Chapter 40
“Daddy, you’re all white and shiny today.”
Bunny’s mouth fell open at the sight of Kiriel Yudia, who unlike usual had his hair neatly combed back and was dressed in a spotless, dazzlingly pristine white uniform without a single wrinkle.
‘Daddy’s wearing a super white outfit too.’
Bunny had to be extra careful not to get any dust on him.
Tension doubled. Alertness doubled.
It was just as Bunny clutched her chick-shaped crossbody bag to her chest and began scooting backward on her bottom to put some distance between them that Kiriel spoke up, eyeing the child who was huddled far away with her knees drawn up.
“Bunny, sit properly.”
“Yeees.”
At Kiriel’s prompting, Bunny sat obediently.
‘Escape failed.’
Bunny rolled her eyes this way and that, then stuck her head out the window, only to be pulled back by Kiriel’s hand and sat straight in her seat again.
“But whewe awe we going, Daddy?”
“To the Imperial Palace, like I mentioned before. You said you wanted to go when you asked about it.”
“Oh, the human big boss. He said he’d give me a pwesent.”
“You helped the Crown Prince last time, remember?”
Crown Prince! Futuwe human big boss! He owes Bunny one.
“Yup.”
“So His Imperial Majesty the Emperor wants to thank you personally.”
That was the reason they’d left the territory this morning, and Kiriel patiently explained it all to her at her eye level.
Bunny nodded.
Getting bored, she started kicking her legs, then sneaked to the edge of the seat and propped her chin on the window frame to peer outside.
The bustling market came into view beyond the carriage racing down the middle of the straight village road.
As Bunny dangled from the window, kicking her legs, Kiriel must have thought it looked dangerous, because he moved to the window and plopped her onto his lap.
“Don’t stick your head out too far. It’s dangerous.”
“Yeees.”
But it’s so boooring.
Bunny thought to herself inside the carriage, where the jolts were barely felt.
The scenery flashing by was so vibrant and colorful, she couldn’t get enough of it.
She hadn’t realized it when she lived with Luriel. They’d always moved only at night, hiding away.
Watching happy families pass by, Bunny spoke up.
“Daddy.”
“What.”
His reply still felt curt and languid, but feeling the arm firmly wrapped around her waist, Bunny blinked up at him a couple times.
“But whewe’s Mommy?”
“…What?”
“Mommy! It’s Luri, wight? Daddy and Mommy go togethew. But Daddy has no Mommy. Whewe’s Mommy?”
She’d been wondering ever since he told her to call him Daddy, and now Bunny finally asked, gazing up at Kiriel with wide eyes.
“…….”
Kiriel turned his head in silence at her words. He had nothing to say.
Explaining adoption to a child with his way with words would take ages, and on top of that, explaining why there was no mother wouldn’t be easy either.
Of course, he didn’t have one himself.
“…There isn’t one.”
“Huh?”
Avoiding her gaze, Kiriel answered, then opened his mouth again at her puzzled reply.
“There’s no mommy.”
She wasn’t a complete baby anymore, and if anything was missing, he could just fill it all himself.
The moment he looked down at Bunny with that thought, he froze slightly.
Her lips were puffed out, and with her mouth agape, she stared at him in shock, as if she’d discovered something she absolutely shouldn’t have.
“Uh oh, Luri. Why does this big kitty only have a daddy?”
“Oh~ You mean the fairy tale <흑염룡 가문의 사나운 아기 고양이>?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Because Daddy Black Flame Dragon is handsome but has a fierce temper, and he’s savage and unkind even to women, so no one came near him. In short… he’s a guy who wasn’t chosen.”
Recalling her memories with Luriel, Bunny looked up at him with trembling eyes.
Her daddy was handsome, but he had that scar near his eye and didn’t smile much—he was definitely gruff. He was kind to Bunny and Allen, but not to others.
‘And no one comes neaw Daddy.’
Except for his adjutant Levon, she didn’t think she’d seen anyone approach him much.
Gasp.
