Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: A Father's Bite
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"D-Do... do you not hate me...?"
The child's voice trembled fiercely as he asked that.
Hate me...? What wrong could this little one have possibly done.
King Sedes scooped Lianus up effortlessly and turned him around to sit face-to-face. His lips were pursed tight, and his large, round heterochromatic eyes were crumpled slightly, brimming with glistening tears.
Sedes gently wiped away those tears with his rough, calloused hand, then gazed long at that small, chubby face.
Natura... The face I'd thought resembled her so much unexpectedly took after me in many ways.
Lost in thought, he stared silently for a good while until suddenly those plump cheeks caught his eye.
Sedes asked, as if entranced by some memory.
"May I ask something?"
"P-Pardon? Sniff... What...?"
Before Lianus could even finish, Sedes lifted him up again and chomped down on his cheek.
"...!?"
His own child froze like a broken doll.
It was a bit salty, like salt bread. And as a bonus, there was an oddly fitting sweet cream scent.
Sedes added a bit more pressure with his teeth on that soft, squishy cheek. When Lianus flailed in surprise, he finally couldn't hold back his laughter and let go.
Lianus stared up at Sedes with wide eyes, utterly baffled by what was happening. Sedes laughed again at the clear teeth marks left on that plump cheek, gently stroking it.
"Ahahaha, that kid wasn't kidding. It's so soft and squishy."
"Y-Your Majesty?"
"That kid said if I didn't do it now, I'd never get the chance, so I should when I could."
"Th-That... that...?"
"So I gave it a try too. If that rascal could bite it, what reason would a father like me have not to? And it tastes like cream cake, doesn't it."
At the mention of cream cake flavor, Lianus's face flushed beet red, and he bowed his head deeply. Come to think of it, while eating strawberry shortcake, Nihil had wiped his face with a handkerchief, saying he'd gotten it messy.
"C-Cake... I must have eaten it messily."
"Strawberry shortcake, was it?"
"...N-Not that much got on me...!"
Lianus was mortified that Sedes had guessed the exact dessert he'd eaten, covering his face with both hands. Sedes burst into laughter again at how adorable it was.
"Uhahaha, that one specifically requested it because he wanted some."
"Nil... said he wanted to eat it himself?"
"Yes."
Sedes wanted to tell him he'd also prepared the shrimp Lianus liked, but decided against it since the cumbersome lobster dish had come out instead. He'd already gotten an earful from his son's friend about it.
Next time, I'll have them serve shrimp that's easy to eat and delicious.
Lianus tilted his head, wondering if his dear friend really liked strawberry shortcake. He'd yielded most of his own cake and even the strawberries on top to Lianus. Of course, Lianus had fed his to Nihil in return.
Sedes felt a twinge of bitterness seeing Lianus lost in his own thoughts right in front of him, as if outdone by that pale little boy. But even that tilting head was lovable, so he stroked it carefully and decided to be content.
"Rian."
"Y-Yes?"
At the sound of his nickname from Sedes, Lianus jumped in shock, eyes widening hugely again. He'd been stunned just hearing his name, but a nickname? He was thrilled, yet a creeping unease rose—what on earth was happening?
"You like being called by your nickname, don't you."
"Nil... said that?"
"Yes. I'll try to call you that in private."
Shy and joyful, Lianus nodded timidly before throwing himself into Sedes's arms. Sedes gently stroked his back.
"You've made a good friend."
"Yes! Nil is so strong and cool and capable. And incredibly..."
"Gentle, right."
At "gentle," Lianus beamed, nodding vigorously. Sedes brushed his fluttering curls once, then slowly opened his mouth as if reminiscing on the past.
"Your mother... she was excellent with a bow. Her eyes were sharp; she could hunt birds from very far away without trouble."
"...?"
"Separate from her good eyesight, she was a bit... lacking in perception."
"..."
"She was terrible at lying or hiding her expressions, so deceiving others was completely beyond her."
Lianus stared at Sedes with wide eyes, never imagining he'd hear about his mother like this.
His father's face, reminiscing on his mother, looked happy... but also lonely.
Sedes continued slowly, savoring the memories.
"Everyone called your mother a consort, but so what if she was. They treated her like a mere mistress. Shunned by both elven forests and human society for being neither elf nor human, she faced scorn even here."
A bitter smile crossed his lips. Yet he kept speaking.
"I deliberately served her food first, to show them. I feared the growing opposition would drive her away. In the end, she got the title of consort. But to me, she was the first queen. That was only right. What king takes a consort before his queen?"
Lianus's small hand clenched a little. He'd never known his father thought of his mother this way.
Sedes pulled a small key from his bosom and unlocked a drawer, revealing a tiny portrait. A woman with radiant golden hair and emerald eyes smiled adorably.
