Chapter 32

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I didn’t expect this kind of problem to happen because I raised my only son preciously. I thought that I only needed to teach him the most important way to survive…

I didn’t know he would become so ignorant of his feelings.

– It’s like a snow rabbit.

Come to think of it, the evaluation was very generous. Sage, who often ignores his opponent like they are invisible if they don’t get in his eyes, likened the other child to a “snow rabbit.”

“That’s not hunger, Sage.”

For now, Muhella decided to correct the wrong part.

Don’t tell me you are mistaking that as appetite for food.

“If it’s not hunger, what is it?”

I will correct it. He really doesn’t know…How should I explain it?

Muhella was speechless.

“…There will come a day when you will realize that for yourself. Sigh. Is that why you came back to the banquet hall?”

“I think it would be better to separate for a while. I can’t bite by mistake.”

“…Well done.”

I thought he was finally making friends and going out to play together, but I didn’t know such a development would happen.

When Muhella looked at her son, who was less than a month old, she struggled with whether she should like this situation or not.

I’m sure it’s something to celebrate, but the reason why it’s so uncomfortable is probably…

“I think she looks so much like a snow rabbit that I want to bully her.”

“……”

“I want to take her to the north.”

Somehow, I was worried about the future because it felt like he was expressing his feelings in a slightly twisted direction.

Muhella smiled awkwardly as she saw Sage licking his lips.

Yes, doing that would probably ruin both the North and the South.

“That’s going to be a little hard, Sage.”

To protect one child, they summoned a gatekeeper from the border.

Not just one, but four.

One person for each range, and one person for the closest location to the child.

“You’ll be caught even before you leave the mansion.”

Muhella remembered the face of the man who was blocking Retra. Unless her memory was wrong, it was definitely Karma.

To a banquet hall that promotes peace, he brings up people who, alone, can wipe out any small clan. It was an atmosphere in which everything was well and good if passed by smoothly, but it was an issue that could turn into a big problem if something risky happened.

Muhella knew one indisputable piece of information from this.

And that’s how precious Irene was to the Astrophels family.

“You must never eat Irene, Sage.”

“I know that much.”

“I’m glad you know that.”

* * *

It felt like my stomach was going to explode. It was because Cade put food in my mouth without a break. When I closed my lips because I didn’t think I could eat anymore he put down the fork.

“I’m full.”

“After eating only this much?”

“Un.”

“The amount is too small.”

Two plates were emptied, but it seemed to be too little for Cade. When I checked how much other people ate, I had eaten the least.

I patted my mouth with a tissue. Since I’m done eating, I’m going out to play again.

“Can I play now?”

“It’s a little difficult right now.”

“…Why!”

“Because of him.”

Cade pointed to the gray-haired man who was sitting not far away. Raising my head over my shoulder, the man who met my eyes greeted with a grin and fiercely waved his hand.

I tried to smile back at the way he greeted me even though it was my first time seeing him, but I couldn’t because of the large hand that firmly blocked my view.

I sullenly grabbed Cade’s arm and lowered it.

“I’m curious.”

“He’s a Wolf.”

“A wolf?”

“Yes. You can’t follow along and laugh just because he’s smiling at you.”

I tilted my head. As I poked my head out once more, the gray-haired man from earlier waved his hand again.

“He seems fine.”

“Irene.”

“Uh?”

Seth called me.

“Do you know what a baby goat and a baby pig have in common?”

A baby goat and baby pig?

I shook my head.

“I don’t know. What it is?”

Then Arban, who was listening silently, came up with the answer instead.

“Both became food for wolves.”

…They were eaten by wolves?

“That’s right. And there’s one more.”

More?

“Both are babies, aren’t they?”

Baon joined the conversation and helped out.

I was shocked.

Do wolves eat babies? Then, will he eat me too?

The man who stared at this place and smiled brightly whenever our eyes met, quickly began to look like the worst person in the world.

I quickly grabbed Cade’s hem and hid.

“The wolf is bad. They eat baby!”

“That’s right. So you can’t go right now. There are a lot of people around.”

“W-when can I go out to play?”

“When they’re all gone.”

“They are looking over here so much that it’s burdensome. The Miat family of the Wolf Clan, the Kashmere family of the Lion Clan, the Artban family of the Jaguar Clan……”

Baon glanced at each person one by one and started reciting the family names.

I pricked up my ears at the unfamiliar family names. It was a feast of dangerous-sounding clans.

Baon grinned for the last Clan.

“Even the Kiras family of the Tiger Clan. I’ll work hard to get rid of them, my lord.”

“Everyone is so interested in my daughter.”

Cade sighed and looked at me.

His eyes were like, ‘What should I do with you?’ Somehow, I felt like I should say no, so I shook my head quickly.

“I did nothing.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I really did nothing.”

Cade laughed when I made a desperate face that I didn’t know.

“You turned the banquet hall upside down, but you don’t know anything?”

“If you saw me, introduce us. Isn’t it too much for you to hog her all the time, Cade?”

I looked back when an unfamiliar voice was heard.

It was the first time someone called Cade’s name without hesitation, so a feeling of amazement prevailed.

Is that person Cade’s friend?

The man looked at me and said hello.

“Hello, kid.”

Who is it?

As I was blankly staring at the guest, Cade leaned back, and at the same time, I was also distanced from him.

Seeing me bewildered, Cade said calmly.

“Irene, it’s dirty. Don’t get near.”

There was a moment of silence. The man’s amber-gold eyes moved slowly to the tip of Cade’s finger pointing at him. At the same time, the corners of his mouth trembled and twitched.

“Lord, don’t you think the word ‘dirty’ is too much for Sir Dante?”

When the silence did not break even after a few seconds, Baon whispered as he glanced at the man. Judging by the use of honorifics, the man seemed to be of a fairly high position.

“Not at all. He’s off-limits to Irene. His insides are black.”

“That’s true, but…”

Unlike the way he was looking for his opponent’s mood, Baon nodded gently. As I listened to the conversation curiously, I met with red eyes.

“Do you want to know who it is?”

Cade asked me. I quickly nodded my head, saying yes, and looked at Dante.

His red hair contrasting with the copper-colored skin was very impressive. Moreover, the clothes he was wearing were engraved with unique patterns that I had never seen before.

He must have come from very far away.

It’s so exciting!

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the man as I stared at him. His eyes, which had been stained with displeasure, turned to me.

“She must think I’m strange, Cade. She can’t take her eyes off me.”

“I definitely said he was dirty, Irene.”

“…I was a little curious, so I just watched for a while.”

Dante’s gleaming golden eyes folded in half as I murmured with a small pursed mouth. It felt as if a large beast was hiding its true appearance. I tilted my head in surprise as a subtle energy seemed to flow out from Dante.

“She must have felt my pheromone. Normally, they don’t notice it.”

“It’s only natural because she’s my daughter.”

“Anyway, all the kids in this house are unusual.”

Dante sat down next to Cade, shaking his head with an amazed expression. Interest flashed in the amber gold eyes that stared intently at me.

We were curious about each other. Then Dante opened his mouth first.

“I enjoyed your introduction, Irene.”

“Thank you.”

“I am Dante Ishelod. I came from the west when I heard that you were born.”

To see me? From the west?

I lifted my head when I heard that he had come to see me. Dante’s lips moved upward.

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