* * *
Wilhazelle had no choice but to get up and approach Chaser. She wanted to know why he keep hovering around them. Is it because he wants to play with Rappel? Thinking about it, Chaser and Raphel hardly spent any time together. Lizelle wondered if Chaser wanted to become closer with his nephew, but was too shy to take the initiative.
‘Did I think too badly of him, all this time?’
Well, there was more than one person who tried to take advantage of a missing child whose life or death they did not know. His actions were understandable. She didn’t like Chaser, who accused her of being a fraudster, but she still spoke, thinking that if he was starting to open his heart to Raphelion, she should help him from the side.
“Do you want to play with us?”
But she couldn’t prevent her expression from hardening at the answer she received.
“No way.”
Chaser said coldly, as if it was absolutely not the case.
“Then why do you keep snooping around? Didn’t you just want to play with Rappel?”
Lizelle asked once more. Raphel was also looking their way, an excited look on his face, hoping Chaser was going to play with him.
“When was I snooping around? It’s my house, I was just wandering around.”
He was embarrassed by the fact that Lizelle knew about his actions, which he was trying to hide, so he started to make excuses.
“Oh yeah?”
Lizelle responded as if she was shocked.
‘He must have come here to make sure I didn’t do anything to Raphel.’
Well then. Chaser must still be doubting her. For a moment, she felt regretful for thinking she’d been viewing him too negatively. It was a foolish thought.
“Then we’ll go to our room.”
When she turned around, Rohan looked at Chaser and opened his mouth with a lot to say. He wanted to say that there was no need to use such aa accusing tone.
“Play with us!”
However, the cold atmosphere changed in an instant. Before he knew it, Raphel had rushed over and grabbed Lizelle’s hand and Chaser’s pants with his little hands.
“Let’s go!”
The child’s bright smile was directed at Chaser. Looking down at Raphel, Chaser was silent for a moment. The sparkling eyes seemed very similar to his older brother’s, when he was young. Meanwhile, Wilhazelle hoped that Chaser would refuse. She didn’t want to be with him and he’d also turned down her offer a bit ago.
He made it clear that he didn’t want to. She shot Chaser a look telling him not to interfere.
“Let’s go.”
Chaser, reading her expression, immediately accepted Raphel’s offer without the slightest hesitation. Since she was showing her dislike so openly, it made Chaser want to go with them. He was a little surprised at himself, this was the first time he realized he has this kind of personality.
“Oh, are you really coming?”
“Of course. The child wants me to, right?”
A look of dissatisfaction appeared on Wilhazelle’s face. Chaser smiled to himself when he saw her like that. Her facial expression, that changed depending on his answers, were funny. His world was always static, only repeating his formal daily life, like a machine. Normally, he wouldn’t have paid attention to such troublesome things. He wouldn’t have been interested in hanging around someone else. However, from the moment she entered this mansion, he could not ignore Wilhazelle’s presence.
It felt like she kept bringing out things that were hidden inside of him, things that he didn’t even know about. The immature, mischievous feelings that he thought had disappeared when he grew up.
“Hehehe. hand!”
Raphel smiled and held out his hand to Chaser.
“What are you doing? Take his hand.”
Lizelle scolded him when he stood still. Chaser smiled and carefully extended his hand to Raphel, who was holding out his hand still. A small, soft hand was held tightly in a large, hard grip. It felt like Raphel’s small hand would be crushed, so he relaxed his grip. It felt strange and his fingertips tingled. Something clenched in his heart, and an indescribable feeling filled him. At the same time, a great warmth enveloped her entire body. Chaser bit his lip as he felt this sensation for the first time.
“Let’s go!”
Raphel walked forward bravely, pulling the hands of the two people holding him. The three passed through the yard and headed into the mansion.
And…
“…?”
Rohan, left alone, stood with a puzzled look on his face. He was clearly standing there, next to the three people, but no one cared about him. Not the child, the lady, or even his master…
Rohan, watching them go further and farther away, and followed the three people with lonely steps.
* * *
“Star!”
As soon as they entered the room, Raphel showed off the snow globe he had received as a gift.
“It was for him.”
