Chapter 4

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: Henry's Kiss

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"Sorry for calling you pretty. It's because Herwin really looks like an angel... no, handsome..."

The words he blurted out were laden with apology toward Herwin.

Herwin's stubborn resolve, which he'd sworn never to soften, melted away like snow.

"...I'm sorry for getting mad too. I knew you didn't mean it that way."

He'd subtly known all along that Lucia hadn't said "pretty" just to tease him.

Still, his mood had soured, and he'd stubbornly dug in his heels.

"Hehe, so we're good now?"

Lucia smiled brightly for the first time. Her almond-shaped white eyes were utterly endearing.

Herwin, oblivious to the heat rising in his cheeks, let himself be tugged down to sit.

"Did you come for the New Year's gathering too, Herwin?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Where do you live normally?"

"You have to ride a carriage for days and days to get far away. It's colder than here."

"Huh? Colder than this? I'm already freezing."

"It is cold, but this is nothing..."

As if their quarrel had never happened, they fell into natural conversation.

In time, the two children grew closer while learning about each other, and by the time the adults came looking, they were laughing innocently and playing together.

"Kids, have you made up now?"

"Yes! Herwin and I are friends now!"

"Mom, Mom! Lucia gave me this!"

The two children ran to their parents, excitedly explaining what games they'd played and what stories they'd shared.

Seeing the flowers of laughter blooming on both Lucia and Herwin's faces, the couples smiled too.

"Whoa... a baby."

"Cute, right? It's my little brother."

"Henry, was it?"

"Yeah, Henry Peneus. He'll turn two after tonight."

There was just one day left until the new year. A far cry from their fight on the first day, Herwin and Lucia—who had rapidly become thick as thieves—had come together to play in the room where Herwin's little brother Henry was.

They'd only caught the briefest glimpse of Henry during the gathering on the first day, and now they were finally meeting him properly.

Henry, who had just started toddling about, couldn't stay still for a moment and dashed energetically around the room.

Lucia found it fascinating how Henry looked just like Herwin.

As she recalled Herwin and Duke Hail in Henry's face, she suddenly locked eyes with those red irises and went wide-eyed.

Rounder than Herwin's slightly sharp ones, they gazed intently at Lucia.

"Wh-what?"

"He must think you're interesting."

"Why me? I've never heard that before..."

"You... look strangely fascinating."

Words like 'fairy-like' and 'cute' flashed through his mind, but Herwin couldn't bring himself to say them.

When Lucia pouted, he panicked, but before he could react, Henry waddled over from across the room.

"Ahwoo!"

"Huh?"

Henry stopped right in front of Lucia, his short limbs swinging.

He just stood there blankly, doing nothing.

"Henry, what are you doing?"

Finally losing patience, Herwin called out, and Henry turned his head.

"Hyaa!"

"Yeah, do you have business with Lucia?"

"Woo-sia? Woo-sia!"

"Right, Lucia. Come on, say it: Lucia!"

"Woo-sia!"

"Not Woo-sia, Lucia."

"Woo-sia!"

Henry mimicked Herwin perfectly. Lucia, who had never been around anyone younger than herself, found the scene novel.

"He talks well."

"He's a bit ahead for his age."

"Abubu, ahwoo!"

Suddenly, Henry bolted off. He rummaged through the luggage from the North.

His upper body buried in the massive pile, his little bottom wiggled in the air. Watching quietly, Lucia spoke up.

"You know, you look just like Henry?"

"Do I? I don't see it."

"No, you do! You look just like the Duke too!"

"Ahem! Well... of course I look like Dad."

Herwin's mouth twitched at being told he resembled Duke Hail.

Soon, Henry returned from afar, clutching a picture book.

"This!"

"A book?"

Henry handed the book to Lucia. She took it in bewilderment and looked to Herwin for help.

"Henry, want me to read the book?"

"No! Woo-sia! Woo-sia!"

When Herwin reached for the book in Lucia's hand, Henry shook his head vigorously.

Rejected by his brother for the first time, Herwin froze in shock.

Henry snatched the book from Herwin's hand and gave it back to Lucia.

"Woo-sia! Woo-sia!"

"But I can't read yet..."

She'd only recently started learning letters and couldn't read fluently. As she fretted, Henry climbed into her lap.

The soft baby scent and black hair brushed her nose.

Henry flipped through the book in her hand and stopped at one page.

"Woo-sia!"

He pointed at the illustration with a chubby finger.

A woman with wavy brown hair and blue eyes sat in the middle of a forest, sniffing flowers.

"That's me?"

"Un! Woo-sia!"

Henry nodded with a beaming smile. Lucia peered curiously at the woman in the picture.

Though just an illustration, being told it was her—a beauty like that—felt nice.

As Lucia grinned widely, both the hurt Herwin and Henry stared at her blankly.

Mwah.

Suddenly, something soft and wet landed on her cheek. Startled, Lucia looked down to see Henry smiling brightly.

"Woo-sia! Mine!"

