IFLDMHF | Chapter 149

Episode 149

“Uh? You are…”

Startled by the sudden scream of a child, Alexis was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his senses.

During the victory ceremony, Evgenia hadn’t noticed Alexis, but Alexis had seen her.

And he had also seen her with the little child in front of him now.

It wasn’t hard to guess who the child was.

Before departing for the battlefield, he had heard from Sionel about Evgenia’s marriage partner.

“He only has two young nephews as family,” he had said. “But why are they here? Didn’t he say they was in difficult circumstances? don’t they have a mansion in the capital?”

Having been away on the battlefield, Alexis hadn’t heard a single rumor circulating between the imperial family and House Rudion, and he tilted his head in confusion.

In any case, he had fled home to avoid Evgenia, only to be startled by the sudden wailing of a child.

“You little brat, my heart that stayed calm even on the battlefield almost dropped because of you.”

Feeling both sorry and awkward at having clearly frightened the child, Alexis blurted out a curt tone.

Only after speaking did he realize it might have come off too scolding, and flinched a little.

He wanted to treat him well, as this was Evgenia’s new family and they seemed close…

But Alexis had little to no experience dealing with children and didn’t know how to act around them.

Moreover, he was a Basilian, known for their naturally fierce expressions.

He hesitated, afraid that if he approached too quickly, he might scare the already frightened child even more.

“…Battlefield?”

Crouched on the floor with his face hidden behind a teddy bear, Dior cautiously peeked out.

From the sound of the voice, it seemed it wasn’t a ghost, but a person…

“Are you… aunt younger brother, by any chance?”

He seemed to be the second young lord of Basilian, who was said to be returning home today.

Looking closely, he had the same jet-black hair and sharp, upturned eyes just like aunt.

Seeing a familiar face, Dior’s eyes filled with relief and joy.

“Uh…”

Caught off guard by Dior’s reaction, Alexis was the one flustered.

He couldn’t understand why the child who had just screamed in fear now acted so friendly and relaxed.

Then Dior ran up right to Alexis’ nose and asked,

“Aren’t you aunt’s younger brother?”

“aunt… Oh. Right.”

His mind momentarily blanked out, but he finally understood the “aunt” the child referred to was Evgenia, and he managed to answer.

At that, Dior’s face brightened even more and he greeted him cheerfully.

“Hello! I’m Dior!”

“Uh… I’m Alexis Basilian.”

“I know! aunt told me!”

“…My sister?”

“Yes! She said you’re a knight and you’re coming home from the battlefield today!”

Dior, who had always admired brave knights, blushed and hugged his teddy bear tightly.

“Hehe… That’s so cool…”

“My sister… talked about me…”

Alexis murmured in a daze.

He hadn’t imagined that Evgenia would have spoken about him.

Then Dior added,

“The Duke and young Duke resemble aunt too! And you look just like her!”

At those words, Alexis paused and bent on one knee to meet Dior at eye level.

“Hey kid… you said your name is Dior?”

“Yes!”

“You’re kinda cute, huh.”

“That’s right!”

“…You know that?”

“Yes, people say that a lot!”

Dior replied brightly with a proud face.

Alexis couldn’t help but chuckle at how ridiculous yet adorable that was.

“But Young Lord, why are you here? I heard there’s a party at the imperial palace today! Is it already over?”

“Uh…”

“What about your uncle and aunt? The Duke and young Duke came too, right?”

“No. I came alone.”

The reality he had briefly forgotten came back, and Alexis answered gloomily.

“Why?”

“Well…”

Alexis wore a downcast expression.

In truth, he had run away from the banquet because he couldn’t bring himself to face Evgenia.

He didn’t have the courage to confess that the handkerchief Evgenia gave him was taken by the Crown Prince.

That wasn’t the only reason.

Before the expedition, when Evgenia told him to keep quiet about her engagement to the Crown Prince, Alexis had scoffed.

He had even sneered, asking why he shouldn’t say it—wasn’t it like pulling a bad tooth for the Crown Prince?

At the time, he genuinely believed that.

But after witnessing the Crown Prince’s reaction to hearing about Evgenia, his thoughts completely changed.

