Mr. Kadan in the Deep Forest - Chapter 78

Kadan’s five-year-old daughter, Kurua, smiled brightly as she looked at her father. Her high nose and slightly upturned eyes resembled Kadan, but her beautiful blonde hair and golden eyes were the spitting image of Luna.

When Kurua smiled so brightly, it was even more special for Kadan. The smile that appeared on his face, which had once been as cold as the northern snowfields, now blossomed along with hers.

“You’ve come, Kurua.”

Kadan stood up from his seat and walked toward Kurua. Kneeling on one knee, he embraced her tightly as she ran toward him. The scene was so perfect that it could have been captured in a portrait.

The servants standing nearby couldn’t help but watch, their eyes fixed on Kadan. Though this wasn’t their first time seeing such a sight, they were still captivated by their lord’s tender side.

At that moment, Luna’s voice came from beyond the open door.

“Kurua, I told you not to run like that, you’ll fall.”

Luna entered the room, finally catching her breath. Kadan stood up, still holding Kurua in his arms, and walked over to greet Luna. He reached out with his other arm and gently cupped his beloved’s cheek with his hand.

“How was the meal?”

“I had something simple.”

“I’m late, then.”

Kadan apologized for not being able to prepare the meal himself. Luna’s eyes widened and she waved her hands dismissively.

“You’ve been busy. It’s not a bad thing to eat the palace chef’s food once in a while.”

“The chef?”

“Yes. They say the chefs were a bit upset that I only eat your food. Dwabo mentioned it.”

Right, Dwabo? Luna said, glancing at him.

Your Majesty, why are you bringing that up to me? Dwabo stammered, nervously eyeing Kadan. Then, with a sudden realization, he hastily excused himself, claiming there was an urgent matter to attend to.

“It seems Dwabo is quite busy.”

Luna tilted her head as she watched him leave.

Kadan’s smile remained warm, but his eyes had grown slightly colder.

Was there a young, capable chef in the palace? Perhaps that chef had whispered to Luna, asking her to try his cooking. Kadan wanted to check immediately, but he suppressed the dark thoughts rising inside him.

He knew it was ridiculous to think that everything Luna consumed should belong to him. He knew this was a twisted desire to possess. He reminded himself that Luna’s choice to be with him was hers alone, and that was what truly mattered.

“Papa?”

Kurua reached out her soft hand and tapped Kadan’s stiff cheek. Realizing his thoughts had drifted, Kadan smiled gently and kissed Kurua’s forehead.

“Right. Why did you come to see me, Kurua?”

“I have something to show Papa.”

Ta-da! Kurua pulled out a small folded piece of paper from her large pocket and unfolded it. Inside a big circle, there were two smaller circles and some lines drawn across it. Kadan studied the drawing for a moment, then grinned.

“Did you draw Dwabo?”

“Yes, Papa! Look, Mama, Papa recognizes my drawing!”

Kurua waved the drawing excitedly in front of Luna. Luna, looking at the messy drawing, tilted her head in confusion.

The drawing was only barely recognizable as a human face.

“Kadan, how did you recognize that?”

“It’s obviously Dwabo, isn’t it?”

“Where do you see that?”

“Here.”

Kadan pointed to the small circle that represented the eyes. Luna frowned and took a closer look at the drawing, but all she saw was just a bumpy circle.

“I’m not sure I see it…”

As Luna trailed off, Kurua’s expression immediately became sulky.

“Don’t worry, Kurua. Your style of painting is a little different from Mama’s, but I think you have a real talent for it.”

“Really, Papa?”

“Of course.”

Kadan comforted Kurua as he walked toward the desk. Then, as if to give her a special reward, he stamped the royal seal onto Kurua’s drawing, saying, “Well done.”

The head servant, watching silently, couldn’t help but tremble. There were nobles who worked tirelessly day and night just to get the royal seal on their documents, but Kurua had already managed to satisfy the king’s discerning taste in just a few seconds.

The servant’s eyes darted between the seal and the drawing, as he hurriedly heard his lord’s voice calling him.

“Head servant.”

“Yes? Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Put the princess’s drawing in the gallery.”

“…Understood.”

The head servant didn’t dare to argue. After all, Kurua’s artwork was already filling one side of the royal gallery.

“A genius, no doubt.”

Kadan murmured seriously, playing with Kurua’s small hand. As Luna started to worry about Kadan’s growing infatuation, one of the servants rushed into the office.

“Your Majesty, the royal family from the Dipth Kingdom have arrived.”

Dipth. It was a country located in the southern desert of the Brillan Kingdom, which Kadan ruled. Currently, Brillan served as a trade route exporting the advanced culture of the Inut Empire to other nations.

“I thought they were scheduled for tomorrow.”

“They’ve expedited their schedule.”

“Haa.”

With a sigh, Kadan carefully set Kurua down. Their quiet time together had to be put on hold for now.