reason?"

Lilius's expression showed that she couldn't understand.

Cheshire looked at Enoch. He had a peculiar smile on his face.

'Uncle probably knows…'

Enoch seemed to have noticed.

That Cheshire felt strange about becoming Lilius's real sibling.

In the end, Cheshire sent a sorry glance to Enoch and nodded.

"Sorry."

Lilius's eyes widened in shock.

Although his heart was noisy with lies, there was nothing he could do.

'Be careful not to close your eyes.'

As long as he didn't make the mistake of closing his eyes, he wouldn't be caught.

He was surprised at how much his face betrayed him when he lied.

"Hehe. You just lied, didn't you?"

"What, what?"

"You're so obvious. You're a terrible liar. You close your eyes when you lie, didn't you know?"

Lilius had told him this when they were in the training facility.

So as long as he didn't close his eyes, they would believe him.

Right now, for example.

"Good grief! What did Father do to you!"

Lilius hit Enoch's knee with her soft fists.

"Ahaha! But still, it's a good thing. Uncle Axion is a good person. He's one of the few people Father trusts, and he won't treat Cheshire like Father does."

"But, then where will Cheshire live now?"

At Lilius's question, silence.

"Oh, that."

Axion, who had been listening quietly, spoke to Cheshire.

"Do as you please. Nothing changes. You're probably used to where you've been living."

"Is, is there a room at the marquis's house…?"

"What?"

"Any place is fine. I just need a place to sleep."

Surprised by the unexpected answer, Axion narrowed his eyes.

"There are plenty of rooms in the house."

"Oh, then…"

"Are you coming in?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Alright. Then let's go pack your things."

"Yes."

Lilius, surprised by the rapid conversation, grabbed Cheshire.

"Wait a minute. Uncle said you can stay at our house, so do you really have to go…?"

Cheshire looked at Lilius intently.

Then he nodded.

"Yes."

"Why? Can't we just live together at our house like before…?"

"No."

"Why not?"

If they lived under the same roof and spent every day like a family….

If they continued to grow up together….

"…I just can't. I don't want to."

"You, you don't want to?"

Cheshire felt like a fool for his lack of eloquence.

But what could he do?

If they kept seeing each other every day and grew up like siblings, and you started to think of me as your real big brother…

It just didn't feel right.

Well, should he say it like that?

"Princess."

Enoch, who had picked up Lilius, who looked like she was about to cry, and held her.

"Cheshire has been through a lot. Father was really harsh."

"What did Father do to you…?"

"And now the paperwork is all done. Cheshire has the surname Libre."

"Uh-huh. But…"

"Don't worry. It's a good thing for Cheshire. When Uncle Axion dies, everything he's earned, including the house, will go to Cheshire. He needs to live there as the heir and make his presence known."

"That's a bit much to say."

Axion, who had been listening, flared up.

Lilius, confused by the unexpected farewell, eventually nodded in Father's comforting embrace.

"Okay, I get it…."

* * *

The four months or so that Cheshire spent at the Marquis Rubinstein's residence were not short.

The family members all seemed to regret Cheshire's departure.

As he said goodbye to each person, some of the servants even teared up, and Cheshire was taken aback.

"Come visit often."

Even the eldest of the household, Nordic, couldn't hide his disappointment as he said goodbye.

Cheshire felt a strange sensation.

It was hard to describe.

To have people welcome him, regret his departure, and invite him to come back anytime…

It was surprisingly…

Happy.

To the point of making his eyes moist.

"We'll stop by the twins' house to say hello. Got it?"

"Yes."

Enoch, who was personally loading Cheshire's few belongings into the carriage, said.

After Alexei Antres returned to the capital.

The twins and Ordia, who had been staying here, returned to the main house.

The main house was a townhouse within the capital, only about a five-minute carriage ride away, so they often came and went.

'Now I have to be alone.'

Cheshire suddenly worried about Lilius.

Without the twins and Cheshire, Lilius might feel lonely.

They had always been together.

'Why isn't she coming?'

Cheshire looked around in front of the carriage, which was ready to leave.

Lilius, who had run straight to her room as soon as they returned, was probably crying from disappointment.

"Oh my."

Then Enoch, looking flustered, said,

"Why is our daughter coming out in such an anxious state?"

What did he mean? When he turned around, Lilius was struggling across the garden.

On her back was a plump teddy bear bag.

Under her arm was a rabbit bag with a bulging mouth.

And in her hand, she was carrying a bundle of luggage.

It was clear to anyone that she was packing to leave home.

"Princess, Princess. Where are you going, coming out like this?"

Enoch quickly blocked Lilius's path.

"Uncle!"

But Lilius quickly dodged Enoch and ran to Axion.

"I want to go too!"

"What?"

"I, I want to go too. I'm worried about Cheshire…."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's not like I'm going for good… Can I stay at Uncle's house for a while?"

Axion looked up at Enoch.

Enoch, who was standing behind Lilius, shook his head vigorously and crossed his arms in an X.

"…No."

When Axion finally refused, Lilius clasped her small hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Please, Uncle! Just for a month! Or even a week!"

Her big eyes were brimming with tears.

"Cheshire might not be able to adapt…. I, I need to be there to help him…."

"No, he'll adapt just fine. He's not a newborn."

"Aaah. Please. Is there no room in the house? Can I have one of the servants' rooms…. I can sleep there…."

"Plenty of rooms. Our house is big."

"Then please take me too…. I'm good at laundry. I can wash Uncle's underwear…."

"What? What kind of child washes underwear?"

Cheshire, feeling awkward, watched Lilius, who was clinging to the flustered Axion and sobbing.

Their eyes met.

As soon as they met,

"Ugh. Aaaah!"

She started crying.

Then she ran over and clung to Cheshire's waist.

"…Lilius."

"Aaaah. I, I don't want to, ugh! I don't want to, separate…! Don't leave me behind…!"

"Ah."

What should he do?

Cheshire felt like he might cry too.