I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 130
When Jeshuan arrived at the Duke’s residence, he saw Lia waiting for him as though she had anticipated his arrival, and a bright smile spread across his face.
Next to her stood Cassian, but Jeshuan’s gaze was fixed solely on Lia.
“Lia.”
Jeshuan’s voice calling Lia was more tender and soft than ever before.
The spring breeze seemed to melt the frozen ice away, carrying warmth with it.
“Welcome, Jeshuan.”
“Have you been waiting long? If I had known you’d be waiting for me like this, I would have come sooner.”
Unable to hide his excitement and delight, Jeshuan spoke with overflowing affection.
“As a host, it’s only natural to welcome guests.”
“Well, it’s not like I came out here because you’re a guest or anything; it doesn’t mean much.”
The fact that the Crown Prince was staying at the Duke’s residence was confidential.
It was a secret kept from everyone except for those directly involved.
Thus, Cassian refrained from addressing him as ‘Your Highness’ and instead chose a different term. Honestly, he wanted to address Jeshuan as ‘you fool’ rather than ‘you,’ but with Lia glaring daggers at him nearby, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“I was worried that standing around waiting for me might have tired you out.”
Completely ignoring Cassian’s comment, Jeshuan turned to Lia with a slightly concerned expression.
“Standing for just a little while doesn’t make me—”
“Now that I think about it, you’re quite inconsiderate. How fragile my precious angel is, yet you made her stand around. Come here, my dear child, into my arms.”
Seizing the opportunity, Cassian interrupted Lia, his expression softening as he spread his arms wide.
Lia’s expression grew complicated at his words.
What Cassian said was no different from usual.
However, the term ‘child’ made her feelings mixed.
It wasn’t like Cassian wasn’t really her father, so his words weren’t shocking.
But why, of all times, did he have to use such a term in front of Jeshuan?
Moreover, there was still something important she hadn’t properly conveyed yet.
Just thinking about their earlier conversation left her feeling suffocated, while Cassian, delighted to be recognized as Lia’s father, looked nothing but satisfied.
“My precious angel, there’s no need to be self-conscious anymore. Haven’t you always nestled in my arms every day?”
As if speaking for Jeshuan to hear, Cassian wore a proud expression.
“Not every day…”
“Well, I haven’t held my precious angel yet today, so it’s about time.”
Cassian urged Lia as though asking why she wasn’t already in his arms.
“Twelve years old is… old enough to walk on one’s own.”
Even though she had grown used to being held by Cassian, no matter how accustomed she had become, she still couldn’t simply act indifferent and be carried around in his arms.
Especially not with the Duke’s people present—and Jeshuan as well.
She didn’t want to show such behavior in front of Jeshuan.
“So shy.”
Misunderstanding Lia’s refusal, Cassian found even that adorable.
Watching this exchange with a crooked expression, Jeshuan finally spoke up.
He didn’t like how Cassian kept interfering and drawing Lia’s attention away.
“Your… guardian needs to open their ears properly. And while they’re at it, they should open their eyes too. Anyone can see that she’s refusing because she doesn’t like it, yet you fail to understand even that.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted to say. My precious angel is simply shy. You wouldn’t know, as you’ve never seen her like that.”
Jeshuan’s seemingly polite words were filled with sarcasm, and Cassian countered without backing down.
A subtle tension arose between the two.
“That’s your misconception. Besides, calling yourself her ‘father’ doesn’t seem very appropriate.”
“Oh, I suppose you’re unaware. Today, my precious angel recognized me as her father.”
At Cassian’s words, Jeshuan looked at Lia, as if to confirm whether it was true.
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Lia’s expression turned troubled.
Cassian’s words were half-true and half-false. It wasn’t that she recognized him as her father; he had always been her father in the first place.
However, she couldn’t reveal the details of her circumstances to Jeshuan.
It was still too early to disclose to anyone else that Cassian was her father.
In such a situation, Cassian’s boastful remarks were unwelcome from Lia’s perspective.
If it were someone else, she could have brushed it off lightly.
But Jeshuan was different.
Just yesterday, she had confided in him, sharing some of her concerns, including brief mentions of her father.
Although she hadn’t gone into detail, Jeshuan, being sharp, might piece the facts together, knowing how much the matter had been troubling her lately.
Even though Jeshuan wasn’t someone who would carelessly disclose such information to others, she remained cautious.
Yet Cassian, unaware of her feelings, spoke proudly.