Herwin gaped as he watched Henry kiss Lucia outright.

In that instant, an inexplicable spark flared in his chest.

"Henry!"

"Kyahaha! Mine! Mine!"

"Lucia isn't yours! Come here!"

"Wahh, no, no."

"Tsk, gonna get in trouble with big brother?"

Despite Henry's flailing, Herwin pried him away from Lucia.

Lucia rubbed her cheek, watching the squabbling Peneus brothers.

"I'm fine, though..."

No one heard her.

"Wahhh, hyaa hurt!"

"Don't cry, my little one. Herwin, what on earth did you do to make Henry cry like this?"

Herwin pursed his lips and turned his head sulkily at Scarlett's question.

"I don't know."

"He's been acting strange lately. There, there, our Henry is such a good boy?"

Scarlett tilted her head briefly, but when Henry whimpered again, she hurried to soothe him.

Henry's eyes were already red and puffy.

Just minutes ago, when Henry kissed Lucia's cheek, Herwin had yanked him away.

Unable to hold back his grievance, Henry burst into tears, drawing Scarlett from the next room.

Scarlett couldn't make sense of the situation.

Henry and Herwin had never fought before; their bond was unbreakable.

Herwin doted on Henry, and Henry adored his big brother. Yet here they were, clashing after arriving in the capital.

As Scarlett let out a subtle sigh, she noticed Lucia in her view.

"Lucia, if it's not too much trouble, could you tell me what happened?"

Herwin, who had steadfastly avoided Scarlett's gaze, startled visibly and fidgeted.

Noticing this, Scarlett ignored her son entirely and smiled gently at Lucia.

"Uh, well..."

Lucia hemmed and hawed, glancing between Scarlett and Herwin.

Scarlett exuded a soft yet firm pressure to speak, while Herwin glared wide-eyed and shook his head furiously.

Lucia had no idea what to do.

Answering Scarlett might upset Herwin, but staying silent felt disrespectful to the adult.

After agonizing with her little mind, she squeezed her eyes shut.

"H-Herwin kissed me!"

"Pardon?"

"Wh-what! When did I- I never!"

Scarlett blinked in surprise, but Herwin looked even more flustered.

Lucia's cheeks flushed red like her shout. Realizing her mistake amid Herwin's frantic denial, she gaped.

"Ah, n-no, I mean... Henry kissed me. So Herwin pulled him away..."

"Oh, I see how it is."

Scarlett quickly pieced it together. She eyed her son with a sly, scheming grin.

Henry was young, so it made sense he'd like Lucia. But Herwin's reaction was intriguing.

A child could give a peck, yet he'd gone out of his way to stop it?

'Heh, all that fuss when he hates it.'

"Why'd you tell her?"

"But she asked, and I couldn't just not answer an adult."

Herwin approached Lucia to scold her, but seeing her drooping eyes, he clamped his mouth shut.

It was a reaction he'd never seen from her back north.

Was it because she was his first peer? Or because he liked her?

'Either way, it's adorable.'

Scarlett smiled proudly at the two children. Then mischief bubbled up.

"Oh my, our Henry must really like Lucia. What if he chases after her even when they're grown?"

"Ahwoo, Woo-sia! Woo-sia!"

Henry babbled as if stirred by Scarlett's words.

"Lucia, what do you think of our Henry? You're welcome as my daughter-in-law anytime."

"Huh? Sure... I'd like that."

Lucia answered dazedly. She said yes, but being so young, she didn't grasp Scarlett's meaning.

She just went with the flow.

Unlike Lucia, Herwin understood perfectly.

"Mom! Why would Lucia come to our house!"

"Why? Because Henry likes her. If they still like each other when they're grown and proper adults, it's entirely possible, isn't it?"

"No way, not Lucia!"

"Oh dear, why are you so worked up? If they both like it. Unless... you like her too?"

Scarlett held back her laughter, eyeing Herwin playfully.

Herwin huffed, then clamped his mouth shut. His eyes met the oblivious Lucia's, and his cheeks burned red.

"Wh-who said I like her! I don't like Lucia!"

Scarlett saw right through his embarrassed lie. But not Lucia.

"H-Herwin... doesn't like me...?"

"No, that's not-"

Caught off-guard without considering Lucia's feelings, Herwin panicked as her big eyes welled up.

"I like Herwin... but Herwin hates me...!"

Waaah.

Lucia wailed pitifully, and Herwin rushed to console her.

"That's not it! I-I'm sorry. Don't cry..."

Then, perhaps stung by Scarlett's teasing, Herwin started sniffling too.

Soon, both children were sobbing, and it spread like contagion—Henry joined in.

Scarlett panicked at the domino of tears crashing down.

"Ch-children, it was a joke, just a joke. So stop crying..."

"Waaah, Herwin hates me...!"

"N-no, I like you, Lucia. I hate Mom...!"

"Waaah!"

"Oh dear, my darlings."

Scarlett clutched her forehead amid the cries from all sides.

Thinking it karma, she busied herself soothing the three children until Julian arrived.