Chapter 16
‘He must’ve decided I’m useful for extracting ransom. That’s got to be it.’
Whether she was right or not, Nina had made up her mind — she would enjoy every moment to the fullest from now on.
At least until they eventually parted ways — why not?
Around the pair, who each harbored completely different thoughts, the street bustled with people.
It was a holiday, and most were families dressed in outing clothes.
“Daddy, look! Dolls! Dolls!”
Nina unconsciously stared at a man, presumably the father, walking past hand-in-hand with a chattering little girl and his wife.
Suddenly, someone brushing past knocked her off balance, and she stumbled, grabbing onto Lavian’s pant leg for support.
Lavian, whose patience had finally snapped, exploded in anger.
“Hey, what the hell! Who the hell throws knees in a crowded place with kids around?! Want me to dislocate your damn kneecaps?!”
Screams and crying children erupted all around.
Turning the family-friendly shopping street into a zone of terror in an instant, Lavian realized Nina was blankly staring at him and lowered his voice belatedly.
“Ahem. So, kiddo, what do you wanna buy?”
Nina tilted her head back like a kitten, blinking in confusion.
She couldn’t quite hear him properly.
“Damn it, what the hell am I even doing…”
Battling the rush of self-loathing, Lavian crouched down on one knee at the side of the street.
“What do you need?”
Nina’s mouth fell slightly open at the sudden shift to eye level.
“Me?”
“Who else would I be asking? Just say whatever you want. I’ll get it.”
Nina couldn’t believe her ears for a moment.
He was saying she could have whatever she wanted? This was the most thrilling thing she’d ever heard!
“Everything?”
“Yeah. Better to get it over with while we’re out.”
“Anything?”
Lavian flinched a bit when her blue eyes sparkled with dangerous excitement, and he fumbled through his jacket pocket.
He was checking the shopping list Merci had given him.
[Essential Shopping List]
Outing clothes for the little princess
Indoor clothes for the little princess
Ask the little princess about the rest
“Tch. Think I’m an idiot, do you… Watch it, dumbasses! Don’t want your knees busted?!”
“S-sorry!”
A couple passing behind Nina turned pale and bowed repeatedly.
While Lavian was terrifying innocent citizens within a two-meter radius, Nina suddenly lifted one of her arms high into the air.
“Mister, hand.”
“…”
In the brief moment Lavian stared at the small hand held out in front of him, a hundred thoughts flashed through his mind.
No way… did that idiot brother of mine train his daughter to treat knights like dogs?
“Hold my hand.”
…Apparently not.
Clearing up the misunderstanding quickly, Lavian now growled like a mutt.
“Why your hand?”
“So I don’t fall if we walk hand in hand.”
Very logically stated, Nina waved her leaf-like hand imploringly.
Lavian couldn’t take it anymore.
A former gangster prince, now head of Anubis — the organization that ruled the continent — and she wanted him to babysit a six-year-old? And now she wanted to hold hands? This was an outrage beyond endurance.
Lavian quietly stood up.
Looking coldly down at the wide-eyed Nina, he said coolly,
“My hand can’t reach that low.”
“…”
“Oh dear, what a shame. I would have held hands, but someone’s arms are too short, huh?”
“…”
“How about just one finger instead? You know, as a compromise?”
Nina stared up at Lavian’s smug face without getting upset.
Instead, she calmly raised her other arm and said,
“Then carry me.”
“…”
“If you carry me, I won’t get bumped into and hurt.”
“…”
“Hmm? I’m your expensive hostage, remember?”
Her big blue eyes sparkled like a devil whispering him into selling his soul.
Lavian’s mind went completely blank, like a sheet of paper with not a speck of dust.
Around them, people began casting serious, judgmental glances.
“Oh my, must be a father and daughter out on an outing.”
“Dad looks so uncomfortable. I bet he dumps the kid on his wife all the time while he parties…”
“Well, he’s handsome. Can’t blame him — way more fun out there than being a family man…”
“Honestly, young parents these days are way too hands-off. Can’t even be bothered to hold their own kid…”
Lavian barely resisted the urge to glare back at the passersby clucking their tongues.
Instead, he crumpled the shopping list in his hand and vowed silently:
Never again. I’m never kidnapping a child again.
When the palace guards led by Dieter Frank finally located the leader of the Anubis gang, Lavian was walking past a row of quaint shops — in a rather noticeable fashion.
A massive man, easily over 190cm tall, carrying a very tiny six-year-old girl in one arm — it wasn’t just conspicuous, it looked downright surreal.
It resembled a monster walking around with a snack — causing even the busiest street vendors to do double takes.
Lavian had long since given up caring about the stares.
Instead, he glanced at his reflection in a shop window, noting how old he suddenly looked.
They say childcare ages you for a reason…
The culprit of his accelerated aging looked extremely pleased, scanning the area like a triumphant general.
She even had the gall to casually rest her stick-like arm on his shoulder.
Like a chick smaller than a bite lounging on a wolf’s paw.
Completely brazen, calm, and smelling strongly of baby shampoo and vanilla.
What the hell is she, really?
“Mister, where do they sell books?”
Nina asked suddenly, eyes darting around in curiosity. Lavian didn’t reply.
He’d been too busy trying to figure out just what she was.
Nina misread the silence.
Is he tired?
“Uh… Mister, am I heavy?”
“…”
Okay, this kid was really pushing it now.
There’s a limit to how much mockery a man can take, Lavian warned himself internally.
“What the hell, you think I’m some weakling like your dad?”
“My dad’s a weakling?”
“Is that even a question? One look at me and him, and it’s obvious.”
Lavian said arrogantly.
Nina tilted her head and studied his face as she thought of Leopard.
To Nina, Leopard was more of a mythical being than even Diana — someone she could barely recall meeting.
But the last time he’d come to see her had left a vivid impression.
Naturally so — she’d spent every day yearning and waiting for him.
Even though now, she didn’t even want to see him again.
Still, the father she remembered wasn’t weak — just completely different from Lavian.
Leopard had dark hair and red eyes like the late emperor, while Lavian had flashy red hair and green eyes.
Leopard had a cold, refined aura, while Lavian exuded unrefined wildness.
Most of all, Leopard had never carried Nina like this — not even once.
Though she had caught glimpses of him holding Estella secretly when sneaking out…
“What, so your dad’s better than me, is that it?”
Lavian grumbled, clearly annoyed by the situation.
“No, I’ve never been held by my father, so I wouldn’t know.”
“What do you mean — never?”
“Well… I’ve just never liked being carried.”
Nina quickly made an excuse and wrapped her little arms around Lavian’s neck.
She was glad she’d braved the embarrassment and asked him to carry her.
Now that she was up close, she could smell the scent from her vivid nightmare — that scent she’d missed so desperately.
A mix of crisp cologne and smoke.
It made her want to cry.
It’s okay… even if we part ways… just until then…
