It was just as Caspian was about to get up after finishing his meal. An aide entered and bowed.

“Your Highness, I have a report.”

“What is it?”

Caspian asked, hoping it wasn’t something troublesome. Here, troublesome meant a summons from his mother or elder brothers.

“It’s a report about Princess Espin.”

“Princess Espin? What about her?”

The moment he realized it wasn’t a summons from his mother or elder brothers, Caspian’s face lit up brightly.

“There was a report that she was spotted at the eve festival site with Duke Drea.”

“Princess Espin at the eve festival site?”

Why in that crowded, smelly place? What a peculiar taste. Caspian shook his head. He had expectations because she was a princess, but her taste was disappointing.

‘I heard she was beautiful, so I was going to take some interest. But if she likes that kind of marketplace… She might not be my match.’

Caspian stroked his chin and pondered for a moment. But the contemplation didn’t last long. Since he had nothing else to do anyway, he thought he could spare a few hours for Princess Espin. Even if her cheap taste was bothersome.

“I was just about to get bored, so this is perfect. Shall I start moving now then?”

Let’s go pretend it’s a chance encounter. A smile spread across his handsome face. It was a cool smile.

“Ah! It’s Uncle Killian!”

Veronia wasn’t the only one who heard Espin’s name for Killian slip out. Jediel called his name happily.

Killian turned his head at the familiar voice, and there were Jediel and Veronia.

‘Ah…!’

This was the first time he had properly seen the mother and child together. It could have felt awkward, but it didn’t at all.

‘Indeed… they look alike!’

When he first saw Jediel, he thought he was the spitting image of elder brother Aaron. But seeing them standing side by side like this, it was obvious at a glance. That Veronia and Jediel were mother and child.

‘To think I couldn’t recognize it when they look so alike!’

The daze at seeing Veronia and Jediel together lasted only a moment; as soon as his eyes met Veronia’s, he felt his breath catch.

In an instant, his heart raced madly, then cooled down chillingly the next moment and dropped to the floor. Then it heated up again noisily and sank repeatedly.

Veronia’s state was not much different from Killian’s. Especially at the sight of the beautiful lady next to Killian, her mood plummeted endlessly.

Just minutes ago, Veronia had vowed to erase Killian from her life. Whether he was alone or with someone else was not an issue Veronia should care about.

But it wasn’t as easy as she thought. Her mind kept going there.

‘I think they said she was the youngest princess of the Hisrik Kingdom. So the two of them… are they getting engaged?’

Recalling the contents of the newspaper article predicting the future of the two, Veronia became infinitely gloomy.

Meanwhile, Killian stood frozen, unable to answer Jediel’s call. Instead of waiting for his response, Jediel had already scurried over to his side.

“Uncle Killian, hello!”

Jediel’s blue eyes sparkled brightly as he looked up at Killian. He seemed very happy to see Killian after a long time.

Snapping back to his senses, he bent his knees to meet the child’s eye level.

“Yes, Jediel. Have you been well?”

“Yes! Jediel has been eating well and going to kindergarten diligently. Oh, and…”

At that moment, Jediel glanced at his mother’s expression and then gestured for Killian to come closer with his little hand. Veronia’s eyes narrowed sharply towards the two, but no scolding was heard.

As Jediel requested, Killian leaned down to put his ear to the child. Cupping his hands to form a small trumpet to block even the slightest sound from leaking out, he whispered into Killian’s ear.

“Now I can throw and catch the ball well.”

“So your practice paid off!”

“Yes!”

Finding Jediel endearing, Killian gently patted the child’s head. Seeing the two whispering among themselves, Veronia felt unsettled.

‘Wait, those two… when did they become so close? They even have secrets to whisper about? Without me knowing? Jediel, this kid…’

Veronia thought that when they got home tonight, she would sit Jediel down and ask him about everything from beginning to end.

There was one more person whose mood sank at the sight of Killian and Jediel whispering – it was Onyx.