Chaser muttered to himself. The snow globe she bought at the market was given to this child. He was embarrassed that he’d misunderstood all on his own.
“This is a bell!”
Ban-dang-bahn-dang!
“The stars… I like them.”
Chaser blinked slowly as he watched Raphel turn the snow globe’s light on and off. Do all children like stars? As he recalled his older brother’s words about Raphelion’s particular fondness for stars, it occurred to him again that this child and his older brother were very similar when they were children. The more he looked, the more he learned, the more the child resembled his older brother, who was always his protector and shield from their strict and violent father.
“He says the stars are the best thing in the world. He hates carrots and hates taking baths. I don’t think he really likes going into water.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. And he’s good at singing. He has a lot of charm, and even though he’s young, he’s very considerate.”
She shared the information she’d discovered about Raphel. She didn’t like Chaser, who followed them all over, but she now saw his red eyes kept staring at Raphelion. She didn’t know why, but he looked very confused. He seemed agitated in front of the child, as if he was searching for something.
Did he feel the pull of his blood relative?
Wilhazelle glanced at Chaser, who was keeping his mouth shut. The red eyes were serious, lost in thought.
‘Was he thinking of his older brother as a child when he looked at Raphel?’
He liked and respected his older brother very much. The original work even stated that the reason why Chaser loved Raphelion so much was because he was his brother’s child. His older brother was the only person who protected Chaser from his strict and abusive father when they were young. It was natural for him to cherish his brother’s child as his own.
‘Hmm, now that we’re in the room together, shall we try to do something nice?’
Although Wilhazelle was very reluctant, she decided to generous. Chaser was the person who would love and care for the child more than anyone else the moment this child was revealed to be the ‘real Raphelion’, but it would be better if Chaser and Raphelion became closer even before that.
“Raphel, would you like to sing a song to your uncle?”
“Twinkle, Twinkle?”
“Yeah, Twinkle, Twinkle.”
“Okay!”
Raphel held his hands neatly together and cleared his throat loudly. Lizelle waved her hand and gave a signal. She was sure the Duke would get a fatal blow to his heart because Raphelion was so cute. It’d happened to her as well.
“Twinkle, Twinkle, little star.”
Raphel opened his mouth wide with a serious face and began to sing. It was a song she taught him, who loved stars so much. Wilhazelle smiled and sang along with Raphel, who sang diligently without a single wrong lyric.
“How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.”
Chaser looked at Raphel, who was joyfully singing hard. Without realizing it, his gaze then shifted to Lizelle, singing in front of him as well.
His gaze froze on her.
It was like he was caught in a trap and couldn’t escape. Wilhazelle was singing while making eye contact with Raphel and smiling. The sunlight shining down on her made her sparkle. Her face sparkled more than the stars, was clearer than a lake, and was prettier than a rainbow that appeared after the rain.
It seemed as if a large halo was shining onto Lizelle.
‘I think I’m seeing things…’
Chaser quickly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the halo disappeared, and everything returned to its usual appearance.
‘Well then. I guess my eyes must have been blurry for a second, but I can see everything clearly again.’
“Twinkle, Twinkle, little star!”
“Wow! Good job Raphel!”
Lizelle clapped her hands and praised Raphel. He smiled brightly and puffed out his small chest towards Chaser. Waiting for him to praise him as well.
“Duke. You should tell him what you think of the song.”
Lizelle glared at Chaser, who was staring blankly in silence.
‘What’s going on? Why isn’t he doing anything?’
They sang the whole song together… Did he really have nothing to say? Lizelle glanced at Chaser in disappointment, and only then did he turn his gaze to Raphel and pat him on the head.
“Good job.”
Then, he turned around and coldly left the room, as if he had urgent business to attend to.
“Why is he like that…”
Lizelle did not like Chaser’s attitude and narrowed her eyes. Was it really that hard to pat him and say, ‘You did a good job.’ Just throwing words his way, without any sincerity then leaving like that…
They showed him Raphel’s cute singing, but his response was very dull.
“I didn’t sing well.”
“What? No! Well done. It was the best! After all, our Raphel is best at singing!”
Wilhazelle had to work hard to comfort Raphel, who was very disappointed.
