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chapter 84
I realized that Leto’s self-esteem was lower than I had expected on the day we fought and then reconciled.
The harsh past he endured before being adopted by Marquis Oceanus had left deep scars.
“Could this be related to that too?”
The Oceanus family I saw with my own eyes today was just… a family. They cherished each other and wished for one another’s happiness above all else.
But between Leto and them, there was an invisible wall.
The same wall I had felt when Noah was in love—big, solid, and barely broken.
This seemed to be entirely different from the usual issue Leto would casually mention, like “I’m just an adopted child.”
“I should get going now.”
Just then, Aitra got up.
We had had about two cups of tea and shared some conversation, so it seemed appropriate to leave at this point.
“Very well.”
Albus, rising from his seat, extended his hand toward Gloria, saying that lingering any longer would be impolite.
“Thank you, Father-in-law. I truly enjoyed my time.”
“…….”
Gloria stared at the hand I had extended toward her.
Albus, slightly embarrassed, tried to pull his hand back awkwardly.
He was quickly reviewing his actions in his head, wondering if he had done something wrong.
“Hey.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Gloria suddenly stood up.
She took off her sunglasses.
“Were you really this clueless?”
Couldn’t recognize someone just because they wore sunglasses?
She didn’t care about teasing anymore. In fact, Gloria, feeling as if she were the one being mocked, contorted her face into every menacing expression imaginable.
“You still don’t recognize me?”
“Eh?”
The white lion, shocked by the sudden outburst, finally realized that the face in front of him seemed familiar.
“…Hmm.”
Albus raked his hand through his thick, mane-like white hair.
“Father-in-law, you resemble someone I know.”
“…….”
Aitra covered her eyes with one hand, speechless at her father’s unexpected answer.
Everyone else was equally stunned.
Zenius and Ameta, who had been watching the situation with interest, opened their mouths in surprise, and Vis rarely removed the small smile he usually wore. That alone showed how shocked he was.
“General, is your eyesight failing?”
Noah asked carefully, only loud enough for Leto to hear.
“Have you really gotten that bad without me noticing…?”
Leto worried for his aging grandfather and felt a pang of emotion. He considered helping Albus get new glasses.
“…….”
But the most shocked person of all was Gloria.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Father-in-law, your words are rather harsh….”
“Who is this person you say I resemble?”
“Someone I served with in the navy….”
A bothersome yet undeniably talented woman from his past. Albus’s voice trailed off as he tried to mention her.
“…….”
Then he recoiled in shock.
“Ah, ah…!”
Only then did the white lion realize that the father-in-law in front of him wasn’t just similar to someone he knew—but was that person themselves.
“…Adbelo!”
“Teasing you isn’t fun when there’s no reaction.”
Gloria’s excitement was completely shattered.
The white lion got into the car, supported by Leto and seeing off the Oceanus family.
“Ugh… ugh…!”
Albus, nearly sprawled across the back seat, grabbed Leto’s wrist.
Still too shocked to speak, he couldn’t even form a proper question.
But Leto understood perfectly.
“I only realized it after I got married.”
“Ugh….”
“I forgot to tell you. I, too, found out the next day and was bedridden from the shock.”
Leto comforted his grandfather, assuring him that being shocked now was entirely natural. He truly was a devoted grandson.
Outside, Clare noticed Albus lying down in the blue magical-powered car.
“Father-in-law, are you sleeping?”
“Ugh… ughhh….”
“Why are you sick? If you eat something delicious secretly by yourself, your stomach will upset!”
Had the grandfather eaten secretly too?
Clare rubbed Albus’s thigh like a kind healer and chanted a spell to soothe his stomach.
“Grandfather’s tummy is a grumbly tummy! My hands are magic hands!”
“You are so kind, young lady.”
Aitra, who had come closer, praised her. Clare stopped the spell, lifted her head, and stared at Aitra.
Then she said,
“You resemble my sister-in-law.”
“Which sister, I wonder?”
“Noah! You’re somewhat alike.”
Did she mean in demeanor?
Aitra glanced at Noah. Her calm, reserved expression indeed resembled hers.
But the resemblance Clare mentioned was far more unexpected.
“She’s beautiful, like you.”
Grinning broadly, Clare simply left after saying what she needed to say.
Hiding behind Noah’s legs, she peeked out shyly, embarrassed by her own words.
Aitra found herself smiling at Clare’s uninhibited innocence.
“You are such a cute young lady.”
