Chapter 24
“…This is the end…”
Until now, Uncle had been lenient with you, but having committed such a huge offense right in front of him, this time there’s no doubt—you’re going to be scolded harshly…!
“Lorr.”
Just then, Alcade called out to Lorr.
Laycal’s heart started pounding.
At that moment—
Plop!
Lorr placed the cream puff she was holding directly into Alcade’s mouth!
“Gah!”
The baby cream puff was tiny, just the right size to fit in one bite, and it disappeared completely into Alcade’s mouth.
Laycal was once again shocked by Lorr’s unexpected action.
Did Uncle actually like cream puffs? No, there’s no way Duke Ateleon would enjoy something like that…
Of course, baby cream puffs were also a dessert Laycal liked.
But he had only glanced at them—he never considered eating one! At ten years old, he was far past the age of giggling over sweets.
And yet, Lorr had fed a cream puff—one that bursts with cream when bitten—into the mouth of stern, intimidating Uncle Alcade?
Laycal’s face gradually turned pale with confusion.
Meanwhile, Lorr just giggled happily, clapping her small hands.
“This! This is Lorr’s favorite…! I wanted Daddy to try it too!”
“Mm…”
Alcade moved his jaw slowly.
Laycal’s heart seemed to beat in slow motion along with it. Time itself felt like it had slowed around him.
He would have to wait until Uncle swallowed the cream puff to hear what he had to say, and the wait felt unbearably long.
The corner of Alcade’s eyes curved gently.
‘Uncle is… smiling…?’
Laycal felt like his eyes were about to pop out.
The Duke Ateleon, known for his cold-bloodedness, was eating a cream puff like a child—and smiling…
As Laycal stared dumbfounded, the large, rough hand of Alcade, which had been resting on his knee, moved.
“Gasp…!”
Could it be that the chuckle was out of anger? Surely he wasn’t going to hit such a small child…! Or would he point to the door and tell them to leave…?
Laycal squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them, ready to take the brunt of Uncle’s anger instead of the young cousin.
“Uncle…!”
“…Thank you.”
But those words immediately snuffed out Laycal’s courage.
Huh…? Laycal stopped mid-step as he was about to stand.
The cold, sharp-eyed Duke Ateleon from his imagination was nowhere in sight.
Instead, he saw only a doting father, carefully using his fingertips to stroke the top of the child’s neatly tied hair, making his large hand as small as possible.
“Yummy?”
“Mm! Yummy! Yurendo eat too!”
Uncle Alcade had eaten the baby cream puff. Cousin Lorr declared it delicious. Yurendo reached out his small hands and picked up a cream puff as well.
Yurendo’s face lit up as he nibbled the cream puff.
“Yummy!”
“Ghee!”
Meanwhile, Lorr popped a cream puff into her own mouth and replied with cream-covered lips.
Yurendo didn’t seem to dislike Lorr’s behavior. Since they were in an unfamiliar place, he was still clinging to Laycal.
Laycal felt strangely lonely.
Uncle enjoying the cream puff Lorr had fed him without complaint.
Yurendo getting along so well with Lorr while he followed behind quietly.
Everything felt strange, as if they didn’t even notice him.
‘…No.’
Feeling left out over something like this.
Laycal had always been at the center of attention, so this was a completely new experience, and it was natural that the unfamiliar feeling of exclusion unsettled him.
But the crown prince’s dignified ego could not admit such petty emotions.
He decided to quickly change the topic and explain the purpose of his visit.
“Uncle!”
“…Ah, yes.”
At Laycal’s call, Alcade, who had been focused on Lorr, turned his gaze.
Unlike when looking at Lorr, his expression was neutral. Laycal felt a little deflated but held back.
“I have a request.”
“Yes!”
What he was about to say was truly important. Laycal’s eyes shone, and he straightened his shoulders.
“I can now control my abilities freely!”
“I see.”
Alcade’s response was calm, but Laycal, brimming with excitement, barely noticed.
Since his days as a prince, Alcade Ateleon had mastered his abilities like second nature, defeating countless monsters and earning immense achievements.
Even after becoming duke under the new emperor, the fact that the royal family allowed him to use the name Ateleon showed how much they respected his skill and contributions.
Previously, the royal family had sent a formal notice allowing Lorr to use the Ateleon name—a mark of respect for Alcade.
Of course, direct heirs like the crown prince and princes must show courtesy, but Lorr’s current position was nearly equivalent to a princess.
To such a distinguished uncle, Laycal had an earnest request.
“So, Uncle… could you possibly give me greater guidance?”
Laycal spoke with bright, eager eyes.
He had always been regarded as talented in every field since childhood.
And surely, there could be no better pupil for a genius like Alcade than himself.
So, naturally, Uncle Alcade would teach him…
“No.”
“…Huh?”
It was a sharp refusal. Startled, Laycal silently parted his lips.
Alcade calmly set down his teacup and repeated,
“I said no.”
“Ah…”
Laycal sighed and pressed his lips together, shoulders slumping.
But Alcade continued without hesitation.
“It’s not ideal for a royal to stay long at the duke’s residence. Rest for a few days, then return.”
And with that, he lifted the teacup to his lips again.
“How… how could he…?”
Laycal had no idea how they even got into the room.
Regardless of his stunned state, the duke and his daughter continued to show their harmony, then moved to the dining hall for a meal.
Laycal had to watch as his uncle served the child’s favorite food onto her plate, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and even fed it himself because the cutlery seemed too heavy…
Uncle actually taking care of someone! Was that even possible?
‘…And he never did this for us…!’
From their first meeting, Uncle had been distant and sometimes cold toward his nephews.
Though Laycal understood that showing closeness publicly could draw the envy of nobles, the pent-up feelings of disappointment felt overwhelming.
‘Lorrvantes.’
He couldn’t help but picture the child’s cute face, so much like her mother.
Laycal bit his lips hard. He felt truly frustrated—and Lorr seemed annoyingly delightful.
Once an emotion broke through, it overflowed uncontrollably.
‘I want to be close to Uncle too.’
Actually asking him to teach how to control abilities had taken enormous courage.
He understood why Uncle kept his distance.
But only royal blood could wield abilities, and who better to teach the crown prince than Duke Ateleon, the most skilled of all?
After careful consideration of noble scrutiny, he had finally asked.
“No.”
To be outright rejected without so much as a thought…
Laycal bit his lips tightly, feeling a sting of frustration.
Knock knock.
Someone knocked at the door.
“Who is it? …Come in.”
His voice came out more irritable than intended. Laycal cleared his throat, trying not to show how upset he was.
The door slid open, and Laycal’s eyes widened.
Outside stood Lorr, holding her hands together.
“This…”
“What is it?”
Her voice was sharp. Laycal noticed her flinch. He felt a pang of guilt, but…
‘…Guilt for what? I didn’t do anything; she’s the one who got startled.’
Turning his head as if nothing had happened, Laycal watched Lorr extend something she had been clutching tightly.
“I wanted to give this to you…”
In Lorr’s hands was a small plate with three neatly arranged cream puffs.
Unlike earlier, these were piled high with cream.
“I put the cream on myself!”
She beamed proudly.
Earlier, Lorr had discovered a very important fact:
‘Satchoni really loves cream puffs.’