The Crown Prince wouldn’t return the handkerchief no matter what, and when asked why he wouldn’t, his aide awkwardly changed the subject with a forced smile.

Even Tria, the young marquis who always wanted to prove his loyalty to the Crown Prince and had subtly shown his disapproval of Evgenia, went so far as to ask Alexis whether the Crown Prince and Evgenia had been secret lovers.

So how could he not find it strange?

Alexis’s heart was in turmoil, confused and distressed.

Of course, he knew logically that he and Evgenia weren’t even close siblings—if anything, their relationship was strained…

Still, she was family, and he couldn’t help but feel hurt and lonely that he really knew so little about her.

At the same time, he couldn’t shake off the odd feeling of guilt.

Thinking back, for the simple-minded Alexis, Evgenia had always been someone too difficult to understand.

If only he could hate her, it would be easier—but she was someone he simply couldn’t hate.

Letting out a heavy sigh of frustration, a small hand suddenly touched Alexis’s shoulder.

“Hah.”

Seeing Dior gently patting his shoulder, carefully observing his mood, Alexis let out a hollow laugh.

The kid was no bigger than a chestnut, so when had they even met before for him to act so friendly—trying to comfort him even?

But it didn’t feel bad.

It was all the more heartwarming because he knew the child acted this way thinking that he and Evgenia were siblings—and looked alike.

Looking at Dior with affection, Alexis suddenly tilted his head.

“But didn’t you say your stomach hurt?”

“Y-Yes!”

How did he know?

Dior’s eyes widened in shock.

But today, there was probably no one who had attended the ceremony and didn’t know that the little one had an upset stomach.

Alexis briefly recalled the moment, which had been ridiculous yet impossible to laugh off entirely, and asked,

“Are you okay now?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I took medicine and had a good nap, so I’m all better!”

“Even so, you should rest more. Why are you wandering around this late at night?”

“Well…”

Dior hesitated shyly, then spoke honestly.

“I’m really hungry. My sister and Lord Delano are sleeping, so I was going to go to the kitchen by myself!”

Should he praise him for his good recovery and call him admirable?

Or should he scold him, saying he should have woken an adult or called a maid?

If it had been his subordinate knights, the standards for reward and punishment would’ve been clear—but when it came to disciplining a child, he had no idea what to do.

But Alexis wasn’t Dior’s guardian, and despite looking small and naive, Dior was quick-witted and only said pleasant things, which made Alexis quite fond of him.

In the end, choosing kindness over scolding, Alexis lifted Dior up in his arms.

“Ah!”

Startled, Dior let out a small yelp.

“You said you’re hungry. I’ll take you to the dining hall.”

“Wow!”

Hearing Alexis’s words, Dior’s eyes sparkled as if he had found a savior.

“My head feels like it’s going to touch the ceiling!”

Uncle Euclid also often carried him, but since Alexis was taller and broader, it felt like he was much higher off the ground.

It was an innocent remark full of awe, but Alexis, who didn’t quite grasp children’s speech well, tilted his head in confusion.

“Touch the ceiling? That’s not likely—the ceilings in our house are really high.”

“Heing… I meant it’s that much fun and exciting…”

“Oh.”

Only then did Alexis let out a soft chuckle.

The more he looked, the more adorable it was how Dior wasn’t afraid of him at all and spoke so well.

On impulse, he asked,

“Really? Then should I make it more fun? Super high?”

“R-Really? I’d love that!”

Dior, overcome with joy to the point his little body trembled, suddenly fidgeted with his hands and asked,

“Um… but…”

“Yeah?”

“Aren’t I heavy?”

“Heavy? You? I could lift you with one finger.”

“Gasp! Really?”

“Yup. You’re a feather, a feather.”

At Alexis’s reply, Dior covered his mouth with both hands, deeply moved.

“Alright, let’s go get food first.”

“Okay!”

Dior quickly wrapped his arms around Alexis’s neck.

Feeling the warm and soft touch of the child clinging tightly to him, Alexis—who had only recently returned from the desolate battlefield—felt his heart slowly melt.

At the same time, for Dior, this was the moment when, after the sweet older brother Richard, he gained another cool older brother—Alexis.