“…He kept insisting I call him dad and asked if I didn’t want to be his daughter, so I just told him to do whatever he wanted.”
Lia’s response, which differed from the truth, made Cassian’s expression twist.
It was Lia who had acknowledged the fact by saying, ‘A dad is a dad.’ However, her explanation distorted the situation.
Cassian didn’t say anything, though his expression showed his displeasure.
He had a sense that Lia seemed uncomfortable with the topic.
Cassian assumed that Lia was embarrassed and shy about revealing to others that he was her father.
If that was the case, he thought he could be considerate of his shy precious angel.
However, Jeshuan’s subsequent comment made Cassian’s expression turn menacing.
“How much must you have annoyed Lia for her to say that? Knowing boundaries is a virtue of adulthood, don’t you think?”
In short, Jeshuan was implying that Cassian wasn’t behaving his age.
Jeshuan remained composed even in the face of Cassian’s intimidating expression.
After all, he knew Cassian wouldn’t dare lay a hand on him with Lia around.
And, to begin with, it was Cassian who had provoked him first.
“You really know how to use words charmingly, like an unpleasant little brat. Makes me want to shut that mouth of yours.”
As Cassian said this, his intimidating aura surged as if he truly intended to silence Jeshuan.
Already displeased, Cassian’s irritation grew as Jeshuan’s actions continued to provoke him.
Sensing the atmosphere growing even more tense than before, Lia stepped forward to mediate between the two.
“Both of you, stop it. I’m not asking you to get along, but fighting within the Duke’s residence is strictly prohibited.”
“What about outside?”
Cassian asked, his tone laced with displeasure.
“Try it and see what happens.”
Lia sternly addressed Cassian, who looked like he was itching to lash out at Jeshuan.
Cassian’s face was filled with discontent.
“But it was that brat who started it.”
Even though Cassian had been using a semblance of politeness earlier, he now abandoned it entirely.
He then voiced his frustration in his own way.
To some extent, Lia agreed. Jeshuan, who was always calm and gentle in front of her, seemed to sharpen his edge specifically when it came to Cassian.
His sharp tone, and even the content of his words, felt pointed.
If Jeshuan kept up this attitude, it would undoubtedly lead to continuous friction with Cassian, who already disliked him.
“Jeshuan.”
“Yes, Lia.”
Unlike how he addressed Cassian, Jeshuan responded to Lia in an unusually gentle tone.
“Since you’ll be staying at the Duke’s residence from now on, I hope you’ll be a bit more mindful. After all, Cassian is officially my guardian.”
“…I’m sorry. That was my mistake. Perhaps riding in the carriage earlier made me feel unwell, and I ended up being sharp with your ‘guardian.’”
Jeshuan emphasized the word ‘guardian’ as he spoke, wearing an apologetic expression.
His drooping eyes seemed designed to elicit sympathy.
“Unwell? Are you feeling sick?”
Lia’s stern expression quickly turned to concern as she asked him.
“It’s just a bit of dizziness. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to riding in carriages after such a long time.”
As he spoke, Jeshuan swayed slightly as if truly feeling unwell.
Of course, he wasn’t actually dizzy.
It was just a tactic to defuse the situation.
He was slightly conscious of having revealed too much of his true self due to Cassian’s provocations.
“Are you alright? Should I help you?”
“…Then, please.”
Jeshuan didn’t refuse Lia’s offer.
How could he let such a golden opportunity slip away?
‘…That’s a relief.’
For now, Lia still saw him as someone fragile and in need of protection.
Thanks to that, he managed to redirect her attention so smoothly.
Moreover, this gave him an excuse to stay closer to her under the guise of needing support.
This made him feel a little happy.
Even though Lia now knew about his circumstances, she still saw him as a vulnerable person.
She didn’t view him as a frightening or dangerous individual, ready to explode at any moment. Instead, she still saw him the same way she did when they first met.
This realization made Jeshuan’s heart feel unbearably strained.
On the other hand, Cassian, with his furrowed brow, made it abundantly clear that he was not pleased with the current situation.
Watching Jeshuan’s ridiculous antics was baffling and exasperating.
It was utter nonsense, not even worth listening to.
And yet, Lia completely fell for it, treating Jeshuan with the utmost care, as if he might be blown away by a gust of wind. This sight soured Cassian’s mood even further.
It was clear he had to stay close to her, at least to ease his growing anxiety.
He couldn’t allow his precious, innocent angel to be swayed by the ridiculous tricks of that unpleasant little brat.
