So I asked, and Leandro chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

“What’s the big deal about Leduc? Just have fun. It’s just for fun.”

Surprisingly cool, I couldn’t hide my amazement at him.

“Leduc has changed a lot too. Being with you and Shansia. So if he spends time with other kids, he might change again. His personality has become more gentle. There might be some negative influences, but overall, it’s not bad.”

He laughed.

Leandro was genuinely laughing. He seemed a bit pleased when it came to Leduc.

“Can we talk about Leduc?”

“I didn’t really talk to him before. But lately, I do a bit. There wasn’t much to talk about until you came.”

“Oh.”
“But these days, he tells me about how many things happen every day in the evenings. What he did, what he ate. What new things happened today. He’s changed.”

Upon hearing that, my heart also felt warm. The relationship between Leduc and Leandro has also become much better.

“Now it feels like I’ve become a bit of a dad. Leandro has changed a lot too.”

I smiled happily.

“In that sense, how about going on a picnic today?”

“A picnic?”

“I’ve decided to be honest.”

“Oh, okay.”

It seems like he also wants to create memories with Leduc. Well, since they spend every day in Star Palace and don’t really spend time together, it makes sense.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes.”

Leandro wouldn’t dislike going on a picnic to get along with Leduc.

“Fortunately.”

“Where are we going?”

“We can’t go far. There are many risks outside the imperial palace, so I plan to go to the lake inside the palace.”

“There’s a lake inside the palace?”

I knew that there was the main palace in the center, with Star Palace on the right, the knights on the left, and the Northern Palace in the north.

The entrance is from the south. I couldn’t see the exact scale since I didn’t look down from above, but roughly speaking, there didn’t seem to be a place with a lake.

“There’s a small lake on the left side where the knights are.”

“Oh! I didn’t know that because I haven’t been there.”

“That place is also surrounded by a forest. Here, Star Palace has trees planted around, and there’s a small forest, but there’s a larger forest over there. We’re going there.”

“Sounds good. I’ll get Shasha ready right away.”

“Sure, and let’s have a simple meal there.”

“Yes!”

I wonder how much Shasha will like going on a picnic. I’ve talked about going on a picnic before, but it ended with just talking because I was too busy.

But a picnic.

I immediately woke up Shasha, and she, who couldn’t come to her senses due to drowsiness, woke up like a rabbit at the word ‘picnic’ and started preparing right away.

After about an hour.

Shasha and I finished getting ready and went outside. Leduc and Leandro, who were excited, were standing in front of Star Palace.

Although it was inside the imperial palace, the children, excited for their first picnic, rushed ahead like rabbits.

Leandro and I looked at their figures with pride, and the timekeepers, handmaids, and knights selected from each palace followed behind us.

Passing the knights located on the left side of the main palace, we were greeted by a vast forest that looked truly grand.

It seemed to doubt whether this was still inside the imperial palace—a forest boasting a size so tremendous that it was difficult to believe. I arrived slightly tired by the time we reached there, having walked from Star Palace.

“Are you tired?”

“No.”

“I should have ridden a horse. Bella, I didn’t know your stamina was this weak. After sending rabbits for exercise, all you’ve done is let the kids bring them back?”

“…Um… haha, huh? Is that the lake over there?”
“But you can’t see it yet you talk about it.”

Leandro chuckled and shook his head.

Well, children can catch rabbits by just slightly crouching, but as an adult, I have to squat down to sit. Moreover, rabbits are so fast.

He probably doesn’t know because he always just kills them in hunting, but catching rabbits is more challenging than one might think.

“Or should I prepare something else? Something you can exercise with…”

“I’ll just appreciate the thought, Leandro. But really, it seems like everyone is here. I can hear the sound of water.”

There really was a lake. I didn’t doubt Leandro’s words, but still, I was a bit skeptical.

How big could the forest in the imperial palace be, and how big could the lake be? I thought it might be like a pond, but there really was one.

He said it was small, but it was large enough from my perspective.

“Wow… really… a lake.”

“I guess you didn’t believe it.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, do you have any other answer so readily?”

Embarrassed by the unintentional words, I quickly ran towards the lake.

The lake sparkled every time the sunlight hit it. The servants from the imperial palace who followed us quickly came and laid out a mat in front of the lake and placed the food.

The children were already approaching the lake, dipping their hands in the water.

“Kids, don’t get too close to the lake; it’s dangerous.”

“There’s no danger. The lake isn’t deep.”

But I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Those kids were used to causing accidents even if you didn’t pay attention to them for a short while.

Moreover, this was not the usual Star Palace where they played, and there were too many elements to stimulate their curiosity.

From small creatures in the forest to unusually many birds. Trees that were not too high but had giant branches spreading out. New flowers blooming here and there.

“But still…”

“You rest here. You look tired.”

“Someone has to watch the kids.”

“Since you’ve been watching the kids every day, let me do it today.”

Is he saying what he really feels, that he wants to get along with Leduc? If that’s the case, I had no reason to stop him.

“Okay.”

“Do I look a bit reliable now?”

“Huh?”

“Is this appearance of mine a bit reassuring?” he asked.

“Yes!”

Did he want to hear such words? Leandro smiled slightly and ran towards the children. Although my heart wanted to go in that direction, I felt incredibly happy sitting on the mat.

It felt like this place was paradise.