Chapter 7

For a while, or perhaps never again, Harry and Floriana thought they might not meet their father’s second wife. However, the meeting came much sooner than expected.

"Harry, Floriana, this is... Anna."

"My name is Kyouka. Nice to meet you. Please, sir, get used to calling me by my name."

"Well, that's easier said than done."

"...You were calling me just fine last night."

"Ugh, c-cough, that, that was..."

Harry and Floriana, seeing their father stammer for the first time, couldn't hide their surprise.

When he said the name "Anna," he seemed a bit hesitant, perhaps even blushing. His ears were red, and he kept coughing to cover something up.

They had never seen their father, who was usually sullen and silent, behave like this. They were more intrigued by this unusual behavior than by the new concubine.

Harry tried to keep his surprise from showing, but Floriana was completely taken aback, forgetting all her governess's lessons. If Miss Reed saw her now, who knows what lecture she would give.

Their father, apparently trying to cover his slackened expression with more coughing, finally continued speaking to the children.

"Anna... she said she wanted to meet you."

"Yes, I'm so grateful that you fulfilled my request so quickly, sir."

Kyouka said this with a blissful smile, and the two of them widened their eyes even more.

Their real father, Hugo Serendia, was intimidating. First, his appearance, then his voice and aura.

He spoke gruffly, and just hearing his name made one feel scolded. Honestly, they didn't want to see him much.

Yet, this delicate woman was looking at him with gentle eyes, unafraid.

Moreover, she was holding his hand, hidden by her skirt... When Harry glanced at the servant, he nodded as if understanding something.

Suddenly, Kyouka's gaze and hand, which had been so close to the general, pulled away and turned to the children.

The imposing man beside her seemed shocked by her sudden departure, but he was distracted by Kyouka, who stepped closer with shining eyes and clasped hands in front of her chest.

"Oh, a doll-like girl looking so surprised, it's so cute!"

"Eh?"

"And the expressionless boy's shocked face is rare, and up close, he looks just like his father!"

"Eh, eh?"

Kyouka's rapid, spell-like speech left Floriana and Harry speechless.

Realizing her mistake, Kyouka quickly calmed the atmosphere and smiled gently.

"Ah, no, nothing. I'm sorry, I got a bit carried away with excitement."

"Um, it's okay."

"Thank you for being so understanding. Harry, Floriana, I hope we can get along well."

She bent her knees slightly to meet their eye level and extended her hand in a friendly gesture.

Only then did the two of them really look at this woman named "Anna."

—Her black hair was softly tied up, her bright hazel eyes curved, and her mouth remained in a perpetual smile.

Most of all, her voice... it was as if she was singing, full of emotion.

They had never seen an adult behave so openly and without hiding their feelings.

Their father and mother had always been distant figures.

Their governess only supervised their studies and scolded them, and their sword instructor only taught them swordsmanship. They had never shared private conversations or laughed together.

Kyouka was the first to crouch to their eye level and offer her hand, and she even apologized for her mistake.

Given their father's unusual behavior, it seemed she was different from the adults they knew.

The two siblings looked at each other and tentatively shook Kyouka's hand.