It was a face Lianus had never seen, but he knew instinctively. That was his mother.
"Want it?"
"...!"
Lianus's eyes widened hugely. Could he really take it?
"Go ahead. I have more."
I've got quite a few hidden away. His father said with a mischievous, childlike grin.
"Even in that harsh life, she was always bright and honest. I... fell for that about her."
Lianus nodded faintly. Not just because she was his mother—the woman in the portrait was genuinely likable.
More than enough... to fall for.
"At first... I thought I was being punished."
"...?"
"For bringing a wildly free spirit into the palace and binding her. So I thought... this was my punishment."
Sedes took a deep breath. His eyes met hers in the portrait, and he caressed it gently. The rough yet warm texture of the paper felt oddly comforting.
"Even after marriage, no child for five years. So they all started belittling her, saying the problem was hers."
"..."
"Truth be told, there was a problem. Turns out half-elves are naturally infertile. When she confessed that to me, she wept buckets, full of apologies."
"..."
"She'd... deceived me."
Lianus's body stiffened slightly at those words. Sedes pulled him close against himself and continued.
"I was... shocked that she'd deceived me. I knew she couldn't lie to save her life, so she never did."
"..."
Lianus wanted to ask: Were you angry? But he was too scared of the answer.
"She... apologized for telling me late, said she wanted to stay with me forever."
"..."
"Do you know what I thought when I heard her confession?"
"...Did you resent her for deceiving you?"
As he answered, Lianus's face hardened slightly, his eyes trembling with anxiety.
Sedes chuckled lowly and shook his head.
"No. I was thrilled that she wanted to stay by my side so badly she'd deceive me for it. Deep down, I could never shake the guilt of caging a free spirit in the palace."
Sedes said it with genuine joy, his eyes crinkling.
"Lianus."
"Y-Yes."
"I loved your mother... that much."
"..."
"But when it got out, the nobles pressed even harder. With no choice, I got her consent and took a second queen. Then... a miracle happened."
"...?"
"Natura... her belly started to swell."
Her slim waist, once slender, gradually rounded. Her body swelled, she had sleepless nights, morning sickness too. But she looked happier than ever.
'Sedi, it's our child.'
'Yes. Our baby.'
"And I was happy too."
A deep smile rose.
"Naturally, I planned to divorce the Tesaurus girl. It wouldn't be easy against a ducal house, but I wanted to show her my true heart that way. But then... it turned out the Tesaurus girl was pregnant too, belatedly revealed."
"..."
"That's what I regretted most."
If only I'd held out a little... just a little longer.
"Divorce went out the window because of it. What could I do? It was all my fault."
"..."
"On top of that, your mother said the child might be stillborn, so leave her be."
"..."
"Perhaps your mother knew from the start. That she might die giving birth. But she always said it like a mantra: her pregnancy was a true miracle."
"..."
"She repeated 'miracle' like she was brainwashing me. That there'd never be another chance, dozens, hundreds of times. Stroking her bulging belly, she called you 'Lus'."
Hearing his fetal name 'Lus', Lianus flinched. Nihil had said his name 'Rian' came from 'Ri' and 'Lus' combined.
Sedes paused, throat dry, and reached for his teacup. Seeing it empty, he set it down with a clink.
Normally, a knight would appear to refill it, but judging it not their place, they stayed hidden.
Sedes felt his hands trembling faintly. Afraid he'd pour out his emotions in front of his knights and son, he feigned nonchalance and shifted topics slightly.
"Your mother made a bear doll while pregnant... Do you... still have it?"
"Poofu?"
"...She even named it."
"Poofu's my friend."
At that, Sedes's face twisted again.
Come to think of it, when planning to run away with his friend, he'd said he'd take 'Poofu' too.
Should he be glad the boy still cherished that doll, or pity him for having no other friends all this time?
Sedes shook off the deepening emotions.
"That... bear doll's right eye."
"Ah... Poofu's right eye is a bit crooked. Mother must've messed up while sewing."
"...That was... me."
"...?"
"...I... sewed it on myself."
"...!"
His heterochromatic eyes rounded as if they'd roll right out. Sedes burst into laughter unwittingly.
They said holding something cute lifts your mood, and it was true.
"Your mother insisted I do it, bawling until I took the needle. First and last time. It was so small and thin, I dropped it over and over. Truth is... that was after several tries."
"Ah... Um... Poofu's mismatched eyes are its charm."
"Pfft...!"
Sedes couldn't help laughing at his son consoling his pathetic sewing.
"Heh, yes... charming. Your eyes are plenty charming too."
"...!"
"Come to think of it, your right one's gold. Maybe because I sewed the bear's right eye. Or perhaps your mother knew something and had me do it."
Sedes said, gently stroking the eye matching his own color. His mood lightened considerably.
Now, he felt he could speak of her calmly.