‘He never whispered to me. When did Killian become close enough with that guy to whisper? How come a child who used to be shy…’

He had taken time out of his busy schedule to come here together… And even gave him a piggyback ride despite Veronia’s sharp glares…

Onyx felt dejected. He tried to maintain a calm expression, but it wasn’t easy to suppress his complicated feelings.

At that moment, Jediel’s sparkling gaze shifted to Princess Espin. Seeing the dress decorated with ribbons and jewels up close for the first time, the child’s eyes widened.

“But who is this lady? Is she Uncle Killian’s lover?”

La… lady! Veronia, Onyx, and Killian’s faces were filled with shock at Jediel’s remark. On the other hand, Espin burst out laughing.

“Oh my, what a cute little one! My name is Espin. I’m not Uncle Killian’s lover yet.”

“Ah…”

Oh my, look at those chubby cheeks! Espin stroked Jediel’s plump cheeks while smiling brightly. The group was briefly surprised to see her not bristle at being called “lady,” but soon breathed a sigh of relief.

The conversation between Jediel and Espin continued.

“If not yet… then will you be lovers from tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow? What comes after the day after tomorrow again…”

Jediel tried to recall the words he had learned in kindergarten, but tilted his head as if he couldn’t quite remember.

That sight was so adorable that Espin had to suppress the urge to bite the child’s chubby cheeks.

As Jediel still couldn’t find the answer, Espin, who had been waiting, finally gave him a hint.

“It’s the day after the day after tomorrow!”

“Ah, that’s right! The day after the day after tomorrow!”

“That’s right!”

Jediel and Espin, who got along so well, smiled at each other.

“Aunt Espin is very very pretty. Handsome Uncle Killian and pretty Aunt Espin would suit each other very well.”

“Oh my! How old are you to speak so adorably?”

“I’m four years old!”

Jediel stretched out his short fingers to make the number 4. Espin couldn’t help but shudder at the child’s cute fingers.

Veronia found it very unfamiliar to see Jediel chatting and laughing freely with Espin, whom he had just met.

‘Perhaps Jediel wasn’t as shy as I thought he was all this time…’

In the past, whenever he met strangers, he would always cling tightly to Veronia’s skirt and hide behind her, but not anymore.

‘Does it mean he’s grown that much? Time really flies.’

Watching Jediel still engrossed in conversation with Espin, her head tilted to one side involuntarily. At that moment, her eyes met Onyx’s, and his state was not much different from Veronia’s.

The two could see through each other’s thoughts so clearly. Surely he must be having similar thoughts, surprised by Jediel’s new side.

Veronia and Onyx nodded slightly while maintaining eye contact. Their lips naturally curled up.

Seeing Veronia and Onyx smiling at each other, a spark flickered in Killian’s eyes.

‘What’s with those two? I thought they were just good friends, but are they something more than friends?’

No way. That can’t be. Killian cut off his following thoughts. Because he remembered what Veronia had said yesterday.

‘And I still love the child’s father. Even though he’s already dead, I miss him so much every night that I’m going crazy, unable to forget him.’

There was no way Veronia, who still longed for the child’s father, could have a deeper relationship with that guy.

‘No. Maybe she made up a false excuse to push me away.’

Pushing away, false excuse… The stream of consciousness continuing in his mind was terribly hurtful to himself. He shouldn’t think about it at all. It would be better for his mental health.

Onyx immediately recognized Killian’s sharpened gaze. It must be coming from suspicion about his relationship with Veronia. Onyx felt amused at Killian’s misunderstanding. He felt inexplicably pleased.

Onyx moved closer to Veronia’s side. Then he reached out and brushed her hair, causing surprised Veronia to look up at Onyx with rabbit eyes.

“What is it? Is there something on me?”

“I thought there was, but there wasn’t.”

“Thank you anyway.”

Killian’s face contorted as he listened to the affectionate conversation between the two. He wanted to maintain a poker face, but it wasn’t as easy as he thought.

When Veronia smiled again, Killian was frustrated by the fact that her smile was directed at Onyx, not himself. And seeing his dejected appearance, Onyx’s shoulders tensed up unnecessarily.