“Daddy… you’we a guy who wasn’t chosen.”
“…What?”
“Luri said so. If Daddy has no mommy, you’we an unchosen lonely man.”
What the hell does that mean.
Kiriel stared at Bunny, who was spouting her usual incomprehensible nonsense, then silently stroked her head.
At his touch, Bunny’s mouth softened into a wobbly smile.
“Bunny.”
“Yeees.”
“You mention someone named Luri a lot. Mind if I ask who she is? Someone who took care of you when you were little?”
Bunny flinched at Kiriel’s words.
Glancing up at him, she saw his calm expression held no hostility.
Gazing up at him for a moment, Bunny slowly opened her mouth.
“Luri took care of Bunny when I was a baby. She made yummy food lots, taught Bunny how to make money, and wead lots of faiwy tales.”
“I see. Sounds like it.”
“Mm…….”
Bunny nodded, looking a little downcast.
Kiriel watched her droop her head like a wilted flower, then silently stroked her hair.
“Awen’t you sad that you’we sepawated?”
“Bunny pwomised a gweat aduwt that we’d meet again when Bunny gwows up. Bunny saved Daddy and is pwepawing to become a gweat aduwt.”
Kiriel let out a low chuckle at Bunny thrusting out her little fist.
The child wilted for a moment, then popped right back up like a roly-poly toy, as if nothing had happened.
Watching her like that strangely filled Kiriel with the feeling that he could do anything. Even though he didn’t particularly want to do anything.
“We’ve arrived.”
The carriage stopped, and Kiriel scooped the dangling child into his arms.
“Oh, you’ve finally come. I didn’t expect you to show up, Young Master Kiriel.”
As Kiriel Yudia entered the greenhouse as guided, holding the child in his arms with his usual impassive face, a tall man with golden hair greeted the two.
Golden hair. Golden eyes.
Bunny’s eyes went wide at the figure that seemed sculpted from the sun itself. He was even shinier than the Crown Prince.
Bunny gaped, looking back and forth between Kiriel and the Emperor.
‘So handsome. Just like Daddy.’
Crossing her arms, Bunny put on a serious face, looking troubled.
‘Handsome is impowtant. Should Bunny swap Daddies?’
“I greet the Sun of Rotis…….”
While Bunny was lost in thought, Kiriel Yudia offered his characteristic languid greeting without properly facing the Emperor, then set Bunny down on the floor.
He lightly tapped her shoulder, and Bunny yelped “Ah!” before bowing her head.
“Hewwo. I’m fouw-yeaw-old Bunny.”
Her etiquette had flown out the window—her arms stretched straight back like wings in flight, making for an oddly memorable greeting.
The Emperor’s eyes widened round before he burst into laughter.
“She’s still young and hasn’t mastered etiquette perfectly yet. Please forgive her.”
It wasn’t that she hadn’t mastered it—she’d just tossed it aside—but the Emperor didn’t react much.
“Haha, it’s fine. I heard you suddenly adopted a child…… She’s adorable. Hello. Nice to meet you, Bunny. Come sit over here? I’ve prepared a delicious lunch.”
“Yeees.”
Bunny answered obediently and toddled over to stand in front of a chair, craning her neck back. The chair was tall.
“Bunny, Bunny. Your seat’s over there.”
At that moment, a voice came from beside her.
Turning toward the voice, she saw a slightly smaller chair next to her.
Bunny looked forward at the one who’d spoken. There was the Crown Prince, who’d been writhing in bed in pain last time.
Meeting his red eyes, Bunny blinked.
He wasn’t sweating or looking tormented like before—he seemed healthy. Maybe that’s why? The human big boss Daddy looked in a good mood too.
‘Anyway, that’s a welief.’
“Want me to lift you up?”
Heh.
At the sudden voice, Bunny stuck out her chubby index finger and wagged it side to side.
“Bunny’s not a baby. I can do it myself.”
Just then, as Bunny dangled from the chair and hopped to climb up—
Her body floated lightly into the air.
