He glanced stealthily at Leonhart and Acid. Then, he called out to the maids in a low, tender voice.

“Serve generous dessert for Sien’s friends too.”

“Huh? So who do I eat with?”

“Sien, you promised to eat the delicious stuff with Daddy.”

“Huh? With Daddy…?”

“Yes, Sien. You promised to eat with Daddy.”

I was taken aback by Daddy’s sad face and his simpleminded expression.

“Hmm! Bye bye, Leonhart! Friends! See you later!”

‘But Leonhart and Acid made peace! I should create a chance for them to meet and recruit them both as my close confidants.’

I joyfully laughed and tightly grasped Daddy’s muscular arm.

‘Did Daddy eat a lot of chicken breast and sweet potatoes?’

It was a solid arm that would make the muscular maid sisters jealous.

But…

I sighed deeply, looking at Daddy’s loving eyes.

His body is as strong as a knight, but he looks too gentle.

I need to become even more wicked than I am now to protect Daddy.

Leonhart and Acid were left alone.

From Leonhart’s perspective, he had no intention of bothering Acid anymore.

‘Why did I act that way? This feels like jealousy.’

Perhaps from the moment the maids introduced Acid as a kind of keyring creature that hung around with Sien.

Because he thought he was the only one next to Sien, he blurted out too hastily.

‘…That was a needless thought. It’s not like I’m close to anyone.’

Nothing like that happens.

That Sien, he just seemed smart so he intended to be a little friendly.

Leonhart stared at Acid, vehemently denying his own feelings.

Anyway, he intended to be generous as Sien’s friend.

At first, he felt strange seeing Acid sticking to Sien… of course, even now he feels slightly that way…

But now, they have a common enemy.

He called Acid as if giving him a warning and whispered in a low voice.

“That gentleman is Matthias Mirmode.”

“Eh?”

Acid tilted his head in confusion.

“He is the most powerful here… and he has no interest in children.”

“But he looked at Sien as if he finds him adorable[—]”

“No.”

In his life, Leonhart had never received a ‘loving’ gaze from anyone. The boy was so emotionally numb. So Leonhart quietly whispered.

“He is threatening Sien. I heard it from Sien.”

Even if Sien heard, he might be puzzled, but Leonhart firmly believed that fact.

At his words, Acid’s face turned pale.

“What, what could he threaten a little princess with?”

“Yes. It’s scary.”

Leonhart stared at Acid with his wideopen eyes.

“Sien… is now walking into danger for us.”

“…Eh?”

“He’s leaving instead, fearing we might become prey to Mr. Matthias!”

“That, that is…”

When Acid’s eyes were filled with confusion, Leonhart’s gaze sharpened.

“So if you’re going to stay in this mansion, protect Sien. When I can’t see.”

Acid looked at Matthias and Sien entering the mansion.

Then… just as Sien helped him, could he also be of help to Sien?

Acid carefully clenched his fist and then nodded strongly.

“Yes!”

His hunched shoulders straightened a bit, and his face hardened in no time.

Their determined gazes met in the air.

And[—].

“Um, it’s not just the two of you here, we are here too.”
“Indeed. It’s not as if we’ve been put on display.”

…The maids yawned as they whispered towards them.

“Now it’s time for both the young master and you to head to the tea table.”

The muscular maids started escorting them, flaishing their solid forearms.

And so, the four of them headed to the reception room of the mansion.

At the same time, I left them and went to my father’s study for tea time.

For reasons unknown, my father, who was sunk in sorrow, crumbled the cake and caused me worry.

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing… I just don’t have an appetite…”

“Huh? Why don’t you have an appetite?”

“Well…”

Thinking that I should tell a good story to stimulate my father’s appetite, I smiled brightly with a wide grin.

“That’s right, dad, I made a friend!”

At that, my father put down his fork. Looking at his face that seemed paler than usual, I tilted my head.

My father quietly lowered his eyes and spoke.

“But your dad is still the best, right?”

I giggled and pointed at my father.

“Yep! If dad gets a little worse, you could be the best!”

“….”

“Get worse, and let’s beat this wicked family of ours!”

My dad, again with a shocked expression, said.

“Cien, your dad said he would make the family nicer, right…”

Seeing that even his voice faltered, it seemed that he was really shocked.

‘Dad still has a strong aversion to becoming a bad guy.’

I was deep in thought to the point where my little head was about to burst. Then my dad whispered softly.

“Ah, right, Cien. I have something to tell you.”

I had to untie the uncomfortable bib as I had almost finished the cake. My father, who was watching me, spoke sternly.

“Let’s go to the ‘Mellang Toddler Academy Happiness Course’ together.”

“…What?”

I instantly turned pale.

‘Mellang Toddler Academy Happiness 1day course’