Chapter 85
Nina shouted with her blue eyes sparkling, and Cheshire looked down at her silently for a moment.
He wore an expression that said, What is this little thing even talking about?
“…Really? What was it originally?”
“I don’t really know, but before, Uncle Ravi couldn’t reach my hand. But now…”
“Well, since we’re about the same height now, that must mean you got taller.”
“Yeah!”
Not only had she started teething earlier than before, her height had suddenly shot up too.
The unexpected growth spurt felt strange but also thrilling, and Nina kept smiling proudly.
She’d have to tell Ravian as soon as he got back.
“I actually lost a tooth last time too.”
“A baby tooth?”
“Yeah, a baby tooth. It was supposed to fall out way later, but—”
“When was ‘originally’?”
“Huh?”
Realizing her slip too late, Nina jerked her head up. Cheshire was staring at her with his usual expression.
“When was originally?”
She couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.
Trying hard not to panic, Nina blurted an excuse.
“I-I mean, it was supposed to fall out way later. They said I grow slower than other kids.”
“…I see.”
Thankfully, Cheshire didn’t dig further and resumed walking.
Nina swallowed a sigh of relief.
What a mistake!
She’d gotten so excited about growing taller that she’d said something totally out of character.
Determined to be more careful, she hurried to catch up—when the moment she stepped onto the stairs, her knee buckled.
“Ah!”
“Watch out!”
Cheshire quickly caught her with his arm as she stumbled.
“You okay?”
Still hanging onto his arm, Nina swallowed dryly.
Her heart was pounding.
She’d almost tumbled down the marble staircase like a rolling cabbage.
What is wrong with me today? Am I that nervous?
To be fair, she was unusually tense today.
Not just because of the dream.
It was because she couldn’t read Cheshire at all—and more than anything, she didn’t understand why he was interested in her.
Her instincts told her that Cheshire might be good at handling children, but he absolutely wasn’t the type to befriend them like Ditte did.
Sure, he had taken in Den for some unknown reason, and he said he liked kids—but that day at the theme park, he hadn’t shown even the slightest interest in the other three kids besides Nina.
If he truly liked children, wouldn’t he have said something to them?
At the very least, when he saw Messi, who looked exactly like Mercy, shouldn’t he have reacted somehow—
“Nina.”
“Mm, I’m fine. Sorry.”
Trying to regain her composure, Nina straightened up.
Or rather, she tried to.
But Cheshire didn’t let her go.
“Uncle?”
Nina called in confusion, but Cheshire didn’t answer.
He simply stared at her, frozen in place.
What’s wrong with him?
She wasn’t scared—more like starting to get worried.
He looked completely spaced out.
Did he hurt himself while catching me just now?
“Uncle, are you okay?”
Nina cautiously reached out and placed her hand on his forehead.
Cheshire blinked as if startled, then suddenly sighed.
“Don’t look down on me.”
“…Huh?”
“You should be careful. You can’t get hurt.”
“…O-Okay. I’ll be careful.”
He’d scared her by going blank like that—and that’s what he chose to say?
Utterly baffled, Nina decided not to argue.
Cheshire descended a few steps ahead of her, then turned and stretched out his arm.
“Come on. Carefully.”
Nina began to wonder if Cheshire might actually share Kiss’s parenting philosophy.
Was it really necessary to react this strongly over almost tripping once?
Thankfully, nothing else happened on the way to the parfait shop.
As expected of a popular spot, it was crowded—but whether by reservation or status, they were immediately guided to a window seat.
Nina sat down and glanced around.
There were many patrons, but none quite like Cheshire.
He sat across from her, studying the menu with such seriousness that Nina hesitated to speak.
What is he looking at so hard? Is there something suspicious on the menu? Does he have allergies or something?
“Nina.”
“Mm?”
“What do you think would taste good…?”
She blinked blankly at the menu he was pointing to.
Cheshire sighed with a helpless expression.
“Ugh, there are too many choices. I can’t tell which one would be the best.”
“…Is it okay if I choose?”
“Of course. I trust your judgment.”
And what if I choose something he ends up hating?
Would he turn back into Ice Cheshire?
Fighting her fear, Nina carefully examined the menu.
Across from her, the lynx boss sat watching her with gleaming eyes.
Finally, a staff member approached to take their order.
Nina declared boldly.
“Caramel Special and Pistachio Special!”
“Order confirmed.”
Soon after, two glorious parfaits were served.
Even the accompanying waffle set was piled high with whipped cream and fruit—it looked good enough to worship.
As Nina debated between starting with the waffle or the parfait, Cheshire took a long spoonful of the caramel parfait and murmured with glittering eyes.
“Oh—this is good.”
“Really…?”
“Let’s see, and this one… oh, this one’s good too.”
Can someone’s entire aura change this quickly?
Nina stared at him with her mouth slightly open.
Within seconds, Cheshire’s vibe had shifted into that of a cheerful teenage boy.
He tilted his head.
“Nina, eat. Why are you just staring?”
“Mm, I’m just amazed.”
“Amazed by what?”
“That you like things like this. Uncle Ravi’s not like that. Not that I think you’re weird—it’s just my first time seeing someone like you, and honestly, I kinda wish Uncle Ravi liked these things too…”
Worried she might have sounded rude, Nina quickly added, cheeks flushed red.
Cheshire chuckled knowingly.
“Ravi does have a rough palate. There’s a famous parfait place in our town—no matter how many times I tempted him, he never tried it. Next time, could you drag him there for us?”
She’d never heard the phrase rough palate before, but somehow it fit Ravian perfectly.
Nina puffed her cheeks slightly.
“Even if I tell him to, he won’t.”
“Why? If you tell him to try it, I bet he will.”
“You don’t even know me that well, but you’re overestimating me.”
Cheshire paused, spoon halfway to his mouth, then cleared his throat.
“You… know how to use such difficult words?”
“It’s not that difficult.”
“Maybe it’s not overestimation but underestimation? From what I’ve seen, anyway.”
“How? You only met me for the first time back then.”
“That’s true, but—before Ravi left for the Capital, he asked me for a favor.”
His pale lemon-colored eyes held a meaningful smile.
Nina swallowed.
“What kind of favor?”
Instead of answering, Cheshire pulled her waffle plate closer, cut it with a knife, then removed the kiwi slices onto his own plate.
“Here.”
Nina stared blankly at her returned plate.
For a moment, she couldn’t process what had just happened.
“I…”
“You don’t like kiwi.”
“…”
“Right?”
His voice was quiet.
Not teasing—but filled with something more complicated.
Slowly, Nina looked up.
No one knew she disliked kiwi.
Because so far, kiwi had never been served at any meal.
“…How did you know?”
