To Love, Once Again

Chapter 75

Sera turned in the direction of the open door that Bea stood by, waiting. Hugging her neck, Leo sweetly hangs on to the crook of her shoulder.

But there was no sound of Lucien's footsteps following behind her.

"Lucien?" Turning around Sera gives Lucien a questioning look. Was Lucien that anxious about the first breakfast with his son?

But, no, Lucien was smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkled up with the silent mirth in his gaze.

"Hm?" He hums back in response, seemingly lost in thought. Though confused, Sera chose to ignore what happened. Sometimes it was better not to ask. And with food in their stomachs, things should get better. People were always grumpier when they were hungry. There were no exceptions to that rule. Even a monk would be grumpy if they were fasting all the time, Sera was sure. 

Sera goes back to link her arm through Lucien's free arm, the one without the huge bouquet. "Lucien, let's eat!" 

And what did Sera miss?

With little Leo's soft arms wrapped around her neck and head settled on her shoulder, she was unable to notice the face that Leo made at Lucien. 

Bleeeeh~!

Leo had blown towards Lucien a big, fat, silent raspberry. 

What a cheeky little boy. Lucien may have been like that, once. He could hardly remember. From the earliest memories he could remember his childhood being cold and dull. Being so desperate to entertain his mother and impress his father, had done a number on his childhood. His mother's abandonment had been the deciding factor into making him a silent, anxious young boy hiding behind a facade of bluster.

But the small boy in the arms of Lucien's beloved was brimming with life. His round face was scrunched up with eyes tightly shut, cheeks puffed as he pursed his lips and stuck out his tongue at Lucien.

And of course, the moment Sera had turned around, Leo had hidden his expression by pushing his face into the small of her neck. 

A cheeky boy indeed.

But giving up was never a part of Lucien's vocabulary. Small displays like these were cute compared to the hate that had festered in his heart towards his parents and the control they'd exerted over his life. His mother had never carried him like Sera was doing with Leo. As a prince, no one was allowed to carry him once he grew old enough to be able to walk on his own. His family could, of course, since they were royalty, but it was not in their nature to do so. Which left him, when accompanying his mother, to strain his short legs and try to keep up with his mother and her entourage on their jaunts to the gardens.

Pushing down the envy that grew in him at the precocious sight, Lucien lets Sera guide him into the cottage and into the green room. The whole time, Leo would make strange faces at Lucien over Sera's shoulder, tightening his hold around Sera's neck and giving her a big smacking kiss on the cheek. All while Lucien watched him with a straight-faced side-eye. This child knew what he was doing, trying to display his closeness with his mother to Lucien.

He was like a small ginger cat with its hackles raised. Leo didn't trust any man. The guards that watched over his cottage never played with him, watching him with serious faces from their position besides the door. But Leo tolerated (okay, he thought they were really cool but his pride was not going to let him admit that. He wanted to be the coolest to his Mama!) them because they'd always been around . But why should he like this new 'father' of his?

Lucien gives a slow wink back to his son, slowly raising Sera's hand to his lips and smoothing a kiss on her silky skin. Two could play at that game.