Aitra spoke to Leto, who was approaching me.
“Bring her home sometime.”
“I’ll make time to do that.”
“…….”
Aitra lightly stroked her son’s forehead as she observed him politely responding to me. Leto flinched slightly—not from fear, but from gratitude and the guilt of receiving such immense affection from the Marquis.
“Do you laugh a lot?”
Understanding Leto’s feelings, Aitra removed her hand casually.
“Does everyone treat you well?”
“I’m always happy and well cared for.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Aitra faintly smiled, and Leto awkwardly mirrored her expression.
“Little husband.”
At that moment, As called out to Leto.
“Ugh… sniffle…”
Beside the distressed As was Karina, sobbing.
“Karina, my goodness.”
Surprised, Aitra quickly scooped her up, and Karina’s crying intensified.
“What happened?”
Leto asked, concerned.
“Nothing is wrong…”
As revealed what she had hidden: a framed photo of Leto and Clare together.
“She must’ve been jealous.”
She couldn’t see her most respected brother every day and didn’t have many photos. Seeing the picture in Clare’s room had shocked her.
“But you take so many pictures with Clare….”
“You hardly ever smile at me…”
“We can’t meet often….”
“There are so few photos…!”
Karina had finally burst into tears after holding back her frustration.
“Karina.”
Leto knelt on one knee to lower himself.
Karina, still sniffling in Aitra’s arms, hurriedly wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
But she felt even more embarrassed for showing such a scene to her brother after so long, which only made the tears flow harder.
“You’ll hurt your eyes.”
Leto laughed softly and held her hand. Aitra stepped back, releasing the child gently.
“Karina.”
“Yes… sniffle… brother…”
“Sorry for upsetting you.”
“No, it’s okay…!”
Karina shook her head vigorously. As placed his hand on his chest, amazed.
There’s a child just as cute as the young lady herself!
“Since we’re talking about it, shall we take a photo today?”
Karina stomped her feet, unsure what to do.
Though smiling through her tear-stained face, approaching her respected brother comfortably was difficult. She could only barely grab Leto’s sleeve.
Noah, watching from afar, noticed her cautious behavior and felt a pang in her heart.
Because of the invisible wall Leto had erected, the child seemed to be getting hurt, just like she had in the past.
Fortunately, Leto had grown since then.
“Up we go!”
Leto deliberately made a loud sound and lifted Karina high into the air.
“You’ve grown so much! You’ve gotten heavier too.”
Karina, suddenly seeing the world from above, stammered.
“T-then… can I get down…?”
“Hey, you’re taking a photo with your big brother, and the eldest can’t even hold you?”
“Wow….”
“The eldest went to fetch the camera. While waiting, tell me what you’ve been up to.”
Karina’s face lit up with a bright smile.
“Oh! On the way, I rode the train, and the potato chips and orange juice they sold there were delicious!”
“Really? I’ve never tried that.”
“I bought some for you and sister-in-law. When you’re at the mansion, please try them.”
“I’ll come on the weekend, so you must give them to me, alright?”
Karina nodded vigorously, and As brought the camera.
“Hehe, the young master-in-law is a crybaby.”
Clare, observing, giggled.
“You’re a crybaby yourself.”
Noah thought this was the perfect moment for the saying “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
The photos of Leto and Karina eventually became a family portrait of the Oceanus family.
Aitra subtly joined in, and Albus, still recovering from the shock in the back seat, clung to Leto.
“Young master.”
As whispered to Karina just as the Oceanus family finished taking the photos.
“I actually took a photo of the young master and the little husband alone earlier. I’ll secretly send it to you later.”
Karina hugged As tightly in gratitude and kissed her on the cheek.
The formal meeting thus concluded.
The next day, after spending the night, Zenius and Ameta called Noah, Leto, and As while Clare slept.
“We’ve attached our independently developed protective and tracking magic.”
They handed over a hair tie and keychain adorned with a tuft of white fur.
Ameta explained in detail,
“Clare’s magical energy will naturally recharge it, so don’t lose it.”
“We must be careful until the spy is caught.”
That morning, Clare’s pigtails were adorned with the hair ornaments her parents had given her.
And so, everyone returned to their daily lives.
The lively formal meeting became a happy memory, but the days ahead promised to be much more challenging.
As the beginning:
“Welcome back.”
Captain Adbelo personally welcomed the distinguished guests visiting the naval headquarters.
The white lion, Albus Oceanus, Minister of Defense, visited the naval headquarters.
